He took a big bite off a sheep’s leg he was toasting, and wiped his lips on his sleeve.

Yes, I am afraid trolls do behave like that, even those with only one head each. After hearing all this Bilbo ought to have done something at once. Either he should have gone back quietly and warned his friends that there were three fair-sized trolls at hand in a nasty mood, quite likely to try toasted dwarf, or even pony, for a change; or else he should have done a bit of good quick burgling. A really first-class and legendary burglar would at this point have picked the trolls’ pockets — it is nearly always worthwhile if you can manage it —, pinched the very mutton off the spite, purloined the beer, and walked off without their noticing him. Others more practical but with less professional pride would perhaps have stuck a dagger into each of them before they observed it. Then the night could have been spent cheerily.

 

Bilbo knew it (Бильбо знал это). He had read of a good many things (он прочитал об очень многих вещах) he had never seen or done (которых он никогда раньше не видел или не делал). He was very much alarmed (он был очень сильно встревожен), as well as disgusted (так же как и чувствовал отвращение); he wished himself a hundred miles away (как бы ему хотелось оказаться за сотни миль от сюда), and yet (и все же) — and yet somehow (и все же, почему-то) he could not go straight back to Thorin and Company (он не мог отправиться прямо назад к Торину и Компании) empty-handed (с пустыми руками). So he stood (поэтому он стоял) and hesitated in the shadows (и медлил в тени). Of the various burglarious proceedings (из всех различных воровских процедур) he had heard of (о которых он слышал) picking the trolls’ pockets (обчистить карманы троллей) seemed the least difficult (казалось ему наименее трудной), so at last (и поэтому, наконец) he crept behind a tree (он подполз за дерево) just behind William (как раз за Вильямом).

Bert and Tom went off to the barrel (Берт и Том ушли к бочке). William was having another drink (Вильям пил следующую порцию напитка). Then Bilbo plucked up courage (затем Бильбо набрался храбрости; to pluck — собирать, срывать) and put his little hand (и положил свою маленькую руку) in William’s enormous pocket (в огромный карман Вильяма). There was a purse in it (в нем был кошель), as big as a bag to Bilbo (для Бильбо он был такой же большой, как сумка).

“Ha (ага)!” thought he warming to his new work (подумал он, входя во вкус своей новой работы; to warm — греть, нагревать; почувствовать симпатию) as he lifted it carefully out (в то время, когда он осторожно вытаскивал кошель), “this is a beginning (вот оно, начало)!”

It was (так оно и было)! Trolls’ purses are the mischief (кошельки троллей всегда с какой-нибудь озорной проделкой), and this was no exception (и этот не был исключением).

“ ‘Ere, ‘oo are you (эй, ты кто такой; ‘ere = here; ‘oo = who)?” it squeaked (пропищал он), as it left the pocket (как только он покинул карман); and William turned round at once (и Вильям тут же обернулся) and grabbed Bilbo by the neck (и быстро схватил Бильбо за шею), before he could duck behind the tree (до того, как он смог нырнуть за дерево).

 

alarmed [q'lQ:md] disgusted [dIs'gAstId] hesitate ['hezIteIt] burglarious [bq:'gle(q)rIqs] courage ['kArIdZ] purse [pq:s]

 

Bilbo knew it. He had read of a good many things he had never seen or done. He was very much alarmed, as well as disgusted; he wished himself a hundred miles away, and yet — and yet somehow he could not go straight back to Thorin and Company empty-handed. So he stood and hesitated in the shadows. Of the various burglarious proceedings he had heard of picking the trolls’ pockets seemed the least difficult, so at last he crept behind a tree just behind William.

Bert and Tom went off to the barrel. William was having another drink. Then Bilbo plucked up courage and put his little hand in William’s enormous pocket. There was a purse in it, as big as a bag to Bilbo.

“Ha!” thought he warming to his new work as he lifted it carefully out, “this is a beginning!” It was! Trolls’ purses are the mischief, and this was no exception.

