I CARRY SOME THINGS ASHORE 7 страница. I tried pounding them with a stone (пытался растирать их камнем; to pound — бить, колотить; толочь)

I tried pounding them with a stone (пытался растирать их камнем; to pound — бить, колотить; толочь). But that was slow work (медленная работа). The stone crumbled into sand (камень рассыпался в песок). My meal was worth nothing (такая еда не стоила ничего).

I looked all over the island for a harder stone (я обыскал весь остров /в поисках/ более твердого камня). All were alike (все были такими же = одинаковыми).

So at last I cut a large block of very hard wood (в конце концов я нашел большой кусок очень крепкой древесины). I rounded it on the outside with my hatchet (закруглил его снаружи топориком). Then, partly by chopping (частично рубкой), partly by burning (выжиганием), I made a hollow place in the end of it (сделал полость на конце его).

Out of a piece of ironwood (из куска железного дерева) I made a heavy pestle or beater (сделал тяжелый пестик, или колотушку).

I had now a very good little mill (мельницу). In a short time I had crushed enough barley to make meal for a large loaf (размолол достаточно ячменя, чтобы сделать муку для большой буханки).

It was easy to make the dough (было легко сделать тесто). I had only to mix the meal with water and knead it with my hands (мне нужно было лишь смешать муку с водой и размять это руками). I must not think of yeast to make the dough light (не приходилось думать о дрожжах, чтобы сделать тесто мягким).

The baking part was the main thing (выпекание было основным), and the hardest to learn (самым сложным, чтобы научиться).

At first I put my biscuits of dough in the hot ashes (вначале я клал куски теста в горячие угли) and left them there till they were baked (оставлял там, пока не испекутся). But I did not like these ash cakes very well (мне не нравились эти пироги с золой).

Then I tried another plan.

I made two large earthen vessels (два больших глиняных сосуда). They were broad and shallow (широкими и неглубокими: «мелкими»). Each was about two feet across and not more than nine inches deep (каждый был около двух футов в ширину и не более девяти дюймов глубиной).

These I burned in the fire (их я обжег на огне) till they were as hard as rocks and as red as tiles (пока они не стали твердыми, как камни: «скалы» и красными, как черепица).

I made also a hearth before my fireplace (очаг перед костром), and paved it with some square tiles of my own making (выложил его квадратными черепицами моего собственного изготовления). But, perhaps I ought not to call them square (возможно, не стоит их называть квадратными: «я не должен бы…»).

The hearth, when finished, was quite level and smooth (очаг, когда был завершен, был довольно ровным и гладким). It was as pretty as I could have wished (он был таким красивым, как я мог желать).

Next I built a great fire of hard wood (затем я развел большой огонь из твердой древесины). When the wood had burned down (когда дерево прогорело), I raked the hot coals out upon my hearth (выгреб /из него/ угли на мой очаг). I left them there till the hearth was hot through and through (я оставил их там пока очаг не прогрелся основательно).

My loaves of dough were all ready (куски теста были готовы). I swept hearth clean (вытер очаг дочиста) and then put the loaves down upon the hottest part of it (положил куски на самую горячую часть очага).

Over each loaf I put one of the large earthen vessels I had made (над каждой буханкой я поставил один из больших глиняных сосудов, которые я сделал). Then I heaped hot coals on the top of the vessel (уложил горячие угли поверх каждого сосуда) and all round the sides of it (и по сторонам его).

In a short time I lifted the vessels and took out my loaves (через короткое время я поднял сосуды и вынул мои буханки). They were baked as well as the best oven in the world could have baked them (были выпечены так, как лучшая печка в мире выпекла бы их).

By trying and trying again (пробуя вновь и вновь), I at last learned to bake almost everything I wanted (наконец научился печь почти все, что я хотел). I baked cakes and rice pudding fit for a king (лепешки и рисовый пудинг, подходящие для короля). But I did not care for pies (не заботился о пирогах).

I now felt quite contented and prosperous (удовлетворенным и процветающим). For did I not have everything that I needed (разве у меня не было всего, что мне нужно)?

I had two homes on the island. I called them my plantations (плантациями).

