water from the river, I slid my canoe into it. It floated, as I knew it would.
As I pushed it along to the end of the great ditch and out into the river, it looked
very small. I could never hope to make a long voyage in it!
But I could sail round the island, and make little journeys close to the shore.
Before starting out, I put up a mast in the prow of the canoe and made a sail for it
of a piece of the ship's sail that I had kept with great care.
Then at each end of the little vessel I made lockers or small boxes, in which I put
a supply of food and other things that I would need on my voyage.
On the inside of the vessel I cut a little, long, hollow place or shelf where I could
lay my gun; and above this I tacked a long flap of goatskin to hang down over it and keep
it dry.
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In the stern I set up my umbrella, so that it would keep the hot sun off of me while
I was steering the canoe.
Then every day I made short trips down the river to the sea and back again.
Sometimes, when the wind was fair, I sailed a little way out; but I was afraid to go far.
At last I made up my mind for a voyage around the island.
I filled my lockers with food. In one I put two dozen barley cakes and a pot full of
parched rice. In the other I stored the hind quarters of a goat.
I also put in powder and shot enough to kill as much game as I would need.
On a day in November I set sail on my voyage. It proved to be a harder voyage
than I had bargained for.
In the first place, there were so many rocks along the shore that I sometimes had
to sail for miles out into the sea to get around them.
Then, when I was on the farther side of the island, I struck a furious current of
water that was pouring round a point of land like the sluice of mill.
I could do nothing in such a current. My canoe was whirled along like a leaf in a
whirlwind. The sail was of no use. The little vessel spun round and round in the eddies
and was carried far out to sea.
I gave myself up for lost. I was so far out that I could hardly see the low shores of
my island.
Suddenly I noticed that the canoe was only a little way from the edge of the
current. Just beyond it the water was quite calm and smooth.
I took up my paddle again and paddled with all my might. With great joy I soon
found myself floating in quiet water.
The wind was fair for the shore, and I set my sail again. The canoe sped swiftly
back toward the island.
I saw then that I was sailing midway between two strong currents. If I should be
caught in either, I would again be carried out to sea.
I needed all the skill I had to steer the canoe aright. At last, when the sun was
almost down, I brought it into a quiet little cove where the shore was green with grass.
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I AM ALARMED BY A VOICE (разбужен голосом)
AS soon as I touched the land (как только я коснулся земли), I fell upon my
knees and gave God thanks for bringing me safe out of so great danger (упал на колени
и отдал Господу благодарности за то, что он вынес = вывел меня живым из такой
большой опасности).
I made the canoe fast to a rock by the shore (привязал каноэ к скале у берега;
fast — крепкий, твердый), and lay down on the grass (лег на траву).
I was so tired (я был таким уставшим) that I soon fell asleep (скоро заснул) and
did not waken once until the next morning (не просыпался до следующего утра).
I went up a little hill close by the shore (поднялся по маленькому
холму /расположенному/ близко к берегу), and looked around to see what part of the
island I was in (и осмотрелся вокруг, чтобы увидеть, в какой части острова я был).
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To my right I saw some well-known trees (справа я увидел хорошо известные
деревья) which I had visited when I was exploring the island (которые я посетил =
видел когда исследовал остров). Then I knew that I was only a little way from my
summer house (всего лишь на небольшом расстоянии от моего летнего дома) and
that I could reach it easily by walking (и мог легко достичь его пешком).
I was sick of the sea (меня укачало на море; sick — больной), and I thought that
nothing would be so pleasant as a few days in my quiet bower (ничто не было бы столь
приятно, как несколько дней в моей тихой беседке).
So, with my umbrella over my head (с зонтом над головой), I started across the
country (я отправился через местность). It was a hot day (жаркий день), and I walked
slowly (медленно).
I stopped often to rest (останавливался часто отдохнуть), and did not reach my
summer house until it was growing dark (достиг дома, лишь когда темнело).
I saw that everything was standing just as I had left it (все было таким, как я
оставил его); for I always kept it in good order (так как я всегда содержал его = все
вещи в хорошем порядке).
As soon as I got over the fence (как только я перелез через забор), I sat down to
rest (сел отдохнуть); and I was so tired that I fell asleep (заснул).
Then, all at once in the darkness (вдруг в темноте), I heard a voice calling me
(услышал голос, зовущий меня), "Robin, Robin, Robin Crusoe!"
I was so full of sleep (так крепко спал: «был столь полон сна») that I did not
wake up at once (что не проснулся сразу). But between sleeping and waking I could
hear somebody saying (но между сном и бодрствованием мог слышать, как кто-то
говорит), "Robin Crusoe, Robin Crusoe!"
I wondered who it could be (я задавался вопросом, кто это мог быть), but I was
still more than half asleep (но я все еще спал).
Then the voice screamed in my ear (затем голос крикнул в ухо), "ROBIN
CRUSOE!"
I sprang to my feet (вскочил на ноги). I was frightened almost out of my wits
(был напуган почти до безумия; wit — ум, разум). Who in the world could be speaking
my name in that place (кто в мире мог произносить мое имя в этом месте)?
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