We looked then, and saw that the nose of our boat had got fixed under the woodwork of the lock (тогда мы посмотрели и увидели, что нос нашей лодки застрял под деревянными частями = сваями шлюза), while the in-coming water was rising all around it, and tilting it up (а прибывающая вода поднималась /вокруг/ и наклоняла лодку; in-coming — поступающий, прибывающий; на подходе). In another moment we should be over (через минуту мы бы перевернулись). Quick as thought, we each seized an oar, and a vigorous blow against the side of the lock with the butt-ends (с быстротой молнии: «быстрые как мысль» мы схватили весло, и сильный удар по боковине шлюза рукоятью) released the boat, and sent us sprawling on our backs (освободил лодку, и мы полетели на спину; to send — посылать; to sprawl — растягивать/ся/, разваливаться; разбрасывать/ся/).

stentorian [sten't:rn] seized [si:zd]

Neither George nor I dared to turn round. The man's hand was on the cap, and the picture might be taken any moment. Was it us they were calling to? What was the matter with our noses? Why were they to be pushed out!

But now the whole lock started yelling, and a stentorian voice from the back shouted:

"Look at your boat, sir; you in the red and black caps. It's your two corpses that will get taken in that photo, if you ain't quick."

We looked then, and saw that the nose of our boat had got fixed under the woodwork of the lock, while the in-coming water was rising all around it, and tilting it up. In another moment we should be over. Quick as thought, we each seized an oar, and a vigorous blow against the side of the lock with the butt-ends released the boat, and sent us sprawling on our backs.

We did not come out well in that photograph, George and I (мы плохо получились на этой фотографии, Джордж и я). Of course, as was to be expected, our luck ordained it (конечно, как и следовало ожидать, наша удача так предопределила = так нам повезло), that the man should set his wretched machine in motion at the precise moment (что фотограф привел в действие свой несчастный аппарат в тот самый момент; to set in motion — приводить в действие, движение; запускать) that we were both lying on our backs with a wild expression of "Where am I? and what is it?" on our faces (когда мы оба лежали на спине с диким выражением «Где я?» и «Что такое?» на лицах = с растерянным и ошеломленным видом), and our four feet waving madly in the air (и неистово болтая /четырьмя/ ногами в воздухе; to wave — развеваться, качаться; размахивать).