The first of these was my strong castle under the rock. I had enlarged it until my cave contained many rooms (я расширил его, пока моя пещера не /стала/ содержать много комнат), one opening into another (открыващихся одна в другую).

The largest and driest of these was my storeroom (самая большая и самая сухая из них была складская комната). Here I kept the largest of my earthen pots (самые большие из моих глиняных горшков). Here also were fourteen or fifteen big baskets (корзин), all filled with grain (наполненных зерном).

My sitting room was not large (зал был не большим), but it was made for comfort.

As for the wall in front of the castle (что касается стены перед замком), it was a wonderful thing (это была удивительная вещь). The long stakes which I had driven down had all taken root (длинные колья, которые я воткнул, все укоренились). They had grown like trees (выросли, как деревья), and were now so big and so thick with branches that it was hard to see between them (и были сейчас такими большими и такими толстыми, что было сложно смотреть между ними).

No one passing by (ни один проходящий мимо) would ever think there was a house behind this matted row of trees (никогда бы не подумал, что там был дом за этим переплетенным рядом деревьев).

Near this dwelling of mine (около этого моего обиталища), but a little farther within the land (немного дальше вглубь местности), were my two barley fields (были два моих ячменных поля). These I cultivated with care (возделывал с заботой), and from them I reaped a good harvest (и с них я получал хороший урожай). As often as I felt the need of more barley I made my fields larger (как только я чувствовал необходимость в большем количестве ячменя, я расширял свои поля).

Farther away was what I called my country seat (дальше было то, что я называл своим деревенским пристанищем, деревенской резиденцией; seat — сиденье; местонахождение). There was my pleasant summer house or bower (мой приятный/симпатичный летний дом или беседка), where I liked to go for rest (куда мне нравилось уходить отдохнуть).

In the middle of my bower (в центре беседки) I had my tent always set (я имел мой навес всегда готовым). It was made of a piece of sail spread over some poles (из куска паруса, натянутого на колья).

Under the tent I had made a soft couch (мягкую кушетку) with the skins of animals and a blanket thrown over them (со шкурами животных и одеялом, накинутым на них). Here, when the weather was fair, I often slept at night (здесь я часто спал ночью при хорошей погоде).

A little way from the bower was the field in which I kept my cattle (держал мой скот) — that is to say (то есть), my goats (коз).

I had taken great pains to fence and inclose this field (обнести забором и огородить это поле). I was so fearful, lest the goats should break out (я так боялся, как бы козы не вырвались наружу), that I worked many a day planting a hedge all around (что я проработал много дней, высаживая /живую/ изгородь вокруг). The hedge grew to be very tall and was as strong as a wall (крепким, как стена).

On the shore of the sea (на берегу моря), some distance beyond my summer house (на некотором расстоянии от моего летнего дома), was the little inlet where I had laid up my canoe (/узкий/ залив, где я хранил мое каноэ; to lay up — откладывать, копить; выводить временно из строя).

 

gorgeous ['go:ʤəs]

 

I LEARN TO BAKE AND AM PROSPEROUS

 

I HAVE already told you about farming, and of the difficulties under which I did my work. The thing which I wished to do most of all to make good bread. I tried many plans, but it was several years before I could think of myself as a really good baker.

My barley was very fine. The grains were large and smooth. When boiled a long time with a bit of goat's meat, they made good food.

But they did not take the place of bread. Before bread could be made, the grains of barley must be ground into meal.

I tried pounding them with a stone. But that was slow work. The stone crumbled into sand. My meal was worth nothing.

I looked all over the island for a harder stone. All were alike.

So at last I cut a large block of very hard wood. I rounded it on the outside with my hatchet. Then, partly by chopping, partly by burning, I made a hollow place in the end of it.

Out of a piece of ironwood I made a heavy pestle or beater.

I had now a very good little mill. In a short time I had crushed enough barley to make meal for a large loaf.

It was easy to make the dough. I had only to mix the meal with water and knead it with my hands. I must not think of yeast to make the dough light.

The baking part was the main thing, and the hardest to learn.

At first I put my biscuits of dough in the hot ashes and left them there till they were baked. But I did not like these ash cakes very well.

Then I tried another plan.

I made two large earthen vessels. They were broad and shallow. Each was about two feet across and not more than nine inches deep.

