I CARRY SOME THINGS ASHORE 8 страница

With tears in my eyes (со слезами на глазах) I knelt down and gave thanks to God (упал на колени и вознес благодарность Богу). I thanked him that he had kept me alive and safe through so many years (благодарил Его /за то/ что Он сохранил меня живым и в безопасности столько много лет). I thanked him that I had been cast on the side of the island which was never visited by savages (за то, что я был выброшен на сторону острова, которую никогда не посещали дикари). I thanked him for all the comforts and blessings that were mine (за все удобства и благословение, которые были моими = выпали мне на долю).

Then I arose and went home to my castle (затем я встал и пошел домой в мой замок; to arise).

As I sat before my door that evening (когда я сидел перед дверью в тот вечер), I thought the whole matter over (я обдумал весь вопрос: «всю материю»), and felt much easier in my mind (и почувствовал намного легче в уме = почувствовал облегчение).

I had been on the island eighteen years before I saw the first footprint (я пробыл на острове 18 лет, прежде чем увидел первый отпечаток ноги). I had been there twenty-three years before I saw any other signs of savages (другие признаки дикарей). It was likely that many more years would pass before any harm should come to me (было похоже, что много лет пройдут, прежде чем какая-либо беда постигнет меня).

With these thoughts I lay down in my hammock and slept without fear (с этими мыслями я лег в мой гамак и спал без страха).

But it was a long time before I went again to the farther shore of the island (но прошло долгое время, прежде чем я пошел опять на дальний берег острова). I did not even go to look after my canoe.

The days went quietly by (дни тихо проходили). I kept quite close to my castle (держался довольно близко к замку), and busied myself with my goats and my grain (занимался козами и зерном).

I was always on my guard (начеку; guard — охрана, защита; бдительность, осторожность), and never stepped out of doors without first looking around me (не выходил из дверей, не осмотревшись сначала).

 

observe [əb'zə:v] disgust [dιs'gʌst] hesitate['hezιteιt]

 

I AM AGAIN ALARMED

 

FIVE or six years had passed, and not another footprint had I seen.

I had gotten over my great fright, and yet I was not so bold as I had been. Any sudden sound would make me start and look around. I thought that if savage men had been on the island once, they were quite likely to come again. So I kept on the lookout for them all the time.

My flock of goats had now grown to be very large, and I needed another field. I wished to put some of them in a hidden spot where the savages, if they did come, would not find them.

I had already a small flock in one such spot, as I have told you. But now I wished to have another.

In looking for the right kind of place, I went all over the island. I even went far out on a rocky point beyond the place where I kept my canoe.

As I was standing on a rock and looking out to sea, I thought I saw a boat in the distance. I was only a little speck on the water, and it seemed to rise and fall with the waves. It could not be a rock.

I looked at it till my eyes could look no more. I had saved a spyglass out of the ship; but, as luck would have it, I had left it at home. How I wished for it then!

Whether I really saw a boat or not, I do not know. But as I walked back along the shore, I made up my mind never to go out again without my spyglass.

I walked slowly along, thinking of what I had seen. All at once I came upon that which made my heart stand still.

On the sandy, sloping beach of a pleasant little harbor I saw not only one footprint, but hundreds of them.

I stood still, afraid to move.

But the footprints were not all. The beach at one place was covered with bones and bits of flesh, as in a slaughter house. Some of the bones were quite fresh; some had been charred with fire.

"Here the savages have been holding a feast," I said to myself.

A little farther on I saw that a pit had been dug in the sand, and here they had had their fire. The ashes were still warm.

I wondered what kind of a feast these wild men had been having. There were savages on the mainland who were said to kill and eat the captives whom they took in war. Cannibals, they were called.

Could this have been a feast of cannibals? And were these the bones and flesh of human beings?

I trembled as I thought of it.

I turned and ran from the place as fast as I could.

I ran until I could go no farther. My breath came fast. I sank down upon the ground.

When I had rested a little while, I looked around and found that I was not very far from my castle. All around me was peaceful and still. I was surely safe from harm.

