I discover a wreck (я обнаруживаю корабль, потерпевший кораблекрушение)

 

ONE day in May a great storm burst upon the island (одним майским днем большая буря обрушилась на остров; to burst — лопаться; разрываться; взрываться; разражаться). All day and far into the night the rain fell and the wind blew (весь день и глубоко ночью: «далеко в ночь» падал = шел дождь и дул ветер; to fall — падать; to blow — дуть), the lightnings flashed (сверкали молнии), and the thunder rolled (и катился гром = раздавались раскаты грома).

But I was used to such storms (но привык к таким штормам), and I minded it but little (и не обращал на него большого внимания). I stayed home in my castle (я оставался дома в моем замке), and felt very thankful that I had a place so safe and dry and comfortable (и чувствовал благодарность: «чувствовал /себя/ благодарным» за то, что у меня было такое безопасное, сухое и удобное место; to feel — чувствовать).

 

I sat up quite late (я не ложился спать довольно поздно = допоздна; to sit up — не ложиться спать; засиживаться до поздней ночи; бодрствовать), reading my Bible by the light of a little lamp I had made (читая Библию при свете маленького светильника, которую я сделал), and thinking of my strange lot in life (и думая о моем странной жребии в жизни). Suddenly I heard a sound which I felt sure was the noise of a gun fired at sea (вдруг я услышал звук, который, я чувствовал, наверняка был шумом ружья, выстрелившего в море).

I started up quickly (я быстро вскочил). I threw on my raincoat (я набросил дождевик) and mounted to my lookout on the top of the great rock (и взобрался на смотровую площадку на вершине большой скалы).

The rain had stopped and the wind was going down (дождь прекратился, и ветер стихал). It was now past midnight (было уже за полночь), and very dark (и очень темно).

A moment after I had reached my place (через мгновение после того, как я добрался до места) there was a flash of light that caused me to stop (была вспышка света, которая заставила меня остановится) and listen for another gun (и прислушаться, не будет ли еще /ружейного/ выстрела).

In a few seconds I heard it (через несколько секунд я услышал его). It seemed to come from that part of the sea (он, казалось, донесся с той части моря) where I was once caught by the strong current (где я был однажды захвачен сильным потоком; to catch — ловить) and driven far out in my boat (и отнесен далеко /в море/ в моей лодке; to drive — гнать).

I knew at once that the shots were fired from some ship in distress (я сразу понял, что выстрелы стрелялись с какого-то корабля в бедствии). Perhaps she was being driven upon the shore by the wind and waves (возможно, он /корабль — в англ. языке это слово женского рода/ был относим на берег ветром и волнами). Could I do anything to help the poor men on board (мог ли я сделать что-либо, чтобы помочь бедным людям на борту)?

With great labor and danger to myself (с большим трудом и опасностью для себя) I gathered some sticks and brush into a pile on the rock and set it on fire (я собрал палки и ветки в кучу на скале и поджег их).

The wood was not dry (дрова были не сухими), but when the fire was once kindled (но когда костер был разведен) it blazed up fiercely (он разгорелся неистово/яростно: «свирепо») and cast a light over all the rocks and trees about me (и отбрасывал свет на все скалы и деревья вокруг меня).

I felt sure that if there were sailors on the ship (я чувствовал уверенность, что если на корабле были моряки), they could not help but see it (они не могли не увидеть его /костер/). And no doubt they did see it (и без сомнения, они увидели его), for I soon heard another gun (так как вскоре я услышал другое ружье = другой выстрел).

All night long I kept the fire burning (всю ночь напролет я сохранял огонь горящим = поддерживал огонь); but no other sound besides the wind did I hear (но никаких других звуков, кроме ветра, я не слышал).

When it was broad day (когда наступил день; broad — широкий) and the mists had cleared away (и туман рассеялся: «дымки прояснились»), I turned my spyglass toward that part of the sea from which the sounds came (я обратил мою подзорную трубу в ту сторону, откуда доносились звуки; to turn — поворачивать; toward — /по направлению/ к).

Far away from the shore there was surely something (далеко от берега определенно что-то было); but whether it was a wreck or a ship under sail (но был ли это корабль, потерпевший кораблекрушение, или корабль под парусом), I could not tell (я не мог различить). The distance was too great (расстояние было слишком большим).

I watched it from time to time all day (я смотрел на него время от времени весь день). It did not move (он не двигался).

"It must be a ship at anchor (должно быть, это корабль на якоре)," I said to myself (сказал я себе = подумал я).

Early the next morning (рано следующим утром) I took my gun and went down toward that side of the island where the current had once caught me (я взял свое ружье и спустился к той стороне острова, где поток однажды захватил меня). When I had come to the shore there (когда я пришел к тому берегу: «к берегу там»), I climbed upon some rocks and looked out over the sea (я взобрался на скалы и выглянул на море).

The air was very clear now (воздух был теперь очень ясным), and I could plainly see the ship (и я мог отчетливо видеть корабль).

