I'll take what I have,' she said, jumping to her feet.

And I'll take this to square the count,' said I, picking up the oilskin packet.

Next moment we were both groping downstairs, leaving the candle by the empty chest; and the next we had opened the door and were in full retreat. We had not started a moment too soon. The fog was rapidly dispersing; already the moon shone quite clear on the high ground on either side; and it was only in the exact bottom of the dell and round the tavern door that a thin veil still hung unbroken to conceal the first steps of our escape. Far less than half-way to the hamlet, very little beyond the bottom of the hill, we must come forth into the moonlight. Nor was this all; for the sound of several footsteps running came already to our ears, and as we looked back in their direction, a light tossing to and fro and still rapidly advancing, showed that one of the new-comers carried a lantern.

 

1. 'My dear (мой дорогой),' said my mother suddenly (сказала мать вдруг), 'take the money and run on (бери деньги и беги; to run on — бежать дальше). I am going to faint (я вот-вот упаду в обморок)…'

2. It was certainly the end for both of us, I thought (это был, несомненно, конец для нас обоих, подумал я). How I cursed the cowardice of the neighbours (как проклинал я трусость соседей); how I blamed my poor mother for her honesty and her greed (как винил я мою бедную мать за ее честность и жадность), for her past foolhardiness and present weakness (за ее прошедшую безрассудную храбрость и теперешнюю слабость)!

3. We were just at the little bridge, by good fortune (мы были как раз на маленьком мостике, по счастливой случайности); and I helped her, tottering as she was (я помог ей, шедшей шатающейся походкой: «шатающейся, каковой она была»), to the edge of the bank (/сойти/ к кромке берега), where, sure enough, she gave a sigh and fell on my shoulder (где, действительно, она вздохнула и упала = прислонилась к моему плечу; to fall — падать, оседать). I do not know how I found the strength to do it at all (не знаю, как = где я вообще нашел силы, чтобы сделать это), and I am afraid it was roughly done (и боюсь /только/, /что/ это было грубо сделано); but I managed to drag her down the bank (но я сумел стащить ее к берегу) and a little way under the arch (и немного под арку). Farther I could not move her (далее я не мог двигать ее), for the bridge was too low (потому что мост был слишком низким) to let me do more than crawl below it (чтобы позволить мне сделать большее, чем лишь проползти под ним) so there we had to stay (так что там мы вынуждены были остаться) — my mother almost entirely exposed (моя мать почти полностью была на виду; to expose — выставлять, раскрыть) and both of us within earshot of the inn (и мы оба /были/ в пределах слышимости = совсем недалеко от трактира).

 

сursed [`kq:st] honesty [`OnIstI] bridge [brIG] strength [streNT] earshot [`IqSqt]

 

1. 'My dear,' said my mother suddenly, 'take the money and run on. I am going to faint.'

2. It was certainly the end for both of us, I thought. How I cursed the cowardice of the neighbours; how I blamed my poor mother for her honesty and her greed, for her past foolhardiness and present weakness!

We were just at the little bridge, by good fortune; and I helped her, tottering as she was, to the edge of the bank, where, sure enough, she gave a sigh and fell on my shoulder. I do not know how I found the strength to do it at all, and I am afraid it was roughly done; but I managed to drag her down the bank and a little way under the arch. Farther I could not move her, for the bridge was too low to let me do more than crawl below it so there we had to stay — my mother almost entirely exposed and both of us within earshot of the inn.

 

Chapter V (глава 5)

The Last of the Blind Man (конец слепого)

1. My curiosity, in a sense (мое любопытство, до известной степени), was stronger than my fear (было сильнее, чем мой страх); for I could not remain where I was (и потому я не мог оставаться, где я был = на месте), but crept back to the bank again (выполз снова обратно к берегу), whence, sheltering my head behind a bush of broom (откуда, пряча голову за кустом ракитника; shelter — приют, кров; убежище; to shelter — найти приют, пристанище, прибежище; прятаться, укрываться), I might command the road before our door (я мог контролировать = отчетливо видеть дорогу перед нашей дверью).

2. I was scarcely in position ere my enemies began to arrive (я был едва на месте = занял свой наблюдательный пункт, как мои враги начали приходить; ere — до, перед, прежде чем), seven or eight of them, running hard (семь или восемь /человек/, бежавших со всех ног: «твердо, крепко»), their feet beating out of time along the road (их ноги отбивали ритм по дороге), and the man with the lantern some paces in front (человек с фонарем бежал немного впереди /всех/). Three men ran together, hand in hand (трое бежали вместе, рука об руку); and I made out, even through the mist (я разобрал, даже через туман), that the middle man of this trio was the blind beggar (что средним человеком в этом трио был слепой нищий). The next moment his voice showed me that I was right (в следующее мгновение его голос показал, что я был прав).

3. 'Down with the door (ломайте дверь: «вниз с дверью = долой дверь»)!' he cried.

 

curiosity [kjurI`OsItI] whence [wens] scarcely [`skeqslI] lantern [`lxntqn]

 

My curiosity, in a sense, was stronger than my fear; for I could not remain where I was, but crept back to the bank again, whence, sheltering my head behind a bush of broom, I might command the road before our door.

I was scarcely in position ere my enemies began to arrive, seven or eight of them, running hard, their feet beating out of time along the road, and the man with the lantern some paces in front. Three men ran together, hand in hand; and I made out, even through the mist, that the middle man of this trio was the blind beggar. The next moment his voice showed me that I was right.

3. 'Down with the door!' he cried.

 

1. 'Ay, ay, sir (есть, сэр)!' answered two or three (ответили двое или трое); and a rush was made upon the 'Admiral Benbow (и /они/ кинулись на /дверь/ «Адмирала Бенбоу»; rush — бросок, натиск; to make a rush on — наброситься),' the lantern-bearer following (носитель фонаря = человек с фонарем последовал /за ними/); and then I could see them pause (я мог видеть, как они остановились), and hear speeches passed in a lower key (и слышать речи = слова, произносимые вполголоса = шепотом: «в более низком ключе»), as if they were surprised to find the door open (как будто они были удивлены найти = обнаружить, что дверь открыта). But the pause was brief (но замешательство было недолгим), for the blind man again issued his commands (так как слепой снова повторил свои распоряжения; to issue — издавать; пускать в обращение). His voice sounded louder and higher (его голос звучал громче и выше = визгливее), as if he were afire with eagerness and rage (словно он был охвачен пылом и яростью; afire — охваченный огнем, пылающий страстью).

2. 'In, in, in (внутрь, внутрь, внутрь)!' he shouted, and cursed them for their delay (он кричал и проклинал их за задержку).

3. Four or five of them obeyed at once (четыре-пять /человек/ повиновались сразу же), two remaining on the road with the formidable beggar (двое остались на дороге со страшным нищим). There was a pause (была пауза = наступила тишина), then a cry of surprise, and then a voice shouting from the house (затем /раздались/ крик удивления и после голос закричал изнутри дома): —

4. 'Bill's dead (Билл мертв)!'

 

pause [pLz] brief [brJf] eagerness [`JgqnIs] formidable [`fLmIdqbl]

 

1. 'Ay, ay, sir!' answered two or three; and a rush was made upon the 'Admiral Benbow,' the lantern-bearer following; and then I could see them pause, and hear speeches passed in a lower key, as if they were surprised to find the door open. But the pause was brief, for the blind man again issued his commands. His voice sounded louder and higher, as if he were afire with eagerness and rage.

2. 'In, in, in!' he shouted, and cursed them for their delay.