With tears in my eyes I knelt down and gave thanks to God. I thanked him that he had kept me alive and safe through so many years. I thanked him that I had been cast on the side of the island which was never visited by savages. I thanked him for all the comforts and blessings that were mine.

Then I arose and went home to my castle.

As I sat before my door that evening, I thought the whole matter over, and felt much easier in my mind.

I had been on the island eighteen years before I saw the first footprint. I had been there twenty-three years before I saw any other signs of savages. It was likely that many more years would pass before any harm should come to me.

With these thoughts I lay down in my hammock and slept without fear.

But it was a long time before I went again to the farther shore of the island. I did not even go to look after my canoe.

The days went quietly by. I kept quite close to my castle, and busied myself with my goats and my grain.

I was always on my guard, and never stepped out of doors without first looking around me.

 

I MAKE A SURPRISING DISCOVERY (совершаю удивительное открытие)

 

ONCE every week I went into the woods to see the flock of goats that I had hidden there (один раз каждую неделю я ходил в лес посмотреть на стадо коз, которое я спрятал там).

I always carried my gun (всегда носил = имел при себе ружье), but since my last great fright (с последнего моего большого страха = с тех пор, как я сильно был напуган) I did not dare to fire it off (не осмеливался выстрелить из него). I was afraid even to drive a nail (боялся даже забить гвоздь) or chop a stick of wood (срубить ветку дерева), lest some savages might be near enough to hear the sound (так как дикари могли быть достаточно близко, чтобы услышать звук).

I was afraid to build a fire at my castle (боялся развести огонь у моего замка), lest the smoke should be seen (так как дым мог быть увиден).

At last I carried some of my pots and kettles to my hidden field in the woods (в конце концов я принес несколько чайников на мое спрятанное поле в лесу). I could do my cooking there much more safely than at my castle (я мог заниматься готовкой там намного в больше безопасности, чем в замке).

Hardly had I put things in order there when I found something that made me very glad (едва я разложил вещи в порядке там, как обнаружил нечто, что сделало меня очень радостным). What do you suppose it was (что, вы полагаете, это было)?

It was a cave — a real cave (настоящая пещера). The door into it was through a little hollow place at the bottom of a great rock (дверь в нее была через маленькую дыру: «полое место» у подножия большой скалы). It was so well hidden that no one could have found it even by looking for it (она была так хорошо спрятана, что никто не мог бы найти ее, даже ища ее).

Shall I tell you how I came upon it (должен ли я сказать вам, как как я наткнулся на нее)?

I was afraid to make a smoke near my house (я боялся разводить дым около моего дома), and yet I could not live without cooking meat (но все же не мог жить, не готовя еды). I tried all kinds of dry wood (я испытал все виды сухой древесины), and yet there was always some smoke (но все же всегда был какой-то дым). Then I thought I would try charcoal (древесный уголь). But I must first make the charcoal.

I found a place in the darkest part of the woods (в самой темной части леса) where the smoke would hardly rise to the tops of the trees (где бы дым едва поднялся бы до макушек деревьев). There I built my charcoal pit (яму для древесного угля).

This was done in the following way (это было сделано следующим способом):

First, I cleared off a round space about ten feet in diameter (сначала я расчистил круглое пространство около десяти футов в диаметре). Here I dug out the earth (выкопал землю) till I made a pit about a foot deep (пока не сделал яму около фута глубиной). Then I cut a cord or more of wood (нарубил корд или больше дров; корд – 128 кубических футо в) and piled it up in this space (уложил его на этом пространстве). I piled it up until it was almost as high as my shoulders (я укладывал его, пока оно не было почти таким высоким, как мои плечи = на уровне моих плеч). I covered it a foot deep with earth and turf (накрыл слоем земли и дерна высотой в фут), leaving a small open place at the bottom (оставив маленькое открытое место у основания).

When this was done, I set fire to the wood through the hole in the bottom (поджег древесину через отверстие у основания). It burned slowly (горело медленно). The wood became charcoal (древесина стала древесным углем).

One day, while cutting wood for my charcoal pit (пока я рубил дерево для моей ямы для древесного угля), I happened to see a hollow place in the rock close by a tree I was chopping (мне случилось увидеть углубление в скале близко к дереву, которое я рубил).

