I see much of the world

IT was easy to find a ship to my liking; for all kinds of trading vessels go out from London to every country that is known.

One day I met an old sea captain who had been often to the coast of Africa. He was pleased with my talk.

"If you want to see the world," he said, "you must sail with me." And then he told me that he was going again to Africa, to trade with the black people there. He would carry out a load of cheap trinkets to exchange for gold dust and feathers and other rare and curious things.

I was very glad to go with him. I would see strange lands and savage people. I would have many a stirring adventure.

Before ten days had passed, we were out on the great ocean. Our ship was headed toward the south.

The captain was very kind to me. He taught me much that every sailor ought to know. He showed me how to steer and manage the vessel. He told me about the tides and the compass and how to reckon the ship's course.

The voyage was a pleasant one, and I saw more wonderful things than I can name.

When, at last, we sailed back to London, we had gold enough to make a poor man rich.

I had nearly six pounds of the yellow dust for my own share.

I had learned to be a trader as well as a sailor.

It would take too long to tell you of all my voyages. Some of them were happy and successful; but the most were unpleasant and full of disappointment.

Sometimes I went to Africa, sometimes to the new land of South America. But wherever I sailed I found the life of a sailor by no means easy.

I did not care so much now to see strange sights and visit unknown shores.

I cared more for the money or goods that I would get by trading.

At last a sudden end was put to all my sailing. And it is of this that I will now tell you.

I UNDERTAKE A NEW VENTURE (я предпринимаю новое рискованное начинание;venture — рискованное предприятие, рискованное начинание)

I HAD grown very tired of being a sailor (я стал очень уставшим от /того, что/ был моряком = мне весьма надоело…; to grow — расти; становиться). I was so tired of it that I made up my mind to try something else (я настолько устал от этого, что принял решение попытать что-то другое; to try — пробовать, испытывать).

It happened that I was then in Brazil (случилось, что я был тогда в Бразилии). I bought some land there (я купил там сколько-то = некоторое количество земли; to buy — покупать) and began to open a plantation (и начал открывать = основывать плантацию). The ground was rich (земля/почва была богатой), and it would be easy to raise tobacco and sugar cane (и было бы легко выращивать табак и сахарный тростник).

But I needed many things (но мне нужно было много вещей). I must have plows and hoes and a sugar mill (я должен иметь = у меня должны быть плуги, и мотыги, и сахарную мельницу = сахарный завод). Above all (и прежде всего: «выше всего») I must have men (у меня должны быть люди) to do the work on the plantation (чтобы делать работу = чтобы работать на плантации).

But neither men nor tools could I get in Brazil (но ни людей, ни инструментов я не мог достать в Бразилии).

I sent to London for the tools (я послал в Лондон за инструментами; to send — посылать). I tried to buy some slaves of the planters near me (я попытался купить рабов у плантаторов около меня), but they had not enough for themselves (но у них не было достаточно для самих себя).

"We will tell you what to do (мы скажем тебе, что делать)," they said. "We will fit out a trading vessel for Africa (мы снарядим торговое судно в Африку). We will put aboard of it everything that you need (мы доставим на борт все, в чем нуждаешься = что будет тебе нужно; to put — помещать, класть, ставить; aboard — на борту; на борт). As for your part (что касается твоей части), you shall be the manager of the business (ты будешь управляющим этого дела/предприятия); and you shall do the trading for us (и будешь заниматься торговлей за нас). You need not put in a penny of your own (тебе не нужно вкладывать ни пенни своих /денег/)."

"But how is that going to help me (но как это поможет мне)?" I asked (спросил я).

"Listen, and we will tell you (послушай, и мы скажем тебе)," they said. "With the goods which we send (с товарами, которые мы посылаем), you will buy as many black slaves as the ship will hold (ты купишь столько черных рабов, сколько выдержит корабль; to hold — держать). You will bring them here (ты привезешь их сюда), and we will divide them equally (и мы разделим их поровну; equal — равный, одинаковый). You shall share with us (ты поделишься с нами), just as though you had paid the money (как если бы ты заплатил деньги; just — точно, как раз, именно, поистине /о месте, времени, образе совершения действия/; to pay — платить)."

