I CARRY SOME THINGS ASHORE 8 страница. Out of a piece of ironwood (из куска железного дерева; ironwood — "железное" дерево /термин употребляется для различных древесных пород с твердой

Out of a piece of ironwood (из куска железного дерева; ironwood — "железное" дерево /термин употребляется для различных древесных пород с твердой тяжелой древесиной/) I made a heavy pestle or beater (я сделал тяжелый пестик, или колотушку).

I had now a very good little mill (теперь у меня была очень хорошая мельница). In a short time I had crushed enough barley to make meal for a large loaf (в короткое время я размолол достаточно ячменя, чтобы сделать муку для большой буханки; loaf — буханка, каравай; булка, батон /порция испеченного хлеба/).

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 ее руками). I must not think of yeast to make the dough light (мне не приходилось думать о дрожжах, чтобы сделать тесто легким; light — легкий; /кул./ хорошо поднявшийся, легкий, воздушный /о тесте/).

The baking part was the main thing (выпекание было основным делом), and the hardest to learn (и самым сложным, чтобы научиться = и ему труднее всего было 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 (и оставлял их там, пока не испекутся). But I did not like these ash cakes very well (но мне не нравились эти пироги с золой).

Then I tried another plan (потом я попробовал иной план = попробовал сделать по-другому).

I made two large earthen vessels (я сделал два больших глиняных сосуда; vessel — сосуд /для жидкости/; корабль, судно). They were broad and shallow (они были 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 в глубину).

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, и красными, как черепица).

I made also a hearth before my fireplace (я соорудил также /специальный/ очаг перед местом костра; hearth/fireplace — очаг; камин), and paved it with some square tiles of my own making (и выложил его квадратными черепицами моего собственного изготовления). But, perhaps I ought not to call them square (но, 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/костер из твердой древесины). When the wood had burned down (когда дерево прогорело), I raked the hot coals out upon my hearth (я выгреб /из костра/ 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 (я вымел очаг дочиста; to sweep — мести) and then put the loaves down upon the hottest part of it (и затем положил куски на самую горячую его часть).

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 (затем я наложил горячие угли поверх каждого сосуда; to heap — бросать в кучу, складывать в кучу, нагромождать) and all round the sides of it (и вокруг его боков = обложил углями его бока).

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

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

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

I had two homes on the island (у меня было два дома на острове). I called them my plantations (я называл их моими плантациями).

The first of these was my strong castle under the rock (первым из них был мой крепкий замок под скалой). I had enlarged it until my cave contained many rooms (я расширял его, пока моя пещера не стала содержать много комнат), one opening into another (открывающихся = выходящих одна в другую).

The largest and driest of these was my storeroom (самая большая и самая сухая из них была складская комната; dry — сухой; store — склад). Here I kept the largest of my earthen pots (здесь я держал/хранил самые большие из моих глиняных горшков; to keep — хранить; сохранять). Here also were fourteen or fifteen big baskets (здесь были также четырнадцать или пятнадцать больших корзин), all filled with grain (наполненных зерном).

My sitting room was not large (зал был не большим; sitting room — гостиная), but it was made for comfort (но он был сделан для комфорта = обустроен удобно).

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 вбил, все укоренились: «взяли корень»). They had grown like trees (они 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, с /такими/ ветвями, что было сложно видеть /что-либо/ 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; to mat — сбивать, спутывать, сваливать в ком /траву, шерсть и т. п./; плести /циновки, подстилки и т. п./; mat — рогожа; циновка; /спорт./ мат).

Near this dwelling of mine (около этого моего обиталища), but a little farther within the land (только немного дальше вглубь местности), were my two barley fields (были два моих ячменных поля). These I cultivated with care (их я возделывал с заботой), and from them I reaped a good harvest (и с них я получал хороший урожай; to reap — жать, пожинать, собирать 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; rest — покой, отдых).

In the middle of my bower (в центре беседки) I had my tent always set (для меня всегда был установлен навес). It was made of a piece of sail spread over some poles (он был сделан из куска паруса, натянутого на колья; to spread — развертывать; раскидывать; расстилать).

Under the tent I had made a soft couch (под навесом я устроил мягкую кушетку) with the skins of animals and a blanket thrown over them (из шкур животных и одеяла, накинутого на них; to throw — бросать). 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 (в некотором удалении от беседки было поле) in which I kept my cattle (на котором я держал мой скот) — that is to say (то есть), my goats (коз).

I had taken great pains to fence and inclose this field (я приложил много труда, чтобы 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; fearful — испытывающий страх, испуганный; fear — страх), 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 (/живая/ изгородь выросла и стала крепкой, как стена: «чтобы стать крепкой…»; to grow — расти).

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 (был /узкий/ залив, где я хранил мое каноэ; to lay up — откладывать, копить; выводить временно из строя).

 

prosperous ['prOsp(q)rqs], pestle [pesl], dough ['dqu], shallow ['Sxlqu], square ['skweq], hearth [hQ:T], contented [kqn'tentId], enlarge [In'lQ:G, en'lQ:G]

 

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 кое-что 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 моем летнем доме). Then, going over to where the canoe was kept (затем, идя туда, где содержалось каноэ), I took short sails along the shore (я предпринимал короткие походы под парусом вдоль берега). These little voyages gave me a great deal of pleasure (эти маленькие путешествия доставляли мне много удовольствия; deal — некоторое количество; great deal of — много).

One morning as I was going to the canoe a strange thing happened (однажды утром, 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 (я увидел отпечаток голой ноги человека на песке).

