переступил одной ногой порог
шли
at smb.'s heels — по пятам, следом за кем-л.
to rise — подниматься; вставать
вместо которой
to think — думать; ожидать
посеял панику среди них;to work havoc — производить опустошение; nerve — нерв; сила духа, мужество
to work on — воздействовать на, влиять на
to carry — нести; увлекать за собой
to stumble — спотыкаться; натыкаться;to flounder — барахтаться; спотыкаться
to cover — покрывать; преодолевать
to catch — схватить; хвататься; to hang — висеть
countenance [ˈkauntɪnəns], shriek [ʃri:k], prodigious [prəˈdɪʤəs]
Petreus had placed one foot lightly over the threshold of the chamber; his fellows were at his heels, their daggers glinting dully. Suddenly Thak rose and wheeled toward him. The unexpected horror of his appearance, where they had thought to behold the hated but familiar countenance of Nabonidus, wrought havoc with their nerves, as the same spectacle had wrought upon Murilo. With a shriek Petreus recoiled, carrying his companions backward with him. They stumbled and floundered over each other; and in that instant Thak, covering the distance in one prodigious, grotesque leap, caught and jerked powerfully at a thick velvet rope which hung near the doorway.
Instantly the curtains whipped back on either hand (тотчас по обе стороны юркнули назад шторы; to whip — сечь; юркнуть), leaving the door clear (оставляя свободным = освобождая дверной проем; clear — ясный; свободный), and down across it something flashed with a peculiar silvery blur (и по нему необычным серебристым пятном что-то мелькнуло; to flash — набегать и разбиваться; быстро промелькнуть).
to whip — сечь; юркнуть
освобождая