circuit [`sə:kɪt] adversary [`ædvəsərɪ] doubt [daut] cannibal [`kænɪbəl] method [`meθəd]
Instantly the figure reappeared, and, making a wide circuit began to head me off. I was tired, at any rate; but had I been as fresh as when I rose, I could see it was in vain for me to contend in speed with such an adversary. From trunk to trunk the creature flitted like a deer, running manlike on two legs but unlike any man that I had ever seen, stooping almost double as it ran. Yet a man it was, I could no longer be in doubt about that.
I began to recall what I had heard of cannibals. I was within an ace of calling for help. But the mere fact that he was man, however wild, had somewhat reassured me, and my fear of Silver began to revive in proportion. I stood still, therefore and cast about for some method of escape; and as I was so thinking, the recollection of my pistol flashed into my mind. As soon as I remembered I was not defenceless, courage glowed again in my heart; and I set my face resolutely for this man of the island, and walked briskly towards him.
He was concealed by this time (он был скрыт уже = опять спрятался), behind another tree trunk (за другим древесным стволом) but he must have been watching me closely (но, должно быть, наблюдал за мной внимательно), for as soon as I began to move in his direction (потому что как только я начал двигаться в его направлении) he reappeared and took a step to meet me (он появился = вышел из укрытия и шагнул: «взял шаг», чтобы встретить меня = мне навстречу). Then he hesitated, drew back, came forward again (затем он поколебался, отошел назад, снова вышел вперед), and at last, to my wonder and confusion (и наконец, к моему удивлению и смущению), threw himself on his knees (бросил себя на колени = упал на колени) and held out his clasped hands in supplication (и протянул свои согнутые руки в мольбе; to clasp — обнимать, обхватывать).
At that I once more stopped (при этом я снова остановился).
“Who are you (кто вы /такой/)?” I asked.
“Ben Gunn (Бен Ганн),” he answered, and his voice sounded hoarse and awkward (он ответил, и его голос прозвучал хрипло и тяжело; awkward — неуклюжий, нескладный, неловкий), like a rusty lock (как ржавый замок). “I’m poor Ben Gunn, I am (я бедный Бен Ганн, вот кто я); and I haven’t spoke with a Christian these three years (и я не говорил /ни с одним/ христианином эти три года).”
concealed [kən`si:ld] hesitated [`hezɪteɪtɪd] hoarse [hɔ:s] awkward [`ɔ:kwəd]
He was concealed by this time, behind another tree trunk but he must have been watching me closely, for as soon as I began to move in his direction he reappeared and took a step to meet me. Then he hesitated, drew back, came forward again, and at last, to my wonder and confusion, threw himself on his knees and held out his clasped hands in supplication.
At that I once more stopped.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Ben Gunn,” he answered, and his voice sounded hoarse and awkward, like a rusty lock. “I’m poor Ben Gunn, I am; and I haven’t spoke with a Christian these three years.”
I could now see that he was a white man like myself (я мог теперь видеть, что он был белым человеком, как я сам), and that his features were even pleasing (и что черты его лица были, пожалуй, приятными). His skin, wherever it was exposed, was burnt by the sun (его кожа, всюду, где была открыта, была спалена солнцем; to burn — гореть, жечь, выжигать); even his lips were black (даже губы его были черными); and his fair eyes looked quite startling in so dark a face (его светлые глаза выглядели совершенно удивительно на таком темном лице). Of all the beggar-men that I had seen or fancied (из всех нищих, что я видел или представлял себе), he was the chief for raggedness (он был самым оборванным: «главным в рваности»; rag — лоскут, тряпка; лохмотья, тряпье; ragged — оборванный, одетый в лохмотья). He was clothed with tatters of old ship’s canvas and old sea cloth (он был одет в лохмотья старой парусины и старую морскую ткань = матросскую робу); and this extraordinary patchwork was all held together by a system of the most various and incongruous fastenings (и /это/ его необычайное лоскутное одеяло скреплялось = куски его «одежды» скреплялись вместе /целой/ системой самых различных и нелепых застежек), brass buttons, bits of stick, and loops of tarry gaskin (/таких как/ медные пуговицы, кусочки веточек и петли просмоленного шпагата; gaskin — веревочная прокладка). About his waist he wore an old brass-buckled leather belt (вокруг талии он носил старый с медной пряжкой кожаный ремень), which was the one thing solid in his whole accoutrement (который был единственной хорошей = неизодранной вещью во всей его одежде; accoutrement — платье, снаряжение).
