Английский язык с Робинзоном Крузо/Robinson Crusoe Written Anew for Children

I now counted eleven men, and all but three were armed with swords. As soon as

the boat touched the land, the most of them jumped out.

Then I saw that the three unarmed men were prisoners. Their hands were tied

behind them and they were closely guarded.

As they were led on shore, they seemed in great distress as though begging for

their lives.

When Friday saw all this, he cried out to me, "O master! the white mans do just

like savage mans with their prisoners."

"Why, Friday," I said, "do you think they are going to eat them?"

"Yes, yes," he answered, "they are going to eat them."

The prisoners were led far up on the beach, and I expected every moment to see

them killed.

But soon their guards seemed to change their minds. They talked together for a

little while. Then they untied the prisoners' hands and let them go where they pleased.

The seamen scattered, some going this way, some that, as though they wished to

see the country. But the men who had been prisoners sat down on the ground and seemed

very sad and full of despair.

I thought then of the time when I had first landed on that shore — how I had no

hope, and how I gave myself up for lost.

As I have said, the tide was at its highest when the men came on shore. They

rambled around till it had flowed out and left their boat high and dry on the sand.

They had left two men with the boat to guard it. But the weather being very

warm, these men had fallen asleep.

When one of them awoke and found the water far out from the boat, he began to

hello for help. All the men came running and tried to drag the boat out to the water.

But it was so heavy they could not move it. They tugged and pulled for a long

time. Then I heard one of them shout: "Let her alone, boys! She'll float all right when the

next tide comes up.

With that they gave it up and all strolled out into the country again.

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I MAKE A BOLD RESCUE (отважное спасение)

I KNEW that the tide would not be at its highest again before night (что прилив

не будет на своем самом высоком /уровне/ до ночи). So I thought that I would arm

myself (вооружусь), and, as soon as it was dark (как только станет темно), would

venture out (решусь сделать вылазку) and learn more about my strange visitors if I

could (и выясню больше о моих странных гостях, если смогу).

I looked at my guns and got everything ready (подготовил все), and then sat

down to wait.

The day, as I have said, was very hot. The three men who had been prisoners still

sat under a tree by the shore (все еще сидели под деревом на берегу). But all the rest

were in the woods. No doubt they would rest in some shady place (в тенистом месте)

until the sun went down.

At about two o'clock I became so uneasy (беспокойным) that I could wait no

longer (не мог больше ждать).

"Friday," I said, "let us go out and see what we can do (давай выйдем и

посмотрим, что мы можем сделать)."

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You should have seen us as we marched out of the castle (вам следовало бы

видеть нас, как мы маршировали из замка).

I had two guns on my shoulders (плечах) and Friday had three (и Пятница нес

три). I had on my goatskin coat and my great hat that I have told you about. At my side

was a naked sword (обнаженная шпага), and in my belt were two huge pistols (два

огромных пистолета).

I must have looked very fierce (свирепым).

We went quietly down the hill, keeping ourselves hidden among the trees

(скрываясь: «держа нас скрытыми» за деревьями). At last, when we were quite near

the three men, I jumped suddenly out before them and cried (выпрыгнул вдруг перед

ними и выкрикнул), "What are you, gentlemen?"

Never were men more surprised (никогда люди не бывали удивлены больше).

They sprang to their feet (вскочили на ноги), but they could not speak a word. In

fact, they were on the point of running away from me when I cried (были готовы

убежать от меня, когда я крикнул): "Hold (стойте), gentlemen! Do not be afraid. I am

a friend. I bring help (я несу помощь)."

"Then, indeed," said one of them, "you must have been sent from heaven

(должно быть, посланы с небес); for our case is hopeless (ибо наша участь

безнадежна)."

"All help is from heaven, sir," I said; and then I briefly (кратко) told them how I

had seen them brought to the shore.

"I am an Englishman," I said, "and I stand ready to help you. I have one servant

(слугу), and we are well armed. Tell us what is your case (в чем ваше дело = что

случилось; case — случай, обстоятельство, дело, положение), and how we may

serve you (чем: «как» мы можем служить вам)."

"Our case," said the foremost of the three men (передний/главный из трех