Чтение онлайн

months [m?n?s], June [d?u:n], fair [fe?]

Two months after my return to England I decided to go to sea again. On June 20th, 1702, I set sail for Surat in the Adventure. We sailed before a fair wind until we reached the Cape of Good Hope, where we put in for fresh water.

The Captain, John Nicholas, decided (решил) that we should spend some months there (что нам необходимо провести там несколько месяцев). It was the end of March before we set sail again (был /уже/ конец марта, когда мы снова поставили паруса). Once again all went well (все опять шло хорошо) until we ran into heavy winds on April 19th (пока 19 апреля мы не попали в сильные ветра; to run — бежать; двигаться; ходить, плыть /о поездах, судах и т. п./; to run into… — налететь на /кого-л., что-л./; /неожиданно/ попасть в /какие-либо обстоятельства/; heavy — тяжелый; сильный, интенсивный). Violent gales began to blow as we sailed north of Madagascar (яростные/жестокие шторма начали бушевать: «дуть», когда мы проходили к северу от Мадагаскара; gale — сильный ветер; шторм; буря). They continued for twenty days (они продолжались двадцать дней), forcing us to the east (относя нас к востоку; force — сила; насилие, принуждение; to force — двигать, толкать с силой /что-л./; теснить). We were east of the Molucca Islands (мы находились /уже/ восточнее Молуккских островов) before we ran into calmer weather on May 2nd (когда: «прежде чем» 2 мая ветер /наконец/ утих: «мы оказались в более спокойных погодных условиях»; weather — погода; 2nd = the second).

violent ['vaI?l?nt], blow [bl?v], weather ['wed?]

The Captain, John Nicholas, decided that we should spend some months there. It was the end of March before we set sail again. Once again all went well until we ran into heavy winds on April 19th. Violent gales began to blow as we sailed north of Madagascar. They continued for twenty days, forcing us to the east. We were east of the Molucca Islands before we ran into calmer weather on May 2nd.

Our captain knew those seas very well (наш капитан знал эти моря очень хорошо). He told us to prepare for a storm (он приказал нам приготовиться к шторму) and right enough a wind from the south, called the southern monsoon, hit us the very next day (и действительно: «достаточно/вполне верно» уже на следующий день по нам ударил ветер с юга, называемый южным муссоном). The storm was very fierce and lasted several days (шторм был очень жестокий и продлился несколько дней). I'd say (по моему расчету: «я бы сказал»; I'd say = I would say) the wind carried us about five hundred leagues to the east (ветер отнес нас приблизительно на пятьсот лиг на восток). By the time it had dropped again (к тому времени, как он cтих; to drop — капать; падать; снижаться, понижаться, уменьшаться), not even the oldest sailor on board could tell exactly (даже самый старый моряк на борту не мог точно сказать) what part of the world we were in (в какой /именно/ части света мы находимся).

south [sav?], southern ['s?d?n], monsoon [m?n'su:n], fierce [fI?s]

Our captain knew those seas very well. He told us to prepare for a storm and right enough a wind from the south, called the southern monsoon, hit us the very next day. The storm was very fierce and lasted several days. I'd say the wind carried us about five hundred leagues to the east. By the time it had dropped again, not even the oldest sailor on board could tell exactly what part of the world we were in.

Our ship was undamaged (корабль наш был не поврежден), the sailors were in good health (моряки совершенно здоровы; health — здоровье) and we had enough food (у нас было достаточно съестных припасов), but we had very little water (но очень мало воды). The wind was still blowing hard from the south-west (ветер с юго-запада дул по-прежнему сильно). The captain decided to continue sailing towards the east (капитан решил продолжать плыть на восток), keeping a look-out for land (наблюдая, не покажется ли где-нибудь земля: «высматривая землю»; to keep — держать, не отдавать; сохранять; продолжать делать /что-л. в течение некоторого времени/; to look out — выглядывать; высматривать; look-out — наблюдение).

undamaged [?n'daemId?d], health [hel?], look-out ['lukavt]

Our ship was undamaged, the sailors were in good health and we had enough food, but we had very little water. The wind was still blowing hard from the south-west. The captain decided to continue sailing towards the east, keeping a look-out for land.

