John was riding by the coach when I overtook it.
It was two hours past noon when I came up with John and the girls.

Snow had been falling softly earlier in the afternoon, but as the day advanced the storm grew in violence.

A cold, bleak wind was blowing from the north, and by reason of the weather and because of the ill condition of the roads, the progress of the coach was so slow that darkness overtook us before we had finished half of our journey to Rowsley.

Upon the fall of night the storm increased in violence, and the snow came in piercing, horizontal shafts which stung like the prick of a needle.
At the hour of six--I but guessed the time--John and I, who were riding at the rear of the coach, heard close on our heels the trampling of horses.

I rode forward to Dawson, who was in the coach box, and told him to drive with all the speed he could make.