Answer
Extending from sea level at the Gulf of Mexico to over 8,000 feet in the Guadalupe Mountains of far West Texas and from the semitropical Lower Rio Grande Valley to the High Plains of the Panhandle, Texas has a natural environment best described as "varied." Below is a summary of the size, the boundaries, the high tempatures.
Explanation:
<span>lumbering up the steps
plodding past me
The two verbs used to describe the way the giant tortoises move are "lumbering" and "plodding". Both of these verbs carry the connotation that something very large is moving awkwardly. Plodding refers to the loud sound it would make when its feet hit the ground, and lumbering describes the awkward way limbs move when they're so big and heavy.</span>
Answer:
Yes you are right atleast I think you are
I don't know the full story behind that but repetitive, rhythmic sound, makes me think they are talking about the old mans breathing.
But i'm not sure
