We had made the tea, and were just settling down comfortably to drink it (мы приготовили чай и усаживались удобно, чтобы выпить его), when George, with his cup half-way to his lips, paused and exclaimed (когда Джордж, /поднеся/ чашку на полпути к своим губам, остановился и воскликнул):

"What's that (что это)?"

"What's what (что)?" asked Harris and I.

"Why that (да вот это)!" said George, looking westward (сказал Джордж, глядя на запад).

Harris and I followed his gaze, and saw (мы с Гаррисом последовали за его взглядом и увидели), coming down towards us on the sluggish current, a dog (как к нам плыла в медленном/ленивом потоке собака). It was one of the quietest and peacefullest dogs I have ever seen (это была одна из самых спокойных и мирных собак, что я когда-либо видел). I never met a dog who seemed more contented — more easy in its mind (никогда не встречал собаки, которая казалась бы более довольной — более спокойной). It was floating dreamily on its back, with its four legs stuck up straight into the air (она плыла мечтательно на спине, вытянув в воздух /все/ четыре лапы; to stick up — ставить торчком, выставлять). It was what I should call a full-bodied dog, with a well-developed chest (это была, как бы я назвал, полная/основательная собака, с хорошо развитой грудной клеткой). On he came, serene, dignified, and calm, until he was abreast of our boat (она плыла, спокойная, величественная и мирная, пока не поравнялась с нашей лодкой; to be abreast of — быть наравне с кем-либо; идти в ногу), and there, among the rushes, he eased up (тут, среди камышей = в камышах, она замедлила ход), and settled down cosily for the evening (и устроилась уютно на /весь/ вечер).

paused [p:zd] serene [s'ri:n]

We had made the tea, and were just settling down comfortably to drink it, when George, with his cup half-way to his lips, paused and exclaimed:

"What's that?"

"What's what?" asked Harris and I.

"Why that!" said George, looking westward.

Harris and I followed his gaze, and saw, coming down towards us on the sluggish current, a dog. It was one of the quietest and peacefullest dogs I have ever seen. I never met a dog who seemed more contented — more easy in its mind. It was floating dreamily on its back, with its four legs stuck up straight into the air. It was what I should call a full-bodied dog, with a well-developed chest. On he came, serene, dignified, and calm, until he was abreast of our boat, and there, among the rushes, he eased up, and settled down cosily for the evening.

George said he didn't want any tea, and emptied his cup into the water (Джордж сказал, ему больше не хочется чаю, и вылил свою чашку в воду). Harris did not feel thirsty, either, and followed suit (Гаррис тоже не испытывал жажды и последовал его примеру). I had drunk half mine, but I wished I had not (я выпил половину своей /чашки/, но жалел, что сделал это: «желал, чтобы я этого не делал»).

I asked George if he thought I was likely to have typhoid (я спросил Джорджа, как он думает, возможно ли, что я подхвачу тиф).

He said: "Oh, no;" he thought I had a very good chance indeed of escaping it (полагает, у меня очень хороший шанс избежать его). Anyhow, I should know in about a fortnight, whether I had or had not (так или иначе, я узнаю примерно через две недели, есть он у меня или нет).