| Men who understood the sea were desirable. But of these there were only two in that unfortunate gang, and their knowledge was none too full. They were Hagthorpe, a gentleman who had served in the Royal Navy, and Nicholas Dyke, who had been a petty officer in the late king's time, and there was another who had been a gunner, a man named Ogle. |
Было бы хорошо, если бы все они знали море, но таких людей насчитывалось всего лишь двое -Хагторп, служивший в королевском военно-морском флоте, и младший офицер Николае Дайк. И еще один - артиллерист, по имени Огл, знакомый с морем, - также мог стать полезным спутником. |
| It was agreed before they parted that Pitt should begin with these three and then proceed to recruit some six or eight others. |
Договорились, что Питт начнет с этих трех, а затем завербует еще человек шесть - восемь. |
| He was to move with the utmost caution, sounding his men very carefully before making anything in the nature of a disclosure, and even then avoid rendering that disclosure so full that its betrayal might frustrate the plans which as yet had to be worked out in detail. Labouring with them in the plantations, Pitt would not want for opportunities of broaching the matter to his fellow-slaves. |
Блад советовал Питту действовать осторожно: выяснить сначала настроение людей, а потом уж говорить с ними более или менее откровенно. |
| "Caution above everything," was Blood's last recommendation to him at parting. "Who goes slowly, goes safely, as the Italians have it. And remember that if you betray yourself, you ruin all, for you are the only navigator amongst us, and without you there is no escaping." |
- Помни, - говорил Блад, - что, выдав себя, ты погубишь все: ведь ты - единственный штурман среди нас, и без тебя бегство невозможно. |
| Pitt reassured him, and slunk off back to his own hut and the straw that served him for a bed. |
Заверив Блада, что он все понял, Питт прокрался в свою хижину и бросился на соломенную подстилку, служившую ему постелью. |
| Coming next morning to the wharf, Blood found Dr. Whacker in a generous mood. |
На следующее утро Блад встретился на пристани с доктором Вакером. |
| Having slept on the matter, he was prepared to advance the convict any sum up to thirty pounds that would enable him to acquire a boat capable of taking him away from the settlement. |
Доктор соглашался дать взаймы тридцать фунтов стерлингов, необходимые для приобретения шлюпки. |
| Blood expressed his thanks becomingly, betraying no sign that he saw clearly into the true reason of the other's munificence. "It's not money I'll require," said he, "but the boat itself. |
Блад почтительно поблагодарил его и сказал: -Мне нужны не деньги, а шлюпка. |
| For who will be selling me a boat and incurring the penalties in Governor Steed's proclamation? |
Но я не знаю, кто осмелится продать мне ее после угроз наказаний, перечисленных в приказе губернатора Стида. |
| Ye'll have read it, no doubt?" |
Вы, конечно, знаете его? |
| Dr. Whacker's heavy face grew overcast. Thoughtfully he rubbed his chin. |
Доктор Вакер в раздумье потер подбородок: |
| "I've read it - yes. And I dare not procure the boat for you. |
- Да, я читал это объявление... Однако, согласитесь, не мне же приобретать для вас шлюпку! |
| It would be discovered. It must be. |
Это станет сразу же известно всем. |
| And the penalty is a fine of two hundred pounds besides imprisonment. It would ruin me. You'll see that?" |
Мое участие повлечет за собой тюремное заключение и штраф в двести фунтов... вы понимаете? |
| The high hopes in Blood's soul, began to shrink. And the shadow of his despair overcast his face. |
Надежда, горевшая в душе Блада, потускнела, и тень отчаяния пробежала по его лицу. |
| "But then..." he faltered. "There is nothing to be done." |
- Да, но тогда... - пробормотал он, - к чему же мне ваши деньги? |