I make a new boat (я мастерю новую лодку)

I MADE up my mind to begin the new boat at once (я решил начать /строить/ новую лодку).

So, the next day (поэтому, на следующий день), I went with Friday to find a good tree (я отправился с Пятницей найти хорошее дерево).

There were trees enough on the island to build a fleet (на острове было достаточно деревьев, чтобы построить флот). But, I must find one that was close to the water (но я должен был найти такое, что было близко к воде), so that we could launch the boat when it was made (чтобы мы смогли спустить лодку на воду, когда она будет готова; to launch — спускать судно на воду).

 

At last Friday found one (наконец Пятница нашел /такое/ дерево). He knew, better than I (он лучше меня знал), what kind of wood was best for making a boat (какой вид дерева был лучшим для создания лодки).

It was an odd-looking tree (это было странное: «странно выглядящее» дерево; odd — нечетный; чуждый, необычный, странный), and to this day I do not know its name (и по сей день я не знаю его названия).

Friday chopped it down (Пятница срубил его). He cut off a part of it for the boat (он отрубил часть его для лодки).

He wished to build a fire on the top of it (он захотел разжечь огонь на его верхней части) and thus burn out the hollow part of the boat (и таким образом выжечь полую часть лодки).

But I showed him a better way (но я показал ему лучший способ = способ получше), to chop it out with hatchets and chisels (/что можно/ выдолбить его /бревно/ топориками и долотом).

In about a month it was finished (примерно через месяц она /лодка/ была закончена). With our axes (нашими топорами) we cut and hewed the outside till it was in a very good shape (мы резали и рубили наружную часть, пока она не приняла очень хорошую форму).

Then we worked hard for two weeks to get the boat into the water (затем мы тяжело трудились в течение двух недель, чтобы доставить лодку в воду).

But when she was in (но когда она оказалась в воде), how well she floated (как хорошо она поплыла)! She would have carried at least twenty men (она могла бы везти самое малое двадцать человек).

It was wonderful (было удивительно) how well Friday could manage her (как хорошо Пятница мог управлять ею). It was wonderful how fast he could paddle (как быстро он мог грести).

"Now, Friday (а теперь, Пятница)," I said, "do you think she will carry us over the sea (как ты думаешь, она перевезет нас через море)?"

"Yes, master," he said, "she will carry us even in the worst wind (даже при самом худшем ветре)."

My next care was to make a mast and a sail (моей следующей заботой было сделать мачту и парус), and to fit the boat with an anchor and a rudder (и оборудовать лодку якорем и рулем).

It was easy enough to get the mast (было довольно легко раздобыть мачту). I had Friday cut down a tall young cedar (я приказал Пятнице срубить высокий молодой кедр; to cut — резать; рубить, валить /лес/; to cut down — рубить /деревья/) that grew near the place (который рос неподалеку: «близко к этому месту»).

He shaped it and smoothed it (он придал ему форму и сровнял), and made as pretty a mast as you would wish to see (и сделал такую красивую мачту, какую бы вы /только/ хотели видеть = что лучше некуда).

As for the sail, that was another thing (что касается паруса, это было другое дело). I had old sails (у меня были старые паруса), or pieces of old sails (или = точнее, куски старых парусов) in plenty (в изобилии: «в полноте»).

But they had been lying in this place and in that for six and twenty years (но они лежали то тут, то там в течение двадцати шести лет). It would be a wonder if they were not all rotten (было бы чудом, если бы они не оказались все гнилыми).

After a long search (после долгих поисков) I found two pieces which I thought would do (я нашел два куска, которые, как я подумал, подойдут). I set to work, patching and stitching (я взялся за работу, за латание и шитье; to stitch — шить; стегать).

It was slow work without needles (это была медленная работа — без иголок), you may be sure (можете быть уверены = как вы понимаете).

At last I had a three-cornered (наконец у меня была треугольная), ugly thing (уродливая штука).

I had also a little short sprit (у меня был также маленький короткий шпринтов[10]) to run up at the top of the mast (идущий на верхушку мачты).

