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 [ˈprɔsp(ǝ)rǝs], pestle [pesl], dough [ˈdǝu], shallow [ˈʃælǝu], square [ˈskweǝ], hearth [hɑ:Ɵ], contented [kǝnˈtentɪd], enlarge [ɪnˈlɑ:ʤ, enˈlɑ:ʤ]
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»).
