stirring adventure (интереснейшие приключения).
Before ten days had passed (прежде чем 10 дней прошли = не прошло и 10
дней), we were out on the great ocean (в великом океане = в открытом море). Our ship
was headed toward the south (был направлен = направлялся к югу).
The captain was very kind to me (добр). He taught (научил; to teach — учить)
me much that every sailor ought to know (что каждый моряк должен знать). He
showed me (показал) how to steer (править /рулем/) and manage the vessel (и
управляться с судном). He told me about the tides (о приливах) and the compass
(компасе) and how to reckon the ship's course (вычислять курс корабля).
The voyage (путешествие) was a pleasant one (приятным), and I saw more
wonderful things (больше прекрасных вещей) than I can name (чем я могу назвать).
When, at last, we sailed back to London (когда, наконец, мы отправились
обратно), we had gold enough (золота достаточно) to make a poor man rich (чтобы
сделать бедного человека богатым).
I had nearly six pounds (почти 6 фунтов) of the yellow dust (желтой пыли) for
my own share (в качестве моей собственной доли).
I had learned to be a trader (научился быть торговцем) as well as a sailor (как и
моряком).
It would take too long (заняло бы слишком долго) to tell you of all my voyages.
Some of them were happy and successful (счастливыми и успешными); but the most
(большинство) were unpleasant and full of disappointment (неприятными и полными
разочарований).
Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www
. f ranklang . r u
8
Sometimes (иногда) I went to Africa, sometimes to the new land of South
America (в новые земли Южной Америки). But wherever (куда бы ни) I sailed I found
the life of a sailor by no means easy (я находил жизнь моряка совсем не легкой).
I did not care so much now (не заботился столь много теперь = не особенно
заботился) to see strange sights (чтобы увидеть странные = необычные виды) and
visit unknown shores (и посетить неизвестные берега).
I cared more for the money or goods (о деньгах или товарах) that I would get by
trading (которые я бы получил торговлей).
At last a sudden end (в конце концов неожиданный конец) was put to all my
sailing (был положен всем моим морским путешествиям; to sail —
путешествовать морем). And it is of this (и об этом) that I will now tell you
(расскажу вам сейчас).
adventure [əd’vent ə
ʃ ] savage [‘sævidʒ] voyage [‘voiidʒ]
I SEE MUCH OF THE WORLD
IT was easy to find a ship to my liking; for all kinds of trading vessels go out
from London to every country that is known.
One day I met an old sea captain who had been often to the coast of Africa. He
was pleased with my talk.
"If you want to see the world," he said, "you must sail with me." And then he told
me that he was going again to Africa, to trade with the black people there. He would
carry out a load of cheap trinkets to exchange for gold dust and feathers and other rare
and curious things.
I was very glad to go with him. I would see strange lands and savage people. I
would have many a stirring adventure.
Before ten days had passed, we were out on the great ocean. Our ship was headed
toward the south.
Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www
. f ranklang . r u
9
The captain was very kind to me. He taught me much that every sailor ought to
know. He showed me how to steer and manage the vessel. He told me about the tides and
the compass and how to reckon the ship's course.
The voyage was a pleasant one, and I saw more wonderful things than I can name.
When, at last, we sailed back to London, we had gold enough to make a poor man
rich.
I had nearly six pounds of the yellow dust for my own share.
I had learned to be a trader as well as a sailor.
It would take too long to tell you of all my voyages. Some of them were happy
and successful; but the most were unpleasant and full of disappointment.
Sometimes I went to Africa, sometimes to the new land of South America. But
wherever I sailed I found the life of a sailor by no means easy.
I did not care so much now to see strange sights and visit unknown shores.
I cared more for the money or goods that I would get by trading.
At last a sudden end was put to all my sailing. And it is of this that I will now tell
you.
I UNDERTAKE A NEW VENTURE (я предпринимаю новое /рискованное/
предприятие)
I HAD grown (стал) very tired of being a sailor (очень уставшим от /того, что/
был моряком). I was so tired of it that I made up my mind to try something else (принял
решение попытать что-то другое).
Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www
. f ranklang . r u
10
It happened that I was then in Brazil (случилось, что я был тогда в Бразилии). I
bought some land (купил сколько-то = некоторое количество земли) there and began
to open a plantation (начал открывать = основывать плантацию). The ground was rich
(земля была богатой), and it would be easy to raise tobacco and sugar cane (было бы
легко выращивать табак и сахарный тростник).
But I needed many things (мне нужно было много вещей). I must have plows
and hoes and a sugar mill (должен иметь плуги и мотыги, и сахарную мельницу).
Above all (и прежде всего: «выше всего») I must have men (людей) to do the work on
the plantation (чтобы делать работу на плантации).
But neither men nor tools (ни людей, ни инструментов) could I get in Brazil (не
мог я достать в Бразилии).
I sent (послал) to London for the tools. I tried to buy some slaves (попытался
купить рабов) of the planters near me (у плантаторов около меня), but they had not
enough for themselves (не было достаточно для самих себя).
"We will tell you what to do (скажем тебе что делать)," they said. "We will fit