“ ‘Ere, ‘oo are you?” it squeaked, as it left the pocket; and William turned round at once and grabbed Bilbo by the neck, before he could duck behind the tree.

 

“Blimey, Bert (вот это да, Берт), look what I’ve copped (смотри, что я поймал)!” said William.

“What is it (что это)?” said the others coming up (сказали остальные, подходя).

“Lumme, if I knows (бог мой, если бы я знал)! What are yer (ты что такое)?”

“Bilbo Baggins, a bur- a hobbit (Бильбо Бэггинс, взло- хоббит),” said poor Bilbo (сказал бедный Бильбо), shaking all over (трясясь с головы до ног; all over — всюду, полностью), and wondering how to make owl-noises (и раздумывал, как бы издать совиные уханья; noise — шум, звук) before they throttled him (до того, как они задушат его).

“A burrahobbit (взлохоббит)?” said they a bit startled (сказали они, слегка встревоженные). Trolls are slow in the uptake (тролли медленно соображают), and mighty suspicious (и чрезвычайно подозрительны) about anything new to them (по отношению ко всему для них новому).

“What’s a burrahobbit got to do with my pocket, anyways (что это взлохоббиту делать в моем кармане, в любом случае)?” said William.

“And can yer cook ‘em (а их готовить можно)?” said Tom.

“Yer can try (можно попробовать),” said Bert, picking up a skewer (сказал Берт, поднимая шампур).

“He wouldn’t make above a mouthful (из него не получится больше, чем на один укус; mouthful — полный рот, кусок, глоток),” said William, who had already had a fine supper (который уже прекрасно поужинал), “not when he was skinned and boned (не-а, после того, как с него сдерешь кожу и вытащишь кости).”

 

blimey ['blaImI] lumme ['lAmI] throttle ['TrOtl] suspicious [sq'spISqs] mouthful ['maVTf(q)l]

 

“Blimey, Bert, look what I’ve copped!” said William.

“What is it?” said the others coming up.

“Lumme, if I knows! What are yer?”

“Bilbo Baggins, a bur- a hobbit,” said poor Bilbo, shaking all over, and wondering how to make owl-noises before they throttled him.

“A burrahobbit?” said they a bit startled. Trolls are slow in the uptake, and mighty suspicious about anything new to them.

“What’s a burrahobbit got to do with my pocket, anyways?” said William.

“And can yer cook ‘em?” said Tom.

“Yer can try,” said Bert, picking up a skewer.

“He wouldn’t make above a mouthful,” said William, who had already had a fine supper, “not when he was skinned and boned.”

 

“P’raps there are more like him round about (может быть, здесь вокруг есть еще такие, как он; p’raps = perhaps), and we might make a pie (и мы сможем сделать пирог),” said Bert. “Here you (эй ты), are there any more of your sort (здесь есть еще такие, как ты) a-sneakin’ in these here woods (что шныряют в здешних лесах; a-sneakin’ = sneaking), yer nassty little rabbit (ты, противный кролик; yer nassty = you nasty),” said he looking at the hobbit’s furry feet (сказал он, глядя на мохнатые ноги хоббита); and he picked him up (и он поднял его) by the toes (/держа/ за пальцы ног) and shook him (и встряхнул его).

“Yes, lots (да, кучи),” said Bilbo, before he remembered (до того, как он вспомнил) not to give his friends away (что не надо выдавать своих друзей). “No, none at all, not one (нет, совсем никого, ни одного),” he said immediately afterwards (сказал он немедленно после этого).

“What d’yer mean (что ты имеешь в виду; d’yer = do you)?” said Bert, holding him right away up (сказал Берт, держа его теперь правильной стороной вверх), by the hair this time (в этот раз за волосы).

