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).

As I was standing on a rock and looking out to sea (когда я стоял на скале и смотрел на море), I thought I saw a boat in the distance (я подумал, что увидел лодку на расстоянии = мне показалось, что вдали я увидел лодку). It was only a little speck on the water (это было лишь пятнышко на воде), and it seemed to rise and fall with the waves (и, казалось, оно поднимается и падает с волнами). It could not be a rock (это не могла быть скала).

I looked at it till my eyes could look no more (я глядел на него, пока мои глаза больше не могли смотреть). I had saved a spyglass out of the ship (я сохранил/спас подзорную трубу с корабля); but, as luck would have it (но, как было угодно судьбе; luck — фортуна, судьба; счастливый случай, шанс), I had left it at home (я оставил ее дома; to leave — оставлять). How I wished for it then (как я желал ее тогда)!

Whether I really saw a boat or not (видел ли я в действительности лодку или нет), I do not know (не знаю). But as I walked back along the shore (но пока я шел обратно вдоль берега), I made up my mind never to go out again without my spyglass (я решил никогда больше не выходить без подзорной трубы).

I walked slowly along, thinking of what I had seen (я шел медленно, думая о том, что увидел). All at once I came upon that which made my heart stand still (вдруг я наткнулся на то, что заставило мое сердце остановиться; to stand still — стоять на месте: «стоять неподвижно»).

On the sandy, sloping beach of a pleasant little harbor (на песчаной, спускающейся /к воде/ береговой полосе красивой маленькой заводи; slope — наклон, уклон; скат, склон; откос; to slope — клониться; иметь наклон) I saw not only one footprint, but hundreds of them (я увидел не только один отпечаток ноги, но сотни их; print — оттиск; отпечаток; след).

I stood still, afraid to move (я стоял как вкопанный, боясь пошевелиться).

But the footprints were not all (но отпечатки ноги — это было не все). The beach at one place was covered with bones and bits of flesh (берег был покрыт костями и кусками мяса), as in a slaughter house (как на скотобойне; slaughter — убой, забой /скота/). Some of the bones were quite fresh (некоторые из костей были довольно свежими); some had been charred with fire (некоторые потемнели от огня: «были опаленными огнем»; to char — обжечь, опалить).

"Here the savages have been holding a feast (здесь дикари устраивали: «держали» пир)," I said to myself (сказал я себе).

A little farther on I saw that a pit had been dug in the sand (немного дальше я увидел, что в песке была выкопана яма; to dig — копать), and here they had had their fire (и /что/ здесь у них был костер). The ashes were still warm (зола еще была теплой).

I wondered what kind of a feast these wild men had been having (я задавался вопросом, какой пир эти дикие люди устраивали). There were savages on the mainland who were said to kill and eat the captives (были дикари на материке, которые, как говорили, убивали и ели пленников) whom they took in war (которых они брали на войне). Cannibals they were called (их называли: «они были называемы» каннибалами).

Could this have been a feast of cannibals (могло это быть пиром каннибалов)? And were these the bones and flesh of human beings (были ли это кости и мясо людей: «людских существ»)?

I trembled as I thought of it (я задрожал, когда подумал об этом).

I turned and ran from the place as fast as I could (я развернулся и побежал от этого места так быстро, как /только/ мог).

I ran until I could go no farther (я бежал, пока не мог двигаться больше). My breath came fast (мое дыхание прерывалось: «приходило быстро»). I sank down upon the ground (я опустился/упал на землю; to sink — опускаться, падать).

When I had rested a little while (когда я отдохнул немного; while — промежуток времени), I looked around and found that I was not very far from my castle (я осмотрелся и обнаружил, что я был не очень далеко от моего замка). All around me was peaceful and still (все вокруг меня было мирно и спокойно; still — бесшумный, тихий, безмолвный; неподвижный). I was surely safe from harm (я был определенно спасен от вреда/беды = был в безопасности).

With tears in my eyes (со слезами на глазах) I knelt down and gave thanks to God (я упал на колени и вознес благодарность Богу; to kneel — преклонять колени, становиться на колени). I thanked him that he had kept me alive and safe through so many years (я благодарил Его, /за то/ что Он сохранил меня живым и невредимым на протяжении стольких многих лет). I thanked him that I had been cast on the side of the island which was never visited by savages (я благодарил Его за то, что я был выброшен на /ту/ сторону острова, которую никогда не посещали дикари). I thanked him for all the comforts and blessings that were mine (за все удобства и благословения = счастье, которые были моими = выпали мне на долю; blessing — благословение; блаженство, счастье; to bless — благославлять).

