James Baldwin - Английский язык с Робинзоном Крузо (в пересказе для детей)

hour [ˈauǝ], island [ˈaɪlǝnd], continent [ˈkɔntɪnǝnt], half [hɑ:f], overlook [ˌǝuvǝˈluk], country [ˈkʌntrɪ], thus [ðʌs], journey [ˈʤǝ:nɪ], rough [rʌf], spread [spred], distance [ˈdɪstǝns], sign [ˈsaɪn], live [lɪv], hawk [hɔ:k], heard [hǝ:d], hook [huk], beak [bi:k], threw [Ɵru:], listen [ˈlɪs(ǝ)n], asleep [ǝˈsli:p]

THE sun was still two hours high. I was very tired after my day's work, but I could not rest. I wanted to know what sort of place I was in. I wondered whether I was on an island or on a continent.

About half a mile from the shore there was a large hill. It was steep and high and seemed to overlook all the country.

I thought that if I could get to the top of that hill I might see what kind of country I was in.

So I put one of the pistols in my belt, and one of the guns on my shoulder. I also hung the powder-horn from my neck and put a handful of small shot in my pocket.

Thus armed, I set out for the big hill.

There were but a few shrubs or trees in my way, and the walking was easy. In less than a quarter of an hour I was at my journey's end.

The sides of the hill were not rough, but they were quite steep.

Soon I was at the very top. What a grand lookout it was!

North, south, east, west, the land and the sea were spread out before me.

The sea did I say?

Yes, I was on an island, and the sea was all around.

No other land was in sight except two small islands and some great rocks that lifted themselves out of the water.

I saw that my island was not very large. Perhaps it was ten miles broad; perhaps it was twenty. I had no good idea of distances.

There was no house nor sign of life anywhere. There might be wild beasts in the woods; but I was sure that no men lived there.

The thought of being alone on a desert island made me feel very sad.

I should have been glad at that moment to see even the face of a savage.

But I dared not stay long on the hilltop. I hurried to get back to my raft before the sun should go down.

At the foot of the hill I saw a great bird sitting in a tree. I thought it to be some kind of a hawk and shot it.

The sound of the gun echoed strangely among the rocks and trees. Never before had such a sound been heard there.

I picked up the bird.

It was no hawk. It had no sharp claws nor hooked beak. Its flesh was unfit to eat, and I threw it away.

The sun had set and it was almost dark when I got back to the inlet where my raft was lying. I did not know where to go for the night, nor where to find a resting place.

But the day being gone, there was no time for thinking.

I made a kind of hut with the chests and the loose boards from the raft. Then I crept inside and lay down to rest.

For a little while I listened to every sound. At length I fell asleep and knew nothing more until broad daylight the next morning.

(я принимаю странного посетителя)

THE next morning, when the tide was at its lowest (на следующее утро, когда вода была на самом низком уровне: «при своем самом низком»; tide — прилив и отлив; поток) I swam out to the ship again (я вновь поплыл к кораблю) .

There were still many things on board (на борту было много вещей) of it that might be useful to me in my island home (которые могли бы быть полезны мне в моем островном доме; use — польза) . I wished to save all that I could (я желал хотел сохранить все, что мог) .

I climbed up the ship's side (я взобрался по боку корабля вверх) just as I had done the day before (точно так же, как я сделал днем ранее) .

Before looking for anything (прежде чем искать что-либо) I made another raft (я соорудил другой плот) , just like the first one (точно такой же, как первый) , but smaller (но меньше) . It was not so easy to make (это было не столь легко сделать) , for I had used up all the best planks (так как я уже использовал все лучшие доски) . It was neither so large nor so strong as the first raft (он не был ни таким большим, ни таким крепким, как первый) .

In the carpenter's shop (в комнате плотника; shop — лавка, магазин; цех; мастерская) I found three bags of nails and a grindstone (я обнаружил три ящика гвоздей и точильный камень; to grind — молоть, перемалывать; растирать /в порошок/; толочь; grindstone — точильный камень; жернов) . I found also a box full of little hatchets (я нашел также коробку, полную маленьких топориков) and a small barrel of musket balls (и маленький бочонок мушкетных пуль) .

