Студопедия — I MAKE A NEW BOAT
Студопедия Главная Случайная страница Обратная связь

Разделы: Автомобили Астрономия Биология География Дом и сад Другие языки Другое Информатика История Культура Литература Логика Математика Медицина Металлургия Механика Образование Охрана труда Педагогика Политика Право Психология Религия Риторика Социология Спорт Строительство Технология Туризм Физика Философия Финансы Химия Черчение Экология Экономика Электроника

I MAKE A NEW BOAT






I MADE up my mind to begin the new boat at once (начать /строить/ новую лодку).

So, the next day, I went with Friday to find a good tree.

There were trees enough on the island to build a fleet (достаточно деревьев на острове, чтобы построить флот). But, I must find one that was close to the water (близко к воде), so that we could launch the boat when it was made (чтобы мы смогли спустить лодку, когда она будет готова).

 

At last Friday found one. He knew, better than I, what kind of wood was best for making a boat (какой вид дерева был лучшим для создания лодки).

It was an odd-looking tree (странное дерево), and to this day I do not know its name (и до сего дня я не знаю его названия).

Friday chopped it down (срубил его). He cut off a part of it for the boat (отрезал часть его для лодки).

He wished to build a fire on the top of it (захотел разжечь огонь в верхней части /этого бревна/) and thus burn out (и таким образом выжечь) the hollow part of the boat (полую часть лодки).

But I showed him a better way (но я показал ему лучший способ = способ получше), to chop it out with hatchets and chisels (/что можно/ выдолбить его /бревно/ топориками и долотом).

In about a month it was finished (примерно через месяц она /лодка/ была закончена). With our axes (топорами) we cut and hewed the outside till it was in a very good shape (мы резали и рубили наружную часть, пока она не приняла очень хорошую форму).

Then we worked hard for two weeks to get the boat into the water.

But when she was in, how well she floated (поплыла)! She would have carried at least twenty men (она могла бы везти самое малое двадцать человек).

It was wonderful (удивительно) how well Friday could manage her (управлять ею). It was wonderful how fast he could paddle (как быстро он мог грести).

"Now, Friday," I said, "do you think she will carry us over the sea (перевезет нас через море)?"

"Yes, master," he said, "she will carry us even in the worst wind (даже при самом худшем ветре)."

My next care was to make a mast and a sail (моей следующей заботой было сделать мачту и парус), and to fit the boat with an anchor and a rudder (оборудовать лодку якорем и рулем).

It was easy enough to get the mast. I had Friday cut down a tall young cedar (кедр) that grew near the place.

He shaped it and smoothed it (сровнял), and made as pretty a mast as you would wish to see (такую красивую мачту, какую бы вы /только/ хотели видеть = что лучше некуда).

As for the sail, that was another thing (что касается паруса, это было другое дело). I had old sails, or pieces of old sails (или куски старых парусов) in plenty (в изобилии: «в полноте»).

But they had been lying in this place and in that for six and twenty years (но они лежали то тут, то там в течение двадцати шести лет). It would be a wonder if they were not all rotten (было бы чудом, если бы они не оказались все гнилыми).

After a long search (после долгих поисков) I found two pieces which I thought would do (подойдут). I set to work, patching and stitching (взялся за работу, за латание и шитье; to stitch — шить; стегать).

It was slow work without needles (без иголок), you may be sure (можете быть уверены = как вы понимаете).

At last I had a three-cornered (3-угольный), ugly thing (уродливую штуку).

I had also a little short sprit (маленький короткий шпринтов) to run up at the top of the mast (чтобы забираться на верхушку мачты).

It took two months (заняло два месяца) to make the sails and the rigging (оснастку) as I wished (такими, как я желал).

Then I put in a rudder to steer the boat (установил руль, чтобы направлять лодку). I was a poor carpenter (жалкий из меня был плотник), and I made a pretty rough job of it (и моя работа была довольно грубой).

Friday knew how to paddle a canoe as well as any man.

But he knew nothing about a sail. He had never seen a boat steered by a rudder (лодку, управляемую рулем).

We made several little voyages (несколько маленьких поездок) near the island and I taught him how to manage everything about the boat (как управляться со всем, что в лодке).