She was not at anchor (он был не на якоре). She was fast on some great rocks of which there were many in that part of the sea (он застрял на больших рифах, которых было много в этой части моря; fast — крепкий).

I saw that the masts of the vessel were broken (я увидел, что мачты судна были сломаны; to break — ломать), and that her hull was lying more than halfway out of the water (и что его корпус лежал более чем наполовину вне воды).

I thought of the sailors who must have been on board (я подумал о моряках, которые должны были бы быть на борту), and wondered if any had escaped (и задавался вопросом, спасся ли кто-нибудь). It seemed impossible (казалось невозможным) that any could have reached the shore through the furious sea (что кто-то смог добраться до берега через свирепое море) that was raging during the storm (которое бушевало во время шторма; rage — ярость, гнев, бешенство; to rage — беситься, злиться; быть в ярости, в гневе; бушевать, свирепствовать /о буре, эпидемии, страстях и т. п./).

"Oh, that one had been saved (вот если бы кто-нибудь спасся)!" I cried as I walked up and down the shore (восклицал я, ходя из стороны в сторону по берегу).

I wrung my hands (я ломал: «скручивал» руки; to wring — крутить, скручивать, выламывать; to wring one's hands — ломать себе руки), my lips were firmly set (мои губы были жестко сомкнуты: «крепко установлены»), my eyes were full of tears (мои глаза полны слез).

"Oh, that one had been saved!" I cried again and again (снова и снова).

It was thus that after so many lonely years without seeing a friendly face (было так = дело в том, что после столь многих одиноких лет, не видя дружеского лица) I longed to have at least one companion to talk with and to share my hopes and fears (я очень хотел иметь хотя бы одного товарища, чтобы говорить с ним и разделить мои надежды и страхи).

The sea was now quite calm (море было теперь довольно спокойным). Even among the rocks the water was smooth (даже между рифов вода была гладкой).

Seeing everything thus favorable (видя, что все было таким благоприятным), I made up my mind to get my canoe and go out to the wreck (я решил взять мое каноэ и отправиться к кораблю, потерпевшему кораблекрушение).

I hurried back to my castle (я поспешил обратно в замок) to get things ready for my voyage (чтобы приготовиться к моей поездке).

I packed a big basket with bread (я наполнил: «упаковал» большую корзину хлебом; to pack — упаковывать, запаковывать, укладывать вещи; тюковать); I filled a jug with fresh water (я наполнил кувшин пресной водой); I put a compass in my pocket (я положил в карман компас) that I might have it to steer by (который мог понадобиться, чтобы с его помощью править /судном/); I threw a bag full of raisins upon my shoulder (я перекинул сумку, полную изюма, через плечо; to throw — бросать).

Loaded with all these necessary things (нагруженный всеми этими нужными вещами), I went round to the place where my canoe was hidden (я пошел к месту, где было спрятано мое каноэ). I found her half full of water (я нашел его наполовину заполненным водой), for she had been lying there neglected for a long time (так как оно лежало там пренебрегаемое = без ухода долгое время).

With much labor I bailed the water out of her (с большим трудом я вычерпал из него воду) and got her afloat (и поставил на воду; afloat — наплаву). Then I loaded my cargo into her (затем я погрузил на него мой груз), and hurried home for more (и поспешил домой за следующим/за бóльшим /грузом/).

My second load (вторым грузом/второй загрузкой) was a bag full of rice (была сумка, полная риса), the umbrella to set up over my head for shade (зонт, чтобы установить его над головой для тени), another jug of water (другой кувшин воды), a cheese (сыр), a bottle of milk (бутылка молока), and about two dozen barley cakes (и около двух дюжин ячменных лепешек).

All these I carried around to my canoe (все это я отнес на каноэ). If there were men on board the wreck they might be in need of food (если на борту потерпевшего крушение корабля были люди, они могли бы нуждаться в еде: «быть в нужде еды»).

When I had arranged everything in good order (когда я все привел в хороший порядок; to arrange — приводить в порядок, расставлять; устраивать, организовывать, подготавливать; принимать меры; range — ряд, линия), I started out (я отправился в путь).

I kept the canoe quite close to the shore (я держал каноэ довольно близко к берегу) until I had rounded the point past which the dangerous current flowed (пока я не обогнул мыс, мимо которого текло опасное течение; point — точка; острие, выступающая часть; мыс). Being then in smooth water (будучи затем в тихой: «гладкой» воде), I struck boldly out toward the wreck (я направился отважно к остову разбитого судна; to strike — ударять; to strike out — направляться; to strike out for the shore — направиться к берегу).

Soon, however, upon looking a little ahead of me (вскоре, тем не менее, глядя немного вперед передо мной), I saw the second current flowing in a great eddy past a long line of half-hidden rocks (я увидел второе течение, текущее большим водоворотом мимо длинной линии полускрытых /водой/ скал).

