"Has he been snatched up to heaven?" I queried.

"They'd hardly have taken the pie too," said George.

There seemed weight in this objection, and we discarded the heavenly theory.

"I suppose the truth of the matter is (думаю, истинность дела в том = все дело в том)," suggested George, descending to the commonplace and practicable (сказал Джордж, опускаясь к банальному и реально возможному = переходя к более мирской версии; practicable — возможный, реальный, осуществимый), "that there has been an earthquake (что произошло землетрясение)."

And then he added, with a touch of sadness in his voice (и потом он добавил, с оттенком печали в голосе): "I wish he hadn't been carving that pie (жаль, что он резал пирог /в то время/)."

With a sigh, we turned our eyes once more towards the spot where Harris and the pie had last been seen on earth (со вздохом мы снова обратили взоры к месту, где Гарриса и пирог видели в последний раз на земле); and there, as our blood froze in our veins and our hair stood up on end, we saw Harris's head (и тут кровь застыла у нас в жилах и волосы встали дыбом — мы увидели голову Гарриса; to freeze; to stand) — and nothing but his head — sticking bolt upright among the tall grass (и больше ничего, кроме его головы, торчавшей прямо среди высокой травы; bolt upright — прямо; как стрела), the face very red, and bearing upon it an expression of great indignation (лицо было очень красным и несло выражение сильного негодования = выражало сильное негодование)!

George was the first to recover (Джордж опомнился первым; to recover — вновь обретать; оправляться, приходить в себя).

"Speak (говори)!" he cried, "and tell us whether you are alive or dead (скажи нам, ты жив или мертв) — and where is the rest of you (и где остальная часть тебя)?"

descending [d'send] blood [bld] grass [r:s]

"I suppose the truth of the matter is," suggested George, descending to the commonplace and practicable, "that there has been an earthquake."

And then he added, with a touch of sadness in his voice: "I wish he hadn't been carving that pie."

With a sigh, we turned our eyes once more towards the spot where Harris and the pie had last been seen on earth; and there, as our blood froze in our veins and our hair stood up on end, we saw Harris's head — and nothing but his head — sticking bolt upright among the tall grass, the face very red, and bearing upon it an expression of great indignation!

George was the first to recover.

"Speak!" he cried, "and tell us whether you are alive or dead — and where is the rest of you?"

"Oh, don't be a stupid ass (не будь тупым ослом)!" said Harris's head (сказала голова Гарриса). "I believe you did it on purpose (полагаю, вы это сделали нарочно)."

"Did what (сделали что)?" exclaimed George and I (воскликнули мы с Джорджем).

"Why, put me to sit here — darn silly trick (да посадили меня сюда — чертовски глупая выходка; darn — заштопанное место; проклятый, ужасный)! Here, catch hold of the pie (вот, хватайте пирог)."

And out of the middle of the earth, as it seemed to us, rose the pie (и из середины земли, как нам показалось, поднялся пирог; to rise) — very much mixed up and damaged (очень помятый и поврежденный; to mix up — хорошо перемешать; спутать, перепутать); and, after it, scrambled Harris — tumbled, grubby, and wet (и за ним выкарабкался Гаррис — взъерошенный, грязный и мокрый).

"Oh, don't be a stupid ass!" said Harris's head. "I believe you did it on purpose."

"Did what?" exclaimed George and I.

" Why, put me to sit here — darn silly trick! Here, catch hold of the pie."

And out of the middle of the earth, as it seemed to us, rose the pie — very much mixed up and damaged; and, after it, scrambled Harris — tumbled, grubby, and wet.