Besides parrots there were many other birds in the woods (кроме попугаев, там
было много других птиц в лесу). Some of these were of kinds that I had never seen
before (некоторые из них были видов, которых я никогда раньше не видел).
In the low grounds I saw some animals that looked like rabbits (на низких
землях = в низинах я видел некоторых животных, которые выглядели как кролики).
There were others that I took to be foxes (принимал за лис), but they were not such
foxes as we have in England (но они были не такими лисами, каких мы имеем в
Англии).
I traveled very slowly around the island (я путешествовал очень медленно по
острову), for I wished to see everything (так как хотел увидеть все). Often I did not go
more than two miles in a day (часто я не проходил более двух миль в день).
At night I sometimes slept in a tree (ночью я иногда спал на дереве), while my
dog watched below me (пока моя собака охраняла внизу). Sometimes I shut myself up
in a little pen made by driving tall stakes into the ground (иногда я скрывался в
маленьком «пенале», сделанном посредством вбивания длинных палок в землю). I
Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www
. f ranklang . r u
85
felt quite safe (чувствовала себя в безопасности), for nothing could come near me
without waking me (так как ничто не могло приблизиться ко мне, не разбудив меня).
Along the seashore there were thousands of turtles (вдоль берега были тысячи
черепах) and a great plenty of waterfowl (множество водоплавающих птиц).
I had no trouble to find all the food I needed (не имел проблем с нахождением
всей той еды, которая мне была нужна). Sometimes I had a roast pigeon for dinner
(жареного голубя на обед), sometimes the juicy meat of a turtle (сочное мясо
черепахи), sometimes that of a goat (иногда мясо козы). No king could have fared
better (никакой король не мог бы поесть лучше; to fare — жить, поживать;
питаться).
One day my dog caught a young kid (собака поймала козленка). I ran and got
hold of it (схватил его), and would not let him hurt it (не позволил ей ранить его).
I had a great mind to take it home with me (у меня было большое желание
взять его домой с собой). So I made a collar for it (ошейник для него), and led it along
by a string which I had in my pocket (отвел его рядом с собой на веревке, которая
была у меня в кармане).
It was quite wild (довольно диким) and did not lead well (нелегко было его
вести). It gave me so much trouble that I took it to my summer house and left it there (он
доставил мне так много проблем, что я отвел его в летний дом и оставил там).
I then went home to my castle.
smooth [smu:ð] pouch [pautʃ] journey [‘d ə
ʒ :ni]
I MAKE A LONG JOURNEY
I HAD long wished to see the whole of my island. So, one fine morning, I set out
to travel across to the other side of it. Of course I carried my gun with me. In my belt was
my best hatchet. In my pouch I had plenty of powder and shot. In my pocket were two
biscuits and a big bunch of raisins. My dog followed behind me.
I went past my summer house, or bower, and toward evening came to a fine open
place close by the sea.
Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www
. f ranklang . r u
86
It was a beautiful sight. The sky was clear, the air was still. The smooth waters
stretched away and away toward the setting sun.
Far in the distance I could see land. I could not tell whether it was an island or
some part of the mainland of America. It was at least fifty miles away.
If it were the mainland, I felt quite sure that I would at some time or other see a
ship sailing hither to it or from it. If it were an island, there might be savages on it whom
it would not be safe for me to meet. But it would do no good to worry my mind about
such matters.
I found this side of the island much more beautiful than that where my castle was.
Here were large, open fields, green with grass and sweet with flowers. Here, too,
were fine woods, with many strange trees and vines.
I saw many green parrots among the trees, and I thought how I would catch one
and teach it to talk.
After a great deal of trouble I knocked a young one down with my stick. He was a
good fighter, and it was no easy matter to get him. But at last I picked him up and put
him in my bag.
He was not hurt, and I carried him home. It was a long time before I could make
him talk. But at last he became a great pet and would call me by my name. I shall have a
funny story to tell about him after a while.
Besides parrots there were many other birds in the woods. Some of these were of
kinds that I had never seen before.
In the low grounds I saw some animals that looked like rabbits. There were others
that I took to be foxes, but they were not such foxes as we have in England.
I traveled very slowly around the island, for I wished to see everything. Often I
did not go more than two miles in a day.
At night I sometimes slept in a tree, while my dog watched below me. Sometimes
I shut myself up in a little pen made by driving tall stakes into the ground. I felt quite
safe, for nothing could come near me without waking me.
Along the seashore there were thousands of turtles and a great plenty of
waterfowl.
Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www
. f ranklang . r u
87
I had no trouble to find all the food I needed. Sometimes I had a roast pigeon for
dinner, sometimes the juicy meat of a turtle, sometimes that of a goat. No king could
have fared better.
One day my dog caught a young kid. I ran and got hold of it, and would not let
him hurt it.
I had a great mind to take it home with me. So I made a collar for it, and led it
along by a string which I had in my pocket.
It was quite wild and did not lead well. It gave me so much trouble that I took it to
my summer house and left it there.
I then went home to my castle.
I HARVEST MY GRAIN (я собираю свое зерно)
I CANNOT tell you how glad I was to get to my old house again (как рад я был
попасть в мой старый дом вновь) and lie down in my good hammock bed (и лечь в