It all seemed specially soft and desolate.

The air was hushed, the footfalls and the snorting of the horses were the only sounds to be heard, and even they quickly died away.
The men rode almost silently.

A Cossack always carries his weapons so that they neither jingle nor rattle.

Jingling weapons are a terrible disgrace to a Cossack.

Two other Cossacks from the village caught the party up and exchanged a few words.