While Ferrier was absent, preparing his daughter for the approaching journey (пока Феррьер отсутствовал, подготавливая дочь к предстоящему путешествию), Jefferson Hope packed all the eatables that he could find into a small parcel (Джефферсон Хоуп упаковал все съедобное, что он смог найти, в небольшой пакет), and filled a stoneware jar with water (и наполнил керамический кувшин водой; stoneware — керамика, глиняная посуда), for he knew by experience that the mountain wells were few and far between (так как он знал по опыту, что в горах источников мало и от одного до другого далеко). He had hardly completed his arrangements (он едва завершил свои приготовления) before the farmer returned with his daughter all dressed and ready for a start (когда фермер вернулся со своей дочерью, полностью одетой и готовой отправиться в путь). The greeting between the lovers was warm, but brief (двое влюбленных поздоровались пылко, но торопливо; warm — горячий, сердечный), for minutes were precious, and there was much to be done (так как время было на вес золота: «минуты были драгоценны», а сделать еще надо было многое).
ravine [r@'vi:n], journey ['dZ@:nI], precious ['preS@s]
"What are we to do?"
"To-morrow is your last day, and unless you act to-night you are lost. I have a mule and two horses waiting in the Eagle Ravine. How much money have you?"
"Two thousand dollars in gold, and five in notes."
"That will do. I have as much more to add to it. We must push for Carson City through the mountains. You had best wake Lucy. It is as well that the servants do not sleep in the house."
While Ferrier was absent, preparing his daughter for the approaching journey, Jefferson Hope packed all the eatables that he could find into a small parcel, and filled a stoneware jar with water, for he knew by experience that the mountain wells were few and far between. He had hardly completed his arrangements before the farmer returned with his daughter all dressed and ready for a start. The greeting between the lovers was warm, but brief, for minutes were precious, and there was much to be done.
"We must make our start at once," said Jefferson Hope, speaking in a low but resolute voice (нам надо отправляться немедленно, — сказал Джефферсон Хоуп тихим, но решительным голосом), like one who realizes the greatness of the peril, but has steeled his heart to meet it (как человек, который осознает, насколько велика опасность, но полон решимости не отступать перед ней: «но закалил свое сердце, чтобы встретить ее»; to steel — закалять; придавать силу, решимость; steel — сталь). "The front and back entrances are watched (за парадным и черным входом следят), but with caution we may get away through the side window and across the fields (но, соблюдая осторожность, мы можем уйти через боковое окно и через поля). Once on the road we are only two miles from the Ravine (когда мы выйдем на дорогу, только две мили останется до ущелья) where the horses are waiting (где ждут лошади). By daybreak we should be half-way through the mountains (к рассвету мы должны проделать полпути через горы)."
"What if we are stopped (что, если нас остановят)," asked Ferrier.
Hope slapped the revolver butt which protruded from the front of his tunic (Хоуп хлопнул по рукоятке револьвера, которая торчала из-под его куртки; to protrude — высовываться, выдаваться). "If they are too many for us we shall take two or three of them with us," he said with a sinister smile (если их окажется слишком много для нас, мы заберем двоих или троих с собой, — сказал он со зловещей улыбкой).
caution ['kO:S(@)n], revolver [rI'vOlv@], sinister ['sInIst@]