It was half covered with brush (наполовину закрыто кустарником). I pushed this aside and looked in (отодвинул его в сторону и заглянул внутрь). I saw a little cave just large enough for me to creep into on my hands and knees (увидел маленькую пещеру, достаточно большую только /для того, чтобы/ я пробрался на руках и коленях = на четвереньках).

But, a little farther in (немного дальше вглубь), it was larger (она была больше). It was so high that I could stand upright (мог стоять выпрямившись), and it was so wide that two men could have walked in it side by side (и была такой широкой, что два человека могли идти в ней бок о бок).

It was a very dark place (темное место), and I stood still a moment till my eyes should become a little used to it (пока мои глаза немного не привыкли к ней).

All at once I saw something in the darkness that made me scramble out of that place much faster than I had come into it (вдруг я увидел что-то в темноте, что заставило меня выкарабкаться из этого места намного быстрее, чем я вошел туда; scramble — продираться, карабкаться).

What do you think it was? Two big shining eyes (блестящих глаза) that glowed like coals in the darkness (пылали, как угли в темноте). Whether they were the eyes of a man or of some fierce beast (были ли этот глаза человека или свирепого животного), I did not stop to see (я не остановился посмотреть = не стал дожидаться ясности).

I stood a little while by the mouth of the cave (постоял немного у входа в пещеру) and then I began to get over my fright (начал превозмогать страх).

What could there be in this cave that would do me harm (что могло быть в этой пещере, что могло причинить мне вред)? No man could live there in the darkness (ни один человек не мог жить там в темноте). As for any animal (что касается любого животного), I knew there was nothing fiercer on the island than one of my cats (я знал, что не было ничего более свирепого на острове, чем мои кошки).

So, with a blazing stick for a torch (со сверкающий факелом), I crept back into the cave (пробрался обратно в пещеру). But I had not gone three steps before I was frightened almost as much as before (но я не прошел трех шагов, как был напуган почти также сильно, как раньше).

I heard a loud sigh (громкий вздох), like that of a man in trouble (как /звук/ человека в беде). Then there were low moans (низкие стоны), and sounds as of some one trying to speak (звуки кого-то пытающегося говорить).

I stopped short (остановился как вкопанный). Cold chills ran down my back (холодок пробежал вниз по спине). My hair seemed to stand on end (казалось, волосы встали дыбом). But I would not allow myself to run out again (но я не позволил бы себе выбежать опять).

I pushed my little torch forward into the darkness (толкнул = протянул мой маленький факел вперед в темноту), as far as I could (так далеко, как я мог). The blaze lit up the cave (пламя осветило пещеру). And what do you suppose I saw then (и что вы полагаете, я увидел затем)?

Why, nothing but a shaggy old goat (да ничего, как только потрепанную старого козла) that I had missed from my flock for nearly a week past (которого недоставало моему стаду почти неделю уже = который пропал из стада почти неделю назад; to miss — обнаружить отсутствие /чего-л./).

He was stretched on the floor of the cave (он растянулся на полу пещеры), and too weak to rise up (слишком слаб, чтобы встать). He was a very old fellow (он был старым: «старым парнем»), and perhaps had gone in there to die (и, возможно, пришел сюда умирать).

I gave him some food and water (я дал ему еды и воды), and made him as comfortable as I could (и сделал ему так удобно, как мог). But he was too far gone to live long (но он был слишком стар, чтобы прожить долго).

I found that, although I could stand up in the cave, it was very small (я обнаружил, что, хотя я мог стоять в пещере, она была очень маленькой). It was only a hole in the rocks (была только дырой в скалах), and was neither round nor square (ни круглая, ни квадратная).

But at the end of this little chamber there seemed to be a passage that led farther in (но в концу этой маленькой комнаты, казалось, был проход, который вел дальше внутрь). This passage was very narrow and dark (узким и темным), and as my torch had burned out (поскольку мой факел выгорел), I did not try to follow it (не попытался последовать по нему).

I went back to my wood chopping (я вернулся к моей рубке леса).