“Three years (три года)!” I cried.
“Were you shipwrecked (вы потерпели кораблекрушение)?”
raggedness [`rægɪdnɪs] various [`veərɪəs] incongruous [ɪn`kɔŋgruəs] fastening [`fɑ:sənɪŋ]
I could now see that he was a white man like myself, and that his features were even pleasing. His skin, wherever it was exposed, was burnt by the sun; even his lips were black; and his fair eyes looked quite startling in so dark a face. Of all the beggar-men that I had seen or fancied, he was the chief for raggedness. He was clothed with tatters of old ship’s canvas and old sea cloth; and this extraordinary patchwork was all held together by a system of the most various and incongruous fastenings, brass buttons, bits of stick, and loops of tarry gaskin. About his waist he wore an old brass-buckled leather belt, which was the one thing solid in his whole accoutrement.
“Three years!” I cried.
“Were you shipwrecked?”
“Nay, mate (нет, приятель),” said he — “marooned (высажен на необитаемый остров).”
I had heard the word, and I knew it stood for a horrible kind of punishment common enough among the buccaneers (я слышал это слово и знал, что оно обозначает ужасный вид наказания, довольно обычный среди пиратов), in which the offender is put ashore with a little powder and shot (при котором нарушителя высаживают на берег /и дают ему/ немного боеприпасов: «пороха и дроби»), and left behind on some desolate and distant island (и оставляют на каком-нибудь безлюдном и отдаленном острове).
“Marooned three years agone (брошен на острове три года назад),” he continued (он продолжил), “and lived on goats since then, and berries, and oysters (и кормился: «жил на» козами с тех пор, и ягодами, и устрицами). Wherever a man is, says I, a man can do for himself (где бы человек ни был, я говорю = думаю, он может позаботиться о себе; to do for oneself — справляться). But, mate, my heart is sore for Christian diet (но сердце мое истосковалось по /настоящей/ христианской = человеческой пище; sore — больной, опечаленный). You mightn’t happen to have a piece of cheese about you, now (у тебя случайно нет собой кусочка сыра)? No (нет)? Well, many’s the long night I’ve dreamed of cheese — toasted, mostly (так вот, много долгих ночей я видел сны о сыре — на ломтике хлеба, в основном) — and woke up again, and here I were (и просыпался вновь, а я вот здесь).”
“If ever I can get aboard again (если я вообще сяду на корабль вновь = вернусь на корабль),” said I, “you shall have cheese by the stone (вы получите вот такую голову сыра; stone — мера массы, равная 6,35 кг).”
marooned [mə`ru:nd] punishment [`pʌnɪʃmənt] oyster [`ɔɪstə] cheese [tʃi:z]
“Nay, mate,” said he — “marooned.”
I had heard the word, and I knew it stood for a horrible kind of punishment common enough among the buccaneers, in which the offender is put ashore with a little powder and shot, and left behind on some desolate and distant island.
“Marooned three years agone,” he continued, “and lived on goats since then, and berries, and oysters. Wherever a man is, says I, a man can do for himself. But, mate, my heart is sore for Christian diet. You mightn’t happen to have a piece of cheese about you, now? No? Well, many’s the long night I’ve dreamed of cheese — toasted, mostly — and woke up again, and here I were.”
“If ever I can get aboard again,” said I, “you shall have cheese by the stone.”
All this time he had been feeling the stuff of my jacket (все это время он ощупывал мою куртку; stuff — материал, вещество), smoothing my hands (гладил мои руки), looking at my boots (смотрел на мои ботинки), and generally, in the intervals of his speech (и вообще, в промежутках своей речи = замолкая), showing a childish pleasure in the presence of a fellow-creature (показывал детскую радость в присутствии = по-детски радовался, что видит другого человека; fellow-creature — ближний, человек, собрат). But at my last words he perked up into a kind of startled slyness (но при моих последних словах он взглянул с каким-то тревожным лукавством; to perk up — оживиться, поднять голову).
