Чтение онлайн

breathlessly [`breTlIslI], soberly [`squbqlI], beach [bJC], usual [`ju:Zuql], antics [`xntIks]

"Laugh-maker, we are come to laugh!"

When he had called four times, the little creature again showed its smooth black head above the water.

"Ha, ha, ha! Why don't you laugh, papa? It is so funny!" the boy cried out breathlessly.

But his father looked on soberly while the thing went through all its usual antics, and the little boy laughed harder and harder, until at last he rolled and rolled on the sandy beach, almost dead with laughter.

"Papa (папа)," he gasped (задохнулся он /от смеха/ = с трудом проговорил он сквозь смех; to gasp — дышать с трудом, задыхаться; ловить воздух), "if you do not stop this funny thing I shall die (если ту не остановишь это смешное существо, я умру)!"

Then the father picked up his bow and strung it (отец подобрал свой лук и натянул его; to string). He gave one more look at his boy (он еще раз взглянул на сына), who was gasping for breath (кто задыхался, /пытаясь/ вдохнуть; breath — дыхание, вздох); then he fitted a sharp arrow to the bow (затем он приладил острую стрелу к луку) and pierced the little Laugh-maker to the heart (и поразил маленького Смехунчика в сердце). He went out and took the skin (он вышел и взял шкуру), and they returned in silence to the camp of the Bears (и они вернулись в молчании в стойбище Медведей).

gasp [gRsp], sharp [SRp], return [rI`tWn]

"Papa," he gasped, "if you do not stop this funny thing I shall die!"

Then the father picked up his bow and strung it. He gave one more look at his boy, who was gasping for breath; then he fitted a sharp arrow to the bow and pierced the little Laugh-maker to the heart. He went out and took the skin, and they returned in silence to the camp of the Bears.

Now the next time that the herald called upon the Bears to "go a-laughing," (ну и вот, следующий раз, когда глашатай призвал Медведей посмеяться) the skin of the Laugh-maker was almost dry (шкура Смехунчика была почти сухой = почти высохла), but they knew nothing of it (но они ничего не знали об этом). They went away as usual (они ушли как обычно), and left the young man alone with his son (и оставили молодого человека одного с его сыном). But he (но он), knowing that his wife's kinsfolk would kill him (зная, что родня его жены убьет его) when they discovered (когда они обнаружат) what he had done (что он сделал), took the skin for a quiver (взял шкуру для колчана = чтобы сшить из нее колчан) and went homeward with his child (и направился домой со своим ребенком; homeward — домой, к дому; на родину).

almost [`Llmqust], alone [q`lqun], quiver [`kwIvq]

Now the next time that the herald called upon the Bears to "go a-laughing," the skin of the Laugh-maker was almost dry, but they knew nothing of it. They went away as usual, and left the young man alone with his son. But he, knowing that his wife's kinsfolk would kill him when they discovered what he had done, took the skin for a quiver and went homeward with his child.

The Friendly Skeleton (Доброжелательный Скелет)

An old man and his little nephew once lived in a dark woods (старик и его маленький племянник когда-то жили в темной дровосеке). One day the man went hunting (однажды старик: «мужчина» ушел охотиться = на охоту), and just before leaving (и как раз перед уходом) told the boy he must not go eastward (сказал мальчику, что тот не должен ходить на восток). But the boy became tired of playing in one place (но мальчик устал играть на одном месте), and was one day tempted to go in the forbidden direction (и однажды не удержался и пошел в запретном направлении; to tempt — соблазнять, искушать; прельщать, привлекать, притягивать; to forbid) until he came to a large lake (пока он не добрался до большого озера), where he stopped to play (где он /и/ остановился поиграть). While thus engaged (пока /он/ был так занят; to engage — привлекать, увлекать, занимать) a man came up to him and said (/какой-то/ мужчина подошел к нему и сказал), "Well, boy, where do you come from (эй, мальчик, откуда ты; to come from — быть родом из, происходить из)?"

nephew [`nevjH], eastward [`Jstwqd], forbidden [fq`bIdn], direction [dI`rekS(q)n, daI`rekS(q)n], engaged [In`geIGd]

An old man and his little nephew once lived in a dark woods. One day the man went hunting, and just before leaving told the boy he must not go eastward. But the boy became tired of playing in one place, and was one day tempted to go in the forbidden direction until he came to a large lake, where he stopped to play. While thus engaged a man came up to him and said, "Well, boy, where do you come from?"

