Английский язык с Э. Р. Берроузом. Принцесса Марса / Edgar Rice Burroughs: A Princess of Mars

A sense of delicious dreaminess overcame me, my muscles relaxed, and I was on the point of giving way to my desire to sleep when the sound of approaching horses reached my ears. I attempted to spring to my feet but was horrified to discover that my muscles refused to respond to my will. I was now thoroughly awake, but as unable to move a muscle as though turned to stone. It was then, for the first time, that I noticed a slight vapor filling the cave. It was extremely tenuous and only noticeable against the opening which led to daylight. There also came to my nostrils a faintly pungent odor, and I could only assume that I had been overcome by some poisonous gas, but why I should retain my mental faculties and yet be unable to move I could not fathom.

I lay facing the opening of the cave (я лежал лицом к выходу из пещеры) and where I could see the short stretch of trail (и там, где я мог видеть короткий участок тропы; stretch — участок, отрезок) which lay between the cave and the turn of the cliff around which the trail led (который находился между пещерой и поворотом утеса, вокруг которого вела эта тропа). The noise of the approaching horses had ceased (звук приближающихся лошадей прекратился; to cease — прекращать, останавливать), and I judged the Indians were creeping stealthily upon me (и я пришел к выводу, что индейцы осторожно крадутся ко мне; to judge — судить, делать вывод; stealthy — тайный, скрытый) along the little ledge which led to my living tomb (вдоль небольшого выступа, который вел к моей живой могиле). I remember that I hoped they would make short work of me (я помню, что я надеялся, что они быстро расправятся со мной; to make short work of smth. — быстро справиться, разделаться с чем-либо) as I did not particularly relish the thought of the innumerable things (так как меня не особенно радовала мысль о тех бесчисленных вещах; particularly — очень, в особенности; to relish smth. — получать удовольствие от чего-либо, наслаждаться чем-либо) they might do to me if the spirit prompted them (которые они могли совершить со мной, если так им подскажет их настроение; to prompt — побуждать; spirit — душа; натура; сущность).

particularly [pq'tIkjulqlI], innumerable [I'njHmrqbl], relish ['relIS]

I lay facing the opening of the cave and where I could see the short stretch of trail which lay between the cave and the turn of the cliff around which the trail led. The noise of the approaching horses had ceased, and I judged the Indians were creeping stealthily upon me along the little ledge which led to my living tomb. I remember that I hoped they would make short work of me as I did not particularly relish the thought of the innumerable things they might do to me if the spirit prompted them.