“If ever you can get aboard again, says you (если тебе удастся вернуться на корабль, говоришь)?” he repeated (он повторил). “Why, now, who’s to hinder you (ну, а кто тебе может помешать)?”
“Not you, I know (не вы, конечно),” was my reply (был мой ответ).
smoothing [`smu:ðɪŋ] childish [`tʃaɪldɪʃ] slyness [`slaɪnɪs] reply [rɪ`plaɪ]
All this time he had been feeling the stuff of my jacket, smoothing my hands, looking at my boots, and generally, in the intervals of his speech, showing a childish pleasure in the presence of a fellow-creature. But at my last words he perked up into a kind of startled slyness.
“If ever you can get aboard again, says you?” he repeated. “Why, now, who’s to hinder you?”
“Not you, I know,” was my reply.
“And right you was (ты был прав),” he cried. “Now you — what do you call yourself, mate (итак, ты — как ты себя называешь = как тебя зовут, приятель)?”
“Jim,” I told him (сказал ему я).
“Jim, Jim (Джим, Джим),” says he, quite pleased apparently (сказал он, явно вполне довольный). “Well, now, Jim, I’ve lived that rough as you’d be ashamed to hear of (итак, Джим, я жил так, что тебе стыдно будет слушать об этом; rough — грубый, горький, суровый; to live rough — жить бедно, тяжело). Now, for instance, you wouldn’t think I had had a pious mother — to look at me (например, ты бы не подумал = не поверил, /что/ у меня была благочестивая мать, глядя на меня)?” he asked.
“Why, no, not in particular (нет, не совсем; in particular — в частности, именно),” I answered.
apparently [ə`pærəntlɪ] rough [rʌf] for instance [fər`ɪnstəns] pious [`paɪəs]
“If ever you can get aboard again, says you?” he repeated. “Why, now, who’s to hinder you?”
“Not you, I know,” was my reply.
“And right you was (ты был прав),” he cried. “Now you — what do you call yourself, mate (итак, ты — как ты себя называешь = как тебя зовут, приятель)?”
“Jim,” I told him (сказал ему я).
“Jim, Jim (Джим, Джим),” says he, quite pleased apparently (сказал он, явно вполне довольный). “Well, now, Jim, I’ve lived that rough as you’d be ashamed to hear of (итак, Джим, я жил так, что тебе стыдно будет слушать об этом; rough — грубый, горький, суровый; to live rough — жить бедно, тяжело). Now, for instance, you wouldn’t think I had had a pious mother — to look at me (например, ты бы не подумал = не поверил, /что/ у меня была благочестивая мать, глядя на меня)?” he asked.
“Why, no, not in particular (нет, не совсем; in particular — в частности, именно),” I answered.
apparently [ə`pærəntlɪ] rough [rʌf] for instance [fər`ɪnstəns] pious [`paɪəs]
“And right you was,” he cried. “Now you — what do you call yourself, mate?”
“Jim,” I told him.
“Jim, Jim,” says he, quite pleased apparently. “Well, now, Jim, I’ve lived that rough as you’d be ashamed to hear of. Now, for instance, you wouldn’t think I had had a pious mother — to look at me?” he asked.
“Why, no, not in particular,” I answered.