Much as I wished to go back to my own people (как бы я ни хотел вернуться к своим соотечественникам), I could not make up my mind (не мог решиться) to try the long voyage across to the mainland (попробовать долгое путешествие на ту сторону, к материку).

I had now been on the island twenty-seven years. My man Friday had been with me about two years, and these had been the happiest of my life. I had everything to make me comfortable and happy.

Why should I wish to go away?

I had a great longing (большое желание) to see my native land again (увидеть родную землю опять), to talk with people of my own race (моей собственно расы), perhaps to visit my kindred once more (родственников еще раз). This longing I could not rid myself of, day or night (от этого желания не мог я избавиться, ни днем, ни ночью).

But now new thoughts came into mind (но теперь новые мысли приходили на ум). I felt that in some way I would soon escape from the island (я чувствовал, что так или иначе я скоро убегу с острова; to escape — совершать побег). Indeed, I was quite sure that I would not stay there another year (на самом деле, я был вполне уверен, что я не останусь здесь еще на год).

I cannot tell you what made me feel that way (что заставило меня чувствовать так). But I seemed to know that some great change in my life was near at hand (я, казалось, знал, что какое-то большое изменение в моей жизни было близко).

Yet I went on with my farming as before (все еще, однако продолжал фермерство, как раньше). I dug (копал), I planted (сажал), I reaped (жал), I gathered my grapes (собирал виноград), I did everything just as though I had no such thoughts (точно так, как будто у меня не было таких мыслей).

My man Friday was the truest of helpers (самым верным, настоящим из помощников). He did all the heavy labor (тяжелый труд). He would not let me lift my hand (не позволил бы мне поднять руку) if he could help it (если только мог /сделать это/).

The rainy season at last came upon us (сезон дождей наступил), and this put an end to most of our outdoor work (и это прекратило = заставило нас прекратить большую часть нашей работы вне дома).

We took our new boat to a safe place some distance up the little river, above the point (выше места) where I had landed my rafts from the ship.

We hauled her up to the shore at high-water mark (затащили ее на берег у отметки высокой воды), and there Friday dug a little dock for her (док для нее).

This dock was just big enough to hold her and it was just deep enough to give her water to float in.

When the tide was out we made a strong dam across the end of it (дамбу через конец /дока/), to keep the water out (чтобы удерживать воду вне). Thus she lay high and dry on the bank of the river.

To keep the rain off we laid a great many branches of trees upon her till she was covered thickly with them (много веток деревьев на нее, пока она не стала укрыта очень плотно ими). A thatched roof (крытая соломой крыша) could not have protected her better (не могла бы защитить ее лучше).

Little did I think that I should never see (мало я /тогда/ задумывался над тем, что никогда больше не увижу) our boat floating upon the water again. For all that I know (насколько я знаю), she is still lying high and dry in her little waterproof dock (не пропускающем воду доке).

We were now kept indoors (внутри, в доме) a great part of the time, but we kept ourselves occupied pleasantly (занятыми приятно), and the hours passed swiftly (часы проходили быстро).

My first duty (моим первым долгом) every morning was to read several chapters from the Bible (несколько глав из Библии). Then I instructed Friday in some of the truths of religion (наставлял в некоторых религиозных истинах).

I was but an awkward teacher (был всего лишь неловким учителем), but I did my best (старался, делал все возможное: «делал мое лучшее») and was honest (и был честным).

I began by asking him about the Creator (о Создателе).

I asked him who made the sea, the hills, the woods, the ground we walked on.

He told me it was one great being who lived beyond all (существо, которое жило вне пределов всего).

I confess (признаюсь) I could not have given a better answer (не мог бы дать лучшего ответа).

He said that this great being was older than the sea or the land, the moon or the stars (луны или звезд).

Then I said, "If this being has made all things, why do not all things worship him (почему не все вещи почитают его)?"

He looked very grave (выглядел очень серьезным, важным = принял серьезный, важный вид), and with eyes full of innocence (глазами, полными невинности), answered, "All things say O to him."

Thus he taught me while I was trying to teach him (так он учил меня, пока я пытался учить его).

 

awkward [‘o:kwəd]

 

 

I MAKE A NEW BOAT

I MADE up my mind to begin the new boat at once.

So, the next day, I went with Friday to find a good tree.