These I burned in the fire till they were as hard as rocks and as red as tiles.

I made also a hearth before my fireplace, and paved it with some square tiles of my own making. But, perhaps I ought not to call them square.

The hearth, when finished, was quite level and smooth. It was as pretty as I could have wished.

Next I built a great fire of hard wood. When the wood had burned down, I raked the hot coals out upon my hearth. I left them there till the hearth was hot through and through.

My loaves of dough were all ready. I swept hearth clean and then put the loaves down upon the hottest part of it.

Over each loaf I put one of the large earthen vessels I had made. Then I heaped hot coals on the top of the vessel and all round the sides of it.

In a short time I lifted the vessels and took out my loaves. They were baked as well as the best oven in the world could have baked them.

By trying and trying again, I at last learned to bake almost everything I wanted. I baked cakes and rice pudding fit for a king. But I did not care for pies.

I now felt quite contented and prosperous. For did I not have everything that I needed?

I had two homes on the island. I called them my plantations.

The first of these was my strong castle under the rock. I had enlarged it until my cave contained many rooms, one opening into another.

The largest and driest of these was my storeroom. Here I kept the largest of my earthen pots. Here also were fourteen or fifteen big baskets, all filled with grain.

My sitting room was not large, but it was made for comfort.

As for the wall in front of the castle, it was a wonderful thing. The long stakes which I had driven down had all taken root. They had grown like trees, and were now so big and so thick with branches that it was hard to see between them.

No one passing by would ever think there was a house behind this matted row of trees.

Near this dwelling of mine, but a little farther within the land, were my two barley fields. These I cultivated with care, and from them I reaped a good harvest. As often as I felt the need of more barley I made my fields larger.

Farther away was what I called my country seat. There was my pleasant summer house or bower, where I liked to go for rest.

In the middle of my bower I had my tent always set. It was made of a piece of sail spread over some poles.

Under the tent I had made a soft couch with the skins of animals and a blanket thrown over them. Here, when the weather was fair, I often slept at night.

A little way from the bower was the field in which I kept my cattle — that is to say, my goats.

I had taken great pains to fence and inclose this field. I was so fearful, lest the goats should break out, that I worked many a day planting a hedge all around. The hedge grew to be very tall and was as strong as a wall.

On the shore of the sea, some distance beyond my summer house, was the little inlet where I had laid up my canoe.

 

I SEE SOMETHING IN THE SAND (я вижу что-то в песке)

 

WHEN the weather was fine I often went over to the other side of the island to look at my canoe (когда погода была хорошей, я часто ходил на другую сторону острова, чтобы посмотреть на мое каноэ).

Sometimes I spent several days at my summer house (иногда я проводил несколько дней в своем летнем доме). Then, going over to where the canoe was kept (затем, идя туда, где содержалось каноэ), I took short sails along the shore (предпринимал короткие походы под парусом вдоль берега). These little voyages gave me a great deal of pleasure (эти маленькие путешествия доставляли мне много удовольствия).

One morning as I was going to the canoe a strange thing happened (когда я шел к каноэ, произошла одна странная вещь).

I was walking slowly along and looking down (я шел медленно вдоль /берега/ и смотрел вниз), and what do you think I saw (и что вы думаете, я увидел)?

I saw the print of a man's naked foot in the sand (отпечаток голой ноги человека на песке).

The sight made me cold all over (зрелище заставило меня всего похолодеть).

I stood like one that had seen a ghost (я стоял как кто-то, кто увидел привидение). I looked around (посмотрел вокруг). I listened (прислушался). I trembled (дрожал).

I went to the top of a little hill to look farther (я пошел на верхушку маленького холма, чтобы посмотреть дальше). Then I walked up the shore and down the shore (я прошел «вверх и вниз» = «взад и вперед, туда-сюда» по берегу). I saw no other tracks (никаких других следов).

I went back to make sure that I was not dreaming (я пошел обратно, чтобы удостовериться, что я не увидел это во сне). Yes, there in the sand was the print of man's foot. It showed the toes (пальцы /ног/), the heel (пятку), and the sole of the foot (подошву ноги). I was not dreaming (я не видел сон = это был не сон).

