Once inside, the conflict commenced, the first shots filling the room with smoke. Both kept their feet, though both were wounded – their blood spurting out over the sanded floor.
The spectators outside saw only a cloud of smoke oozing out of both doors, and dimming the light of the lamps. There were heard shots – after the bell had become silent, other sounds: the sharp shivering of broken glass, the crash of falling furniture, rudely overturned in earnest struggle – the trampling of feet upon the boarded floor – at intervals the clear ringing crack of the revolvers; but neither of the voices of the men. The crowd in the street heard the confused noises, and noted the intervals of silence, without being exactly able to interpret them. The reports of the pistols[28] were all they had to proclaim the progress of the duel. Eleven had been counted; and in breathless silence they were listening for the twelfth.
Instead of it their ears were gratified by the sound of a voice, recognised as that of the mustanger.
“My pistol is at your head! I have one shot left – an apology, or you die!”
At the same instant was heard a different voice from the one which had already spoken. It was Calhoun’s – in low whining accents, almost a whisper. “Enough, damn it! Drop your shooting-iron – I apologise.”
Answer the following questions:
1) What were the officers talking about in the bar-room?
2) How did the conflict begin?
3) Did anybody try to prevent a duel?
4) Where did the duel take place?
5) How did it end?
Chapter Seven
After the duel Maurice was compelled to stay within doors. The injuries he had received, though not so severe as those of his antagonist, nevertheless made it necessary for him to keep to his chamber – a small, and scantily furnished bedroom in the hotel.
Примечания
1
train – обоз
2
carriole – легкий крытый экипаж
3
the ten of spades – пиковая десятка
4
half-score – десять
5
blood-bay – гнедой
6
rancher – хозяин ранчо
7
a man of heroic mould – герой девичьих грез
8
creole – креолка (потомок выходцев из Франции, Испании или Португалии, рожденный в одном из бывших владений этих стран в Америке)
9
cypress – кипарис
10
pink of perfection – верх совершенства
11
norther – сильный северный ветер
12
Cimmerian darkness – непроглядный мрак
13
mustanger – охотник за дикими лошадьми (мустангами)
14
Satan himself, astride a Tartarean steed – сам сатана верхом на адском коне
15
corral – загон для скота
16
demijohn – большая оплетенная бутыль
17
staghound – охотничья собака
18
henchman – помощник, слуга
19
hacienda – асьенда (крупное частное поместье)
20
house-warming – празднование новоселья
21
equestrian prowess – мастерство наездника
22
runaway – лошадь, которая понесла
23
nightcap – стаканчик спиртного на ночь
24
juxtaposition – непосредственное соседство
25
unstarch (a shirt) – смыть крахмал (с рубашки)
26
six-shooter – шестизарядный револьвер
27
the Almighty – (Всемогущий) Бог
28
report of a pistol – звук пистолетного выстрела