There were trees enough on the island to build a fleet. But, I must find one that was close to the water, so that we could launch the boat when it was made. At last Friday found one. He knew, better than I, what kind of wood was best for making a boat.

It was an odd-looking tree, and to this day I do not know its name.

Friday chopped it down. He cut off a part of it for the boat.

He wished to build a fire on the top of it and thus burn out the hollow part of the boat.

But I showed him a better way, to chop it out with hatchets and chisels.

In about a month it was finished. With our axes we cut and hewed the outside till it was in a very good shape.

Then we worked hard for two weeks to get the boat into the water.

But when she was in, how well she floated! She would have carried at least twenty men.

It was wonderful how well Friday could manage her. It was wonderful how fast he could paddle.

"Now, Friday," I said, "do you think she will carry us over the sea?"

"Yes, master," he said, "she will carry us even in the worst wind."

My next care was to make a mast and a sail, and to fit the boat with an anchor and a rudder.

It was easy enough to get the mast. I had Friday cut down a tall young cedar that grew near the place.

He shaped it and smoothed it, and made as pretty a mast as you would wish to see.

As for the sail, that was another thing. I had old sails, or pieces of old sails in plenty.

But they had been lying in this place and in that for six and twenty years. It would be a wonder if they were not all rotten.

After a long search I found two pieces which I thought would do. I set to work, patching and stitching.

It was slow work without needles, you may be sure.

At last I had a three-cornered, ugly thing.

I had also a little short sprit to run up at the top of the mast.

It took two months to make the sails and the rigging as I wished.

Then I put in a rudder to steer the boat. I was a poor carpenter, and I made a pretty rough job of it.

Friday knew how to paddle a canoe as well as any man.

But he knew nothing about a sail. He had never seen a boat steered by a rudder.

We made several little voyages near the island and I taught him how to manage everything about the boat.

Much as I wished to go back to my own people, I could not make up my mind to try the long voyage across to the mainland.

I had now been on the island twenty-seven years. My man Friday had been with me about two years, and these had been the happiest of my life. I had everything to make me comfortable and happy.

Why should I wish to go away?

I had a great longing to see my native land again, to talk with people of my own race, perhaps to visit my kindred once more. This longing I could not rid myself of, day or night.

But now new thoughts came into mind. I felt that in some way I would soon escape from the island. Indeed, I was quite sure that I would not stay there another year.

I cannot tell you what made me feel that way. But I seemed to know that some great change in my life was near at hand.

Yet I went on with my farming as before. I dug, I planted, I reaped, I gathered my grapes, I did everything just as though I had no such thoughts.

My man Friday was the truest of helpers. He did all the heavy labor. He would not let me lift my hand if he could help it.

The rainy season at last came upon us, and this put an end to most of our outdoor work.

We took our new boat to a safe place some distance up the little river, above the point where I had landed my rafts from the ship.

We hauled her up to the shore at high-water mark, and there Friday dug a little dock for her.

This dock was just big enough to hold her and it was just deep enough to give her water to float in.

When the tide was out we made a strong dam across the end of it, to keep the water out. Thus she lay high and dry on the bank of the river.

To keep the rain off we laid a great many branches of trees upon her till she was covered thickly with them. A thatched roof could not have protected her better.

Little did I think that I should never see our boat floating upon the water again. For all that I know, she is still lying high and dry in her little waterproof dock.

We were now kept indoors a great part of the time, but we kept ourselves occupied pleasantly, and the hours passed swiftly.

My first duty every morning was to read several chapters from the Bible. Then I instructed Friday in some of the truths of religion.

I was but an awkward teacher, but I did my best and was honest.

I began by asking him about the Creator.

I asked him who made the sea, the hills, the woods, the ground we walked on.

He told me it was one great being who lived beyond all.

I confess I could not have given a better answer.

He said that this great being was older than the sea or the land, the moon or the stars.

Then I said, "If this being has made all things, why do not all things worship him?"

He looked very grave, and with eyes full of innocence, answered, "All things say O to him."

Thus he taught me while I was trying to teach him.

 

I SEE A STRANGE SAIL (вижу незнакомый парус)

 

I PASS over some wonderful things that happened during my last year on the island (пропускаю некоторые удивительные вещи, которые произошли в течение последнего моего года на острове). For I must not make this story too long (так как я не должен делать эту историю слишком длинной).