The boy told him (мальчик рассказал ему) that he came from the woods (что он пришел из леса). Then the man said (тогда человек сказал), "Let us play together at shooting arrows (давай поиграем вместе в стрельбу из лука: «в стрельбу стрелами»)." So they shot off their arrows up into the air (итак, они выпустили свои стрелы вверх в воздух), and the boy's arrow went much the higher (и стрела мальчика ушла намного дальше). Then the man said, "Let us see (давай посмотрим) which can swim the farthest without breathing (который /из нас/ сможет проплыть дольше без дыхания = не дыша)," and again the boy beat the man (и снова мальчик победил мужчину; to beat — бить; побеждать). Then the latter said (тогда последний = мужчина сказал), "Let us go to the island (поедем на остров), where you will see many pretty birds (где ты увидишь много красивых птиц)." So they entered the canoe (и вот, они сели в каноэ: «зашли в каноэ»). Now, on either side of the canoe were three swans (а с каждой стороны каноэ было /по/ три лебедя) which propelled it (которые двигали его; to propel — толкать вперед, двигать; ускорять).

breathing [`bri:DIN], beat [bJt], island [`aIlqnd], canoe [kq`nH], swan [swOn], propel [prq`pel]

The boy told him that he came from the woods. Then the man said, "Let us play together at shooting arrows." So they shot off their arrows up into the air, and the boy's arrow went much the higher. Then the man said, "Let us see which can swim the farthest without breathing," and again the boy beat the man. Then the latter said, "Let us go to the island, where you will see many pretty birds." So they entered the canoe. Now, on either side of the canoe were three swans which propelled it.

As soon as they were seated in the canoe (как только они уселись в каноэ) the man began singing (мужчина начал петь), and very soon they arrived at the island (и очень скоро они приплыли на остров), around which they traveled for some time (вокруг которого они покатались некоторое время), and then the man took off all the boy's clothes (а затем мужчина снял всю одежду с мальчика), and, jumping into his canoe, said (и, запрыгнув в свое каноэ, сказал), "Come, swans, let us go home (пошли = вперед, лебеди, пойдем домой)," and he began to sing (и он начал петь). When the boy perceived (когда мальчик осознал; to perceive — воспринимать, понимать, осознавать) that he was deserted (что его бросили: «что он был оставлен/покинут») he went up the bank (он взобрался на берег) and sat down and cried (сел и заплакал), for he was naked and cold (ведь он был голый и замерз: «и холодный»).

arrive [q`raIv], jump [GAmp], perceive [pq`sJv], desert [dI`zq:t]

As soon as they were seated in the canoe the man began singing, and very soon they arrived at the island, around which they traveled for some time, and then the man took off all the boy's clothes, and, jumping into his canoe, said, "Come, swans, let us go home," and he began to sing. When the boy perceived that he was deserted he went up the bank and sat down and cried, for he was naked and cold.

It began to grow dark very fast (начало темнеть очень быстро; to grow dark — темнеть: «становиться темно»), and he was greatly frightened (и он был сильно напуган) when he heard a voice say (когда он услышал, /как/ /чей-то/ голос произнес), "Hist (тсс)! keep still (молчи: «держи тихо = оставайся тихим»)," and, looking around (и, оглянувшись), he saw a skeleton on the ground near him (он увидел скелет на земле возле него), which beckoned him and said (который поманил его и сказал; to beckon — манить, кивать; делать знак /рукой, пальцем/), "Poor boy (бедный мальчик), it was the same thing with me (та же самая вещь была и со мной = то же самое произошло и со мной), but I will help you (но я помогу тебе) if you will do something for me (если ты сделаешь кое-что для меня)." The boy readily consented (мальчик с готовностью согласился).