 

caution ['ko:ʃən] quarrel ['kworəl]

 

 

I MAKE A SURPRISING DISCOVERY

 

ONCE every week I went into the woods to see the flock of goats that I had hidden there. I always carried my gun, but since my last great fright I did not dare to fire it off. I was afraid even to drive a nail or chop a stick of wood, lest some savages might be near enough to hear the sound.

I was afraid to build a fire at my castle, lest the smoke should be seen.

At last I carried some of my pots and kettles to my hidden field in the woods. I could do my cooking there much more safely than at my castle.

Hardly had I put things in order there when I found something that made me very glad. What do you suppose it was?

It was a cave — a real cave. The door into it was through a little hollow place at the bottom of a great rock. It was so well hidden that no one could have found it even by looking for it.

Shall I tell you how I came upon it?

I was afraid to make a smoke near my house, and yet I could not live without cooking meat. I tried all kinds of dry wood, and yet there was always some smoke. Then I thought I would try charcoal. But I must first make the charcoal.

I found a place in the darkest part of the woods where the smoke would hardly rise to the tops of the trees. There I built my charcoal pit.

This was done in the following way:

First, I cleared off a round space about ten feet in diameter. Here I dug out the earth till I made a pit about a foot deep. Then I cut a cord or more of wood and piled it up in this space. I piled it up until it was almost as high as my shoulders. I covered it a foot deep with earth and turf, leaving a small open place at the bottom.

When this was done, I set fire to the wood through the hole in the bottom. It burned slowly. The wood became charcoal.

One day, while cutting wood for my charcoal pit, I happened to see a hollow place in the rock close by a tree I was chopping.

It was half covered with brush. I pushed this aside and looked in. I saw a little cave just large enough for me to creep into on my hands and knees.

But, a little farther in, it was larger. It was so high that I could stand upright, and it was so wide that two men could have walked in it side by side.

It was a very dark place, and I stood still a moment till my eyes should become a little used to it.

All at once I saw something in the darkness that made me scramble out of that place much faster than I had come into it.

What do you think it was? Two big shining eyes that glowed like coals in the darkness. Whether they were the eyes of a man or of some fierce beast, I did not stop to see.

I stood a little while by the mouth of the cave and then I began to get over my fright.

What could there be in this cave that would do me harm? No man could live there in the darkness. As for any animal, I knew there was nothing fiercer on the island than one of my cats.

So, with a blazing stick for a torch, I crept back into the cave. But I had not gone three steps before I was frightened almost as much as before.

I heard a loud sigh, like that of a man in trouble. Then there were low moans, and sounds as of some one trying to speak.

I stopped short. Cold chills ran down my back. My hair seemed to stand on end. But I would not allow myself to run out again.

I pushed my little torch forward into the darkness, as far as I could. The blaze lit up the cave. And what do you suppose I saw then?

Why, nothing but a shaggy old goat that I had missed from my flock for nearly a week past.

He was stretched on the floor of the cave, and too weak to rise up. He was a very old fellow, and perhaps had gone in there to die.

I gave him some food and water, and made him as comfortable as I could. But he was too far gone to live long.

I found that, although I could stand up in the cave, it was very small. It was only a hole in the rocks, and was neither round nor square.

But at the end of this little chamber there seemed to be a passage that led farther in. This passage was very narrow and dark, and as my torch had burned out, I did not try to follow it.

I went back to my wood chopping.

 

I EXPLORE MY CAVE FURTHER (я исследую мою пещеру дальше)

 

THE next day I brought out with me six big candles (на следующий день в вынес с собой шесть больших свечей).

For you must know that I was a candle maker (так как вы должны знать, что я был создателем свечей = делал свечи) as well as a baker (равно как и пекарем). Indeed, I made very good candles of goats' tallow, using some bits of old ropes for the wicks (в самом деле, я делал очень хорошие свечи из сала коз, использую куски веревки для фитилей).

 

As I have just said, I took six candles with me, for I had made up my mind to learn more about the cave I had found (как я только что сказал, я взял шесть свечей собой, так как я решил узнать больше о пещере, которую я нашел).