The plan pleased me very much (этот план мне очень понравился). I figured that each one of us would have thirty or forty slaves (я рассчитал, что каждый из нас получит тридцать или сорок рабов).

It was very foolish of me to go to sea again (было весьма глупо с моей стороны вновь отправиться в море); but the offer was so good (но предложение было столь хорошим = выгодным) that I could not say No (не мог сказать «нет»).

The ship was soon fitted out for the voyage (корабль был вскоре подготовлен для путешествия/поездки; to fit — быть впору, быть в самый раз, подходить /к чему-л./; /также to fit out/ снаряжать, оснащать). Her load was not very heavy (груз не был очень тяжелым). But there were plenty of goods (но было много товаров) such as were most fit for trade (таких, которые были наиболее подходящими для торговли).

There were boxes of red and blue beads (ящики красного и синего бисера), of bits of glass (кусочков стекла), and of other trinkets (и других безделушек). There were also knives and hatchets (были также ножи и топорики) and little looking-glasses (и маленькие зеркала). We reckoned that each one of these would buy a slave (мы подсчитали, что каждый /предмет/ из этих купит = позволит купить раба).

The ship was to carry fourteen men (корабль должен был везти четырнадцать человек) besides the captain and myself (помимо капитана и меня). She (он /корабль в англ. языке — женского рода/) was as fine a little vessel (был таким прекрасным маленьким судном = суденышком) as ever sailed from the coast of Brazil (которое когда-либо отходило в море от берега Бразилии).

tired ['taIqd], bought ['bO:t], plantation [plxn'teIS(q)n], tobacco [tq'bxkqu], sugar ['Sugq], plow ['plau], hoe ['hqu], could [kud], aboard [q'bO:d], business ['bIznqs], divide [dI'vaId], equally ['i:kwqlI], figure ['fIgq], again [q'ge(I)n], load ['lqud], heavy ['hevI], hatchet ['hxtSIt], buy ['baI], carry ['kxrI], coast ['kqust], Brazil [brq'zIl]

I UNDERTAKE A NEW VENTURE

I HAD grown very tired of being a sailor. I was so tired of it that I made up my mind to try something else. It happened that I was then in Brazil. I bought some land there and began to open a plantation. The ground was rich, and it would be easy to raise tobacco and sugar cane. But I needed many things. I must have plows and hoes and a sugar mill. Above all I must have men to do the work on the plantation.

But neither men nor tools could I get in Brazil.

I sent to London for the tools. I tried to buy some slaves of the planters near me, but they had not enough for themselves.

"We will tell you what to do," they said. "We will fit out a trading vessel for Africa. We will put aboard of it everything that you need. As for your part, you shall be the manager of the business; and you shall do the trading for us. You need not put in a penny of your own."

"But how is that going to help me?" I asked.

"Listen, and we will tell you," they said. "With the goods which we send, you will buy as man black slaves as the ship will hold. You will bring them here, and we will divide them equally. You shall share with us, just as though you had paid the money."

The plan pleased me very much. I figured that each one of us would have thirty or forty slaves.

It was very foolish of me to go to sea again; but the offer was so good that I could not say No.

The ship was soon fitted out for the voyage. Her load was not very heavy. But there were plenty of goods such as were most fit for trade.

There were boxes of red and blue beads, of bits of glass, and of other trinkets. There were also knives and hatchets and little looking-glasses. We reckoned that each one of these would buy a slave.

The ship was to carry fourteen men besides the captain and myself. She was as fine a little vessel as ever sailed from the coast of Brazil.

I AM SHIPWRECKED (я потерпел кораблекрушение; to be shipwrecked — потерпеть кораблекрушение)

AT length all things were ready for the voyage (наконец все вещи были готовы к путешествию; length — длина; продолжительность), and I went on board the ship (и я вступил на борт корабля).

