Эдгар Берроуз - Английский язык с Э. Р. Берроузом. Принцесса Марса

relieve [rI'li: v], endeavor [In'devq], discernible [dI'sWnqbl]

Relieving him of his trappings, which I flung down beside him, we left the poor fellow to his fate, and pushed on with the one thoat as best we could. Sola and I walked, making Dejah Thoris ride, much against her will. In this way we had progressed to within about a mile of the hills we were endeavoring to reach when Dejah Thoris, from her point of vantage upon the thoat, cried out that she saw a great party of mounted men filing down from a pass in the hills several miles away. Sola and I both looked in the direction she indicated, and there, plainly discernible, were several hundred mounted warriors. They seemed to be headed in a southwesterly direction, which would take them away from us.

They doubtless were Thark warriors (это, без сомнения, были таркианские воины) who had been sent out to capture us (которые были посланы, чтобы захватить нас), and we breathed a great sigh of relief (и мы вздохнули с большим облегчением; sigh — вздох; to breath a sigh of relief — вздохнуть облегченно ) that they were traveling in the opposite direction (от того, что они двигались в противоположном направлении). Quickly lifting Dejah Thoris from the thoat (быстро сняв Дежу Торис с тота), I commanded the animal to lie down (я приказал животному лечь) and we three did the same (и мы трое сделали то же самое), presenting as small an object as possible (постаравшись стать как можно незаметнее: «представляя собой настолько маленький объект, насколько возможно») for fear of attracting the attention of the warriors toward us (из страха привлечь к нам внимание воинов).

doubtless ['dautlIs], breathe [brJD], travel [trxvl]

They doubtless were Thark warriors who had been sent out to capture us, and we breathed a great sigh of relief that they were traveling in the opposite direction. Quickly lifting Dejah Thoris from the thoat, I commanded the animal to lie down and we three did the same, presenting as small an object as possible for fear of attracting the attention of the warriors toward us.

We could see them as they filed out of the pass (мы могли видеть их, когда они вереницей выходили из прохода; to file — идти гуськом, передвигаться колонной ), just for an instant, before they were lost to view behind a friendly ridge (всего на мгновение, прежде чем они исчезли из вида за спасительным гребнем; friendly — дружественный, благоприятный ); to us a most providential ridge (для нас просто ниспосланным провидением гребнем); since, had they been in view for any great length of time (так как, если бы они были в поле зрения еще какое-то время; length — длина; протяженность во времени ), they scarcely could have failed to discover us (они обязательно: «вряд ли бы не удалось» обнаружили нас). As what proved to be the last warrior came into view from the pass (когда оказавшийся последним воин очутился на виду в проходе; to come into view — попасть в поле зрения ), he halted and, to our consternation (он остановился и, к нашему ужасу; consternation — ужас, испуг ), threw his small but powerful fieldglass to his eye (поднес небольшой, но мощный полевой бинокль к глазам; to throw — бросать; направлять ) and scanned the sea bottom in all directions (и внимательно осмотрел дно моря во всех направлениях; to scan — внимательно смотрет ь). Evidently he was a chieftain (очевидно, он был вождем), for in certain marching formations among the green men (так как в некоторых походных формированиях зеленых людей) a chieftain brings up the extreme rear of the column (вождь замыкает самый конец колонны). As his glass swung toward us (когда его бинокль развернулся к нам) our hearts stopped in our breasts (наши сердца остановились у нас в груди), and I could feel the cold sweat start from every pore in my body (и я почувствовал, как холодный пот выступает из каждой поры моего тела; to start — начинать; выступать ).

providential ["prOvI'denS(q)l], consternation ["kOnstq'neISn], fieldglass ['fi: ldglQ: s]

We could see them as they filed out of the pass, just for an instant, before they were lost to view behind a friendly ridge; to us a most providential ridge; since, had they been in view for any great length of time, they scarcely could have failed to discover us. As what proved to be the last warrior came into view from the pass, he halted and, to our consternation, threw his small but powerful fieldglass to his eye and scanned the sea bottom in all directions. Evidently he was a chieftain, for in certain marching formations among the green men a chieftain brings up the extreme rear of the column. As his glass swung toward us our hearts stopped in our breasts, and I could feel the cold sweat start from every pore in my body.

