Английский язык с Робинзоном Крузо (в пересказе для детей)
Шрифт:
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.
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.
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
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 рассказываю вам), I started out while it was still quite dark (я 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; to shut — закрывать).
As I went along (пока
Who could have built a fire there (кто мог бы развести там костер)?
Surely none but savages (определенно никто, кроме дикарей).
I was so much surprised (я так удивлен) that I stood still and wondered (что остановился как вкопанный и задумался).
What if those savages should find my grain fields (что если те 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 (и не успокоятся, пока не найдут меня; never — никогда).
I could now see the blaze quite plainly (я мог теперь видеть довольно ясно/отчетливо). As the day dawned (день рассветал), I could also see the smoke rising above the trees (я мог также видеть дым, поднимающийся над деревьями). The fire was not more than two miles away (костер был не более чем в двух милях).
I hurried back to my castle as fast as I could run (я поспешил обратно к замку так быстро, как только мог бежать). I made everything on the outside of it look as wild as possible (я сделал, чтобы все снаружи его выглядело так дико = необитаемо, как возможно).
I climbed over the wall and pulled up the ladder after me (я перелез через забор и затащил лестницу за собой).
I loaded all my cannon (я зарядил все мои пушки), as I called the guns (как я называл ружья), that I had placed in the wall (которые установил в стене). I put everything in order for a siege (я привел все в порядок, как надо для осады).
Then I waited to see if any enemy would come near (затем я ждал увидеть, если враг приблизится = стал ждать приближения противника).
Two hours, three hours passed (прошли два часа, три часа), and there was no sight nor sound that was at all uncommon (и не было ни вида, ни звука, который был бы необычен). I began to wonder if, after all, the fire had been kindled by some accident (я начал задаваться вопросом, был ли = может быть, в конце концов, огонь зажжен каким-то случаем = случайно; to kindle — зажигать, разжигать /пламя, костер/; accident — /несчастный/ случай) and not by strange men (а не чужаками).