Английский язык с Р.Л.Стивенсоном. Остров сокровищ
Шрифт:
All this while, as I say, I was still running, and, without taking any notice, I had drawn near to the foot of the little hill with the two peaks, and had got into a part of the island where the live-oaks grew more widely apart, and seemed more like forest trees in their bearing and dimensions. Mingled with these were a few scattered pines, some fifty, some nearer seventy, feet high. The air, too, smelt more freshly than down beside the marsh.
And here a fresh alarm brought me to a standstill with a thumping heart.
Chapter XV (глава 15)
The Man of the Island (островитянин: «человек острова»)
FROM the side of the hill (со склона холма), which was here steep and stony (который был здесь крутым и каменистым) a spout of gravel was dislodged (куча щебня посыпалась; spout — струя, поток; gravel —
I was now, it seemed, cut off upon both sides (я был теперь, казалось, отрезан с обеих сторон = оба пути были отрезаны); behind me the murderers, before me this lurking nondescript (позади меня — убийцы, передо мной — это подстерегающее существо; to lurk — скрываться в засаде; прятаться; nondescript — человек или предмет неопределенного вида). And immediately I began to prefer the dangers that I knew to those I knew not (и сразу же я начал предпочитать = предпочел известные опасности: «которые знал», неизвестным: «тем, /что/ я не знал»). Silver himself appeared less terrible in contrast with this creature of the woods (сам Сильвер казался менее ужасным, чем это лесное существо; in contrast with — по сравнению с, в противоположность), and I turned on my heel (и я повернулся /на каблуке/), and looking sharply behind me over my shoulder (и, глядя внимательно назад через плечо), began to retract my steps in the direction of the boats (начал отступать в сторону шлюпок; to retract — забирать обратно, возвращаться, отступать; step — шаг, след).
spout [spaut] dislodged [dɪs`lɔʤd] bounding [`baundɪŋ] apparition [æpə`rɪʃn]
FROM the side of the hill, which was here steep and stony a spout of gravel was dislodged, and fell rattling and bounding through the trees. My eyes turned instinctively in the direction, and I saw a figure leap with great rapidity behind the trunk of a pine. What it was, whether bear or man or monkey, I could in no wise tell. It seemed dark and shaggy; more I knew not. But the terror of this new apparition brought me to a stand.
I was now, it seemed, cut off upon both sides; behind me the murderers, before me this lurking nondescript. And immediately I began to prefer the dangers that I knew to those I knew not. Silver himself appeared less terrible in contrast with this creature of the woods, and I turned on my heel, and looking sharply behind me over my shoulder, began to retract my steps in the direction of the boats.
Instantly the figure reappeared (тотчас фигура появилась вновь), and, making a wide circuit began to head me off (и, делая широкий круг = крюк, начала перехватывать = обгонять меня). I was tired, at any rate (я устал, во всяком случае); but had I been as fresh as when I rose (но будь я таким же бодрым, как когда проснулся), I could see it was in vain for me to contend in speed with such an adversary (я видел = понимал, что было бесполезно для меня состязаться в скорости с таким противником). From trunk to trunk the creature flitted like a deer (от ствола к стволу существо перелетало = перебегало, словно олень), running manlike on two legs but unlike any man that I had ever seen (бегая по-человечески, на двух ногах, но непохоже на любого человека, что я когда-либо видел), stooping almost double as it ran (складываясь чуть ли не вдвое при беге; to stoop —
I began to recall what I had heard of cannibals (я стал вспоминать /все/, что слышал о людоедах). I was within an ace of calling for help (я уже было позвал на помощь; within an ace — на волосок, почти; ace — маленькая частица, йота). But the mere fact that he was man (но сам по себе тот факт, что он был человеком), however wild, had somewhat reassured me (хотя и диким, отчасти успокоил меня), and my fear of Silver began to revive in proportion (и мой страх перед Сильвером начал воскресать соответственно: «в пропорции» = сразу ожил). I stood still, therefore and cast about for some method of escape (я стоял неподвижно поэтому, и обдумывал какой-нибудь способ бегства); and as I was so thinking (и пока я так думал), the recollection of my pistol flashed into my mind (воспоминание о моем пистолете сверкнуло у меня в уме = я вдруг вспомнил о пистолете). As soon as I remembered I was not defenceless (как только я вспомнил, /что/ я не беззащитный), courage glowed again in my heart (храбрость вновь запылала в моем сердце; to glow — сверкать, светиться, тлеть); and I set my face resolutely for this man of the island (и я повернул лицо = развернулся решительно к этому островитянину), and walked briskly towards him (и быстро пошел к нему /навстречу/; briskly — живо, энергично).
circuit [`sə:kɪt] adversary [`ædvəsərɪ] doubt [daut] cannibal [`kænɪbəl] method [`meθəd]
Instantly the figure reappeared, and, making a wide circuit began to head me off. I was tired, at any rate; but had I been as fresh as when I rose, I could see it was in vain for me to contend in speed with such an adversary. From trunk to trunk the creature flitted like a deer, running manlike on two legs but unlike any man that I had ever seen, stooping almost double as it ran. Yet a man it was, I could no longer be in doubt about that.
I began to recall what I had heard of cannibals. I was within an ace of calling for help. But the mere fact that he was man, however wild, had somewhat reassured me, and my fear of Silver began to revive in proportion. I stood still, therefore and cast about for some method of escape; and as I was so thinking, the recollection of my pistol flashed into my mind. As soon as I remembered I was not defenceless, courage glowed again in my heart; and I set my face resolutely for this man of the island, and walked briskly towards him.
He was concealed by this time (он был скрыт уже = опять спрятался), behind another tree trunk (за другим древесным стволом) but he must have been watching me closely (но, должно быть, наблюдал за мной внимательно), for as soon as I began to move in his direction (потому что как только я начал двигаться в его направлении) he reappeared and took a step to meet me (он появился = вышел из укрытия и шагнул: «взял шаг», чтобы встретить меня = мне навстречу). Then he hesitated, drew back, came forward again (затем он поколебался, отошел назад, снова вышел вперед), and at last, to my wonder and confusion (и наконец, к моему удивлению и смущению), threw himself on his knees (бросил себя на колени = упал на колени) and held out his clasped hands in supplication (и протянул свои согнутые руки в мольбе; to clasp — обнимать, обхватывать).
At that I once more stopped (при этом я снова остановился).
“Who are you (кто вы /такой/)?” I asked.
“Ben Gunn (Бен Ганн),” he answered, and his voice sounded hoarse and awkward (он ответил, и его голос прозвучал хрипло и тяжело; awkward — неуклюжий, нескладный, неловкий), like a rusty lock (как ржавый замок). “I’m poor Ben Gunn, I am (я бедный Бен Ганн, вот кто я); and I haven’t spoke with a Christian these three years (и я не говорил /ни с одним/ христианином эти три года).”