Английский язык с Конан Дойлем. Этюд в багровых тонах (ASCII-IPA)

bison [baIsn], nomad ['n@um&d], neigh [neI]

Had the wanderer remained awake for another half hour a strange sight would have met his eyes. Far away on the extreme verge of the alkali plain there rose up a little spray of dust, very slight at first, and hardly to be distinguished from the mists of the distance, but gradually growing higher and broader until it formed a solid, well-defined cloud. This cloud continued to increase in size until it became evident that it could only be raised by a great multitude of moving creatures. In more fertile spots the observer would have come to the conclusion that one of those great herds of bisons which graze upon the prairie land was approaching him. This was obviously impossible in these arid wilds. As the whirl of dust drew nearer to the solitary bluff upon which the two castaways were reposing, the canvas-covered tilts of waggons and the figures of armed horsemen began to show up through the haze, and the apparition revealed itself as being a great caravan upon its journey for the West. But what a caravan! When the head of it had reached the base of the mountains, the rear was not yet visible on the horizon. Right across the enormous plain stretched the straggling array, waggons and carts, men on horseback, and men on foot. Innumerable women who staggered along under burdens, and children who toddled beside the waggons or peeped out from under the white coverings. This was evidently no ordinary party of immigrants, but rather some nomad people who had been compelled from stress of circumstances to seek themselves a new country. There rose through the clear air a confused clattering and rumbling from this great mass of humanity, with the creaking of wheels and the neighing of horses. Loud as it was, it was not sufficient to rouse the two tired wayfarers above them.

At the head of the column there rode a score or more of grave ironfaced men (во главе колонны скакало около двадцати: «два десятка или больше» степенных всадников со стальными лицами; to ride — ездить верхом; grave — важный, степенный, серьезный; iron — железо; face — лицо; score — зарубка, метка; два десятка), clad in sombre homespun garments and armed with rifles (одетых в домотканую одежду мрачных тонов и вооруженных винтовками; to clothe — одевать; sombre — мрачный, темный; to spin — прясть, сучить /шерсть/). On reaching the base of the bluff they halted (добравшись до основания утеса, они остановились), and held a short council among themselves (и провели между собой короткое совещание).

"The wells are to the right, my brothers (колодцы направо, мои братья)," said one, a hard-lipped, clean-shaven man with grizzly hair (сказал один из них, седой чисто выбритый мужчина с тонкими губами; hard — жесткий, твердый; негибкий; lip — губа; grizzly — серый; с сильной проседью).

"To the right of the Sierra Blanco — so we shall reach the Rio Grande," said another (направо от Сьерра-Бланко — так мы доберемся до Рио-Гранде, — сказал другой).

"Fear not for water," cried a third (не опасайтесь за воду, — вскричал третий). "He who could draw it from the rocks will not now abandon His own chosen people (Тот, кто может извлечь ее из камня, не покинет Свой избранный народ; to choose)."

"Amen! Amen!" responded the whole party (аминь, аминь! — ответили все: «ответил весь отряд»; party — отряд, команда, группа).

column ['kOl@m], sombre ['sOmb@], halt [hO:lt]

At the head of the column there rode a score or more of grave ironfaced men, clad in sombre homespun garments and armed with rifles. On reaching the base of the bluff they halted, and held a short council among themselves.

"The wells are to the right, my brothers," said one, a hard-lipped, clean-shaven man with grizzly hair.

"To the right of the Sierra Blanco — so we shall reach the Rio Grande," said another.

"Fear not for water," cried a third. "He who could draw it from the rocks will not now abandon His own chosen people."

"Amen! Amen!" responded the whole party.