From hour to hour he heard the swish of the water, and knew that the barque must be driving with all set, in front of the trade wind. In that case they must be nearly back again to Jamaica by now. What plan could Sharkey have in his head, and what use did he hope to make of him? Craddock set his teeth, and vowed that if he had once been a villain from choice he would, at least, never be one by compulsion.
On the second morning Craddock became aware (на второе = на следующее утро Крэддок понял; to become aware – понимать, осознавать; aware – знающий, осведомленный, сведущий, сознающий) that sail had been reduced in the vessel (что паруса на судне убавили; to reduce – сокращать, уменьшать), and that she was tacking slowly (и оно медленно ложится на другой галс), with a light breeze on her beam (а с траверза дует легкий бриз; beam – балка, брус; траверз /направление, перпендикулярное курсу судна/). The varying slope of the sail-room and the sounds from the deck (изменяющийся крен, /ощутимый/ в парусной каюте и звуки, /доносящиеся/ с палубы) told his practised senses exactly what she was doing (в точности рассказывали ему: «его опытному рассудку», какие действия выполняет судно; sense – чувство, ощущение; рассудок, сознание). The short reaches showed him that she was manoeuvring near shore (короткие галсы свидетельствовали о том, что оно маневрирует недалеко от берега; reach – протягивание /руки/; галс /мор./), and making for some definite point (направляясь к какому-то определенному месту; to make for – направляться к). If so, she must have reached Jamaica (если так, то оно, должно быть, достигло Ямайки). But what could she be doing there (но что оно может там делать = зачем оно там)?
On the second morning Craddock became aware that sail had been reduced in the vessel, and that she was tacking slowly, with a light breeze on her beam. The varying slope of the sail-room and the sounds from the deck told his practised senses exactly what she was doing. The short reaches showed him that she was manoeuvring near shore, and making for some definite point. If so, she must have reached Jamaica. But what could she be doing there?
And then suddenly there was a burst of hearty cheering from the deck (и тут вдруг с палубы донесся взрыв приветственных возгласов; hearty – сердечный; дружеский; cheering – одобрительное, приветственное восклицание), and then the crash of a gun above his head (а за ними – грохот пушки у него над головой), and then the answering booming of guns from far over the water (и тут же над водой – ответный рокот орудий /откуда-то/ издалека). Craddock sat up and strained his ears (Крэддок сел прямо и обратился в слух: «и напряг слух»; ear – ухо; способность слышать, слух). Was the ship in action (/неужели/ корабль вел бой; action – действие, поступок; боевые действия)? Only the one gun had been fired (стреляло только одно орудие), and though many had answered there were none of the crashing (и хотя многие ему отвечали, не было /слышно/ никакого треска) which told of a shot coming home (что свидетельствовало бы о попадании выстрела в цель; to come home – попадать в цель).
And then suddenly there was a burst of hearty cheering from the deck, and then the crash of a gun above his head, and then the answering booming of guns from far over the water. Craddock sat up and strained his ears. Was the ship in action? Only the one gun had been fired, and though many had answered there were none of the crashings which told of a shot coming home.
Then, if it was not an action, it must be a salute (значит, если это не бой, то, должно быть, салют). But who would salute Sharkey, the pirate (но кто будет салютовать Шарки, пирату)? It could only be another pirate ship which would do so (это мог бы сделать только другой пиратский корабль). So Craddock lay back again with a groan (и Крэддок со стоном снова лег /на пол/; to lie back – откинуться /на спинку, подушку и т. п./), and continued to work at the manacle (и продолжил возиться с кандалами) which still held his right wrist (которые все еще сковывали его правое запястье; to hold – держать; удерживать).
But suddenly there came the shuffling of steps outside (но вдруг снаружи донеслось шарканье ног: «шагов»; to shuffle – волочить ноги; шаркать), and he had hardly time to wrap the loose links round his free hand (и у него едва хватило времени на то, чтобы обернуть болтающиеся звенья /цепи/ вокруг своей свободной руки; loose – свободный, несвязанный; ненатянутый, болтающийся), when the door was unbolted and two pirates came in (когда с двери сняли засов и в /каюту/ вошли два пирата; bolt – засов, задвижка; to unbolt – снимать засов).
Then, if it was not an action, it must be a salute. But who would salute Sharkey, the pirate? It could only be another pirate ship which would do so. So Craddock lay back again with a groan, and continued to work at the manacle which still held his right wrist.
But suddenly there came the shuffling of steps outside, and he had hardly time to wrap the loose links round his free hand, when the door was unbolted and two pirates came in.