“What I say (что я говорю),” said Bilbo gasping (сказал Бильбо, задыхаясь). “And please don’t cook me, kind sirs (и пожалуйста, не готовьте из меня ничего, добрые господа)! I am a good cook myself (я сам хороший повар), and cook better than I cook (и готовлю куда лучше, чем «готовлюсь» = чем из меня самого блюдо выйдет), if you see what I mean (если вы понимаете, что я имею в виду). I’ll cook beautifully for you (я буду для вас прекрасно готовить), a perfectly beautiful breakfast for you (/приготовлю/ совершенно прекрасный завтрак для вас), if only you won’t have me for supper (если только вы сами не съедите меня на ужин).”

 

furry ['fq:rI] toe [tqV] immediately [I'mi:dIqtlI] afterwards ['Q:ftqwqdz]

 

“P’raps there are more like him round about, and we might make a pie,” said Bert. “Here you, are there any more of your sort a-sneakin’ in these here woods, yer nassty little rabbit,” said he looking at the hobbit’s furry feet; and he picked him up by the toes and shook him.

“Yes, lots,” said Bilbo, before he remembered not to give his friends away. “No, none at all, not one,” he said immediately.

“What d’yer mean?” said Bert, holding him right away up, by the hair this time.

“What I say,” said Bilbo gasping. “And please don’t cook me, kind sirs! I am a good cook myself, and cook better than I cook, if you see what I mean. I’ll cook beautifully for you, a perfectly beautiful breakfast for you, if only you won’t have me for supper.”

 

“Poor little blighter (ах ты несчастный бедняжка),” said William. He had already had as much supper (он уже съел так много на ужин) as he could hold (как только мог выдержать/удержать); also he had had lots of beer (также он выпил много пива). “Poor little blighter (несчастный бедняжка)! Let him go (отпустите его)!”

“Not till he says (нет, пока он не скажет) what he means (что он имел в виду) by lots (под "кучи") and none at all (и "совсем никого"),” said Bert. “I don’t want to have me throat cut (я не хочу, чтобы мне горло перерезали) in me sleep (во сне; in me sleep = in my sleep). Hold his toes in the fire (буду держать его ноги в огне), till he talks (пока он не заговорит)!”

“I won’t have it (я этого не потерплю),” said William. “I caught him anyway (это я его поймал, в любом случае).”

“You’re a fat fool, William (ты жирный дурак, Вильям),” said Bert, “as I’ve said afore this evening (как я уже сказал раньше этим вечером).”

“And you’re a lout (а ты — деревенщина; lout — неуклюжий, нескладный, неотесанный, невоспитанный человек, деревенщина)!”

“And I won’t take that from you (я не потерплю этого от тебя), Bill Huggins (Билл Хаггинс),” says Bert (говорит Берт), and puts his fist in William’s eye (и бьет/заехал своим кулаком в глаз Вильяму).

 

blighter ['blaItq] throat [TrqVt] afore [q'fO:] lout [laVt]

 

“Poor little blighter,” said William. He had already had as much supper as he could hold; also he had had lots of beer. “Poor little blighter! Let him go!”

“Not till he says what he means by lots and none at all,” said Bert. “I don’t want to have me throat cut in me sleep. Hold his toes in the fire, till he talks!”

“I won’t have it,” said William. “I caught him anyway.”

“You’re a fat fool, William,” said Bert, “as I’ve said afore this evening.”

“And you’re a lout!”

“And I won’t take that from you. Bill Huggins,” says Bert, and puts his fist in William’s eye.