It was just eight years to the day (было как раз восемь лет ото дня: «ко дню») since I had left my father and mother (с тех пор, как я покинул отца и мать; to leave — оставлять, покидать) and my pleasant home in good old York (и мой милый дом в добром старом Йорке).

I felt that I was doing a foolish thing (я чувствовал, что делаю глупую вещь; to feel — чувствовать); but I did not dare to say so (не осмеливался сказать это: « сказать так»; to dare to do smth. — осмелиться сделать что-л.).

The wind was fair (ветер был попутный; fair — красивый, прекрасный /уст., обычно о женщинах/; /мор./ попутный /о ветре/). The sails were spread (паруса были распущены; to spread — развертывать). Soon we were out to sea (вскоре мы были в открытом море).

For several days the weather was fine (в течение нескольких дней погода была хорошей). The ship sped swiftly on her way (корабль шел быстро по своему курсу; to speed — двигаться поспешно; мчаться; торопиться), and every one was happy and hopeful (и каждый был счастлив и полон надежд).

Then a great storm came up from the southeast (затем большой шторм пришел с юго-востока). I had seen many fierce storms (я видел много жутких штормов), but never one so terrible as this (но никогда столь ужасного, как этот).

We could do nothing (мы не могли сделать ничего) but let the ship drive before the wind (кроме как позволить кораблю идти по ветру: «перед ветром»). Day after day we were tossed by the waves (день за днем нас бросали волны: «мы были бросаемы волнами»); and day after day we expected the ship to go down (и день за днем ожидали, /что/ корабль потонет: «пойдет вниз»).

The storm grew fiercer and fiercer (шторм становился /все/ свирепее и свирепее; to grow — расти; становиться; fierce — жестокий, лютый, свирепый). The men gave themselves up for lost (люди /команда/ считали себе погибшими; to give smb. up for lost — считать кого-л. погибшим; lost — потерянный, пропавший; to lose — терять).

But on the twelfth day the wind went down (однако на двенадцатый день ветер стих). The waves were not so strong (волны не были такими сильными). We began to hope for our lives (мы начали надеяться на жизнь: «на наши жизни»).

Early the next morning a sailor cried out (рано следующим утром моряк выкрикнул), "Land (земля)! land!"

I ran out of the cabin to look (я выбежал из кабины посмотреть; to run — бежать). But at that very moment the ship struck upon a great bank of sand (но в тот же самый момент корабль наткнулся на большую песчаную отмель; very — самый; to strike — ударять; bank — вал, насыпь; банка, отмель) over which the fierce sea was rolling (над которой перекатывалось свирепое море; to roll — катиться).

She stopped short (корабль резко остановился сразу; short — короткий; резко, круто). She could not move (он не мог двинуться). The great waves dashed over her deck (большие волны заливали палубу: «перехлестывали через палубу»; to dash — /о массе жидкости/ разбиваться /обычно с силой и грохотом,/ хлестать; брызгать, плескать). All of us would have been washed overboard (все мы были бы смыты за борт) if we had not hurried back to the cabin (если бы не поспешили обратно в каюту).

"What shall we do (что на делать)?" cried the men (кричали люди = матросы).

"We can do nothing (мы ничего не можем сделать)," said the captain. "Our voyage is at an end (наше путешествие подошло к концу: «есть при конце»), and there is no longer any hope for our lives (и больше нет какой-либо = ни малейшей надежды нам остаться в живых). We can only wait for the ship to break in pieces (можем только ждать, пока корабль не разломится на куски)."

"Yes, there is one chance for our lives (да = и все же есть один шанс на спасение: «для наших жизней»)!" cried the mate (воскликнул помощник). "Follow me (следуйте за мной)!"

In the lull of the storm (во временном затишье шторма; lull — временное затишье; временное успокоение; перерыв) we rushed again to the deck (мы снова ринулись на палубу). One of our boats was still there (одна из наших лодок все еще была там).