My mind was filled with a thousand thoughts and questions (мой ум был наполнен тысячей мыслей и вопросов). Where was the man who made that track (где был человек, который оставил след)? Who was he? How did he get there (как он сюда попал)?

I was so frightened that I did not go to the canoe (был так напуган, что не пошел к каноэ). I turned back and went to my castle as fast as I could (повернулся и пошел к замку так быстро, как я мог).

Whether I went over by the ladder or through the hole in the rock (попал ли я /домой/ по лестнице или через отверстие в скале), I do not know. But I shut myself up as quickly as I could and began to get ready to defend myself (закрылся так быстро, как мог, и начал готовиться защищать себя).

That night I could not sleep. I lay in my hammock (лежал гамаке), and thought and thought.

The track must have been made by an Indian (след, должно быть, оставлен индейцем) or some other wild savage (или каким-то другим дикарем; wild — дикий; savage — дикарь). This savage had come perhaps from the land that I had seen far across the sea (это дикарь, возможно, пришел с земли, которую я видел за морем).

Perhaps he had come to the island alone (один). Perhaps he had come with many others of his kind (со многими другими его вида = такими же, как он). But where was he now?

I was so much afraid that I did not stir out of my castle for three days and nights (я был так сильно напуган, что не высовывался из замка три дня и три ночи). I was almost starved (чуть не умер от голода; to starve — голодать, умирать от голода), for I had only two or three barley cakes in my kitchen.

Little by little I became brave enough to go out again (мало-помалу я стал достаточно смелым = набрался смелости, чтобы выйти опять). I crept softly down to my fields to milk the goats (пробрался потихоньку на поля, чтобы подоить коз). Poor things (бедные существа)! They were glad enough to see me (они были очень рады увидеть меня).

But every sound made me start and look around (каждый звук заставлял меня вздрагивать и смотреть по сторонам). I fancied (мне казалось) that I saw a savage behind every tree (что я видел дикаря за каждым деревом). I lived for days like some hunted thing that trembles at its own shadow (жил дни = целый ряд дней, как какое-то существо, за которым охотятся, которое дрожит от своей собственной тени).

And all because I had seen the print of a foot in the sand (и все потому, что я видел отпечаток ступни на песке)!

Little by little I grew bolder (стал отважнее), and I made up my mind to strengthen my castle (решил укрепить замок). If savage Indians should indeed come and find me, I would be ready for them (если дикие индейцы в самом деле придут и найдут меня, я был бы готов к ним = к этому).

So I carried out earth and small stones (притащил земли и небольших камней), and piled them up against the castle wall till it was ten feet thick (уложил их у стены замка, пока она не стала шириной десять футов). I have already told you how strong it was at first, and how I had made a dense hedge of trees on the outside (я уже рассказал вам, какой крепкой она был вначале, и как я сделал плотную ограду из деревьев снаружи). It was now so strong that nothing could break through it (такой крепким, что ничто не могло прорваться сквозь нее).

Through the wall at certain places I made five holes large enough (пять достаточно больших отверстий) for a man's arm to reach in (чтобы человеческая рука могла просунуться скозь них). In each of these holes I planted a gun (установил ружье); for you will remember (как вы помните) that I brought several from the ship (принес несколько).

Each one of these guns was fitted in a frame that could be drawn back and forth (каждое ружье было установлено в раму, которую можно было передвигать назад и вперед). They worked so well in their places that I could shoot off all five of them in less than two minutes (мог выстрелить из всех пяти менее чем за две минуты).

Many a weary month did I work before I had my wall to my notion (много изматывающих месяцев я работал, прежде чем я имел стену по своему видению). But at last it was finished (наконец была завершена).

The hedge that was before it grew up so thick and high that no man nor animal could see through it (ограда, которая была перед ней, выросла такой плотной и высокой, что ни человек, ни животное не могли видеть сквозь нее). If you had seen it, you would not have dreamed there was anything inside of it (вам бы не приснилось = не подумалось, что было что-то внутри), much less a house (менее всего — дом).

For two years I lived in fear (жил в страхе). All that I did was to make my home stronger and safer (все, что я делал, было сделать мой дом крепче и безопаснее).

