Английский язык с Конан Дойлем. Этюд в багровых тонах
Шрифт:
Ferrier carried the bag of gold and notes (Феррьер нес мешок с золотом и ассигнациями), Jefferson Hope had the scanty provisions and water (Джефферсон Хоуп — их скудный провиант и воду), while Lucy had a small bundle containing a few of her more valued possessions (а Люси —узелок с несколькими самыми дорогими для нее вещами; to contain — вмещать, содержать в себе; to value — дорожить, ценить; possession — собственность; имущество). Opening the window very slowly and carefully (очень медленно и осторожно открыв окно), they waited until a dark cloud had somewhat obscured the night (они подождали, пока темное облако не сделало ночь еще более темной: «не затемнило несколько ночь»), and then one by one passed through into the little garden (а затем по одному выбрались: «пробрались сквозь/через» в маленький садик). With bated breath and crouching figures they stumbled across it (затаив дыхание и пригибаясь, они, спотыкаясь, пересекли его; to stumble — идти спотыкаясь), and gained the shelter of the hedge (пока
outweigh [aut'we], regret [r'ret], possession [p'zen]
The lights inside the house had all been extinguished, and from the darkened window Ferrier peered over the fields which had been his own, and which he was now about to abandon for ever. He had long nerved himself to the sacrifice, however, and the thought of the honour and happiness of his daughter outweighed any regret at his ruined fortunes. All looked so peaceful and happy, the rustling trees and the broad silent stretch of grain-land, that it was difficult to realize that the spirit of murder lurked through it all. Yet the white face and set expression of the young hunter showed that in his approach to the house he had seen enough to satisfy him upon that head.
Ferrier carried the bag of gold and notes, Jefferson Hope had the scanty provisions and water, while Lucy had a small bundle containing a few of her more valued possessions. Opening the window very slowly and carefully, they waited until a dark cloud had somewhat obscured the night, and then one by one passed through into the little garden. With bated breath and crouching figures they stumbled across it, and gained the shelter of the hedge, which they skirted until they came to the gap which opened into the cornfields. They had just reached this point when the young man seized his two companions and dragged them down into the shadow, where they lay silent and trembling.
It was as well that his prairie training had given Jefferson Hope the ears of a lynx (хорошо, что жизнь в прерии развила у Джефферсона Хоупа рысий слух: «дала Джефферсону Хоупу уши рыси»; training — воспитание; обучение; тренировка). He and his friends had hardly crouched down (едва он и его друзья успели пригнуться; to crouch — припадать к земле) before the melancholy hooting of a mountain owl was heard within a few yards of them (как в нескольких ярдах от них послышалось меланхоличное уханье горной совы), which was immediately answered by another hoot at a small distance (на что немедленно раздалось в ответ другое уханье, чуть подальше: «что было немедленно отвечено другим уханьем на небольшом расстоянии»). At the same moment a vague shadowy figure emerged from the gap for which they had been making (в тот же момент неясная темная фигура выросла из проема, куда они направлялись; to emerge — появляться; всплывать; выходить; to make for — быстро продвигаться, направляться), and uttered the plaintive signal cry again (и снова издала жалобный сигнальный крик), on which a second man appeared out of the obscurity (в ответ на который второй человек появился из темноты).
"To-morrow at midnight," said the first who appeared to be in authority (завтра в полночь, — сказал первый, который, похоже, отдавал приказы; authority — власть; to be in authority — быть главным). "When the Whip-poor-Will calls three times (когда трижды прокричит козодой; whip-poor-will — козодой жалобный; to call — издавать характерные для животного, птицы звуки)."
"It is well," returned the other (хорошо, — ответил второй). "Shall I tell Brother Drebber (сказать брату Дребберу)?"
"Pass it on to him, and from him to the others (передай это ему, а он путь передаст остальным). Nine to seven (девять к семи)!"
prairie ['prer], crouch [krau], owl [aul]
It was as well that his prairie training had given Jefferson Hope the ears of a lynx. He and his friends had hardly crouched down before the melancholy hooting of a mountain owl was heard within a few yards of them, which was immediately answered by another hoot at a small distance. At the same moment a vague shadowy figure emerged from the gap for which they had been making, and uttered the plaintive signal cry again, on which a second man appeared out of the obscurity.