We slung her over the ship's side (мы спустили через борт корабля; to sling — бросать, швырять; спускать на ремнях). We jumped aboard of her (мы прыгнули на борт = запрыгнули на нее). We cut her loose (мы отрезали канаты/освободили ее; to cut — резать; loose — свободный, непривязанный), and floated away upon the wild sea (и отплыли по дикому = бурному морю; to float — плыть /неуправляемо, удерживаться на плаву/).

No boat could live in such a sea as that (никакая лодка не могла выжить в таком море, как то). But we saw land ahead of us (мы видели землю впереди нас); and perhaps some of us might be cast alive upon the beach (и, возможно, некоторые из нас смогут быть выброшены живыми на берег; to cast — бросать, кидать, швырять; выбрасывать /о море, волнах/; beach — береговая полоса; пляж).

This was our only hope (это была единственная надежда).

The raging waves (неистовые волны; to rage — беситься, злиться; бушевать, свирепствовать /о буре, эпидемии, страстях и т. п./; rage — ярость, гнев, бешенство) carried us nearer and nearer to the shore (тащили нас ближе и ближе к побережью; to carry — везти; нести).

We could see the breakers (волны прибоя: «ломатели») dashing upon the great rocks (бьющие о большие скалы). The land looked more frightful than the sea (земля выглядела более устрашающей, чем море; fright — сильный внезапный испуг; страх).

Then all at once (затем, совершенно неожиданно; at once — сразу, немедленно), a huge wave overset the boat (огромная волна перевернула лодку). We had no time to speak or think (мы не имели времени поговорить или подумать). We were thrown out into the raging sea (были выброшены в неистовствующее море; to throw — бросать). We were swallowed up by the waves (мы были проглочены волнами).

dare ['deq], several ['sevrql], fierce ['fIqs], before [bI'fL], expect [Ik'spekt], grew [gru:], roll ['rqul], move [mu:v], hurry ['hArI], cabin ['kxbIn], break ['breIk], piece [pi:s], chance [tSQ:ns], follow ['fOlqu], lull [lAl], rush [rAS], boat ['bqut], slung ['slAN], cut [kAt], loose [lu:s], float ['flqut], upon [q'pOn], ahead [q'hed], cast [kQ:st], alive [q'laIv], beach [bi:tS], rage ['reIG]

I AM SHIPWRECKED

AT length all things were ready for the voyage, and I went on board the ship.

It was just eight years to the day since I had left my father and mother and my pleasant home in good old York.

I felt that I was doing a foolish thing; but I did not dare to say so.

The wind was fair. The sails were spread. Soon we were out to sea.

For several days the weather was fine. The ship sped swiftly on her way, and every one was happy and hopeful.

Then a great storm came up from the southeast. I had seen many a fierce storm, but never one so terrible as this.

We could do nothing but let the ship drive before the wind. Day after day we were tossed by the waves; and day after day we expected the ship to go down.

The storm grew fiercer and fiercer. The men gave themselves up as lost.

But on the twelfth day the wind went down. The waves were not so strong. We began to hope for our lives.

Early the next morning a sailor cried out, "Land! land!"

I ran out of the cabin to look. But at that very moment the ship struck upon a great bank of sand over which the fierce sea was rolling.

She stopped short. She could not move. The great waves dashed over her deck. All of us would have been washed overboard if we had not hurried back to the cabin.

"What shall we do?" cried the men.

"We can do nothing," said the captain. "Our voyage is at an end, and there is no longer any hope for our lives. We can only wait for the ship to break in pieces."

"Yes, there is one chance for our lives!" cried the mate. "Follow me!"

In the lull of the storm we rushed again to the deck. One of our boats was still there.

We slung her over the ship's side. We jumped aboard of her. We cut her loose, and floated away upon the wild sea.

No boat could live in such a sea as that. But we saw land ahead of us; and perhaps some of us might be cast alive upon the beach.

This was our only hope.

The raging waves carried us nearer and nearer to the shore.

We could see the breakers dashing upon the great rocks. The land looked more frightful than the sea.

Then all at once, a huge wave overset the boat. We had no time to speak or think. We were thrown out into the raging sea. We were swallowed up by the waves.