Just in front of this break (как раз перед) I began to build my castle. First, I drew
a half circle upon the ground (нарисовал полукруг на земле), with the opening (с
углублением) at the center (в центре). The space which it inclosed (расстояние,
которое он /полукруг/ ограничивал) was about thirty feet across (было около
тридцати футов в диаметре).
In this half circle I set up two rows of strong stakes (два ряда крепких столбов,
колов), driving them deep into the ground (вдолбив их глубоко в землю).
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The rows (ряды) were not more than six inches apart (не больше, чем шесть
дюймов друг от друга /дюйм = 2,5 см/). The stakes (столбы) were about two inches
apart and as high as my head (такими высокими, как моя голова = на уровне головы).
Then between and around these stakes I laid the great ropes (уложил большие
веревки) that I had brought (принес) from the ship. Among these I twined (скрутил,
перевил) the slender branches of trees (тонкие ветки деревьев) and long grapevines
(длинные ветки виноградной лозы) that I found in the woods (которые нашел в лесу).
When all was finished I had a wall nearly six feet high (я имел стены почти
шести футов высотой). It was so strong that nothing could break through it (/стена/
была/ такой крепкой, что ничто не могло прорваться сквозь нее).
I made no door in the wall (не сделал двери в стене). The only way in which to
get into the yard (единственный способ попасть внутрь двора) behind it (за стеной)
was by going over the top (был пройти через верх). This was done by climbing a short
ladder (это делалось посредством залезания по короткой лестнице) which I could lift
up after me, and then let down again (которую я мог поднять за собой, а потом
спустить вниз опять).
How safe I felt now (в какой безопасности я чувствовал себя сейчас), as I
stood inside of my castle wall!
Over this wall I next carried all my riches (все мои богатства), food, my tools,
my boxes of clothing (еду, инструменты, коробки с одеждой). Then, right against the
great rock (прямо у большой скалы), I made me a large tent to shelter me from the rain
(я сделал большой навес, чтобы укрывать себя от дождя).
Into this tent I brought everything that would be spoiled by getting wet (что было
бы испорчено, если бы намокло). In the middle of it (в середине) I swung the
hammock (повесил гамак; to swing) that I had brought from the ship. For you must
remember that I was a sailor (так как вы должны помнить, что я был моряком), and I
could sleep better in a hammock than on a bed (я мог спать лучше в гамаке, чем на
кровати).
The hollow place in the rock (полость в скале) was just as I hoped (была точно
такой, как я надеялся). It was, indeed, a large cleft or crack (большая расселина или
трещина), filled only with earth and small stones (заполненная только землей и
маленькими камнями).
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With such tools as I had I began to dig the earth and stones away (выкапывать
землю и камни). I carried them out through my tent and piled them up along (уложил
их вдоль) the inside of my wall (внутренней стороны стены).
In a few days I had made quite a cave which would serve very well as a cellar to
my castle (которая могла очень хорошо служить как подвал для моего замка).
I called the cave my kitchen (назвал пещеру моей кухней); but when I began my
cooking I found it best to do most of that work outside (нашел, что лучше делать
большую часть этого /готовки/ снаружи).
In bad weather (в плохую погоду), however (однако), the kitchen was an
excellent place to live in (кухня была прекрасным местом для жизни).
halfway [‘ha:f’wei] ladder [lædə]
I BUILD ME A CASTLE
I LAY down on my bed, with my money and other precious things close at hand.
All night long the wind blew and the rain poured.
Early in the morning I arose and looked out toward the sea.
The waves were rolling very high.
The ship was gone. The sea had swallowed it up.
As I could make no more visits to the ship, I now began to think of other things.
I was still afraid lest there were savage beasts on the island.
Savage men, too, might come that way.
If any of these should find me, how could I protect myself from them?
I must have a stronger house to live in. I must build me a little fort or castle.
The place I was in was flat and wet. My tent was on open ground and could be
plainly seen from a distance. There was no fresh water near it.
I must find a better place than this for my castle.
A little way from the shore there was a rocky hill. I went to look at it.
Halfway up the hill there was a large level place, with a great rock rising behind it
like the side of a house.
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I climbed up to the level place. There was but one way to go, and that was by a
steep and winding path.
I found the place much larger than I thought. It was more than a hundred yards
long and almost half as broad.
It was, indeed, a green field, or plain, with steep cliff rising up behind it. You
must think of it as a great shelf half way up the side of the hill.
"Here," I said to myself, "is the place for my castle."
It was no easy thing to carry all my goods up the steep path to this level plain. I
worked hard for many days; but, then, there was nothing else to do, and I must needs
keep busy.
At one place on the side of the great rock there was a break, or opening, like the
door to a cave. But there was no cave there.
Just in front of this break I began to build my castle. First, I drew a half circle
upon the ground, with the opening at the center. The space which it inclosed was about
thirty feet across.
In this half circle I set up two rows of strong stakes, driving them deep into the
ground.
The rows were not more than six inches apart. The stakes were about two inches
apart and as high as my head.