By-and-by, however, as I was curious to know how time was passing, I struck a match, and by its flame looked at my watch. It was within a few minutes of midnight. This gave me a sort of shock, for I suppose the general superstition about midnight was increased by my recent experiences. I waited with a sick feeling of suspense. Then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road, a long, agonized sound, as if made from fear. The sound was taken up by another dog, and then another and another, till, borne on the wind which now sighed softly through the Pass, a wild howling of wolves began as well. This seemed to come from all over the country, as far as the imagination could grasp it through the gloom of the night.

The driver was forced to leave his seat and stand by the horses, which had become considerably excited. 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 of 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. The baying of wolves sounded nearer and nearer, as though they were closing round on us from every side.

Vocabulary:

By-and-by: After some time
Suspense: Waiting for something to happen
Agonized: In great pain
Borne: Carried
Gloom: Depressing darkness
Caress: To stroke lovingly
Hemmed in: Surrounded very closely
Baying: A mix between a bark and a howl