It was June 16th before land was sighted (земля показалась только 16 июня; «было = наступило 16 июня, прежде чем была замечена земля») and on the following day we saw quite clearly (и на следующий день мы совершенно ясно увидели) that it covered a large area (что она простиралась на большое пространство; to cover — накрывать, покрывать; охватывать; расстилаться; распространяться; area — территория; площадь; пространство). The captain decided (решил) to anchor the Adventure (поставить "Адвенчер" на якорь) about a league from a narrow strip of land (на расстоянии примерно в лигу от узкой полосы земли) jutting out into the sea (выступающей в море). Twelve sailors were sent off in a small boat to go ashore (двенадцать матросов были посланы в небольшой лодке на берег). They were given bottles for fresh water (им дали бутыли для пресной воды), if any could be found (если они смогут ее найти: «она сможет быть найдена»; any — какой-нибудь; сколько-нибудь). I asked permission to go with them (я попросил позволения отправиться с ними). I wanted to see what I could of the country (я хотел посмотреть, насколько возможно, эту страну: «увидеть, что смогу, в этой стране») while they were searching for water (пока они будут искать воду).

following ['f?l?vIn], area ['e?rI?], search [s??:]

It was June 16th before land was sighted and on the following day we saw quite clearly that it covered a large area. The captain decided to anchor the Adventure about a league from a narrow strip of land jutting out into the sea. Twelve sailors were sent off in a small boat to go ashore. They were given bottles for fresh water, if any could be found. I asked permission to go with them. I wanted to see what I could of the country while they were searching for water.

We could see no river or any other source of fresh water (ни реки, ни какого-нибудь другого источника пресной воды мы не увидели). The men began to walk along the shore (матросы стали ходить вдоль берега; man — мужчина, человек; солдат, рядовой; матрос) looking for any source that was near the sea (высматривая какой-нибудь источник/родник, расположенный недалеко от моря). We saw no sign of people (мы не заметили никаких признаков населения). I went off by myself (сам я в одиночку пошел) to look around a little further inland (осмотреться немного подальше от берега; inland — внутри страны /не у моря или границы/).

river ['rIv?], source [s?:s], myself [maI'self], further ['f?:d?]

We could see no river or any other source of fresh water. The men began to walk along the shore looking for any source that was near the sea. We saw no sign of people. I went off by myself to look around a little further inland.

The country seemed to be very bare and rocky (страна, казалось, была весьма бесплодной и каменистой/скалистой; bare — голый; непокрытый; пустой; лишенный растительности). I walked for about a mile (я прошел около мили) without seeing anything of interest (не заметив ничего интересного) and so I decided to go back to the shore (и потому решил идти обратно к берегу). As soon as I turned (как только я повернулся = повернувшись), I saw that our sailors were already in the small boat (я увидел, что наши матросы были уже в лодке) and rowing as fast as they could back to the Adventure (и гребли изо всех сил: «так быстро, как /только/ могли» обратно к кораблю). I was just going to call to them (я как раз = уже собирался окликнуть их), even though they would hardly have been able to hear me (хотя они вряд ли смогли бы меня услышать), when I saw a huge creature wading into the sea (как вдруг увидел громадное существо, идущее вброд по морю). He was chasing the sailors as fast as he could (он = оно со всех ног преследовало матросов).

bare [be?], interest [‘IntrIst], creature ['krI??]

The country seemed to be very bare and rocky. I walked for about a mile without seeing anything of interest and so I decided to go back to the shore. As soon as I turned, I saw that our sailors were already in the small boat and rowing as fast as they could back to the Adventure. I was just going to call to them, even though they would hardly have been able to hear me, when I saw a huge creature wading into the sea. He was chasing the sailors as fast as he could.

They were more than half way back to our ship (они /уже/ преодолели более половины пути к нашему кораблю), but this monster seemed able to move quickly on his long legs (но этот исполин очевидно мог: «казался способным» очень быстро передвигаться на своих длинных ногах; monster — чудовище; монстр; громадина; гигант). The water only came up to his knees (вода доходила ему только до колен). I didn't wait to see any more (я не стал ждать, чем все закончится: «чтобы увидеть больше»). I turned and ran as fast as I could back (повернулся и со всех ног побежал обратно) the same way I had gone before (той же дорогой, какой шел перед этим). Then I began to climb a steep hill (потом стал взбираться на крутой холм). I was told later (позже мне рассказали) that the sea in those parts is full of sharp rocks (что море в тех местах полно острых скал) and the monster had in fact given up the chase (и чудовище на самом деле бросило погоню).