I lit two of the candles (зажег две свечи; to light — зажигать), and went in (зашел внутрь). The poor old goat was dead (бедная старая коза была мертва), and it was no easy work to dig a hole right there and bury him (было не легкой работой выкопать дыры прямо там и похоронить ее).

After this unpleasant task was done (после того как это неприятное задание было сделано), I went into the back part of the cave (я пошел в заднюю часть пещеры). The flame of the candles lighted up the darkness (пламя свечей осветило темноту), and I could see quite plainly (мог видеть довольно сносно).

The narrow passage of which I have told you was no less than thirty feet long (узкий проход, о котором я рассказал вам, был не меньше 30 футов длиной). In one place it was so low that I had to creep through on all fours (в одном месте он был таким низким, что мне пришлось ползти на четырех = на четвереньках).

But no sooner was I through this low place than I found myself in a splendid chamber (но как только я прошел это низкое место, я обнаружил себя великолепной комнате). It was large enough to shelter a hundred men (она была достаточно большой, чтобы укрыть 100 человек).

Indeed, it seemed like the great hall of some old English castle (в самом деле, она казалось /похожей/ на большой холл старого английского замка). I had never seen anything so grand (я никогда не видел ничего такого величественного).

The roof was at least twenty feet high (крыша была, по крайне мере, 20 футов высотой). The light from my two candles shone upon the walls and made it look as though covered with thousand of bright stars (свет моих двух свечей освещал стены и заставлял их выглядеть, как будто они покрыты тысячей ярких звезд).

Whether these were diamonds (были ли это бриллианты), or gold (золото), or some other precious things (ценные вещи = ценности), I did not know, and in fact I never learned (и на самом деле никогда и не узнал).

The floor was dry and level (пол был сухим и ровным). It was covered with white sand (был покрыт белым песком), which was very clean (который был очень чистым).

I was delighted (рад, в восторге). No better or safer storehouse could I have wished (лучшего или более безопасного склада я не мог и желать).

When I had looked at the room on every side and found that it was really the end of the cave (когда я осмотрел комнаты с каждой стороны и обнаружил, что это действительно был конец пещеры), I went out and hurried back to my castle (вышел и поспешил обратно в замок).

I found that I still had about sixty pounds of powder (все еще имел почти 60 фунтов пороха). This was the first thing that I carried to my new cavern (это было первое, что я принес в мою новую пещеру). I took thither also the lead (взял туда также свинец) that I had for making bullets (который я имел для изготовления пуль) and small shot (и маленькой дроби).

I felt now like one of the wonderful elves that you read about (чувствовал себя, как один из тех прекрасных эльфов, о которых вы читаете). They live, as you know, in rocks and in caves where none can get at them (они живут, как вы знаете, в скалах и пещерах, где никто не может достать их = добраться до них); and they have hidden treasures of gold and precious stones (спрятанные сокровища золота и ценных камней).

What if a hundred savages should hunt me (что если 100 дикарей погонятся за мной; to hunt — охотиться, травить, гнать)? They could not come near me here (они не смогут приблизиться ко мне здесь). I was safe from all foes (был в безопасности от всех врагов).

I fitted the cave up with whatever was needed to make it comfortable (я оборудовал пещеру всем, что было необходимо, чтобы сделать ее удобной для жизни).

If the worst came to the worst (если бы случилось самое страшное; the worst — худшее), I meant to live there (я намеревался жить там). And yet I did not wish to be obliged to do this (но все же я не желал быть вынужденным делать это).

When everything was safe and snug (удобно, уютно), I laid some green branches over the entrance and went back to my castle (я уложил несколько зеленых веток над входом и пошел обратно в замок).

I was very glad when I sat down in my old kitchen again. For, after all, no other place was so much like home (так как, после всего = в конце концов, нет места лучше дома).

I had now been twenty-three years on this island (пробыл на острове 23 года). If it had not been for fear of savages (если бы не страх перед дикарями), I would have been the happiest man in the world (я был бы самым счастливым человеком в мире).