It took two months (заняло два месяца) to make the sails and the rigging (чтобы изготовить паруса и оснастку) as I wished (такими, как я желал).

Then I put in a rudder to steer the boat (затем я установил руль, чтобы направлять лодку). I was a poor carpenter (жалкий из меня был плотник), and I made a pretty rough job of it (и моя работа была довольно грубой).

Friday knew how to paddle a canoe as well as any man (Пятница умел грести на каноэ не хуже любого = прекрасно умел грести).

But he knew nothing about a sail (но он ничего не знал о парусе). He had never seen a boat steered by a rudder (он никогда не видел лодку, управляемую рулем).

We made several little voyages near the island (мы проделали несколько маленьких поездок возле острова) and I taught him how to manage everything about the boat (и я обучил его, как управляться со всем, что в лодке).

Much as I wished to go back to my own people (как бы я ни хотел вернуться к своим соотечественникам), I could not make up my mind (я не мог решиться) to try the long voyage across to the mainland (попробовать долгое путешествие на ту сторону, к материку).

I had now been on the island twenty-seven years (я был на острове уже двадцать семь лет). My man Friday had been with me about two years (мой слуга Пятница был со мной около двух лет), and these had been the happiest of my life (и эти /два года/ были самыми счастливыми из = в моей жизни). I had everything to make me comfortable and happy (у меня было все, чтобы сделать меня удовлетворенным и счастливым; comfortable — уютный, удобный; спокойный, довольный).

Why should I wish to go away (почему я должен хотеть уехать)?

I had a great longing (у меня было большое желание) to see my native land again (увидеть снова мою родную землю), to talk with people of my own race (поговорить с людьми моей собственно расы), perhaps to visit my kindred once more (возможно, посетить еще раз моих родственников). This longing I could not rid myself of, day or night (от этого желания не мог я избавиться ни днем, ни ночью; to get rid of smth. — избавиться от чего-л.).

But now new thoughts came into mind (но теперь новые мысли приходили на ум). I felt that in some way I would soon escape from the island (я чувствовал, что так или иначе я скоро убегу с острова; to escape — совершать побег, спасаться). Indeed, I was quite sure that I would not stay there another year (на самом деле, я был вполне уверен, что я не останусь здесь еще на год).

I cannot tell you what made me feel that way (я не могу сказать вам, что заставило меня чувствовать так). But I seemed to know that some great change in my life was near at hand (но я, казалось, знал, что какое-то большое изменение в моей жизни было близко).

Yet I went on with my farming as before (все же/однако я продолжал фермерство, как раньше). I dug (я копал), I planted (сажал), I reaped (жал; to reap — жать, пожинать, собирать урожай), I gathered my grapes (собирал виноград), I did everything just as though I had no such thoughts (я делал все точно так, как будто у меня не было таких мыслей).

My man Friday was the truest of helpers (мой слуга Пятница был самым преданным из помощников; true — верный, правильный; должный, надлежащий; верный, преданный: a true friend — преданный друг). He did all the heavy labor (он делал = брал на себя весь тяжелый труд). He would not let me lift my hand (он не позволял мне поднять руку) if he could help it (если только мог /сделать это/).

The rainy season at last came upon us (наконец наступил: «пришел на нас» сезон дождей: «дождливый сезон»), and this put an end to most of our outdoor work (и это прекратило = заставило нас прекратить большую часть нашей работы вне дома).

We took our new boat to a safe place some distance up the little river (мы отвели нашу новую лодку в безопасное место на некоторое расстояние вверх по речке), above the point (выше того места; point — точка; место) where I had landed my rafts from the ship (где я /когда-то/ причаливал со своими плотами /во время плаваний/ от корабля).

We hauled her up to the shore at high-water mark (мы затащили ее на берег у отметки высокой воды; high-water mark — уровень полной воды; максимальный уровень подъема воды), and there Friday dug a little dock for her (и там Пятница вырыл небольшой док[11] для нее).

