I had now been twenty-three years on this island (я пробыл на острове уже двадцать три 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 (но развлекал себя разными способами).
I spent much time with Poll, the parrot (я проводил много времени с Попкой-попугаем; to spend — проводить /время/). He soon learned to talk so well that it was a pleasure to hear him (он вскоре научился говорить так 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 (он прожил шестнадцать лет), and then died of old age (и затем умер от 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; to run wild — одичать). These were good mousers and fine pets (они были хорошими ловцами мышей и прекрасными любимцами /домашними животными/; mouse — мышь).
I had also several tame fowls (у меня также было несколько прирученных птиц). These I had caught near the seashore when they were young (этих я поймал у берега, когда они были молодыми; to catch — ловить). I cut their wing feathers short (я обрезал их перья на крыльях коротко) and taught them to eat from my hand (и научил их есть с моей руки; to teach — обучать).
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 (но они были крупными, 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 (они вили там гнезда) and kept me well supplied with eggs (и держали меня хорошо обеспеченным яйцами = постоянно обеспечивали меня яйцами; to supply — снабжать /чем-л. — with/, поставлять; доставлять). I did not need to keep any other poultry (мне не было нужды держать какую-либо другую 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).
explore [Ik'splO:], candle [k&ndl], darkness ['dA:knIs], splendid ['splendId], diamond [' [email protected]@nd], precious [' [email protected]], delighted [dI'laItId], treasure [' [email protected]], entrance [' [email protected]], amused [@'mju:zd], companion [ [email protected]'p& [email protected]], poultry [' [email protected]], content [ [email protected]'tent]
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.
My dog had been my best friend and companion. He lived for sixteen years, and then died of old age.
As for my cats, the woods were full of them. All ran wild except the two that I kept in my castle. These were good mousers and fine pets.
I had also several tame fowls. These I had caught near the seashore when they were young. I cut their wing feathers short and taught them to eat from my hand.
I never knew what kind of birds they were, but they were large, almost as large as chickens. They lived among the hedge trees in front of my castle.
They made their nests there and kept me well supplied with eggs. I did not need to keep any other poultry.
Thus I lived very pleasantly in my island home. I would have been content to live there always if I could have felt safe from savages.
(я вижу дикарей)
EARLY one morning (рано утром) in harvest time (во время сбора урожая) I went out to my grain fields to cut down some barley (я выходил в мои зерновые поля срезать ячмень = собирать ячмень). The days were so very hot that it was pleasanter to rise before daylight (эти дни были такими жаркими, что было приятнее встать до восхода) and do the heavier part of my work before the sun was high (и сделать самую тяжелую часть моей работы прежде, чем солнце будет высоко).
On this morning of which I am telling you (тем утром, о котором я рассказываю вам), I started out while it was still quite dark (я вышел в путь, когда еще было довольно темно). I had been to the fields so often that I could have found the way with my eyes shut (я бывал в полях так часто, что мог бы найти путь с закрытыми глазами; to shut — закрывать).
As I went along (пока я шел; to go along — двигаться вперед /обычно по дороге, по улице/), I was surprised to see a light far over toward my side of the island (я был удивлен увидеть огонек вдалеке ближе к моей стороне острова). I stopped and looked (я остановился и стал смотреть). It was plainly the light of a blazing fire (это был явно свет ярко горящего костра; to blaze — гореть ярким пламенем; fire — огонь; костер).
Who could have built a fire there (кто мог бы развести там костер)?
Surely none but savages (определенно никто, кроме дикарей).
I was so much surprised (я так удивлен) that I stood still and wondered (что остановился как вкопанный и задумался).
What if those savages should find my grain fields (что если те дикари найдут мои зерновые поля)?
They would know at once that somebody had planted them (они сразу узнают = поймут, что кто-то их посадил), and they would never rest till they should find me (и не успокоятся, пока не найдут меня; never — никогда).
I could now see the blaze quite plainly (я мог теперь видеть довольно ясно/отчетливо). As the day dawned (день рассветал), I could also see the smoke rising above the trees (я мог также видеть дым, поднимающийся над деревьями). The fire was not more than two miles away (костер был не более чем в двух милях).
I hurried back to my castle as fast as I could run (я поспешил обратно к замку так быстро, как только мог бежать). I made everything on the outside of it look as wild as possible (я сделал, чтобы все снаружи его выглядело так дико = необитаемо, как возможно).
I climbed over the wall and pulled up the ladder after me (я перелез через забор и затащил лестницу за собой).
I loaded all my cannon (я зарядил все мои пушки), as I called the guns (как я называл ружья), that I had placed in the wall (которые установил в стене). I put everything in order for a siege (я привел все в порядок, как надо для осады).
Then I waited to see if any enemy would come near (затем я ждал увидеть, если враг приблизится = стал ждать приближения противника).
Two hours, three hours passed (прошли два часа, три часа), and there was no sight nor sound that was at all uncommon (и не было ни вида, ни звука, который был бы необычен). I began to wonder if, after all, the fire had been kindled by some accident (я начал задаваться вопросом, был ли = может быть, в конце концов, огонь зажжен каким-то случаем = случайно; to kindle — зажигать, разжигать /пламя, костер/; accident — /несчастный/ случай) and not by strange men (а не чужаками).
At last I could wait no longer (наконец я не мог больше ждать). I set up my ladder against the side of the rock (я приставил лестницу к боку скалы) and climbed up to a flat place above my castle (и залез на плоское место над замком). I pulled the ladder up after me (я втащил лестницу за собой) and then mounted to another landing (и затем взобрался на другую площадку; to mount — подниматься, восходить; to mount a ladder — взобраться на лестницу). I pulled it up a second time (я втащил ее во второй раз), and it now reached to the top of the great rock (и она теперь достигала верхушки большой скалы).
Here was the place I called my lookout (здесь было место, которое я называл моей смотровой площадкой).
Very carefully I climbed up (очень осторожно я взобрался). I laid myself down upon the rock (я улегся на скале) and through my spyglass looked over toward the place where I had seen the fire (и через подзорную трубу посмотрел на место, где я видел огонь; spyglass — подзорная труба; to spy — шпионить, следить /за кем-л. — on/upon/; подглядывать, подсматривать; glass — стекло).