I was fast asleep in my castle one morning when Friday came running in (я крепко спал в моем замке одним утром, когда Пятница вбежал внутрь).

 

"O master, master (хозяин)!" he cried, "a boat, a boat!"

I jumped up (вскочил) and went out as quickly as could (так быстро, как мог). I was in such haste (в такой спешке) that I forgot to carry my gun with me (что забыл взять мое ружье с собой).

I looked toward the sea (выглянул на море). About three miles from the shore I saw a strange boat (странную лодку) coming to the island. It carried a leg-of-mutton sail (вид паруса «нога овцы») and was coming swiftly with the wind. "Surely," I thought, "this is not the kind of boat that savages sail in."

Then I saw that it was coming not from the open sea on my side of the island, but from around a point on the south shore (с южного берега).

I ran back to my castle and told Friday to stay inside and keep quiet (сидеть тихо) till we could learn whether the people in the boat were friends or foes (пока мы не узнаем, были ли люди в лодке друзьями или врагами).

Then I climbed up to my lookout on the top of the great rock.

I looked out toward the south shore, and there I saw a ship lying at anchor (увидел корабль, стоящий на якоре). As nearly as I could guess (насколько я мог прикинуть), it was about five miles from my castle and at least three miles from the shore.

It looked just like an English ship (английский корабль), and the boat was surely an English longboat (баркас).

I cannot tell you how glad I was at the thought that some of my own countrymen (соотечественники) were so near. Yet I felt strange fears (почувствовал странные страхи), and so made up my mind to be very cautious (осторожным).

In the first place, what business (какие дела) could an English ship have in these seas? The English had no lands (никаких земель) in this part of the world. They would not come here to trade. There had been no storms to drive the vessel to this place (не было штормов, чтобы пригнать судно в это место).

The more I thought of the matter (чем больше я думал об этом: «об этом предмете, об этой материи»), the more I doubted (тем больше я сомневался). If these people were indeed English (в самом деле англичанами), they must be here for no good purpose (они, должно быть, были здесь с недоброй целью).

By this time the boat was quite near the shore. I could see the men in it quite plainly (достаточно ясно). They looked like Englishmen.

As they came in the tide was at its highest, and so they ran the boat far up on the beach about half a mile from me.

I now counted eleven men (насчитал), and all but three were armed with swords (все, кроме троих, были вооружены шпагами). As soon as the boat touched the land (как только лодка коснулась берега), the most of them jumped out (большинство из них выскочили из нее).

Then I saw that the three unarmed men were prisoners (что три невооруженных человека были пленниками). Their hands were tied behind them (руки были связаны за спиной) and they were closely guarded (под строгой охраной: «внимательно охранялись»).

As they were led on shore (когда они были выведены на берег; to lead), they seemed in great distress (казалось, были в большой беде) as though begging for their lives (словно прося за свои жизни = сохранить им жизнь).

When Friday saw all this, he cried out to me, "O master! the white mans do just like savage mans with their prisoners (как дикари со своими пленниками)."

"Why, Friday," I said, "do you think they are going to eat them?"

"Yes, yes," he answered, "they are going to eat them."

The prisoners were led (были проведены) far up on the beach, and I expected every moment to see them killed (ожидал, что они в любой момент будут убиты).

But soon their guards seemed to change their minds (казалось, передумали: «сменили разум»). They talked together for a little while (поговорили друг с другом некоторое время). Then they untied the prisoners' hands (развязали руки пленников) and let them go where they pleased (куда им хотелось).

The seamen scattered (моряки разбежались), some going this way, some that, as though (как будто) they wished to see the country. But the men who had been prisoners sat down on the ground and seemed very sad and full of despair (казались очень грустными и полными отчаяния).

I thought then of the time when I had first landed on that shore — how I had no hope (никакой надежды), and how I gave myself up for lost (как я считал, что пропал).

As I have said, the tide was at its highest when the men came on shore. They rambled around (бродили) till it had flowed out and left their boat high and dry on the sand.

They had left two men with the boat to guard it. But the weather being very warm (поскольку погода была очень теплой), these men had fallen asleep.

