I needed more context, so I looked up the story. A child was standing on a street-corner. He leaned with one shoulder against a high board-fence and swayed the other to and fro, the while kicking carelessly at the gravel. Sunshine beat upon the cobbles, and a lazy summer wind raised yellow dust which trailed in clouds down the avenue. Clattering trucks moved with indistinctness through it. The child stood dreamily gazing. After a time, a little dark-brown dog came trotting with an intent air down the sidewalk. A short rope was dragging from his neck. Occasionally he trod upon the end of it and stumbled. --------------------------- "Moved with indistinctness" This is kind of an abstract description. Based on the rest of the paragraph, the writer wants you to imagine a hot and dusty summer day. The trucks are driving noisily down the street, but the boy isn't really paying attention to them, because they are just part of the background.