“Ah, well,” said he, “but I had — remarkable pious (но у меня была — удивительно благочестивая /мать/). And I was a civil, pious boy (а я был воспитанным набожным мальчиком), and could rattle off my catechism that fast (и мог выпалить одним духом катехизис так быстро), as you couldn’t tell one word from another (что ты не смог бы отличить одно слово от другого). And here’s what it come to, Jim (и вот до чего дошло, Джим), and it begun with chuck-farthen on the blessed grave-stones (а началось это с /игры/ в орлянку на проклятых надгробиях)! That’s what it begun with, but went further’n that (вот как началось, но пошло дальше этого; further’n = further than — дальше чем); and so my mother told me, and predicted the whole, she did, the pious woman (и так = что так будет моя мать говорила, и предсказала все, она, эта благочестивая женщина)! But it were Providence that put me here (но это Провидение привело меня сюда). I’ve thought it all out in this here lonely island (я все обдумал здесь, на этом одиноком острове), and I’m back on piety (и я вернулся к благочестию = во всем раскаялся). You don’t catch me tasting rum so much (ты не застанешь меня пробующим = пьющим ром так много = меня не соблазнить теперь выпивкой); but just a thimbleful for luck, of course (разве что глоточек: «наперсток» на счастье, конечно; thimble — наперсток), the first chance I have (при первом случае). I’m bound I’ll be good, and I see the way to (я должен быть хорошим = исправиться, и я вижу путь к этому = и теперь не собьюсь с пути; to be bound — быть обязанным). And, Jim (и, Джим)” — looking all round him (оглядевшись вокруг себя), and lowering his voice to a whisper (и понижая голос до шепота /произнес/) — “I’m rich (я богат).”
I now felt sure that the poor fellow had gone crazy in his solitude (теперь я понял наверняка, что бедный парень сошел с ума в своем одиночестве), and I suppose I must have shown the feeling in my face (и, полагаю, должно быть показал это чувство = мысль на своем лице), for he repeated the statement hotly (так как он повторил свое утверждение с жаром): —
catechism [`kætɪkɪzm] piety [`paɪətɪ] thimbleful [`θɪmbəlful] solitude [`sɔlɪtju:d]
“Ah, well,” said he, “but I had — remarkable pious. And I was a civil, pious boy, and could rattle off my catechism that fast, as you couldn’t tell one word from another. And here’s what it come to, Jim, and it begun with chuck-farthen on the blessed grave-stones! That’s what it begun with, but went further’n that; and so my mother told me, and predicted the whole, she did, the pious woman! But it were Providence that put me here. I’ve thought it all out in this here lonely island, and I’m back on piety. You don’t catch me tasting rum so much; but just a thimbleful for luck, of course, the first chance I have. I’m bound I’ll be good, and I see the way to. And, Jim” — looking all round him, and lowering his voice to a whisper — “I’m rich.”
I now felt sure that the poor fellow had gone crazy in his solitude, and I suppose I must have shown the feeling in my face, for he repeated the statement hotly: —
“Rich (богат)! Rich (богат)! I says. And I’ll tell you what (и вот что я тебе скажу): I’ll make a man of you, Jim (я сделаю из тебя человека, Джим). Ah, Jim, you’ll bless your stars, you will, you was the first that found me (о, Джим, ты благословишь судьбу: «свои звезды», о да, /за то, что/ был первым, кто нашел меня)!”
And at this there came suddenly a lowering shadow over his face (при этом внезапно его лицо потемнело: «охватила мрачная тень»; to lower — спускаться, опускаться); and he tightened his grasp upon my hand (и он сильнее сжал мою руку; tight — плотный; to tighten — уплотнить, сжать, натянуть; grasp — хват, сжатие, зажим), and raised a forefinger threateningly before my eyes (и поднял указательный палец угрожающе перед моими глазами; to threaten — угрожать).
“Now, Jim, you tell me true (ну, Джим, скажи мне правду): that ain’t Flint’s ship (это /ведь/ не корабль Флинта; ain’t = isn`t)?” he asked.
At this I had a happy inspiration (при этом у меня было счастливое вдохновение = меня осенила хорошая мысль). I began to believe that I had found an ally, and I answered him at once (я начал понимать, что нашел союзника, и ответил ему тотчас).
“It’s not Flint’s ship, and Flint is dead (это не корабль Флинта, Флинт умер); but I’ll tell you true, as you ask me (но я скажу вам правду, как вы просите меня) — there are some of Flint’s hands aboard (на борту находятся некоторые люди Флинта); worse luck for the rest of us (к несчастью для остальных из нас; worse luck — «худшая судьба»).”
tightened [`taɪtnd] forefinger [`fɔ:fɪŋgə] threateningly [`θretnɪŋlɪ] inspiration [ɪnspɪ`reɪʃn]
“Rich! rich! I says. And I’ll tell you what: I’ll make a man of you, Jim. Ah, Jim, you’ll bless your stars, you will, you was the first that found me!”
