He knew he was coming through the pale darkness of the night some time before he was actually in sight by his cough.

Lot Gordon had had for years a sharp cough which afflicted him particularly when he walked abroad in night air.

It carried as far as the yelp of a dog; when Burr first heard it he stopped short, and looked irresolutely at the thicket beside the road.

He had a half-impulse to slink in there among the snowy bushes and hide until his cousin passed by.

Then he shook his head angrily and kept on.
However, when the two men drew near each other Burr kept well to his side of the road and strode on rapidly, hoping his cousin might not recognize him.