Then I arose and went home to my castle (затем я встал и пошел домой в мой замок; to arise — подниматься, вставать).

As I sat before my door that evening (когда я сидел перед своей дверью в тот вечер), I thought the whole matter over (я обдумал весь вопрос: «всю материю»; to think smth. over — обдумывать что-л.), and felt much easier in my mind (и почувствовал намного легче в душе = почувствовал облегчение; mind — разум; умственные способности; ум; настроение, расположение духа).

I had been on the island eighteen years before I saw the first footprint (я пробыл на острове восемнадцать лет, прежде чем увидел первый отпечаток ноги). I had been there twenty-three years before I saw any other signs of savages (я пробыл там двадцать три года, прежде чем увидел другие признаки дикарей; sign — знак). It was likely that many more years would pass before any harm should come to me (было похоже, что много лет пройдут, прежде чем какая-либо беда постигнет меня).

With these thoughts I lay down in my hammock and slept without fear (с этими мыслями я лег в мой гамак и спал без страха).

But it was a long time before I went again to the farther shore of the island (но прошло долгое время, прежде чем я пошел опять на дальний берег острова). I did not even go to look after my canoe (я даже не пошел взглянуть на мое каноэ = проверить свое каноэ; to look after smb., smth. — следить глазами, взглядом; присматривать, ухаживать за кем-л., чем-л., заботиться о ком-л., чем-л.).

The days went quietly by (дни тихо проходили). I kept quite close to my castle (я держался довольно близко к замку), and busied myself with my goats and my grain (и занимался козами и зерном).

I was always on my guard (я постоянно был начеку; guard — охрана, защита; бдительность, осторожность), and never stepped out of doors without first looking around me (и никогда не выходил из дверей, сначала не осмотревшись).

bold ['bquld], harbor ['hQ:bq], slaughter ['slO:tq], cannibal ['kxnIb(q)l], breath [breT], look [luk]

I AM AGAIN ALARMED

FIVE or six years had passed, and not another footprint had I seen.

I had gotten over my great fright, and yet I was not so bold as I had been. Any sudden sound would make me start and look around. I thought that if savage men had been on the island once, they were quite likely to come again. So I kept on the lookout for them all the time.

My flock of goats had now grown to be very large, and I needed another field. I wished to put some of them in a hidden spot where the savages, if they did come, would not find them.

I had already a small flock in one such spot, as I have told you. But now I wished to have another.

In looking for the right kind of place, I went all over the island. I even went far out on a rocky point beyond the place where I kept my canoe.

As I was standing on a rock and looking out to sea, I thought I saw a boat in the distance. I was only a little speck on the water, and it seemed to rise and fall with the waves. It could not be a rock.

I looked at it till my eyes could look no more. I had saved a spyglass out of the ship; but, as luck would have it, I had left it at home. How I wished for it then!

Whether I really saw a boat or not, I do not know. But as I walked back along the shore, I made up my mind never to go out again without my spyglass.

I walked slowly along, thinking of what I had seen. All at once I came upon that which made my heart stand still.

On the sandy, sloping beach of a pleasant little harbor I saw not only one footprint, but hundreds of them.

I stood still, afraid to move.

But the footprints were not all. The beach at one place was covered with bones and bits of flesh, as in a slaughter house. Some of the bones were quite fresh; some had been charred with fire.

"Here the savages have been holding a feast," I said to myself.

A little farther on I saw that a pit had been dug in the sand, and here they had had their fire. The ashes were still warm.

I wondered what kind of a feast these wild men had been having. There were savages on the mainland who were said to kill and eat the captives whom they took in war. Cannibals, they were called.

Could this have been a feast of cannibals? And were these the bones and flesh of human beings?

I trembled as I thought of it.

I turned and ran from the place as fast as I could.

I ran until I could go no farther. My breath came fast. I sank down upon the ground.

When I had rested a little while, I looked around and found that I was not very far from my castle. All around me was peaceful and still. I was surely safe from harm.

With tears in my eyes I knelt down and gave thanks to God. I thanked him that he had kept me alive and safe through so many years. I thanked him that I had been cast on the side of the island which was never visited by savages. I thanked him for all the comforts and blessings that were mine.

