Английский язык с Робинзоном Крузо

one place it was so low that I had to creep through on all fours.

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

chamber. It was large enough to shelter a hundred men.

Indeed, it seemed like the great hall of some old English castle. I had never seen

anything so grand.

The roof was at least twenty feet high. The light from my two candles shone upon

the walls and made it look as though covered with thousand of bright stars.

Whether these were diamonds, or gold, or some other precious things, I did not

know, and in fact I never learned.

The floor was dry and level. It was covered with white sand, which was very

clean.

I was delighted. No better or safer storehouse could I have wished.

When I had looked at the room on every side and found that it was really the end

of the cave, I went out and hurried back to my castle.

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I found that I still had about sixty pounds of powder. This was the first thing that I

carried to my new cavern. I took thither also the lead that I had for making bullets and

small shot.

I felt now like one of the wonderful elves that you read about. They live, as you

know, in rocks and in caves where none can get at them; and they have hidden treasures

of gold and precious stones.

What if a hundred savages should hunt me? They could not come near me here. I

was safe from all foes.

I fitted the cave up with whatever was needed to make it comfortable.

If the worst came to the worst, I meant to live there. And yet I did not wish to be

obliged to do this.

When everything was safe and snug, I laid some green branches over the entrance

and went back to my castle.

I was very glad when I sat down in my old kitchen again. For, after all, no other

place was so much like home.

I had now been twenty-three years on this island. If it had not been for fear of

savages, I would have been the happiest man in the world.

During all those years I had been very busy. I did not work all the time, as you

know, but I amused myself in various ways.

I spent much time with Poll, the parrot. He soon learned to talk so well that it was

a pleasure to hear him.

My dog had been my best friend and companion. He lived for sixteen years, and

then died of old age.

As for my cats, the woods were full of them. All ran wild except the two that I

kept in my castle. These were good mousers and fine pets.

I had also several tame fowls. These I had caught near the seashore when they

were young. I cut their wing feathers short and taught them to eat from my hand.

I never knew what kind of birds they were, but they were large, almost as large as

chickens. They lived among the hedge trees in front of my castle.

They made their nests there and kept me well supplied with eggs. I did not need to

keep any other poultry.

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Thus I lived very pleasantly in my island home. I would have been content to live

there always if I could have felt safe from savages.

I SEE SAVAGES (я вижу дикарей)

EARLY one morning (рано утром) in harvest time (во время сбора урожая) I

went out to my grain fields to cut down some barley (я выходил в мои зерновые поля

срезать ячмень = собирать ячмень). The days were so very hot that it was pleasanter to

rise before daylight (эти дни были такими жаркими, что было приятнее встать до

восхода) and do the heavier part of my work before the sun was high (и сделать самую

тяжелую часть моей работы прежде, чем солнце будет высоко).

On this morning of which I am telling you (тем утром, о котором я говорю

вам), I started out while it was still quite dark (вышел в путь, когда еще было

довольно темно). I had been to the fields so often that I could have found the way with

my eyes shut (я бывал в полях так часто, что мог бы найти путь с закрытыми

глазами).

As I went along (пока я шел), I was surprised to see a light far over toward my

side of the island (я был удивлен увидеть огонек вдалеке ближе к моей стороне

острова). I stopped and looked. It was plainly the light of a blazing fire (это был явно

свет сверкающего огня).

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Who could have built a fire there (кто мог бы развести огонь там)?

Surely none but savages (определенно никто, кроме дикарей).

I was so much surprised (так удивлен) that I stood still and wondered (стоял как

вкопанный и задумался).

What if those savages should find my grain fields (что если дикари найдут мои

зерновые поля)?

They would know at once that somebody had planted them (они сразу узнают =

поймут, что кто-то их посадил), and they would never rest till they should find me (не

успокоятся, пока не найдут меня).

I could now see the blaze quite plainly (довольно ясно, отчетливо). As the day

dawned (рассветал), I could also see the smoke rising above the trees (дым,