 

Then there was a gorgeous row (и тогда случилась великолепная шумная драка). Bilbo had just enough wits left (у Бильбо осталось как раз достаточно ума), when Bert dropped him on the ground (когда Берт уронил его на землю), to scramble out of the way of their feet (выкарабкаться с их пути из-под их ног), before they were fighting like dogs (до того, как они стали драться, как собаки), and calling one another (и обзывать друг друга) all sorts of perfectly true and applicable names (всякого рода совершенно правдивыми и подходящими именами) in very loud voices (очень громкими голосами). Soon they were locked in one another’s arms (вскоре они сцепились в объятиях друг друга; to lock — запирать на замок, сжимать), and rolling nearly into the fire (и катались /по земле, закатываясь/ почти что в костер) kicking and thumping (брыкаясь и дубася /друг друга/), while Tom whacked at then both with a branch (пока Том бил их обоих веткой) to bring them to their senses (чтобы привести их в чувства) and that of course (и это, конечно же) only made them madder than ever (только сделало их еще более бешенными, чем раньше: «когда либо»).

 

gorgeous ['gO:dZqs] scramble ['skrxmb(q)l] applicable [q'plIkqb(q)l]

 

Then there was a gorgeous row. Bilbo had just enough wits left, when Bert dropped him on the ground, to scramble out of the way of their feet, before they were fighting like dogs, and calling one another all sorts of perfectly true and applicable names in very loud voices. Soon they were locked in one another’s arms, and rolling nearly into the fire kicking and thumping, while Tom whacked at then both with a branch to bring them to their senses and that of course only made them madder than ever.

 

That would have been the time for Bilbo to have left (это было как раз самое время для Бильбо, чтобы уйти). But his poor little feet (но его бедные маленькие ножки) had been very squashed (были сильно расплющены) in Bert’s big paw (в огромной лапище Берта), and he had no breath in his body (и он совершенно не дышал: «у него в теле не было дыхания»), and his head was going round (и его голова кружилась); so there he lay for a while panting (и так лежал он там какое-то время, задыхаясь), just outside the circle of firelight (как раз за пределами круга света, исходящего от костра).

Right in the middle of the fight (как раз в середине драки) up came Balin (подошел Балин). The dwarves had heard noises (гномы слышали звуки) from a distance (издалека; distance — расстояние), and after waiting for some time (и после ожидания в течение какого-то времени) for Bilbo to come back (что Бильбо возвратится), or to hoot like an owl (или ухнет как филин), they started off one by one (они начали, один за другим) to creep towards the light (ползти по направлению к свету) as quietly as they could (так тихо, как только они могли). No sooner did Tom see (как только Том увидел) Balin come into the light (как Балин выходит на свет /костра/) than he gave an awful howl (как он издал ужасный вопль). Trolls simply detest (тролли просто-таки ненавидят) the very sight of dwarves (сам вид гномов) (uncooked (неприготовленных)). Bert and Bill stopped fighting immediately (Берт и Билл немедленно прекратили драться), and “a sack, Tom, quick!” they said (и они сказали: «Том, мешок, быстрей»), before Balin (до того, как Балин), who was wondering (который все размышлял) where in all this commotion Bilbo was (где, во всем этом беспорядке, был Бильбо), knew what was happening (понял что происходит), a sack was over his head (мешок оказался на его голове), and he was down (и он оказался на земле: «внизу»).

 

squash [skwOS] distance ['dIst(q)ns] awful ['O:f(q)l] commotion [kq'mqVS(q)n]

 

That would have been the time for Bilbo to have left. But his poor little feet had been very squashed in Bert’s big paw, and he had no breath in his body, and his head was going round; so there he lay for a while panting, just outside the circle of firelight. Right in the middle of the fight up came Balin. The dwarves had heard noises from a distance, and after waiting for some time for Bilbo to come back, or to hoot like an owl, they started off one by one to creep towards the light as quietly as they could. No sooner did Tom see Balin come into the light than he gave an awful howl. Trolls simply detest the very sight of dwarves (uncooked). Bert and Bill stopped fighting immediately, and “a sack, Tom, quick!” they said, before Balin, who was wondering where in all this commotion Bilbo was, knew what was happening, a sack was over his head, and he was down.