Then I arose and went home to my castle.

As I sat before my door that evening, I thought the whole matter over, and felt much easier in my mind.

I had been on the island eighteen years before I saw the first footprint. I had been there twenty-three years before I saw any other signs of savages. It was likely that many more years would pass before any harm should come to me.

With these thoughts I lay down in my hammock and slept without fear.

But it was a long time before I went again to the farther shore of the island. I did not even go to look after my canoe.

The days went quietly by. I kept quite close to my castle, and busied myself with my goats and my grain.

I was always on my guard, and never stepped out of doors without first looking around me.

I MAKE A SURPRISING DISCOVERY (я совершаю удивительное открытие)

ONCE every week I went into the woods to see the flock of goats that I had hidden there (один раз каждую неделю я ходил в лес посмотреть на стадо коз, которое я спрятал там; to hide — прятать).

I always carried my gun (я всегда носил = имел при себе ружье), but since my last great fright (но с последнего моего большого страха = с тех пор, как я сильно был напуган) I did not dare to fire it off (я не осмеливался выстрелить из него). I was afraid even to drive a nail (я боялся даже забить гвоздь) or chop a stick of wood (или срубить ветку дерева), lest some savages might be near enough to hear the sound (так как дикари могли быть достаточно близко, чтобы услышать звук; lest — чтобы не, как бы не; что /после глаголов и фраз, обозначающих опасение: вводит дополнение, выражаюшее событие, которого опасаются/).

I was afraid to build a fire at my castle (я боялся развести огонь у моего замка), lest the smoke should be seen (так как дым мог быть увиден).

At last I carried some of my pots and kettles to my hidden field in the woods (в конце концов я принес несколько моих горшков и чайников на мое спрятанное поле в лесу; pot — горшок, котелок, кастрюля). I could do my cooking there much more safely than at my castle (я мог заниматься готовкой там намного в большей безопасности, чем в замке).

Hardly had I put things in order there when I found something that made me very glad (едва я разложил там вещи в порядке, как обнаружил нечто, что сделало меня очень радостным = очень обрадовало меня). What do you suppose it was (что, вы полагаете, это было; to suppose — предполагать)?

It was a cave — a real cave (это была пещера — настоящая пещера). The door into it was through a little hollow place at the bottom of a great rock (дверь в нее была через маленькое отверстие: «полое место» у подножия большой скалы). It was so well hidden that no one could have found it even by looking for it (оно было так хорошо спрятано, что никто не мог бы найти его, даже ища его).

Shall I tell you how I came upon it (должен ли я сказать вам, как как я наткнулся на нее)?

I was afraid to make a smoke near my house (я боялся разводить дым около моего дома), and yet I could not live without cooking meat (но все же не мог жить, не готовя мяса). I tried all kinds of dry wood (я испытал все виды сухой древесины), and yet there was always some smoke (но все же всегда был какой-то дым). Then I thought I would try charcoal (затем я подумал, что стоит попробовать древесный уголь). But I must first make the charcoal (но сначала я должен был сделать древесный уголь).

I found a place in the darkest part of the woods (я нашел место в самой темной части леса) where the smoke would hardly rise to the tops of the trees (где бы дым едва поднялся бы до макушек деревьев). There I built my charcoal pit (там я устроил яму для древесного угля; to build — строить).

This was done in the following way (это было сделано следующим способом):

First, I cleared off a round space about ten feet in diameter (сначала я расчистил круглое пространство около десяти футов в диаметре). Here I dug out the earth (здесь я выкопал землю; to dig out — выкапывать) till I made a pit about a foot deep (пока не сделал яму около фута глубиной). Then I cut a cord or more of wood (затем я нарубил корд[9] или больше дров) and piled it up in this space (и уложил его на этом пространстве). I piled it up until it was almost as high as my shoulders (я укладывал их /дрова/, пока они не было почти такими высокими, как мои плечи = на уровне моих плеч; to pile up — нагромождать). I covered it a foot deep with earth and turf (я накрыл их слоем земли и дерна глубиной в фут; deep — глубокий), leaving a small open place at the bottom (оставив маленькое открытое место у основания).

When this was done (когда это было сделано), I set fire to the wood through the hole in the bottom (я поджег древесину через отверстие у основания). It burned slowly (она горела медленно). The wood became charcoal (древесина стала древесным углем; to become — становиться).