When one of them awoke and found the water far out from the boat, he began to hello for help (звать на помощь). All the men came running and tried to drag the boat out to the water (попытались тянуть лодку к воде).

But it was so heavy (тяжелой) they could not move it. They tugged and pulled (тянули и тащили) for a long time. Then I heard one of them shout (слышал, как один из них закричал): "Let her alone (оставьте ее), boys! She'll float all right when the next tide comes up.

With that they gave it up (оставили это) and all strolled out into the country again (ушли гулять опять; to stroll — прогуливаться, бродить).

 

cautious [‘ko:ʃəs]

 

 

I SEE A STRANGE SAIL

 

I PASS over some wonderful things that happened during my last year on the island. For I must not make this story too long.

I was fast asleep in my castle one morning when Friday came running in. "O master, master!" he cried, "a boat, a boat!"

I jumped up and went out as quickly as could. I was in such haste that I forgot to carry my gun with me.

I looked toward the sea. About three miles from the shore I saw a strange boat coming to the island. It carried a leg-of-mutton sail and was coming swiftly with the wind. "Surely," I thought, "this is not the kind of boat that savages sail in."

Then I saw that it was coming not from the open sea on my side of the island, but from around a point on the south shore.

I ran back to my castle and told Friday to stay inside and keep quiet till we could learn whether the people in the boat were friends or foes.

Then I climbed up to my lookout on the top of the great rock.

I looked out toward the south shore, and there I saw a ship lying at anchor. As nearly as I could guess, it was about five miles from my castle and at least three miles from the shore.

It looked just like an English ship, and the boat was surely an English longboat.

I cannot tell you how glad I was at the thought that some of my own countrymen were so near. Yet I felt strange fears, and so made up my mind to be very cautious.

In the first place, what business could an English ship have in these seas? The English had no lands in this part of the world. They would not come here to trade. There had been no storms to drive the vessel to this place.

The more I thought of the matter, the more I doubted. If these people were indeed English, they must be here for no good purpose.

By this time the boat was quite near the shore. I could see the men in it quite plainly. They looked like Englishmen.

As they came in the tide was at its highest, and so they ran the boat far up on the beach about half a mile from me.

I now counted eleven men, and all but three were armed with swords. As soon as the boat touched the land, the most of them jumped out.

Then I saw that the three unarmed men were prisoners. Their hands were tied behind them and they were closely guarded.

As they were led on shore, they seemed in great distress as though begging for their lives.

When Friday saw all this, he cried out to me, "O master! the white mans do just like savage mans with their prisoners."

"Why, Friday," I said, "do you think they are going to eat them?"

"Yes, yes," he answered, "they are going to eat them."

The prisoners were led far up on the beach, and I expected every moment to see them killed.

But soon their guards seemed to change their minds. They talked together for a little while. Then they untied the prisoners' hands and let them go where they pleased.

The seamen scattered, some going this way, some that, as though they wished to see the country. But the men who had been prisoners sat down on the ground and seemed very sad and full of despair.

I thought then of the time when I had first landed on that shore — how I had no hope, and how I gave myself up for lost.

As I have said, the tide was at its highest when the men came on shore. They rambled around till it had flowed out and left their boat high and dry on the sand.

They had left two men with the boat to guard it. But the weather being very warm, these men had fallen asleep.

When one of them awoke and found the water far out from the boat, he began to hello for help. All the men came running and tried to drag the boat out to the water.

But it was so heavy they could not move it. They tugged and pulled for a long time. Then I heard one of them shout: "Let her alone, boys! She'll float all right when the next tide comes up.

With that they gave it up and all strolled out into the country again.

 

I MAKE A BOLD RESCUE (отважное спасение)

 

I KNEW that the tide would not be at its highest again before night (что прилив не будет на своем самом высоком /уровне/ до ночи). So I thought that I would arm myself (вооружусь), and, as soon as it was dark (как только станет темно), would venture out (решусь сделать вылазку) and learn more about my strange visitors if I could (и выясню больше о моих странных гостях, если смогу).

I looked at my guns and got everything ready (подготовил все), and then sat down to wait.

The day, as I have said, was very hot. The three men who had been prisoners still sat under a tree by the shore (все еще сидели под деревом на берегу). But all the rest were in the woods. No doubt they would rest in some shady place (в тенистом месте) until the sun went down.

