Артур Дойл - Английский с А. Конан Дойлем. Пиратские истории / A. Conan Doyle. Tales of Pirates

The after sail-room next the cabin was transformed into a powder magazine, and she carried as many round shot as a well-found privateer. Water and provisions were shipped for a long voyage.

But the preparation of his ship’s company was most surprising. It made Freeman, the manager, realise that there was truth in the rumour that his master had taken leave of his senses. For, under one pretext or another, he began to dismiss the old and tried hands, who had served the firm for years, and in their place he embarked the scum of the port – men whose reputations were so vile that the lowest crimp would have been ashamed to furnish them.

There was Birthmark Sweetlocks(был там Суитлокс Меченый; birthmark – родимое пятно ) , who was known to have been present at the killing of the log-wood cutters(известный тем, что присутствовал при убийстве резчиков по дереву; log-wood – кампешевое дерево ) , so that his hideous scarlet disfigurement was put down by the fanciful(так что его отвратительное багровое пятно толковалось людьми с развитой фантазией; disfigurement – уродование; физический дефект, недостаток; to put down – приписывать, относить на счет /кого-л./чего-л./ ) as being a red afterglow from that great crime(как кровавый результат того великого злодеяния; red – красный; кровавый, окровавленный ) . He was first mate(он стал первым помощником) , and under him was Israel Martin, a little sun-wilted fellow(а его подручным назначили Израэля Мартина, невысокого высушенного солнцем человечка) who had served with Howell Davies at the taking of Cape Coast Castle(который служил еще у Хауэлла Дэйвиса при взятии замка Кейп-Коуст).

There was Birthmark Sweetlocks, who was known to have been present at the killing of the log-wood cutters, so that his hideous scarlet disfigurement was put down by the fanciful as being a red afterglow from that great crime. He was first mate, and under him was Israel Martin, a little sun-wilted fellow who had served with Howell Davies at the taking of Cape Coast Castle.

The crew were chosen from amongst those(команда набиралась из тех) whom Banks had met and known in their own infamous haunts(кого Бэнкс встречал и с кем знакомился в облюбованных ими грязных притонах; to know – знать; быть знакомым ) , and his own table-steward was a haggard-faced man(а его личным камердинером стал человек с изможденным лицом; table-steward – стюард-официант ) , who gobbled at you when he tried to talk(который издавал клекочущие звуки, когда пытался разговаривать; to gobble – кулдыкать /об индюке/ ) . His beard had been shaved(свою бороду он сбрил) , and it was impossible to recognise him as the same man(и в нем невозможно было узнать того самого человека) whom Sharkey had placed under the knife(которому Шарки отрезал язык: «которого Шарки поместил под нож») , and who had escaped to tell his experiences to Copley Banks(и который бежал /от пиратов/, чтобы рассказать о своих злоключениях Копли Бэнксу; experiences – опыт; случай, событие ).

The crew were chosen from amongst those whom Banks had met and known in their own infamous haunts, and his own table-steward was a haggard-faced man, who gobbled at you when he tried to talk. His beard had been shaved, and it was impossible to recognise him as the same man whom Sharkey had placed under the knife, and who had escaped to tell his experiences to Copley Banks.

These doings were not unnoticed, nor yet uncommented upon in the town of Kingston(действия эти не остались незамеченными, и их обсуждали на главных улицах Кингстона; town – город, городок; деловой центр; uncommented – некомментированный; оставленный без комментариев ) . The Commandant of the troops – Major Harvey, of the Artillery(комендант гарнизона майор от артиллерии Харви; troops – войска ) – made serious representations to the Governor(выразил губернатору серьезную озабоченность; to make representations – делать представление, заявлять протест ).

“She is not a trader, but a small warship(это не торговое судно, а небольшой военный корабль) ,” said he. “I think it would be as well to arrest Copley Banks and to seize the vessel(также я думаю арестовать Копли Бэнкса и захватить судно; as well – также, тоже ) .”

“What do you suspect?” asked the Governor(что вы подозреваете? – спросил губернатор) , who was a slow-witted man, broken down with fevers and port wine(который медленно соображал /от природы/, был разбит лихорадкой и /злоупотреблял/ портвейном; to break ).

“I suspect,” said the soldier, “that it is Stede Bonnet over again(я подозреваю, – сказал /старый/ вояка, – что это еще один Стид Боннет; soldier – военный, военнослужащий; over again – еще раз, снова ) .”

These doings were not unnoticed, nor yet uncommented upon in the town of Kingston. The Commandant of the troops – Major Harvey, of the Artillery – made serious representations to the Governor.

“She is not a trader, but a small warship,” said he. “I think it would be as well to arrest Copley Banks and to seize the vessel.”

“What do you suspect?” asked the Governor, who was a slow-witted man, broken down with fevers and port wine.

“I suspect,” said the soldier, “that it is Stede Bonnet over again.”

Now, Stede Bonnet was a planter of high reputation and religious character(плантатор Стид Боннет был /человеком/ весьма набожным с прекрасной репутацией; now /союз/ – когда, раз; вот /в начале предложения/; religious – религиозный, церковный; верующий; character – характер, нрав ) , who, from some sudden and overpowering freshet of wildness in his blood(который, повинуясь внезапному и непреодолимому зову крови; freshet – поток пресной воды; наводненье, паводок; wildness – дикость ) , had given up everything in order to start off pirating in the Caribbean Sea(бросил все, чтобы начать пиратствовать в Карибском море; to give up – оставить, бросить; to start off – начинать делать /что-л./ ) . The example was a recent one(случай этот произошел совсем недавно: «пример был недавним»; example – пример; прецедент ) , and it had caused the utmost consternation in the islands(и вызвал на островах сильнейший переполох; utmost – крайний, предельный; величайший; consternation – ужас, испуг ) . Governors had before now been accused of being in league with pirates(губернаторов и прежде обвиняли в содействии пиратам; to be in league – действовать заодно /обычно тайно в чем-то плохом/: «быть в лиге» ) , and of receiving commissions upon their plunder(и в получении комиссионных с их добычи) , so that any want of vigilance was open to a sinister construction(так что недостаток бдительности мог быть дурно истолкован; open – открытый, раскрытый; склонный /к чему-л./, подверженный /чему-л./; sinister – зловещий, мрачный; дурной, плохой; construction – строительство, сооружение; истолкование, объяснение ).

Now, Stede Bonnet was a planter of high reputation and religious character, who, from some sudden and overpowering freshet of wildness in his blood, had given up everything in order to start off pirating in the Caribbean Sea. The example was a recent one, and it had caused the utmost consternation in the islands. Governors had before now been accused of being in league with pirates, and of receiving commissions upon their plunder, so that any want of vigilance was open to a sinister construction.

“Well, Major Harvey,” said he(что ж, майор Харви, – сказал он) , “I am vastly sorry to do anything which may offend my friend Copley Banks(мне безмерно неприятно делать что-то такое, что может обидеть моего друга Копли Бэнкса) , for many a time have my knees been under his mahogany(поскольку много раз мои колени находились под его столом, накрытым к обеду; mahogany – древесина красного дерева; обеденный стол ) , but in face of what you say there is no choice for me(но в свете того, что вы сказали, мне не остается иного выбора; in face of smth. – перед лицом чего-л. ) but to order you to board the vessel(кроме как приказать вам подняться на борт этого судна) and to satisfy yourself as to her character and destination(и выяснить его характеристики и предназначение; to satisfy – удовлетворять; убеждать; character – характер, темперамент; качество, характерная особенность ) .”