The sight made me cold all over (это зрелище заставило меня всего похолодеть; all over — всюду, повсюду; /зд./ по всему телу).

I stood like one that had seen a ghost (я стоял как кто-то, кто увидел привидение). I looked around (я посмотрел вокруг/осмотрелся). I listened (я прислушался). I trembled (я дрожал; to tremble — дрожать; трястись).

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 (затем я я прошел «вверх и вниз» = взад и вперед/туда-сюда по берегу). I saw no other tracks (и не увидел 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; to dream — видеть сон; dream — сновидение). Yes, there in the sand was the print of man's foot (да, на песке был отпечаток ноги человека). It showed the toes (он показывал = были отчетливо видны пальцы /ног/), the heel (пятку), and the sole of the foot (и ступню ноги; sole — подошва; ступня). 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 тысячею мыслей и вопросов). Where was the man who made that track (где был человек, который оставил тот след)? Who was he (кем он был)? How did he get there (как он сюда попал)?

I was so frightened that I did not go to the canoe (я был так напуган, что не пошел к каноэ). I turned back and went to my castle as fast as I could (я повернулся и пошел к замку так быстро, как только 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 (я не знаю = не помню). But I shut myself up as quickly as I could and began to get ready to defend myself (но я закрылся так быстро, как мог, и начал готовиться защищать себя; to get ready — готовиться: «становиться готовым»).

That night I could not sleep (той ночью я не мог спать). I lay in my hammock, and thought and thought (я лежал гамаке, и думал, и думал; to lie — лежать).

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, прибыл с земли, которую я видел за морем: «далеко через море»).

Perhaps he had come to the island alone (возможно, он прибыл на остров не один). Perhaps he had come with many others of his kind (возможно, он прибыл со многими другими его вида = такими же, как он). But where was he now (но где он был сейчас)?

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; to stir — шевелиться; двигаться). I was almost starved (я чуть не умер от голода; to starve — голодать, умирать от голода), for I had only two or three barley cakes in my kitchen (потому что у меня на кухне было всего лишь две или три ячменной лепешки).

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 (я пробрался потихоньку на мои поля, чтобы подоить коз; to creep — ползать; красться; пробираться). 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 (но каждый звук заставлял меня вздрагивать и смотреть по сторонам/оглядываться). I fancied (мне казалось; to fancy — воображать, представлять себе) that I saw a savage behind every tree (что я видел дикаря за каждым деревом). I lived for days like some hunted thing (я жил дни = целый ряд дней, как какое-то преследуемое существо/существо, за которым охотятся; to hunt — охотиться /на кого-л.; особ. с гончими/; травить, гнать; преследовать) that trembles at its own shadow (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 (мало-помалу я стал отважнее; to grow — расти; становиться), and I made up my mind to strengthen my castle (и 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 (поэтому я притащил: «вынес» земли и небольших камней), and piled them up against the castle wall till it was ten feet thick (и уложил их у стены: «к стене» замка, пока она не стала толщиной в десять футов; to pile — складывать, сваливать в кучу; thick — толстый). I have already told you how strong it was at first (я уже рассказал вам, какой крепкой она была в самом начале), and how I had made a dense hedge of trees on the outside (и как я сделал плотную ограду из деревьев снаружи). It was now so strong that nothing could break through it (такой крепкой, что ничто не могло прорваться сквозь нее).

Through the wall at certain places (сквозь стену в определенных местах) I made five holes large enough (я проделал пять достаточно больших отверстий) for a man's arm to reach in (чтобы человеческая рука могла просунуться сквозь них; to reach — протягивать, вытягивать). In each of these holes I planted a gun (в каждом из этих отверстий я установил ружье; to plant — сажать /растения/; всаживать, втыкать; прочно ставить, устанавливать; plant — растение); for you will remember (ибо, как вы помните) that I brought several from the ship (я принес несколько /ружей/ с корабля).

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; to draw — тащить, волочить; тянуть). They worked so well in their places (они так хорошо двигались в своих местах = каждое в своем месте; to work — работать; двигать, передвигать) that I could shoot off all five of them in less than two minutes (что 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 = какую хотел; notion — идея, представление, понятие; намерение, желание). But at last it was finished (но наконец она 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 (если бы вы увидели ее), 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 (не говоря уж о доме: «гораздо менее — дом»).

For two years I lived in fear (два года я 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 — загон; 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 (если бы дикари пришли и убили бы других коз), they could not find these (они бы не нашли этих); for they were too well hidden in the deep woods (так как они были слишком хорошо спрятаны в глубоком лесу; to hide — прятать).

All these things I did because I had seen the print of a man's foot in the sand (все эти вещи я сделал потому, что увидел след человека на песке).

 

often ['Of(q)n, 'Oft(q)n], pleasure ['pleZq], naked ['neIkId], ghost ['gqust], defend [dI'fend], stir [stq:], weary ['wIqrI], notion ['nquS(q)n]

 

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 (я вновь встревожен)

 

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

I had gotten over my great fright (я преодолел мой большой страх; to get over smth. — перейти, перелезть, переправиться через что-л.; преодолеть /трудности/; привыкнуть к чему-л.; свыкнуться с мыслью о чем-л.), and yet I was not so bold as I had been (но все же я не был не столь 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, что 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 (поэтому я продолжал быть начеку все время/поджидал их все время).

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

I had already a small flock in one such spot (у меня уже было маленькое стадо в одном таком месте), as I have told you (как я вам /уже/ говорил). But now I wished to have another (но теперь я желал, чтобы было еще одно).

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