At about two o'clock I became so uneasy (беспокойным) that I could wait no longer (не мог больше ждать).

"Friday," I said, "let us go out and see what we can do (давай выйдем и посмотрим, что мы можем сделать)."

You should have seen us as we marched out of the castle (вам следовало бы видеть нас, как мы маршировали из замка).

I had two guns on my shoulders (плечах) and Friday had three (и Пятница нес три). I had on my goatskin coat and my great hat that I have told you about. At my side was a naked sword (обнаженная шпага), and in my belt were two huge pistols (два огромных пистолета).

I must have looked very fierce (свирепым).

We went quietly down the hill, keeping ourselves hidden among the trees (скрываясь: «держа нас скрытыми» за деревьями). At last, when we were quite near the three men, I jumped suddenly out before them and cried (выпрыгнул вдруг перед ними и выкрикнул), "What are you, gentlemen?"

Never were men more surprised (никогда люди не бывали удивлены больше).

They sprang to their feet (вскочили на ноги), but they could not speak a word. In fact, they were on the point of running away from me when I cried (были готовы убежать от меня, когда я крикнул): "Hold (стойте), gentlemen! Do not be afraid. I am a friend. I bring help (я несу помощь)."

"Then, indeed," said one of them, "you must have been sent from heaven (должно быть, посланы с небес); for our case is hopeless (ибо наша участь безнадежна)."

"All help is from heaven, sir," I said; and then I briefly (кратко) told them how I had seen them brought to the shore.

"I am an Englishman," I said, "and I stand ready to help you. I have one servant (слугу), and we are well armed. Tell us what is your case (в чем ваше дело = что случилось; case — случай, обстоятельство, дело, положение), and how we may serve you (чем: «как» мы можем служить вам)."

"Our case," said the foremost of the three men (передний/главный из трех человек), "is too long to tell you now; for our enemies are very near (враги очень близко). I was the captain of the ship that lies at anchor offshore (которое лежит на якоре в море). Three days ago the sailors all rose against me (моряки восстали против меня). They made me their prisoner (пленником). They seized upon the ship (захватили корабль), for they wanted to become pirates (хотели стать пиратами).

"They were about to kill me (готовы убить меня); but this morning they decided to leave me on this island to die (оставить меня на острове погибать). The men who are with me, they are doomed to the same fate (приговорены к той же участи). One is my mate (друг), the other a passenger (пассажир).

"Being brought ashore here, we had no hope but to perish (только погибнуть). For it did not seem to us that any one could live in such a desolate place (чтобы кто-то мог жить в таком пустынном месте)."

"But where are those cruel enemies of yours (где те жестокие ваши враги)?" I asked. "Do you know where they are gone?"

"They are there, sir," he said, pointing to a grove (указал на лесок) not far away. "They are sleeping in the shade (в тени). If they should wake and see you with us, they would kill us all."

"Have they any firearms (огнестрельное оружие)?" I asked.

"Only two muskets (мушкета)," he answered, "and one of these they have left in the boat."

"Then trust everything to me (доверьте все мне)," I said. "If they are asleep it will be easy to kill them all. But I think it will be better to make them our prisoners."

The captain then told me that there were two very wicked fellows among them (два больших злодея: «злых парня» среди них; wicked — злой, безнравственный) who were the ringleaders (зачинщиками).

"It is they who have made all this trouble (волнение, беспорядок)," he said. "If they and two others could be overcome the rest would come back and do their duty (если их и двоих других можно будет одолеть, другие вернутся и будут исполнять свой долг). Indeed (в самом деле), I am sure that many of them have gone into this business against their will (я уверен, что многие из них пошли в дело против своей воли)."

 

prudent ['pru:dǝnt] existence [ιg'zιstǝns]

 

 

I MAKE A BOLD RESCUE

 

I KNEW that the tide would not be at its highest again before night. So I thought that I would arm myself, and, as soon as it was dark, would venture out and learn more about my strange visitors if I could. I looked at my guns and got everything ready, and then sat down to wait.

The day, as I have said, was very hot. The three men who had been prisoners still sat under a tree by the shore. But all the rest were in the woods. No doubt they would rest in some shady place until the sun went down.