Far in the woods I built a large pen of logs and stakes (далеко в лесу я построил большой склад из бревен и кольев; pen — небольшая огороженная площадка). Around it I planted a hedge like that in front of the castle (вокруг него я посадил живую изгородь, как перед моим замком). Then I put a dozen young goats into it (затем я пустил дюжину молодых коз в него), to feed upon the grass and grow (чтобы питаться = пастись на траве и расти).

If savages should come, and if they should kill the other goats, they could not find these; for they were too well hidden in the deep woods (если бы дикари пришли и убили бы других коз, они бы не нашли этих, так как они были хорошо спрятаны в глубоком лесу).

All these things I did because I had seen the print of a man's foot in the sand.

 

courage ['kʌrιʤ] mischief ['mιsʧιf] lout ['laut]

 

I SEE SOMETHING IN THE SAND

WHEN the weather was fine I often went over to the other side of the island to look at my canoe.

Sometimes I spent several days at my summer house. Then, going over to where the canoe was kept, I took short sails along the shore. These little voyages gave me a great deal of pleasure.

One morning as I was going to the canoe a strange thing happened.

I was walking slowly along and looking down, and what do you think I saw?

I saw the print of a man's naked foot in the sand.

The sight made me cold all over.

I stood like one that had seen a ghost. I looked around. I listened. I trembled.

I went to the top of a little hill to look farther. Then I walked up the shore and down the shore. I saw no other tracks.

I went back to make sure that I was not dreaming. Yes, there in the sand was the print of man's foot. It showed the toes, the heel, and the sole of the foot. I was not dreaming.

My mind was filled with a thousand thoughts and questions. Where was the man who made that track? Who was he? How did he get there?

I was so frightened that I did not go to the canoe. I turned back and went to my castle as fast as I could.

Whether I went over by the ladder or through the hole in the rock, I do not know. But I shut myself up as quickly as I could and began to get ready to defend myself.

That night I could not sleep. I lay in my hammock, and thought and thought.

The track must have been made by an Indian or some other wild savage. This savage had come perhaps from the land that I had seen far across the sea.

Perhaps he had come to the island alone. Perhaps he had come with many others of his kind. But where was he now?

I was so much afraid that I did not stir out of my castle for three days and nights. I was almost starved, for I had only two or three barley cakes in my kitchen.

Little by little I became brave enough to go out again. I crept softly down to my fields to milk the goats. Poor things! They were glad enough to see me.

But every sound made me start and look around. I fancied that I saw a savage behind every tree. I lived for days like some hunted thing that trembles at its own shadow.

And all because I had seen the print of a foot in the sand!

Little by little I grew bolder, and I made up my mind to strengthen my castle. If savage Indians should indeed come and find me, I would be ready for them.

So I carried out earth and small stones, and piled them up against the castle wall till it was ten feet thick. I have already told you how strong it was at first, and how I had made a dense hedge of trees on the outside. It was now so strong that nothing could break through it.

Through the wall at certain places I made five holes large enough for a man's arm to reach in. In each of these holes I planted a gun; for you will remember that I brought several from the ship.

Each one of these guns was fitted in a frame that could be drawn back and forth. They worked so well in their places that I could shoot off all five of them in less than two minutes.

Many a weary month did I work before I had my wall to my notion. But at last it was finished.

The hedge that was before it grew up so thick and high that no man nor animal could see through it. If you had seen it, you would not have dreamed there was anything inside of it, much less a house.

For two years I lived in fear. All that I did was to make my home stronger and safer.

Far in the woods I built a large pen of logs and stakes. Around it I planted a hedge like that in front of the castle. Then I put a dozen young goats into it, to feed upon the grass and grow.

If savages should come, and if they should kill the other goats, they could not find these; for they were too well hidden in the deep woods.

All these things I did because I had seen the print of a man's foot in the sand.

 

I AM AGAIN ALARMED (вновь встревожен)

 

FIVE or six years had passed (пять или шесть лет прошли), and not another footprint had I seen (я не видел другого отпечатка ноги).

I had gotten over my great fright (преодолел мой большой страх), and yet I was not so bold as I had been (но все же я не был не таким отважным, каким был /раньше/). Any sudden sound would make me start and look around (любой неожиданный звук мог заставить меня вздрогнуть и /начать/ осматриваться).