"To-morrow at midnight," said the first who appeared to be in authority. "When the Whip-poor-Will calls three times."
"It is well," returned the other. "Shall I tell Brother Drebber?"
"Pass it on to him, and from him to the others. Nine to seven!"
"Seven to five!" repeated the other (семь
"Hurry on! hurry on!" he gasped from time to time (быстрее, быстрее, — задыхаясь, шептал он время от времени; to gasp — дышать с трудом, задыхаться; ловить воздух). "We are through the line of sentinels (мы прошли через цепь часовых). Everything depends on speed (все зависит от скорости). Hurry on (быстрее: «поспешите»)!"
support [s'p:t], strength [stre], gasp [:sp]
"Seven to five!" repeated the other, and the two figures flitted away in different directions. Their concluding words had evidently been some form of sign and countersign. The instant that their footsteps had died away in the distance, Jefferson Hope sprang to his feet, and helping his companions through the gap, led the way across the fields at the top of his speed, supporting and half-carrying the girl when her strength appeared to fail her.
"Hurry on! hurry on!" he gasped from time to time. "We are through the line of sentinels. Everything depends on speed. Hurry on!"
Once on the high road they made rapid progress (оказавшись на дороге, они зашагали быстрее: «на прямом пути они делали быстрое продвижение»). Only once did they meet anyone (только однажды они встретили кого-то), and then they managed to slip into a field (но они успели броситься в поле; to manage — ухитриться, суметь сделать; to slip — скользить; двигаться легко, мягко, не привлекая внимания), and so avoid recognition (и остались незамеченными: «и так избежать обнаружения»). Before reaching the town the hunter branched away into a rugged and narrow footpath (не доходя до города: «прежде чем достигнуть города», охотник свернул на узкую труднопроходимую тропу; to branch — отклоняться от первоначального направления; branch — ветвь; rugged — неровный; труднопроходимый) which led to the mountains (которая вела в горы). Two dark jagged peaks loomed above them through the darkness (две темные зубчатые вершины неясно вырисовывались над ними в темноте; loom — очертания /неясные или преувеличенные/; to loom — виднеться вдали, неясно вырисовываться; маячить), and the defile which led between them was the Eagle Ca~non (а ущелье, проходившее между ними, и было Орлиным каньоном) in which the horses were awaiting them (где их ждали лошади). With unerring instinct Jefferson Hope picked his way among the great boulders (с безошибочным чутьем Джефферсон Хоуп прокладывал путь между больших валунов; to pick — выбирать; to err — сбиваться с пути; заблуждаться) and along the bed of a dried-up watercourse (и по руслу пересохшего ручья), until he came to the retired corner, screened with rocks (до укромного уголка под прикрытием скал; to screen — защищать, прикрывать, укрывать; screen — ширма, щит, доска, (каминный) экран), where the faithful animals had been picketed (где были привязаны верные животные; to picket — привязывать к забору, столбу; picket — кол; штакетина; пикет). The girl was placed upon the mule (девушку посадили на мула; to place — помещать), and old Ferrier upon one of the horses, with his money-bag (а старого Феррьера со своим денежным мешком — на одну из лошадей), while Jefferson Hope led the other along the precipitous and dangerous path (в то время как Джефферсон Хоуп повел другую лошадь по обрывистой, опасной тропе).
rugged ['rd], jagged ['aed], precipitous [pr'spts]
Once on the high road they made rapid progress. Only once did they meet anyone, and then they managed to slip into a field, and so avoid recognition. Before reaching the town the hunter branched away into a rugged and narrow footpath which led to the mountains. Two dark jagged peaks loomed above them through the darkness, and the defile which led between them was the Eagle Ca~non in which the horses were awaiting them. With unerring instinct Jefferson Hope picked his way among the great boulders and along the bed of a dried-up watercourse, until he came to the retired corner, screened with rocks, where the faithful animals had been picketed. The girl was placed upon the mule, and old Ferrier upon one of the horses, with his money-bag, while Jefferson Hope led the other along the precipitous and dangerous path.