And at this there came suddenly a lowering shadow over his face; and he tightened his grasp upon my hand, and raised a forefinger threateningly before my eyes.
“Now, Jim, you tell me true: that ain’t Flint’s ship?” he asked.
At this I had a happy inspiration. I began to believe that I had found an ally, and I answered him at once.
“It’s not Flint’s ship, and Flint is dead; but I’ll tell you true, as you ask me — there are some of Flint’s hands aboard; worse luck for the rest of us.”
“Not a man — with one — leg (/а/ нет /там/ человека с одной ногой)?” he gasped (он сказал он, задыхаясь; to gasp — дышать с трудом, ловить воздух).
“Silver (Сильвера)?” I asked.
“Ah, Silver (да, Сильвера)!” says he; “that were his name (таким было его имя = так его звали).”
“He’s the cook; and the ringleader, too (он /наш/ кок, и главарь /всей шайки/ также).”
He was still holding me by the wrist (он все еще держал меня за запястье), and at that he gave it quite a wring (и при таких /словах/ он сильно скрутил его: «дал ему весьма скручивание»).
“If you was sent by Long John (если ты послан Долговязым Джоном),” he said, “I’m as good as pork, and I know it (я пропал: «все равно что свинина», и я это знаю). But where was you, do you suppose (но где ты был = куда ты попал, знаешь ли ты)?”
ringleader [`rɪŋli:də] wrist [rɪst] wring [rɪŋ] pork [pɔ:k]
“Not a man — with one — leg?” he gasped.
“Silver?” I asked.
“Ah, Silver!” says he; “that were his name.”
“He’s the cook; and the ringleader, too.”
He was still holding me by the wrist, and at that he gave it quite a wring.
“If you was sent by Long John,” he said, “I’m as good as pork, and I know it. But where was you, do you suppose?”
I had made my mind up in a moment (я принял решение = решил сразу же), and by way of answer told him the whole story of our voyage (и в качестве ответа рассказал ему всю историю нашего плавания; by way of — ради, с целью, посредством), and the predicament in which we found ourselves (и затруднительного положения, в котором мы оказались: «нашли себя»). He heard me with the keenest interest (он слышал меня с живейшим интересом; keen — острый, режущий, резкий, язвительный; глубокий, сильный, интенсивный /о чувствах или ощущениях/), and when I had done he patted me on the head (и когда я закончил, он погладил меня по голове; to pat — похлопывать; поглаживать).
“You’re a good lad, Jim (ты славный парень, Джим),” he said; “and you’re all in a clove hitch ain’t you (и вы все /завязаны/ мертвым узлом = дела ваши плохи, не так ли)? Well, you just put your trust in Ben Gunn (просто положись: «помести свое доверие» на Бена Ганна) — Ben Gunn’s the man to do it (Бен Ганн — тот человек, чтобы сделать это = выручит вас). Would you think it likely (как ты думаешь; likely — вероятно, возможно), now, that your squire would prove a liberal-minded one in case of help (оказался бы ваш сквайр либерально настроенным, в случае /оказания/ помощи = как поступил бы сквайр, если ему окажут помощь) — him being in a clove hitch, as you remark (ему, находящемуся в затруднительном положении: «мертвом узле», как ты замечаешь)?”
I told him the squire was the most liberal of men (я сказал ему, /что/ сквайр — самый щедрый из людей = на свете).
voyage [`vɔɪɪʤ] predicament [prɪ`dɪkəmənt] clove hitch [`kləuvhɪtʃ]
I had made my mind up in a moment, and by way of answer told him the whole story of our voyage, and the predicament in which we found ourselves. He heard me with the keenest interest, and when I had done he patted me on the head.
“You’re a good lad, Jim,” he said; “and you’re all in a clove hitch ain’t you? Well, you just put your trust in Ben Gunn — Ben Gunn’s the man to do it. Would you think it likely, now, that your squire would prove a liberal-minded one in case of help — him being in a clove hitch, as you remark?”