During all those years I had been very busy (в течение всех этих лет я был очень занят). I did not work all the time, as you know (я не работал все время, как вы знаете), but I amused myself in various ways (развлекал себя разными способами).

I spent much time with Poll, the parrot (проводил много времени с попугаем). He soon learned to talk so well that it was a pleasure to hear him (он вскоре научился говорить т ак хорошо, что было удовольствием слушать его).

My dog had been my best friend and companion (мой пес был моим лучшим другом и спутником, товарищем). He lived for sixteen years (прожил 16 лет), and then died of old age (затем умер из-за старости).

As for my cats, the woods were full of them (что касается моих кошек, леса были полны ими). All ran wild except the two that I kept in my castle (все стали дикими, за исключением двух, которых я держал в замке). These were good mousers and fine pets (ловцами мышей и хорошими любимцами /домашними животными/).

I had also several tame fowls (прирученных птиц). These I had caught near the seashore when they were young (этих я поймал у берега, когда они были молодыми). I cut their wing feathers short (обрезал их перья на крыльях коротко) and taught them to eat from my hand (научил их есть с моей руки).

I never knew what kind of birds they were (я так и не узнал, что это были за птицы), but they were large, almost as large as chickens (почти такими же крупными, как цыплята). They lived among the hedge trees in front of my castle (они жили среди деревьев живой изгороди перед моим замком).

They made their nests there (вили там гнезда) and kept me well supplied with eggs (держали меня хорошо обеспеченным яйцами = постоянно обеспечивали меня яйцами). I did not need to keep any other poultry (домашнюю птицу).

Thus I lived very pleasantly in my island home (таким образом я жил очень вольготно в моем островном доме). I would have been content to live there always if I could have felt safe from savages (я был бы согласен: «доволен» жить там всегда, если бы я мог чувствовать себя в безопасности от дикарей).

 

forward ['fo:wəd] moon ['mu:n] except [ιk'sept]

 

 

I EXPLORE MY CAVE FURTHER

 

THE next day I brought out with me six big candles.

For you must know that I was a candle maker as well as a baker. Indeed, I made very good candles of goats' tallow, using some bits of old ropes for the wicks. As I have just said, I took six candles with me, for I had made up my mind to learn more about the cave I had found.

I lit two of the candles, and went in. The poor old goat was dead, and it was no easy work to dig a hole right there and bury him.

After this unpleasant task was done, I went into the back part of the cave. The flame of the candles lighted up the darkness, and I could see quite plainly.

The narrow passage of which I have told you was no less than thirty feet long. In one place it was so low that I had to creep through on all fours.

But no sooner was I through this low place than I found myself in a splendid chamber. It was large enough to shelter a hundred men.

Indeed, it seemed like the great hall of some old English castle. I had never seen anything so grand.

The roof was at least twenty feet high. The light from my two candles shone upon the walls and made it look as though covered with thousand of bright stars.

Whether these were diamonds, or gold, or some other precious things, I did not know, and in fact I never learned.

The floor was dry and level. It was covered with white sand, which was very clean.

I was delighted. No better or safer storehouse could I have wished.

When I had looked at the room on every side and found that it was really the end of the cave, I went out and hurried back to my castle.

I found that I still had about sixty pounds of powder. This was the first thing that I carried to my new cavern. I took thither also the lead that I had for making bullets and small shot.

I felt now like one of the wonderful elves that you read about. They live, as you know, in rocks and in caves where none can get at them; and they have hidden treasures of gold and precious stones.

What if a hundred savages should hunt me? They could not come near me here. I was safe from all foes.

I fitted the cave up with whatever was needed to make it comfortable.

If the worst came to the worst, I meant to live there. And yet I did not wish to be obliged to do this.

When everything was safe and snug, I laid some green branches over the entrance and went back to my castle.

I was very glad when I sat down in my old kitchen again. For, after all, no other place was so much like home.

I had now been twenty-three years on this island. If it had not been for fear of savages, I would have been the happiest man in the world.

During all those years I had been very busy. I did not work all the time, as you know, but I amused myself in various ways.

I spent much time with Poll, the parrot. He soon learned to talk so well that it was a pleasure to hear him.