Английский язык с Робинзоном Крузо

where I had first landed with my raft. If the poor fellow could not swim across this

stream, he would surely be taken (если бы бедняга не сможет переплыть этот поток,

он точно будет схвачен). I watched to see what he would do.

To my surprise the river did not hinder him at all (не остановила его вовсе). The

tide was up, but he plunged in (прыгнул, нырнул) and with twenty or thirty strokes was

across (и 20-30 гребками переплыл; across — поперек, на ту сторону). I had never

seen a finer swimmer (лучшего пловца).

When his pursuers reached the stream (когда его преследователи достигли

потока), he was already far away. Two of them jumped in and swam across (двое из них

прыгнули в /воду/ и переплыли /его/). The other one stood still a minute and then

turned softly back (повернул тихонько назад). It was lucky for him that he could not

swim (удачей для него было то, что он не мог плавать).

"Now," thought I to myself, "now is the time to get me a savage (получить себе

дикаря)!"

In another moment I was down in my castle. I picked up my two guns

(подхватил два ружья). I was over the wall in less time than it takes me to tell about it (я

был на стене за меньше время, чем мне требуется об этом сказать). Never once did I

think of fear (ни разу я не думал о страхе).

I ran swiftly down the hill toward the sea (я быстро сбежал вниз по холму к

реке). In another minute I was between the poor captive and his pursuers (в следующую

минуту я был между бедным пленником и его преследователями).

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"Hello, there! Come back! I will help you," I cried.

Of course he did not understand a word (не понял и слова). But he heard me and

looked back (оглянулся). I beckoned to him with my hand (махнул ему рукой; to

beckon — манить, кивать; делать знак /рукой, пальцем/), and this he understood

better (это он понял лучше).

There was no time for waiting (не было времени ждать), however (однако). The

two savages that followed were close upon me (были близко ко мне).

I rushed upon the foremost one (поспешил к переднему) and knocked him down

with my gun (сбил его с ног ружьем). I did not want to shoot (стрелять), lest the other

savages would hear the noise and come to his rescue (чтобы другие дикари не

услышали шум и не пришли на помощь).

The second pursuer came, running and panting (задыхаясь), only a little way

behind (лишь немного отставая). When he saw me, he stopped as if he were frightened

(как будто был напуган). I ran toward him, with my gun to my shoulder (с ружьем на

плече).

As I came nearer, I saw that he had a bow and arrow (лук и стрелу) and was

taking aim at me (целился в меня: «брал цель»). What could I do but shoot (что я мог

сделать, кроме как выстрелить)? He fell to the ground and never moved again (упал на

землю и никогда не пошевелился опять = и больше не шевелился).

I now looked around to see what had become of the poor captive (осмотрелся,

чтобы увидеть, что стало с бедным пленником). I saw him standing still and gazing at

me (глазеющим, уставившимся на меня). The noise of my gun had frightened him so

(шум ружья так испугал его) that he did not know what to do.

I called to him: "Come here, my good fellow I will not hurt you (не обижу тебя;

to hurt — причинить боль, ранить; обидеть)."

But of course he did not understand (конечно, он не понял). Then I motioned to

him with signs (показал ему знаками). He came a little way and then stopped. He came

a little farther (немного дальше) and stopped again. He was trembling like a leaf

(дрожал, как лист).

No doubt (без сомнения) he was afraid that he would be killed as his two

pursuers had been (он боялся, что будет убит, как были убиты два его

преследователя).

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193

I spoke kindly to him and made signs that I would not hurt him. He came nearer

and nearer, trembling, and kneeling down at almost every step (чуть не вставая на

колени почти при каждом шаге).

I smiled (улыбнулся); I looked as pleasant as I could (я смотрел так

мягко/любезно, как мог); I made still other signs (я еще делал другие знаки).

He came quite close to me (он подошел довольно близко ко мне). He laid his

head upon the ground (положил голову на землю). He took hold of my foot and set it

on his neck (взял мою ногу и поставил себе на шею). This was his way of saying that

he would be my slave forever (это был способ сказать, что он будет моим рабом

навсегда).

I took hold of his hand and lifted him up (я взял его руку и поднял его). I spoke

kindly to him (я говорил с ним мягко).

Thus I at last got hold of a savage, as I had so long desired (таким образом я

захватил дикаря, как я так долго хотел).

enough ['n f

] heir [

] tongue [t

] treasure ['tre

]

I GET HOLD OF A SAVAGE

FOR a year and a half I kept close watch upon the farther shore of the island as

well as upon that nearest to my castle. But not a single savage came near. One morning in

June, however, I had a great surprise.

I was just starting out from my castle when I saw five canoes lying high and dry

on the beach not a mile away. There was not a man near them. The people who had come

in them were perhaps asleep among the trees.