As I looked on these rapid currents (когда я смотрел на эти быстрые потоки), my heart began to fail me (мое сердце начало отказывать мне). I knew that if I should be driven into one of them, it would carry me a great way out to sea (я знал, что если бы я попал: «был загнан/отнесен» в один из них, он вынес бы меня далеко в море). It would carry me so far that I should never be able to get back again (он вынес бы меня так далеко, что я ни за что не смог бы приплыть обратно).

Yet I was determined to persevere in my venture (и все же я был настроен упорно продолжать мое путешествие; to persevere — упорно добиваться, стойко, упорно продолжать).

 

discover [dIs'kAvq], burst [bq:st], lightning ['laItnIN], thunder ['TAndq], heard [hq:d], Bible ['baIbl], threw [TrH], raincoat ['reInkqut], caught [kO:t], distress [dIs'tres], anchor ['xNkq], during ['djuqrIN], firmly ['fq:mlI], many ['menI], jug [GAg], steer ['stIq], dozen ['dAz(q)n], arrange [q'reInG], rapid ['rxpId], driven ['drIv(q)n], determined [dI'tq:mInd], persevere ["pq:sI'vIq]

 

I DISCOVER A WRECK

ONE day in May a great storm burst upon the island. All day and far into the night the rain fell and the wind blew, the lightnings flashed, and the thunder rolled.

But I was used to such storms, and I minded it but little. I stayed home in my castle, and felt very thankful that I had a place so safe and dry and comfortable. I sat up quite late, reading my Bible by the light of a little lamp I had made, and thinking of my strange lot in life. Suddenly I heard a sound which I felt sure was the noise of a gun fired at sea.

I started up quickly. I threw on my raincoat and mounted to my lookout on the top of the great rock.

The rain had stopped and the wind was going down. It was now past midnight, and very dark.

A moment after I had reached my place there was a flash of light that caused me to stop and listen for another gun.

In a few seconds I heard it. It seemed to come from that part of the sea where I was once caught by the strong current and driven far out in my boat.

I knew at once that the shots were fired from some ship in distress. Perhaps she was being driven upon the shore by the wind and waves. Could I do anything to help the poor men on board?

With great labor and danger to myself I gathered some sticks and brush into a pile on the rock and set it on fire.

The wood was not dry, but when the fire was once kindled it blazed up fiercely and cast a light over all the rocks and trees about me.

I felt sure that if there were sailors on the ship, they could not help but see it. And no doubt they did see it, for I soon heard another gun.

All night long I kept the fire burning; but no other sound besides the wind did I hear.

When it was broad day and the mists had cleared away, I turned my spyglass toward that part of the sea from which the sounds came.

Far away from the shore there was surely something; but whether it was a wreck or a ship under sail, I could not tell. The distance was too great.

I watched it from time to time all day. It did not move.

"It must be a ship at anchor," I said to myself.

Early the next morning I took my gun and went down toward that side of the island where the current had once caught me. When I had come to the shore there, I climbed upon some rocks and looked out over the sea.

The air was very clear now, and I could plainly see the ship.

She was not at anchor. She was fast on some great rocks of which there were many in that part of the sea.

I saw that the masts of the vessel were broken, and that her hull was lying more than halfway out of the water.

I thought of the sailors who must have been on board, and wondered if any had escaped. It seemed impossible that any could have reached the shore through the furious sea that was raging during the storm.

"Oh, that one had been saved!" I cried as I walked up and down the shore.

I wrung my hands, my lips were firmly set, my eyes were full of tears.

"Oh, that one had been saved!" I cried again and again.

It was thus that after so many lonely years without seeing a friendly face I longed to have at least one companion to talk with and to share my hopes and fears.

The sea was now quite calm. Even among the rocks the water was smooth.

Seeing everything thus favorable, I made up my mind to get my canoe and go out to the wreck.

I hurried back to my castle to get things ready for my voyage.

I packed a big basket with bread; I filled a jug with fresh water; I put a compass in my pocket that I might have it to steer by; I threw a bag full of raisins upon my shoulder.

Loaded with all these necessary things, I went round to the place where my canoe was hidden. I found her half full of water, for she had been lying there neglected for a long time.

With much labor I bailed the water out of her and got her afloat. Then I loaded my cargo into her, and hurried home for more.

My second load was a bag full of rice, the umbrella to set up over my head for shade, another jug of water, a cheese, a bottle of milk, and about two dozen barley cakes.

All these I carried around to my canoe. If there were men on board the wreck they might be in need of food.

When I had arranged everything in good order, I started out.

I kept the canoe quite close to the shore until I had rounded the point past which the dangerous current flowed. Being then in smooth water, I struck boldly out toward the wreck.

Soon, however, upon looking a little ahead of me, I saw the second current flowing in a great eddy past a long line of half-hidden rocks.

As I looked on these rapid currents, my heart began to fail me. I knew that if I should be driven into one of them, it would carry me a great way out to sea. It would carry me so far that I should never be able to get back again.

Yet I was determined to persevere in my venture.