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had grown like trees (выросли, как деревья), and were now so big and so thick with

branches that it was hard to see between them (и были сейчас такими большими и

такими толстыми, что было сложно смотреть между ними).

No one passing by (ни один проходящий мимо) would ever think there was a

house behind this matted row of trees (никогда бы не подумал, что там был дом за

этим переплетенным рядом деревьев).

Near this dwelling of mine (около этого моего обиталища), but a little farther

within the land (немного дальше вглубь местности), were my two barley fields (были

два моих ячменных поля). These I cultivated with care (возделывал с заботой), and

from them I reaped a good harvest (и с них я получал хороший урожай). As often as I

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felt the need of more barley I made my fields larger (как только я чувствовал

необходимость в большем количестве ячменя, я расширял свои поля).

Farther away was what I called my country seat (дальше было то, что я называл

своим деревенским пристанищем, деревенской резиденцией; seat — сиденье;

местонахождение). There was my pleasant summer house or bower (мой

приятный/симпатичный летний дом или беседка), where I liked to go for rest (куда

мне нравилось уходить отдохнуть).

In the middle of my bower (в центре беседки) I had my tent always set (я имел

мой навес всегда готовым). It was made of a piece of sail spread over some poles (из

куска паруса, натянутого на колья).

Under the tent I had made a soft couch (мягкую кушетку) with the skins of

animals and a blanket thrown over them (со шкурами животных и одеялом,

накинутым на них). Here, when the weather was fair, I often slept at night (здесь я

часто спал ночью при хорошей погоде).

A little way from the bower was the field in which I kept my cattle (держал мой

скот) — that is to say (то есть), my goats (коз).

I had taken great pains to fence and inclose this field (обнести забором и

огородить это поле). I was so fearful, lest the goats should break out (я так боялся, как

бы козы не вырвались наружу), that I worked many a day planting a hedge all around

(что я проработал много дней, высаживая /живую/ изгородь вокруг). The hedge

grew to be very tall and was as strong as a wall (крепким, как стена).

On the shore of the sea (на берегу моря), some distance beyond my summer

house (на некотором расстоянии от моего летнего дома), was the little inlet where I

had laid up my canoe (/узкий/ залив, где я хранил мое каноэ; to lay up —

откладывать, копить; выводить временно из строя).

gorgeous ['go:

s]

I LEARN TO BAKE AND AM PROSPEROUS

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I HAVE already told you about farming, and of the difficulties under which I did

my work. The thing which I wished to do most of all to make good bread. I tried many

plans, but it was several years before I could think of myself as a really good baker.

My barley was very fine. The grains were large and smooth. When boiled a long

time with a bit of goat's meat, they made good food.

But they did not take the place of bread. Before bread could be made, the grains

of barley must be ground into meal.

I tried pounding them with a stone. But that was slow work. The stone crumbled

into sand. My meal was worth nothing.

I looked all over the island for a harder stone. All were alike.

So at last I cut a large block of very hard wood. I rounded it on the outside with

my hatchet. Then, partly by chopping, partly by burning, I made a hollow place in the

end of it.

Out of a piece of ironwood I made a heavy pestle or beater.

I had now a very good little mill. In a short time I had crushed enough barley to

make meal for a large loaf.

It was easy to make the dough. I had only to mix the meal with water and knead it

with my hands. I must not think of yeast to make the dough light.

The baking part was the main thing, and the hardest to learn.

At first I put my biscuits of dough in the hot ashes and left them there till they

were baked. But I did not like these ash cakes very well.

Then I tried another plan.

I made two large earthen vessels. They were broad and shallow. Each was about

two feet across and not more than nine inches deep.

These I burned in the fire till they were as hard as rocks and as red as tiles.

I made also a hearth before my fireplace, and paved it with some square tiles of

my own making. But, perhaps I ought not to call them square.

The hearth, when finished, was quite level and smooth. It was as pretty as I could

have wished.

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Next I built a great fire of hard wood. When the wood had burned down, I raked

the hot coals out upon my hearth. I left them there till the hearth was hot through and

through.

My loaves of dough were all ready. I swept hearth clean and then put the loaves

down upon the hottest part of it.