 

“There’s more to come yet (еще больше сейчас появятся),” said Tom, “or I’m mighty mistook (или я чрезвычайно ошибаюсь). Lots and none at all (кучи и совсем никого), it is (вот это оно и есть),” said he (сказал он). “No burrahobbits (никаких взлохоббитов), but lots of these here dwarves (но кучи этих вот гномов). That’s about the shape of it (вот примерно так /следует это понимать/; shape — форма, очертание, порядок)!”

“I reckon you’re right (я считаю, что ты прав),” said Bert, “and we’d best get out of the light (и нам лучше бы убраться со света).”

And so they did (и так они и сделали). With sacks in their hands (с мешками в руках), that they used for carrying off mutton (которые они использовали для переноски баранины) and other plunder (и другого награбленного), they waited in the shadows (они ожидали в полумраке). As each dwarf came up (как каждый из гномов появлялся) and looked at the fire (и смотрел на огонь), and the spilled jugs (и пролитые кружки), and the gnawed mutton (и надкусанную баранину), in surprise (удивленно), pop (бац)! went a nasty smelly sack over his head (оказывался противный вонючий мешок на его голове; to go (went, gone) — идти, направляться, следовать), and he was down (и он оказывался на земле). Soon Dwalin lay by Balin (вскоре Двалин лежал рядом с Балином), and Fili and Kili together (и Фили с Кили вместе), and Dori and Nori and Ori all in a heap (и Дори и Нори и Ори, все в куче), and Oin and Gloin (и Ойн и Глойн) and Bifur and Bofur and Bombur (и Бифур, и Бофур, и Бомбур) piled uncomfortably near the fire (были свалены в кучу, очень неудобно, рядом с костром).

 

mistook [mI'stVk] reckon ['rekqn] gnawed [nO:d]

 

“There’s more to come yet,” said Tom, “or I’m mighty mistook. Lots and none at all, it is,” said he. “No burrahobbits, but lots of these here dwarves. That’s about the shape of it!”

“I reckon you’re right,” said Bert, “and we’d best get out of the light.”

And so they did. With sacks in their hands, that they used for carrying off mutton and other plunder, they waited in the shadows. As each dwarf came up and looked at the fire, and the spilled jugs, and the gnawed mutton, in surprise, pop! went a nasty smelly sack over his head, and he was down. Soon Dwalin lay by Balin, and Fili and Kili together, and Dori and Nori and Ori all in a heap, and Oin and Gloin and Bifur and Bofur and Bombur piled uncomfortably near the fire.

 

“That’ll teach ‘em (это научит их),” said Tom; for Bifur and Bombur had given a lot of trouble (так как Бифур и Бомбур доставили много проблем), and fought like mad (и сражались как сумасшедшие), as dwarves will when cornered (как /все/ гномы будут /драться/, когда они загнаны в угол; corner — угол). Thorin came last (Торин пришел последним) and he was not caught unawares (и его не застали врасплох; to catch (caught) — поймать, схватить). He came expecting mischief (он шел, ожидая подвоха), and didn’t need to see his friends’ legs (и ему не надо было увидеть ноги своих друзей) sticking out of sacks (торчащие из мешков) to tell him (чтобы понять: «чтобы /они/ сказали ему») that things were not all well (что дела были не совсем благополучны). He stood outside (он остановился не приближаясь; outside — с наружной стороны) in the shadows (в полумраке) some way off (немного поодаль), and said (и произнес): “What’s all this trouble (что это здесь происходит; trouble — беспокойство, неприятность)? Who has been knocking my people about (кто это поколотил моих людей)?”

“It’s trolls (это тролли)!” said Bilbo from behind a tree (сказал Бильбо из-за дерева). They had forgotten all about him (они совершенно о нем забыли). “They’re hiding in the bushes (они прячутся в кустах) with sacks (с мешками),” said he (сказал он). “O! are they (о, они прячутся)?” said Thorin, and he jumped forward to the fire (и прыгнул вперед, к огню), before they could leap on him (прежде, чем они смогли прыгнуть на него). He caught up a big branch (он схватил большую ветку) all on fire at one end (всю охваченную огнем с одного конца); and Bert got that end in his eye (и Берт получил этим концом в глаз) before he could step aside (прежде, чем он смог отступить в сторону). That put him out of the battle for a bit (это вывело его из битвы на какое-то время).

