Светлый фон
to strain — натягивать; напрягать hint — намек; hint of — некий, какой-то to steal — красть; красться to have a glimpse of — увидеть мельком;dim — тусклый; неясный; bulk — груда; тело /особ. о крупном, дородном человеке/ to feel — ощупывать; ощущать fellow — человек; тип;gasp — затрудненное дыхание; удушье чтобы схватить /противника/; to make блеснул в звездном свете;to catch оба молчали готовые neither — никакой /из двух/; ни тот ни другой; to speak — говорить

 

motion [ˈməuʃn], stalk [stɔ:k], neither [ˈnaɪðə, ˈnɪðə]

 

Straining his eyes in the gloom, he saw a hint of motion through the shrubs near the wall. Thither he glided, gripping his sword. He made no more noise than a panther stealing through the night, yet the man he was stalking heard. The Cimmerian had a dim glimpse of a huge bulk close to the wall, felt relief that it was at least human; then the fellow wheeled quickly with a gasp that sounded like panic, made the first motion of a forward plunge, hand clutching, then recoiled as the Cimmerian's blade caught the starlight. For a tense instant neither spoke, standing ready for anything.

 

"You are no soldier (ты не солдат)," hissed the stranger at last (прошипел наконец незнакомец). "You are a thief like myself (ты вор, как я)."

"And who are you (а кто ты /такой/)?" asked the Cimmerian in a suspicious whisper (спросил киммериец подозрительным шепотом).

"Taurus of Nemedia (Таурус из Немедии)."

The Cimmerian lowered his sword (киммериец опустил меч).