One day, while cutting wood for my charcoal pit (однажды, когда я рубил дерево для моей ямы для древесного угля), I happened to see a hollow place in the rock close by a tree I was chopping (мне случилось увидеть углубление в скале близко к дереву, которое я рубил).

It was half covered with brush (оно было наполовину закрыто кустарником). I pushed this aside and looked in (я отодвинул его в сторону и заглянул внутрь). I saw a little cave just large enough for me to creep into on my hands and knees (я увидел маленькую пещеру, достаточно большую только /для того, чтобы/ я пробрался на руках и коленях = на четвереньках; to creep — ползти; пробираться).

But, a little farther in (но немного дальше вглубь), it was larger (она была больше; large — большой, крупный). It was so high that I could stand upright (она была такой высокой = такой высоты, что я мог стоять выпрямившись), and it was so wide that two men could have walked in it side by side (и была такой широкой = такой ширины, что два человека могли идти в ней бок о бок).

It was a very dark place (это было очень темное место), and I stood still a moment (и я мгновение стоял неподвижно) till my eyes should become a little used to it (пока мои глаза немного не привыкли к ней: «пока мои глаза не станут немного привыкшими к ней»).

All at once I saw something in the darkness that made me scramble out of that place much faster than I had come into it (вдруг я увидел что-то в темноте, что заставило меня выкарабкаться из этого места намного быстрее, чем я вошел туда; to scramble — продираться, карабкаться).

What do you think it was (что, вы думаете, это было)? Two big shining eyes (два больших блестящих глаза) that glowed like coals in the darkness (которые пылали, как угли в темноте). Whether they were the eyes of a man or of some fierce beast (были ли это глаза человека или какого-то свирепого животного), I did not stop to see (я не остановился посмотреть = не стал дожидаться ясности).

I stood a little while by the mouth of the cave (я постоял немного у входа в пещеру; mouth — рот; устье, вход; входное отверстие) and then I began to get over my fright (и затем я начал превозмогать свой страх).

What could there be in this cave that would do me harm (что могло быть в этой пещере, что могло причинить мне вред)? No man could live there in the darkness (ни один человек не мог жить там в темноте). As for any animal (что касается любого животного), I knew there was nothing fiercer on the island than one of my cats (я знал, что не было ничего более свирепого на острове, чем одна из моих кошек; fierce — жестокий, лютый, свирепый).

So, with a blazing stick for a torch (поэтому, с ярко горящей палкой вместо = в качестве факела; to blaze — гореть ярким пламенем; сверкать, сиять, блистать; stick — палка; прут; torch — факел), I crept back into the cave (я пробрался обратно в пещеру). But I had not gone three steps before I was frightened almost as much as before (но я не прошел трех шагов, как был напуган почти так же сильно, как раньше).

I heard a loud sigh (я услышал громкий вздох), like that of a man in trouble (как /звук/ человека в беде). Then there were low moans (затем раздались: «были»низкие стоны), and sounds as of some one trying to speak (и звуки, словно от кого-то, пытающегося говорить = словно издаваемые кем-то…).

I stopped short (я остановился как вкопанный; short — короткий; резко, круто). Cold chills ran down my back (холодок: «холодный озноб» пробежал вниз у меня по спине; chill — простуда, озноб). My hair seemed to stand on end (казалось, волосы встали дыбом; on end — стоймя; дыбом). But I would not allow myself to run out again (но я не позволил бы себе выбежать опять).

I pushed my little torch forward into the darkness (я толкнул = протянул мой маленький факел вперед в темноту), as far as I could (так далеко, как я мог). The blaze lit up the cave (пламя осветило пещеру; blaze — яркий огонь, пламя; to light /up/ — зажигать; освещать). And what do you suppose I saw then (и что вы полагаете, я увидел затем)?

Why, nothing but a shaggy old goat (да ничего, как только потрепанную старого козла; goat — козел; коза) that I had missed from my flock for nearly a week past (которого недоставало моему стаду почти неделю уже = который пропал из стада почти неделю назад; to miss smth. — обнаружить отсутствие /чего-л./).

He was stretched on the floor of the cave (он лежал, растянувшись на полу пещеры), and too weak to rise up (и был слишком слаб, чтобы встать). He was a very old fellow (он был очень старым: «старым парнем»), and perhaps had gone in there to die (и, возможно, зашел сюда умирать).