 

fought [fO:t] cornered ['kO:nqd] unawares [Anq'weqz]

 

“That’ll teach ‘em,” said Tom; for Bifur and Bombur had given a lot of trouble, and fought like mad, as dwarves will when cornered. Thorin came last — and he was not caught unawares. He came expecting mischief, and didn’t need to see his friends’ legs sticking out of sacks to tell him that things were not all well. He stood outside in the shadows some way off, and said:

“What’s all this trouble? Who has been knocking my people about?”

“It’s trolls!” said Bilbo from behind a tree. They had forgotten all about him. “They’re hiding in the bushes with sacks,” said he.

“O! are they?” said Thorin, and he jumped forward to the fire, before they could leap on him. He caught up a big branch all on fire at one end; and Bert got that end in his eye before he could step aside. That put him out of the battle for a bit.

 

Bilbo did his best (Бильбо сделал все возможное). He caught hold of Tom’s leg (он ухватился /мертвой/ хваткой за ногу Тома) as well as he could (/так хорошо/ как только мог), it was thick as a young tree-trunk (она была такая же толстая, как ствол молодого деревца) but he was sent spinning up (но был отброшен ударом; to spin — прясть; крутить, вертеть, описывать круги) into the top of some bushes (на верхушку каких-то кустов), when Tom kicked the sparks up in Thorin’s face (когда Том швырнул ногой искры от костра в лицо Торина). Tom got the branch in his teeth for that (Том получил веткой в зуб за это), and lost one of the front ones (и лишился одного из передних). It made him howl (от этого он завыл; to make smb. do smth. — заставлять, вынуждать), I can tell you (могу вам сказать). But just at that moment (но как раз в этот момент) William came up behind (сзади подошел Вильям) and popped a sack (и быстро и неожиданно накинул мешок) right over Thorin’s head (прямо на голову Торина) and down to his toes (и вниз, до его ног). And so the fight ended (и так вот бой закончился). A nice pickle they were all in now (в хорошенький попали они все переплет; pickle — рассол, маринад; /разг./ неприятное положение): all neatly tied up in sacks (все аккуратно завязанные в мешках), with three angry trolls (с тремя сердитыми троллями) (and two with burns (и двое /из них/ — с ожогами) and bashes (и побоями; bash — сильный удар) to remember (чтобы помнить = на память) sitting by them (сидящих рядом с ними), arguing whether they should roast them slowly (споря, стоит ли им поджарить их медленно), or mince them fine (или мелко покрошить их) and boil them (и сварить их), or just sit on them (или просто сесть на них) one by one (одного за другим) and squash them into jelly (раздавить их в желе): and Bilbo up in a bush (и Бильбо высоко в кусте), with his clothes and his skin torn (и его одеждой и кожей разорванной /в клочья/), not daring to move (не отваживаясь пошевелиться) for fear they should hear him (из-за страха, что они смогут услышать его).

 

behind [bI'haInd] pickle ['pIk(q)l] burns [bq:nz] argue ['Q:gju:]

 

Bilbo did his best. He caught hold of Tom’s leg — as well as he could, it was thick as a young tree-trunk — but he was sent spinning up into the top of some bushes, when Tom kicked the sparks up in Thorin’s face. Tom got the branch in his teeth for that, and lost one of the front ones. It made him howl, I can tell you. But just at that moment William came up behind and popped a sack right over Thorin’s head and down to his toes. And so the fight ended. A nice pickle they were all in now: all neatly tied up in sacks, with three angry trolls (and two with burns and bashes to remember) sitting by them, arguing whether they should roast them slowly, or mince them fine and boil them, or just sit on them one by one and squash them into jelly: and Bilbo up in a bush, with his clothes and his skin torn, not daring to move for fear they should hear him.