“Got your hammer, carpenter?” asked one (молоток прихватил, плотник? – спросил один; got /зд./ = have got – иметь, обладать), whom Craddock recognised as the big quartermaster (в котором Крэддок узнал здоровяка-интенданта). “Knock off his leg shackles, then (тогда сбей кандалы с его ног). Better leave the bracelets – he’s safer with them on (а браслетики лучше оставить – с ними он будет в большей безопасности; safe – не представляющий опасности; защищенный от опасности).”
With hammer and chisel the carpenter loosened the irons (при помощи молотка и зубила плотник ослабил = снял оковы).
“What are you going to do with me?” asked Craddock (что вы собираетесь со мной делать? – спросил Крэддок).
“Come on deck and you’ll see (идем на палубу и /сам все/ увидишь).”
“Got your hammer, carpenter?” asked one, whom Craddock recognised as the big quartermaster. “Knock off his leg shackles, then. Better leave the bracelets – he’s safer with them on.”
With hammer and chisel the carpenter loosened the irons.
“What are you going to do with me?” asked Craddock.
“Come on deck and you’ll see.”
The sailor seized him by the arm (матрос схватил его за руку) and dragged him roughly to the foot of the companion (и грубо потащил к подножию сходного трапа; foot – ступня; подножие, основание). Above him was a square of blue sky (над ним синел квадрат неба) cut across by the mizzen gaff with the colours flying at the peak (перерезанный бизань-гафелем с развевающимися на его вершине флагами; colour – цвет, тон; флаг /мор./; to fly – летать; развеваться). But it was the sight of those colours which struck the breath from Stephen Craddock’s lips (и от вида этих флагов у Стивена Крэддока перехватило: «отшибло» дыхание; to strike – бить, наносить удар; отшибать). For there were two of them (потому что их там было два), and the British ensign was flying above the Jolly Rodger (и вымпел Британии реял над Веселым Роджером) – the honest flag above that of the rogue (флаг порядочных /людей/ над флагом негодяев; honest – честный; достойный уважения).
The sailor seized him by the arm and dragged him roughly to the foot of the companion. Above him was a square of blue sky cut across by the mizzen gaff with the colours flying at the peak. But it was the sight of those colours which struck the breath from Stephen Craddock’s lips. For there were two of them, and the British ensign was flying above the Jolly Rodger – the honest flag above that of the rogue.
For an instant Craddock stopped in amazement (на мгновение Крэддок в изумлении остановился), but a brutal push from the pirates behind drove him up the companion ladder (но грубый толчок /идущего/ позади пирата погнал его вверх по сходному трапу; to drive – гнать). As he stepped out upon deck, his eyes turned up to the main (шагнув на палубу, он обратил взгляд к грот-мачте; main – главная часть; грот-мачта /мор./), and there again were the British colours flying above the red pennant (и там тоже над красным вымпелом вились флаги Британии), and all the shrouds and rigging were garlanded with streamers (а ванты и такелаж украшены гирляндами из вымпелов).
Had the ship been taken, then (значит, корабль захвачен)? But that was impossible (но это невозможно), for there were the pirates clustering in swarms along the port bulwarks (потому что вдоль левого борта группами стояли пираты; to cluster – собираться группами, толпиться; swarm – рой, стая; толпа; port – левый борт /корабля, самолета/; bulwarks – фальшборт), and waving their hats joyously in the air (и радостно махали в воздухе шляпами).
For an instant Craddock stopped in amazement, but a brutal push from the pirates behind drove him up the companion ladder. As he stepped out upon deck, his eyes turned up to the main, and there again were the British colours flying above the red pennant, and all the shrouds and rigging were garlanded with streamers.
Had the ship been taken, then? But that was impossible, for there were the pirates clustering in swarms along the port bulwarks, and waving their hats joyously in the air.
Most prominent of all was the renegade mate (самым заметным из всех был ренегат-помощник), standing on the foc’sle head, and gesticulating wildly (он стоял на вершине полубака и дико жестикулировал; foc’sle = forecastle; head – голова; верхушка, верхняя часть). Craddock looked over the side to see what they were cheering at (Крэддок бросив взгляд через борт, увидел, чему они так радовались), and then in a flash he saw how critical was the moment (и тогда в один миг осознал всю важность момента; in a flash – в мгновение ока; to see – видеть; понимать, сознавать; critical – требовательный, критический).
On the port bow, and about a mile off, lay the white houses and forts of Port Royal (по левому борту, примерно в миле /от них/, стояли белые домики и форты Порт-Ройяля; bow – нос корабля, бак), with flags breaking out everywhere over their roofs (повсюду над их крышами развевались флаги; to break out – развертывать /флаг/).
Most prominent of all was the renegade mate, standing on the foc’sle head, and gesticulating wildly. Craddock looked over the side to see what they were cheering at, and then in a flash he saw how critical was the moment.