I thought that if savage men had been on the island once (я думал, если дикие люди были на острове однажды), they were quite likely to come again (они вполне могли прийти опять; likely – вероятно). So I kept on the lookout for them all the time (продолжал быть начеку все время, поджидал их все время).

My flock of goats had now grown to be very large (стадо коз стало очень большим), and I needed another field (мне требовалось другое поле). I wished to put some of them in a hidden spot where the savages, if they did come, would not find them (я хотел спрятать некоторых из них в потаенное место, где дикари, если бы они пришли, не нашли бы их).

I had already a small flock in one such spot (я уже имел маленькое стадо в одном таком месте), as I have told you. But now I wished to have another (еще одно).

In looking for the right kind of place (ища подходящее место), I went all over the island (обошел весь остров). I even went far out on a rocky point beyond the place where I kept my canoe (вышел даже на скалистое место за тем местом, где я держал каноэ).

As I was standing on a rock and looking out to sea, I thought I saw a boat in the distance (подумал, что увидел лодку на расстоянии = мне показалось, что вдали я увидел лодку). I was only a little speck on the water (пятнышко на воде), and it seemed to rise and fall with the waves (казалось, поднимается и падает с волнами). It could not be a rock (это не могла быть скала).

I looked at it till my eyes could look no more (пока мои глаза больше не могли смотреть). I had saved a spyglass out of the ship (сохранил подзорную трубу с корабля); but, as luck would have it (как было угодно судьбе), I had left it at home (оставил ее дома). How I wished for it then (как я желал ее тогда)!

Whether I really saw a boat or not (видел ли я в действительности лодку или нет), I do not know. But as I walked back along the shore (но пока я шел обратно вдоль берега), I made up my mind never to go out again without my spyglass (решил никогда больше не выходить без подзорной трубы).

I walked slowly along, thinking of what I had seen (я шел медленно, думая о том, что я видел). All at once I came upon that which made my heart stand still (вдруг я наткнулся на то, что заставило мое сердце остановиться).

On the sandy, sloping beach of a pleasant little harbor (на песчаном, клонящемся /к воде/ пляже красивой маленькой заводи) I saw not only one footprint, but hundreds of them (я увидел не только один отпечаток ноги, а тысячи их).

I stood still, afraid to move (стоял как вкопанный, боясь пошевелиться).

But the footprints were not all (но отпечатки ноги – это было не все). The beach at one place was covered with bones and bits of flesh (пляж был покрыт костями и кусками мяса), as in a slaughter house (как на скотобойне). Some of the bones were quite fresh (некоторые из костей были довольно свежими); some had been charred with fire (некоторые потемнели от огня; to char — обжечь, опалить).

"Here the savages have been holding a feast (здесь дикари «держали» = устраивали пир)," I said to myself (сказал себе).

A little farther on I saw that a pit had been dug in the sand (немного дальше я увидел, что яма была выкопан в песке), and here they had had their fire (и здесь у них был костер). The ashes were still warm (зола еще была теплой).

I wondered what kind of a feast these wild men had been having (я задавался вопросом, какой пир эти дикие люди устраивали). There were savages on the mainland who were said to kill and eat the captives (были дикари на материке, которые, как говорили, убивали и ели пленников) whom they took in war (которых брали на войне). Cannibals they were called (их называли каннибалами).

Could this have been a feast of cannibals (могло это быть пиром каннибалов)? And were these the bones and flesh of human beings (были ли это кости и мясо людей: «людских существ»)?

I trembled as I thought of it (задрожал, когда подумал об этом).

I turned and ran from the place as fast as I could (я развернулся и побежал от этого места так быстро, как /только/ мог).

I ran until I could go no farther (я бежал, пока не мог идти больше). My breath came fast (мое дыхание прерывалось). I sank down upon the ground (упал на землю; to sink — опускаться, падать).

When I had rested a little while (когда я отдохнул немного), I looked around and found that I was not very far from my castle (я осмотрелся и обнаружил, что я был не очень далеко от моего замка). All around me was peaceful and still (все вокруг меня было мирно и спокойно). I was surely safe from harm (я был определенно спасен от вреда/беды = в безопасности).