I gave him some food and water (я дал ему еды и воды), and made him as comfortable as I could (и сделал ему так удобно, как мог). But he was too far gone to live long (но он был слишком стар, чтобы прожить долго).

I found that, although I could stand up in the cave, it was very small (я обнаружил, что, хотя я мог стоять в пещере, она была очень маленькой). It was only a hole in the rocks (она была лишь дырой в скалах), and was neither round nor square (и не была ни круглой, ни квадратной).

But at the end of this little chamber there seemed to be a passage that led farther in (но в конце этой маленькой комнаты, казалось, был проход, который вел дальше внутрь; to lead — вести). This passage was very narrow and dark (этот проход был узким и темным; to pass — проходить), and as my torch had burned out (и поскольку мой факел выгорел), I did not try to follow it (я не попытался последовать по нему).

I went back to my wood chopping (я вернулся к моей рубке леса).

discovery [dI'skAv(q)rI], suppose [sq'pquz], upon [q'pOn], charcoal ['tSQ:kqul], brush [brAS], aside [q'saId], sigh ['saI], chamber ['tSeImbq], passage ['pxsIdZ]

I MAKE A SURPRISING DISCOVERY

ONCE every week I went into the woods to see the flock of goats that I had hidden there. I always carried my gun, but since my last great fright I did not dare to fire it off. I was afraid even to drive a nail or chop a stick of wood, lest some savages might be near enough to hear the sound.

I was afraid to build a fire at my castle, lest the smoke should be seen.

At last I carried some of my pots and kettles to my hidden field in the woods. I could do my cooking there much more safely than at my castle.

Hardly had I put things in order there when I found something that made me very glad. What do you suppose it was?

It was a cave — a real cave. The door into it was through a little hollow place at the bottom of a great rock. It was so well hidden that no one could have found it even by looking for it.

Shall I tell you how I came upon it?

I was afraid to make a smoke near my house, and yet I could not live without cooking meat. I tried all kinds of dry wood, and yet there was always some smoke. Then I thought I would try charcoal. But I must first make the charcoal.

I found a place in the darkest part of the woods where the smoke would hardly rise to the tops of the trees. There I built my charcoal pit.

This was done in the following way:

First, I cleared off a round space about ten feet in diameter. Here I dug out the earth till I made a pit about a foot deep. Then I cut a cord or more of wood and piled it up in this space. I piled it up until it was almost as high as my shoulders. I covered it a foot deep with earth and turf, leaving a small open place at the bottom.

When this was done, I set fire to the wood through the hole in the bottom. It burned slowly. The wood became charcoal.

One day, while cutting wood for my charcoal pit, I happened to see a hollow place in the rock close by a tree I was chopping.

It was half covered with brush. I pushed this aside and looked in. I saw a little cave just large enough for me to creep into on my hands and knees.

But, a little farther in, it was larger. It was so high that I could stand upright, and it was so wide that two men could have walked in it side by side.

It was a very dark place, and I stood still a moment till my eyes should become a little used to it.

All at once I saw something in the darkness that made me scramble out of that place much faster than I had come into it.

What do you think it was? Two big shining eyes that glowed like coals in the darkness. Whether they were the eyes of a man or of some fierce beast, I did not stop to see.

I stood a little while by the mouth of the cave and then I began to get over my fright.

What could there be in this cave that would do me harm? No man could live there in the darkness. As for any animal, I knew there was nothing fiercer on the island than one of my cats.

So, with a blazing stick for a torch, I crept back into the cave. But I had not gone three steps before I was frightened almost as much as before.

I heard a loud sigh, like that of a man in trouble. Then there were low moans, and sounds as of some one trying to speak.

I stopped short. Cold chills ran down my back. My hair seemed to stand on end. But I would not allow myself to run out again.

I pushed my little torch forward into the darkness, as far as I could. The blaze lit up the cave. And what do you suppose I saw then?

Why, nothing but a shaggy old goat that I had missed from my flock for nearly a week past.

He was stretched on the floor of the cave, and too weak to rise up. He was a very old fellow, and perhaps had gone in there to die.

I gave him some food and water, and made him as comfortable as I could. But he was too far gone to live long.

I found that, although I could stand up in the cave, it was very small. It was only a hole in the rocks, and was neither round nor square.

But at the end of this little chamber there seemed to be a passage that led farther in. This passage was very narrow and dark, and as my torch had burned out, I did not try to follow it.

I went back to my wood chopping.