Английский язык с Робинзоном Крузо

156

It was a very dark place, and I stood still a moment till my eyes should become a

little used to it.

All at once I saw something in the darkness that made me scramble out of that

place much faster than I had come into it.

What do you think it was? Two big shining eyes that glowed like coals in the

darkness. Whether they were the eyes of a man or of some fierce beast, I did not stop to

see.

I stood a little while by the mouth of the cave and then I began to get over my

fright.

What could there be in this cave that would do me harm? No man could live there

in the darkness. As for any animal, I knew there was nothing fiercer on the island than

one of my cats.

So, with a blazing stick for a torch, I crept back into the cave. But I had not gone

three steps before I was frightened almost as much as before.

I heard a loud sigh, like that of a man in trouble. Then there were low moans, and

sounds as of some one trying to speak.

I stopped short. Cold chills ran down my back. My hair seemed to stand on end.

But I would not allow myself to run out again.

I pushed my little torch forward into the darkness, as far as I could. The blaze lit

up the cave. And what do you suppose I saw then?

Why, nothing but a shaggy old goat that I had missed from my flock for nearly a

week past.

He was stretched on the floor of the cave, and too weak to rise up. He was a very

old fellow, and perhaps had gone in there to die.

I gave him some food and water, and made him as comfortable as I could. But he

was too far gone to live long.

I found that, although I could stand up in the cave, it was very small. It was only a

hole in the rocks, and was neither round nor square.

But at the end of this little chamber there seemed to be a passage that led farther

in. This passage was very narrow and dark, and as my torch had burned out, I did not try

to follow it.

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157

I went back to my wood chopping.

I EXPLORE MY CAVE FURTHER (я исследую мою пещеру дальше)

THE next day I brought out with me six big candles (на следующий день в

вынес с собой шесть больших свечей).

For you must know that I was a candle maker (так как вы должны знать, что я

был создателем свечей = делал свечи) as well as a baker (равно как и пекарем).

Indeed, I made very good candles of goats' tallow, using some bits of old ropes for the

wicks (в самом деле, я делал очень хорошие свечи из сала коз, использую куски

веревки для фитилей).

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www

. f ranklang . r u

158

As I have just said, I took six candles with me, for I had made up my mind to

learn more about the cave I had found (как я только что сказал, я взял шесть свечей

собой, так как я решил узнать больше о пещере, которую я нашел).

I lit two of the candles (зажег две свечи; to light — зажигать), and went in

(зашел внутрь). The poor old goat was dead (бедная старая коза была мертва), and it

was no easy work to dig a hole right there and bury him (было не легкой работой

выкопать дыры прямо там и похоронить ее).

After this unpleasant task was done (после того как это неприятное задание

было сделано), I went into the back part of the cave (я пошел в заднюю часть

пещеры). The flame of the candles lighted up the darkness (пламя свечей осветило

темноту), and I could see quite plainly (мог видеть довольно сносно).

The narrow passage of which I have told you was no less than thirty feet long

(узкий проход, о котором я рассказал вам, был не меньше 30 футов длиной). In one

place it was so low that I had to creep through on all fours (в одном месте он был таким

низким, что мне пришлось ползти на четырех = на четвереньках).

But no sooner was I through this low place than I found myself in a splendid

chamber (но как только я прошел это низкое место, я обнаружил себя великолепной

комнате). It was large enough to shelter a hundred men (она была достаточно

большой, чтобы укрыть 100 человек).

Indeed, it seemed like the great hall of some old English castle (в самом деле,

она казалось /похожей/ на большой холл старого английского замка). I had never

seen anything so grand (я никогда не видел ничего такого величественного).

The roof was at least twenty feet high (крыша была, по крайне мере, 20 футов

высотой). The light from my two candles shone upon the walls and made it look as

though covered with thousand of bright stars (свет моих двух свечей освещал стены и

заставлял их выглядеть, как будто они покрыты тысячей ярких звезд).

Whether these were diamonds (были ли это бриллианты), or gold (золото), or

some other precious things (ценные вещи = ценности), I did not know, and in fact I

never learned (и на самом деле никогда и не узнал).

The floor was dry and level (пол был сухим и ровным). It was covered with

white sand (был покрыт белым песком), which was very clean (который был очень

чистым).

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www

. f ranklang . r u

159

I was delighted (рад, в восторге). No better or safer storehouse could I have

wished (лучшего или более безопасного склада я не мог и желать).