 

It was just then (это было как раз тогда) that Gandalf came back (когда вернулся Гэндальф). But no one saw him (но никто не увидел его). The trolls had just decided (тролли только что решили) to roast the dwarves now (поджарить гномов сейчас же) and eat them later (и съесть их позже) that was Bert’s idea (это была идея Берта), and after a lot of argument (и после долгих споров) they had all agreed to it (они все согласились с ней).

“No good roasting ‘em now (ничего хорошего в том, чтобы жарить их сейчас), it’d take all night (это займет всю ночь),” said a voice (сказал чей-то голос). Bert thought it was William’s (Берт подумал, что это был голос Вильяма).

“Don’t start the argument all over again, Bill (не начинай спор заново, Билл).” he said (сказал он), “or it will take all night (или он займет всю ночь).”

“Who’s a-arguing (кто это спорит)?” said William, who thought it was Bert (который подумал, что это был Берт) that had spoken (который сказал это).

“You are (ты),” said Bert.

“You’re a liar (ты лжец),” said William; and so the argument began all over again (и таким образом спор начался снова заново). In the end (наконец) they decided to mince them fine (они решили смолоть их мелко) and boil them (и сварить их). So they got a black pot (и они достали черный горшок), and they took out their knives (и они достали свои ножи).

 

argument ['Q:gjVmqnt] roasting ['rqVstIN] liar ['laIq] mince [mIns]

 

It was just then that Gandalf came back. But no one saw him. The trolls had just decided to roast the dwarves now and eat them later — that was Bert’s idea, and after a lot of argument they had all agreed to it.

“No good roasting ‘em now, it’d take all night,” said a voice. Bert thought it was William’s.

“Don’t start the argument all over again, Bill,” he said, “or it will take all night.”

“Who’s a-arguing?” said William, who thought it was. Bert that had spoken.

“You are,” said Bert.

“You’re a liar,” said William; and so the argument beg all over again. In the end they decided to mince them fine and boil them. So they got a black pot, and they took out their knives.

 

“No good boiling ‘em (бесполезно варить их)! We ain’t got no water (у нас и воды-то нет), and it’s a long way to the well and all (и до колодца очень далеко, и все такое),” said a voice (сказал какой-то голос). Bert and William thought it was Tom’s (Берт и Вильям подумали, что это был голос Тома).

“Shut up (заткнись)!” said they (сказали они), “or we’ll never have done (или мы так никогда не закончим). And yer can fetch the water yerself (и ты можешь сходить и принести воды сам), if yer say any more (если ты скажешь еще чего-нибудь).”

“Shut up yerself (заткнитесь сами)!” said Tom, who thought it was William’s voice (который подумал, что это был голос Вильяма). “Who’s arguing but you (кто спорит, так это ты: «кроме тебя»). I’d like to know (хотелось бы мне знать).”

“You’re a booby (ты болван),” said William.

“Booby yerself (ты сам болван)!” said Tom.

And so the argument began all over again (и тогда спор начался снова заново), and went on hotter than ever (и продолжился, еще более жаркий, чем раньше), until at last they decided (до тех пор, пока наконец они не решили) to sit on the sacks one by one (сесть на мешки, один за другим) and squash them (и раздавить их), and boil them next time (и сварить их в следующий раз).

 

boiling ['bOIlIN] voice [vOIs] booby ['bu:bI]

 

“No good boiling ‘em! We ain’t got no water, and it’s a long way to the well and all,” said a voice. Bert and William thought it was Tom’s.

“Shut up!” said they, “or we’ll never have done. And yer can fetch the water yerself, if yer say any more.”

“Shut up yerself!” said Tom, who thought it was William’s voice. “Who’s arguing but you. I’d like to know.”

“You’re a booby,” said William.

“Booby yerself!” said Tom.