Before the lowered hood hung two leathern curtains, which would in some degree protect the travelers against the wind and rain.

Two great lanterns, suspended from the iemschik's seat, threw a pale glimmer scarcely sufficient to light the way, but serving as warning lights to prevent any other carriage from running into them.
It was well that all these precautions were taken, in expectation of a rough night.

The road led them up towards dense masses of clouds, and should the clouds not soon resolve into rain, the fog would be such that the tarantass would be unable to advance without danger of falling over some precipice.
The Ural chain does not attain any very great height, the highest summit not being more than five thousand feet.

Eternal snow is there unknown, and what is piled up by the Siberian winter is soon melted by the summer sun.

Shrubs and trees grow to a considerable height.