In the captain's room I found six or seven guns (в комнате капитана я обнаружил шесть или семь ружей) , which I had overlooked before (которые я проглядел /не увидел/ ранее) , and another keg of powder (и еще один бочонок пороха; another — еще один /такой же/; другой) .

All these things I loaded with much care upon my raft (все эти вещи я погрузил с большой заботой на мой плот) .

Then I gathered up as many clothes as I could find (затем я собрал так много одежды, как мог найти) ; also a spare sail (а также запасной парус) , a hammock (гамак) , and some bedding (и некоторые постельные принадлежности) .

The raft was now quite full (плот был теперь довольно полным) . The things were not heavy (вещи были не тяжелыми) , but they made a large pile (но они составляли большую груду = из них вышла большая груда) .

When the tide turned for the shore (когда поток повернулся к берегу = когда начался прилив; tide — прилив и отлив) , I cut loose (я отрезал /бечеву/) and was soon floating homeward (и вскоре плыл: «был плывущим» к дому; homeward — /по направлению/ к дому) .

I had found a good oar in the ship (на корабле я нашел хорошее весло) . This I used as a paddle (я использовал его как «байдарочное» весло; paddle — плавник; байдарочное весло) , and I had no trouble in guiding the raft (и не имел трудности в направлении = без труда направил плот; to guide — вести, направлять) to the right landing place (к правильному месту высадки) .

I looked to see if the goods were safe which I brought over the day before (я посмотрел, были ли вещи сохранными, которые я принес днем ранее) .

There, on one of my chests (там, на одном из моих ящиков) , I saw a strange animal sitting (я увидел странное животное сидящее = сидело странное животное) . She looked like a wild cat (оно выглядело, как дикая кошка) .

As I went toward her (когда я пошел к ней) , she jumped down (она прыгнула вниз) and ran a little way (и немного отбежала: «пробежала маленький путь»; to run — бежать) . Then she stood still (затем она остановилась; to stand — стоять; to stand still — стоять на месте; still — неподвижный) .

I followed (я последовал /за ней/) . She stood very firm (она стояла очень неподвижно) and looked in my face (и смотрела мне в лицо: «в мое лицо») . She looked as though she had a mind to get acquainted (она смотрела так, как если бы имела намерение познакомиться; to get acquainted — знакомиться: «становиться знакомым») .

I pointed my gun at her (я нацелил на нее мое ружье) , and shouted (и крикнул) . But she did not care for that (но она не обеспокоилась/не обратила внимания) .

I had a bit of biscuit in my pocket (в моем кармане был кусок печенья) . This I now tossed toward her (я бросил его ей: «в направлении ее») . "Take this and begone (бери это и уходи) ," I shouted.

It rolled quite close to her nose (оно подкатилось довольно близко к ее носу) . She smell of it and ate it (она понюхала его и съела; to eat — есть) . Then she looked up for more (затем она подняла взгляд, ожидая еще /куска/: «взглянула вверх для большего») .

"Thank you, I have no more to give you (спасибо, я не имею = у меня нет больше дать тебе) ," I said.

Whether she understood me (поняла ли она меня; to understand — понимать) , I do not know (я не знаю) . But, with that (но на этом: «с этим») , she turned and marched away (она повернулась и удалилась; to маршировать; идти, вышагивать /демонстративно, обиженно, нервно, решительно и т. п./; away — прочь) .

I now set to work (и вот я приступил к работе) to get my second cargo on shore (чтобы доставить мой второй груз на берег) . It was no easy task (это было нелегкой задачей) , and I had to make many trips to and from the raft (и мне пришлось проделать много путешествий к плоту и от плота) .

When everything was safely landed (когда все было успешно сгружено /на землю/; safely — в сохранности; безопасно; благополучно) , I made me a little tent with the sail and some poles that I cut (я сделал навес из паруса и нескольких колышков, которые я срезал; to cut — резать) .