Presently it swung full upon us and stopped (вскоре он полностью развернулся к нам и остановился). The tension on our nerves was near the breaking point (напряжение наших нервов достигло почти крайнего предела; breaking point — предел; переломный момент ), and I doubt if any of us breathed for the few moments (и я сомневаюсь, что кто-то из нас дышал те несколько мгновений) he held us covered by his glass (пока он держал нас под прицелом своего бинокля; to cover — покрывать; держать под прицелом ); and then he lowered it (а затем он опустил его) and we could see him shout a command to the warriors (и мы могли видеть, как он выкрикивает команду воинам) who had passed from our sight behind the ridge (которые скрылись у нас из виду за гребнем). He did not wait for them to join him, however (однако он не стал ждать, когда они присоединятся к нему), instead he wheeled his thoat and came tearing madly in our direction (вместо этого он развернул своего тота и бешено помчался в нашем направлении; to tear — разрывать, мчаться ).

tension [tenSn], cover ['kAvq]

Presently it swung full upon us and stopped. The tension on our nerves was near the breaking point, and I doubt if any of us breathed for the few moments he held us covered by his glass; and then he lowered it and we could see him shout a command to the warriors who had passed from our sight behind the ridge. He did not wait for them to join him, however, instead he wheeled his thoat and came tearing madly in our direction.

There was but one slight chance and that we must take quickly (был только один слабый шанс /на спасение/, и мы должны были воспользоваться им немедленно). Raising my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder (вскинув мое необычное марсианское ружье к плечу) I sighted and touched the button which controlled the trigger (я прицелился и дотронулся до кнопки, которая управляла спусковым крючком; to sight — увидеть, прицелиться ); there was a sharp explosion as the missile reached its goal (последовал сильный взрыв, когда снаряд достиг своей цели; sharp — острый; сильный ), and the charging chieftain pitched backward from his flying mount (и атакующий вождь упал навзничь со своего летящего /стрелой/ тота).

trigger ['trIgq], missile ['mIsaIl]

There was but one slight chance and that we must take quickly. Raising my strange Martian rifle to my shoulder I sighted and touched the button which controlled the trigger; there was a sharp explosion as the missile reached its goal, and the charging chieftain pitched backward from his flying mount.

Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise (вскочив на ноги, я заставил тота подняться), and directed Sola to take Dejah Thoris with her upon him (и дал указание Соле взять с собой Дежу Торис и /сесть/ на него) and make a mighty effort to reach the hills before the green warriors were upon us (и употребить все усилия, чтобы добраться до холмов прежде, чем зеленые воины накинутся на нас). I knew that in the ravines and gullies they might find a temporary hiding place (я знал, что в ущельях и оврагах они смогут найти временное убежище), and even though they died there of hunger and thirst (и даже если они умрут там от голода и жажды) it would be better so than that they fell into the hands of the Tharks (так будет лучше, чем если они попадут в руки тарков). Forcing my two revolvers upon them as a slight means of protection (заставив их взять с собой два моих револьвера как слабое средство защиты), and, as a last resort (и, на крайний случай; resort — обращение за помощью; in the last resort — в крайнем случае, как последнее средство ) as an escape for themselves from the horrid death which recapture would surely mean (как /средство/ спасения себя от ужасной смерти, которую повторный плен будет наверняка означать), I lifted Dejah Thoris in my arms (я подхватил Дежу Торис на руки) and placed her upon the thoat behind Sola (и поместил ее на тота позади Солы), who had already mounted at my command (которая уже сидела верхом по моему приказу).

spring [sprIN], force [fO: s], recapture [ri:'kxptSq]

Springing to my feet I urged the thoat to rise, and directed Sola to take Dejah Thoris with her upon him and make a mighty effort to reach the hills before the green warriors were upon us. I knew that in the ravines and gullies they might find a temporary hiding place, and even though they died there of hunger and thirst it would be better so than that they fell into the hands of the Tharks. Forcing my two revolvers upon them as a slight means of protection, and, as a last resort, as an escape for themselves from the horrid death which recapture would surely mean, I lifted Dejah Thoris in my arms and placed her upon the thoat behind Sola, who had already mounted at my command.