How he managed it I do not know, he could not explain himself (как ему это удалось, я не знаю, он и сам не мог объяснить); but by some mysterious process or other he succeeded, after ten minutes of superhuman effort (но каким-то таинственным образом он сумел после десяти минут сверхчеловеческих усилий; process — процесс; прием, способ), in getting himself completely rolled up in it (полностью закататься в нее /в парусину/). He was so firmly wrapped round and tucked in and folded over, that he could not get out (он был так плотно завернут и закутан в нее, что не мог выбраться; to tuck in — заправить; подоткнуть одеяло; to fold — загибать, складывать; заворачивать). He, of course, made frantic struggles for freedom (он, конечно, вел яростную борьбу за свободу) — the birthright of every Englishman (право по рождению каждого англичанина), — and, in doing so (I learned this afterwards), knocked over George (и, борясь /я узнал об этом позже/, сбил с ног Джорджа); and then George, swearing at Harris, began to struggle too (и потом Джордж, ругая Гарриса, тоже начал бороться), and got himself entangled and rolled up (и завернулся и закатался сам /в парусину/; to entangle — запутывать, вовлекать).

I knew nothing about all this at the time (я ничего не знал обо всем этом в то время). I did not understand the business at all myself (я вообще не понимал, в чем дело). I had been told to stand where I was, and wait till the canvas came to me (мне сказали стоять на месте: «где я есть» и ждать, пока брезент не достигнет меня), and Montmorency and I stood there and waited, both as good as gold (и мы с Монморенси стояли там и ждали послушно: «оба послушные»; both as good as gold — очень хороший, добрый; послушный). We could see the canvas being violently jerked and tossed about, pretty considerably (мы видели, как брезент резко дергает и бросает из стороны в сторону весьма значительно); but we supposed this was part of the method, and did not interfere (но мы полагали, что это часть способа = что так и нужно, и не вмешивались).

effort ['eft] considerably [kn'sdrbl] interfere [,nt'f]

How he managed it I do not know, he could not explain himself; but by some mysterious process or other he succeeded, after ten minutes of superhuman effort, in getting himself completely rolled up in it. He was so firmly wrapped round and tucked in and folded over, that he could not get out. He, of course, made frantic struggles for freedom — the birthright of every Englishman, — and, in doing so (I learned this afterwards), knocked over George; and then George, swearing at Harris, began to struggle too, and got himself entangled and rolled up.

I knew nothing about all this at the time. I did not understand the business at all myself. I had been told to stand where I was, and wait till the canvas came to me, and Montmorency and I stood there and waited, both as good as gold. We could see the canvas being violently jerked and tossed about, pretty considerably; but we supposed this was part of the method, and did not interfere.