"bram stoker - dracula(2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stoker Bram)

spoke to them soothingly, and they quieted down, but shivered
and sweated as though after a runaway from sudden fright.
Then, far off in the distance, from the mountains on each side
of us began a louder and a sharper howling, that of wolves,
which affected both the horses and myself in the same way.
For I was minded to jump from the caleche and run,
whilst they reared again and plunged madly, so that the driver
had to use all his great strength to keep them from bolting.
In a few minutes, however, my own ears got accustomed to the sound,
and the horses so far became quiet that the driver was able
to descend and to stand before them.

He petted and soothed them, and whispered something in their ears,
as I have heard of horse-tamers doing, and with extraordinary effect,
for under his caresses they became quite manageable again,
though they still trembled. The driver again took his seat,
and shaking his reins, started off at a great pace.
This time, after going to the far side or the Pass, he suddenly
turned down a narrow roadway which ran sharply to the right.

Soon we were hemmed in with trees, which in places arched
right over the roadway till we passed as through a tunnel.
And again great frowning rocks guarded us boldly on either side.
Though we were in shelter, we could hear the rising wind,
for it moaned and whistled through the rocks, and the
branches of the trees crashed together as we swept along.
It grew colder and colder still, and fine, powdery snow began
to fall, so that soon we and all around us were covered
with a white blanket. The keen wind still carried the howling
of the dogs, though this grew fainter as we went on our way.
The baying of the wolves sounded nearer and nearer,
as though they were closing round on us from every side.
I grew dreadfully afraid, and the horses shared my fear.
The driver, however, was not in the least disturbed.
He kept turning his head to left and right, but I could not see
anything through the darkness.

Suddenly, away on our left I saw a fain flickering
blue flame. The driver saw it at the same moment.
He at once checked the horses, and, jumping to the ground,
disappeared into the darkness. I did not know what to do,
the less as the howling of the wolves grew closer.
But while I wondered, the driver suddenly appeared again,
and without a word took his seat, and we resumed our journey.
I think I must have fallen asleep and kept dreaming
of the incident, for it seemed to be repeated endlessly,
and now looking back, it is like a sort of awful nightmare.
Once the flame appeared so near the road, that even in
the darkness around us I could watch the driver's motions.
He went rapidly to where the blue flame arose, it must have