Английский язык с Робинзоном Крузо

I loosed the rope that held the raft to the ship, and soon began my little voyage.

The tide was now so high that the dry land was much farther away than when I

came out. But the raft floated smoothly along, and drew nearer and nearer to the shore.

Just as I thought myself safe, I found that I was entering a strong current which

carried me into a narrow bay far from my first landing place.

There the raft stuck fast on an ugly sand bar, and was like to be tipped over.

But the tide was still rising. Soon the raft floated free and glided slowly along

again with the current.

In a short time I found that I was being carried up into a little river with high

banks on each side.

With a piece of plank for an oar I pushed the raft toward the shore on my right.

The water was now so shallow that I could reach the bottom.

The raft floated slowly onward until it reached a little cove into which I pushed it.

The water there was quite still.

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I looked around for a place to land. But the banks were steep, and if I ran one end

of my raft upon the shore, the other end might sink so low as to slide all my goods into

the water.

The best I could do was to wait till the tide was at its highest. Then I might push a

little farther inland where the bank was somewhat lower.

This I did.

The tide rose higher and higher. At last, to my joy, the water reached the top of

the bank. It covered a level spot of ground beyond.

I waited a little longer. The water on the level space was a foot deep. The tide was

beginning to flow out.

With all my might I pushed the raft into this shallow place. The tide ebbed fast.

Soon the raft was left high and dry on the land.

It was easy now to unload the goods and carry them to a safe place.

I LEARN THAT I AM ON AN ISLAND (я узнаю, что я на острове)

THE sun was still two hours high (солнце показывало еще только два часа). I

was very tired after my day's work (усталым после дневной работы), but I could not

rest (отдыхать). I wanted to know what sort of place I was in (в какого рода месте я

был). I wondered whether I was on an island or on a continent (я задавался вопросом,

был ли я на острове или на материке).

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About half a mile from the shore there was a large hill (примерно в половине

мили от берега был большой холм). It was steep and high (крутой и высокий) and

seemed to overlook all the country (и, казалось, обозревает всю местность =

возвышается над всей местностью).

I thought that if I could get to the top of that hill (если бы мог добраться до

вершины) I might see (увидел бы) what kind of country I was in.

So I put one of the pistols in my belt (сунул один из пистолетов за ремень), and

one of the guns on my shoulder (одно из ружей на плечо). I also hung the powder-horn

(повесил пороховницу, сделанную из рога) on my neck (на шею) and put a handful of

small shot in my pocket (положил горсть маленькой дроби в карман).

Thus armed (так вооружившись), I set out for the big hill (отправился к

большому холму).

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There were but a few shrubs or trees (только несколько кустов или деревьев) in

my way, and the walking was easy (восхождение было легким). In less than a quarter

of an hour I was at my journey's end (менее чем через четверть часа я закончил

поход).

The sides of the hill were not rough (склоны холма были не неровными =

довольно гладкими; rough — жесткий; неровный), but they were quite steep

(довольно крутыми).

Soon I was at the very top. What a grand lookout it was (какое потрясающее

зрелище: «обзор, панорама» это было)!

North, south, east, west (север, юг, восток, запад), the land and the sea were

spread out before me (земля и море простирались передо мной).

The sea did I say (море сказал я)?

Yes, I was on an island, and the sea was all around (море было везде вокруг).

No other land was in sight (в пределах видимости) except two small islands and

some great rocks (больших скал) that lifted themselves out of the water (поднимались).

I saw that my island was not very large (большим). Perhaps it was ten miles

broad (десять миль шириной); perhaps it was twenty. I had no good idea of distances

(не имел четкого представления о расстояниях).

There was no house nor sign of life anywhere (ни дома, ни признака жизни

нигде). There might be wild beasts in the woods (дикие звери в лесу); but I was sure

that no men lived there (был уверен, никакие люди не жили там).

The thought of being alone (мысль бытия одним = мысль о том, что я был

один) on a desert island (на пустынном острове) made me feel very sad (заставила

меня почувствовать себя очень грустно).

I should have been glad (должен был бы быть рад = должно быть, был бы рад)

at that moment to see even the face of a savage (даже увидеть лицо дикаря).

But I dared not stay long (не решился стоять долго) on the hilltop (на вершине