At about two o'clock I became so uneasy that I could wait no longer.

"Friday," I said, "let us go out and see what we can do."

You should have seen us as we marched out of the castle.

I had two guns on my shoulders and Friday had three. I had on my goatskin coat and my great hat that I have told you about. At my side was a naked sword, and in my belt were two huge pistols.

I must have looked very fierce.

We went quietly down the hill, keeping ourselves hidden among the trees. At last, when we were quite near the three men, I jumped suddenly out before them and cried, "What are you, gentlemen?"

Never were men more surprised.

They sprang to their feet, but they could not speak a word. In fact, they were on the point of running away from me when I cried: "Hold, gentlemen! Do not be afraid. I am a friend. I bring help."

"Then, indeed," said one of them, "you must have been sent from heaven; for our case is hopeless."

"All help is from heaven, sir," I said; and then I briefly told them how I had seen them brought to the shore.

"I am an Englishman," I said, "and I stand ready to help you. I have one servant, and we are well armed. Tell us what is your case, and how we may serve you."

"Our case," said the foremost of the three men, "is too long to tell you now; for our enemies are very near. I was the captain of the ship that lies at anchor offshore. Three days ago the sailors all rose against me. They made me their prisoner. They seized upon the ship, for they wanted to become pirates.

"They were about to kill me; but this morning they decided to leave me on this island to die. The men who are with me, they are doomed to the same fate. One is my mate, the other a passenger.

"Being brought ashore here, we had no hope but to perish. For it did not seem to us that any one could live in such a desolate place."

"But where are those cruel enemies of yours?" I asked. "Do you know where they are gone?"

"They are there, sir," he said, pointing to a grove not far away. "They are sleeping in the shade. If they should wake and see you with us, they would kill us all."

"Have they any firearms?" I asked.

"Only two muskets," he answered, "and one of these they have left in the boat."

"Then trust everything to me," I said. "If they are asleep it will be easy to kill them all. But I think it will be better to make them our prisoners."

The captain then told me that there were two very wicked fellows among them who were the ringleaders.

"It is they who have made all this trouble," he said. "If they and two others could be overcome the rest would come back and do their duty. Indeed, I am sure that many of them have gone into this business against their will."

 







Дата добавления: 2015-09-04; просмотров: 389. Нарушение авторских прав; Мы поможем в написании вашей работы!



Важнейшие способы обработки и анализа рядов динамики Не во всех случаях эмпирические данные рядов динамики позволяют определить тенденцию изменения явления во времени...

ТЕОРЕТИЧЕСКАЯ МЕХАНИКА Статика является частью теоретической механики, изучающей условия, при ко­торых тело находится под действием заданной системы сил...

Теория усилителей. Схема Основная масса современных аналоговых и аналого-цифровых электронных устройств выполняется на специализированных микросхемах...

Логические цифровые микросхемы Более сложные элементы цифровой схемотехники (триггеры, мультиплексоры, декодеры и т.д.) не имеют...

Особенности массовой коммуникации Развитие средств связи и информации привело к возникновению явления массовой коммуникации...

Тема: Изучение приспособленности организмов к среде обитания Цель:выяснить механизм образования приспособлений к среде обитания и их относительный характер, сделать вывод о том, что приспособленность – результат действия естественного отбора...

Тема: Изучение фенотипов местных сортов растений Цель: расширить знания о задачах современной селекции. Оборудование:пакетики семян различных сортов томатов...

Подкожное введение сывороток по методу Безредки. С целью предупреждения развития анафилактического шока и других аллергических реак­ций при введении иммунных сывороток используют метод Безредки для определения реакции больного на введение сыворотки...

Принципы и методы управления в таможенных органах Под принципами управления понимаются идеи, правила, основные положения и нормы поведения, которыми руководствуются общие, частные и организационно-технологические принципы...

ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОЕ САМОВОСПИТАНИЕ И САМООБРАЗОВАНИЕ ПЕДАГОГА Воспитывать сегодня подрастающее поколение на со­временном уровне требований общества нельзя без по­стоянного обновления и обогащения своего профессио­нального педагогического потенциала...

Studopedia.info - Студопедия - 2014-2024 год . (0.012 сек.) русская версия | украинская версия