This dock was just big enough to hold her (этот док был как раз достаточно велик = был велик именно настолько, чтобы вмещать: «держать» ее) and it was just deep enough to give her water to float in (и настолько глубок, чтобы давать ей воду, в которой /она могла/ держаться на плаву).

When the tide was out (когда был отлив) we made a strong dam across the end of it (мы соорудили крепкую дамбу через конец /дока/), to keep the water out (чтобы не пускать воду; to keep out/off — не допускать, не впускать; не позволять). Thus she lay high and dry on the bank of the river (так она лежала вытащенной на берегу реки; high and dry — вытащенный на берег /о судне/: «высоко и сухо»).

To keep the rain off (чтобы предохранить /ее/ от дождя: «чтобы не пускать дождь») we laid a great many branches of trees upon her till she was covered thickly with them (мы положили на нее много веток деревьев, пока она не стала ими укрыта очень плотно). A thatched roof (крытая соломой крыша; thatch — солома, тростник /как материал для кровли крыши/; to thatch — крыть соломой/тростником) could not have protected her better (не могла бы защитить ее лучше).

Little did I think that I should never see our boat floating upon the water again (мало я /тогда/ задумывался над тем, что никогда больше не увижу нашу лодку вновь на плаву). For all that I know (я могу лишь предположить), she is still lying high and dry in her little waterproof dock (что она все еще лежит вытащенной на берег в своем маленьком, не пропускающем воду доке; waterproof — водонепроницаемый, непромокаемый; водоотталкивающий; водостойкий, водоупорный).

We were now kept indoors a great part of the time (мы держались = проводили теперь внутри/в доме большую часть времени; to keep — держать, не отдавать; держаться, сохраняться; оставаться /в известном положении, состоянии/; /разг./ жить: where do you keep? — где вы обретаетесь?), but we kept ourselves occupied pleasantly (но мы были приятно занятыми), and the hours passed swiftly (и часы проходили быстро).

My first duty every morning (моей первой обязанностью каждое утро; duty — долг, обязательство) was to read several chapters from the Bible (было читать несколько глав из Библии). Then I instructed Friday in some of the truths of religion (затем я наставлял Пятницу в некоторых религиозных истинах).

I was but an awkward teacher (я был всего лишь неловким учителем), but I did my best (но я старался/делал все возможное: «делал мое лучшее») and was honest (и был честным = добросовестным).

I began by asking him about the Creator (я начал с того, что задал ему вопрос о Создателе; to create — создавать, творить).

I asked him who made the sea, the hills, the woods (я спросил его, кто сделал море, холмы, лес), the ground we walked on (землю, по которой мы ходим).

He told me it was one great being who lived beyond all (он сказал мне, что это было великое существо, которое жило вне пределов всего).

I confess (я признаюсь) I could not have given a better answer (я не мог бы дать лучшего ответа).

He said that this great being was older than the sea or the land, the moon or the stars (он сказал, что это великое существо было старше моря и: «или» суши, луны и звезд).

Then I said (затем я сказал), "If this being has made all things (если это существо сделало все вещи), why do not all things worship him (почему все вещи не почитают его)?"

He looked very grave (он выглядел очень серьезным = принял серьезный вид; grave — важный, степенный, серьезный), and with eyes full of innocence (и с глазами, полными невинности), answered, "All things say O to him (все вещи говорят ему «О»)."

Thus he taught me while I was trying to teach him (так он учил меня, в то время как я пытался учить его).

 

rudder ['rAdq], cedar ['si:dq], carpenter ['kQ:p(q)ntq], pretty ['prItI], rough [rAf], kindred ['kIndrqd], haul [hO:l], occupy ['OkjupaI], pleasantly ['plezntlI], awkward ['O:kwqd], Creator [krI'eItq], worship ['wq:SIp], innocence ['Inqs(q)ns]

 

I MAKE A NEW BOAT

I MADE up my mind to begin the new boat at once.

So, the next day, I went with Friday to find a good tree.

