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[GL]

1. With that I scuttled down the companion with all the noise I could, slipped

off my shoes, ran quietly along the sparred gallery, mounted the forecastle

ladder, and popped my head out of the fore companion. I knew he would not

expect to see me there; yet I took every precaution possible; and certainly the

worst of my suspicions proved too true.

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

547

2. He had risen from his position to his hands and knees; and, though his leg

obviously hurt him pretty sharply when he moved — for I could hear him

stifle a groan — yet it was at a good, rattling rate that he trailed himself

across the deck. In half a minute he had reached the port scuppers, and

picked, out of a coil of rope, a long knife, or rather a short dirk, discoloured to

the hilt with blood. He looked upon it for a moment, thrusting forth his under

jaw, tried the point upon his hand, and then, hastily concealing it in the bosom

of his jacket, trundled back again into his old place against the bulwark.

1. This was all that I required to know (это было все, что мне нужно было

знать). Israel could move about (Израэль мог передвигаться); he was now armed

(он был теперь вооружен); and if he had been at so much trouble to get rid of me

(и если он так старался избавиться от меня = удалить меня с палубы), it was

plain that I was meant to be the victim (было ясно, что я буду /его/ жертвой; to

be meant — предназначаться, разуметься). What he would do afterwards (что

он будет делать затем) — whether he would try to crawl right across the island

from North Inlet to the camp among the swamps, (попытается ли пройти малым

ходом через весь остров от Северной бухты к лагерю /пиратов/ посреди

болот) or whether he would fire Long Tom (или выстрелит из пушки; Long Tom

— дальнобойная пушка), trusting that his own comrades might come first to help

him (полагаясь /на то/, что его товарищи придут первыми, чтобы помочь

ему), was, of course, more than I could say (было, конечно, больше, чем я мог

сказать = этого я не знал).

2. Yet I felt sure that I could trust him in one point (однако я был уверен, что

могу доверять ему в одном вопросе), since in that our interests jumped together

(поскольку наши интересы сходились в том: «прыгали вместе»; to jump

together — совпадать, согласовываться), and that was in the disposition of the

schooner (что касалось расположения шхуны). We both desired to have she

stranded safe enough (мы оба желали посадить ее на мель вполне безопасно),

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

548

in a sheltered place (в укрытом месте), and so that, when the time came, she could

be got off again with as little labour and danger as might be (так, чтобы, когда

придет время, ее можно было бы вывести снова, с наименьшим возможным

усилием = без особого труда и опасности; to get off — отбывать, сходить,

слезать); and until that was done I considered that my life would certainly be

spared (и прежде, чем это сделано, я считал, что моя жизнь обязательно будет

сохранена; to spare — экономить; жалеть, беречь).

3. While I was thus turning the business over in my mind (пока я таким образом

обдумывал: «крутил в голове» это дело), I had not been idle with my body (я не

стоял без дела: «не был празден с моим телом»; to be idle — бездействовать,

простаивать). I had stolen back to the cabin (я прокрался обратно в каюту; to

steal — воровать; красться), slipped once more into my shoes (скользнул

снова в башмаки = надел башмаки) and laid my hand at random on a bottle of

wine (положил руку случайно = схватил первую попавшуюся бутылку вина),

and now, with this for an excuse (и теперь с ним в качестве отговорки; excuse —

извинение, оправдание, предлог), I made my reappearance on the deck (я вновь

вернулся: «сделал свое повторное появление» на палубу).

required [rI`kwaIqd] crawl [krLl] labour [`leIbq] shoes [SHz] reappearance

[rJq`pIqrqns]

1. This was all that I required to know. Israel could move about; he was now

armed; and if he had been at so much trouble to get rid of me, it was plain

that I was meant to be the victim. What he would do afterwards — whether

he would try to crawl right across the island from North Inlet to the camp

among the swamps, or whether he would fire Long Tom, trusting that his own

comrades might come first to help him, was, of course, more than I could say.