are gone?"
"They are there, sir," he said, pointing to a grove not far away. "They are sleeping
in the shade. If they should wake and see you with us, they would kill us all."
"Have they any firearms?" I asked.
"Only two muskets," he answered, "and one of these they have left in the boat."
"Then trust everything to me," I said. "If they are asleep it will be easy to kill
them all. But I think it will be better to make them our prisoners."
The captain then told me that there were two very wicked fellows among them
who were the ringleaders.
"It is they who have made all this trouble," he said. "If they and two others could
be overcome the rest would come back and do their duty. Indeed, I am sure that many of
them have gone into this business against their will."
I HAVE AN ANXIOUS (тревожный) DAY
WHILE we were talking we had slowly withdrawn among the trees (медленно
исчезли среди деревьев, отошли под деревья) where we were sheltered from sight (где
мы были скрыты из виду).
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The captain promised me that if we should succeed in getting control of the ship,
he would do anything that I wished (капитан пообещал мне, что если нам удастся
захватить контроль над кораблем, он сделает все, что я пожелаю). He would carry
me to England or to any other part of the world (он отвезет меня в Англию или в
любую другую часть света). He would live and die with me.
"Well, then," said I, "if you will all obey my commands (если вы будете
повиноваться моим указам), we will see what can be done (мы посмотрим, что может
быть сделано)."
I gave each one of them a musket (мушкет), with powder and shot (с порохом и
дробью). I told them to kill as few of the ruffians as they could (сказал им убить так
мало бандитов, как они смогут = как можно меньше), and to make prisoners of them
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all if possible (и сделать пленников из них всех, если можно = сделать всех их
пленниками).
Just then we heard some of them awake (мы услышали, что некоторые из них
проснулись). In a moment thee men came out of the grove and started down to the shore.
"Are these the ringleaders (зачинщики)?" I asked.
"No," answered the captain.
"Well, then, let them go (пусть они идут)," I said; "but if the rest escape, it will
be your fault (но если остальные сбегут, это будет ваша вина)."
With a musket in his hand and a pistol in his belt, the captain started forward
(двинулся вперед). I was close at his side, while Friday and the other two men went a
little ahead of us (немного впереди нас).
The mate (помощник, подручный) in his eagerness (в своем рвении) chanced
to step on some dry sticks (случайно наступил на сухие ветки) which broke with a
sharp noise beneath his feet (которые сломались с резким звуком под ногами). One of
the seamen, hearing this (один из моряков, услышав это), looked out and saw us
(увидел нас).
He gave the alarm (дал тревогу). The sleeping wretches awoke (негодяи
проснулись) and sprang to their feet (вскочили на ноги). But it was too late. Our guns
were already upon them (нацелены на них).
I need not tell you of the fight (борьбе). It was sharp and short (она была острой
и короткой).
At its close (в конце ее) the two ruffians who had caused all this trouble
(которые вызвали весь этот беспорядок = мятеж) were lying dead upon the ground
(лежали мертвыми на земле). The three other men, who were but slightly hurt (слегка
ранены), were our prisoners. As for my little army of five, not one was so much as
scratched (что касается моей армии из пяти /человек/, никто не был даже оцарапан).
While the captain and I were binding the prisoners (связывали пленников),
Friday and the mate ran to the boat and brought away the oars and the sails (весла и
паруса).
Soon the three men who had gone down the shore came hurrying back to see what
was the matter (в чем дело, что случилось).
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When they saw how matters stood (как обстоят дела), they at once gave
themselves up (сразу же сдались) and were bound with the rest (и были связаны с
остальными). So our victory was complete (победа была полной).
We now retired to the castle (возвратились к замку; to retire — уходить;
возвращаться на обычное место).
The prisoners were led into the back part of the cave (в заднюю часть пещеры)
that I had first dug (которую я сначала выкопал), and were left there with Friday as
their guard (как стражник).
With the captain, the mate, and the passenger, I went into my best room, where
we all refreshed ourselves with such food as I had at hand («освежились» = закусили
такой едой, которая у меня была под рукой).
We had now time to talk over the past (обсуждать прошлое) and make plans for
the future (строить планы на будущее).
I told the captain my whole history just as I have told it to you. He, in his turn (в
свою очередь), related to me (рассказал мне) the story of his voyage from England to
the West Indies (о-ва Вест-Индии), and how his crew (команда), wishing to become
pirates, had seized upon the ship (захватила корабль) and made him their prisoner.
"There are still twenty-six men on board (на борту)," he said. "They are no doubt
wondering what has become of their fellows (без сомнения задаются вопросом, что
произошло с их друзьями). After a while some of them will be likely to come on shore
to find out what is the matter (через некоторое время некоторые из них, видимо,
придут на берег выяснить, в чем дело)."
"Let them come (пусть приходят)," I said. "We will be ready for them."
We therefore went down to the shore where the boat was still lying.