There were trees enough on the island to build a fleet. But, I must find one that was close to the water, so that we could launch the boat when it was made. At last Friday found one. He knew, better than I, what kind of wood was best for making a boat.

It was an odd-looking tree, and to this day I do not know its name.

Friday chopped it down. He cut off a part of it for the boat.

He wished to build a fire on the top of it and thus burn out the hollow part of the boat.

But I showed him a better way, to chop it out with hatchets and chisels.

In about a month it was finished. With our axes we cut and hewed the outside till it was in a very good shape.

Then we worked hard for two weeks to get the boat into the water.

But when she was in, how well she floated! She would have carried at least twenty men.

It was wonderful how well Friday could manage her. It was wonderful how fast he could paddle.

"Now, Friday," I said, "do you think she will carry us over the sea?"

"Yes, master," he said, "she will carry us even in the worst wind."

My next care was to make a mast and a sail, and to fit the boat with an anchor and a rudder.

It was easy enough to get the mast. I had Friday cut down a tall young cedar that grew near the place.

He shaped it and smoothed it, and made as pretty a mast as you would wish to see.

As for the sail, that was another thing. I had old sails, or pieces of old sails in plenty.

But they had been lying in this place and in that for six and twenty years. It would be a wonder if they were not all rotten.

After a long search I found two pieces which I thought would do. I set to work, patching and stitching.

It was slow work without needles, you may be sure.

At last I had a three-cornered, ugly thing.

I had also a little short sprit to run up at the top of the mast.

It took two months to make the sails and the rigging as I wished.

Then I put in a rudder to steer the boat. I was a poor carpenter, and I made a pretty rough job of it.

Friday knew how to paddle a canoe as well as any man.

But he knew nothing about a sail. He had never seen a boat steered by a rudder.

We made several little voyages near the island and I taught him how to manage everything about the boat.

Much as I wished to go back to my own people, I could not make up my mind to try the long voyage across to the mainland.

I had now been on the island twenty-seven years. My man Friday had been with me about two years, and these had been the happiest of my life. I had everything to make me comfortable and happy.

Why should I wish to go away?

I had a great longing to see my native land again, to talk with people of my own race, perhaps to visit my kindred once more. This longing I could not rid myself of, day or night.

But now new thoughts came into mind. I felt that in some way I would soon escape from the island. Indeed, I was quite sure that I would not stay there another year.

I cannot tell you what made me feel that way. But I seemed to know that some great change in my life was near at hand.

Yet I went on with my farming as before. I dug, I planted, I reaped, I gathered my grapes, I did everything just as though I had no such thoughts.

My man Friday was the truest of helpers. He did all the heavy labor. He would not let me lift my hand if he could help it.

The rainy season at last came upon us, and this put an end to most of our outdoor work.

We took our new boat to a safe place some distance up the little river, above the point where I had landed my rafts from the ship.

We hauled her up to the shore at high-water mark, and there Friday dug a little dock for her.

This dock was just big enough to hold her and it was just deep enough to give her water to float in.

When the tide was out we made a strong dam across the end of it, to keep the water out. Thus she lay high and dry on the bank of the river.

To keep the rain off we laid a great many branches of trees upon her till she was covered thickly with them. A thatched roof could not have protected her better.

Little did I think that I should never see our boat floating upon the water again. For all that I know, she is still lying high and dry in her little waterproof dock.

We were now kept indoors a great part of the time, but we kept ourselves occupied pleasantly, and the hours passed swiftly.

My first duty every morning was to read several chapters from the Bible. Then I instructed Friday in some of the truths of religion.

I was but an awkward teacher, but I did my best and was honest.

I began by asking him about the Creator.

I asked him who made the sea, the hills, the woods, the ground we walked on.

He told me it was one great being who lived beyond all.

I confess I could not have given a better answer.

He said that this great being was older than the sea or the land, the moon or the stars.

Then I said, "If this being has made all things, why do not all things worship him?"

He looked very grave, and with eyes full of innocence, answered, "All things say O to him."

Thus he taught me while I was trying to teach him.