"His voice, sir. I knew his voice, which is kind o' thick and foggy. He tapped at the winder, — about three it would be. 'Show a leg, matey,' says he: 'time to turn out guard.' My old man woke up Jim, — that's my eldest, — and away they went, without so much as a word to me. I could hear the wooden leg clackin' on the stones."
"And was this wooden-legged man alone?"
"Couldn't say, I am sure, sir. I didn't hear no one else."
"I am sorry, Mrs. Smith, for I wanted a steam launch, and I have heard good reports of the —— Let me see, what is her name?"
"The Aurora, sir."
"Ah! She's not that old green launch with a yellow line, very broad in the beam (а! это не тот старый зеленый катер с желтой полосой и очень широкий; line — веревка, шнур; линия; черта; beam — луч; бимс; ширина судна)?"
"No, indeed (совсем нет). She's as trim a little thing as any on the river (очень изящненький катерок, не хуже любого другого на реке: «он такая же хорошенькая маленькая штучка, как любой другой на реке»; trim — аккуратный; элегантный). She's been fresh painted, black with two red streaks (его недавно покрасили в черный цвет с двумя красными полосами; fresh — свежий; fresh painted — свежепокрашенный)."
"Thanks (спасибо). I hope that you will hear soon from Mr. Smith (надеюсь, вы скоро получите весточку от мистера Смита). I am going down the river (я собираюсь вниз по реке); and if I should see anything of the Aurora I shall let him know that you are uneasy (и если я увижу «Аврору», я передам ему: «дам ему знать», что вы беспокоитесь; uneasy — неловкий; беспокойный, тревожный). A black funnel, you say (черная труба, вы сказали)?"
"No, sir (нет, сэр). Black with a white band (черная с белой полосой; band — тесьма, лента; полоса)."
"Ah, of course (а, конечно). It was the sides which were black (это бока черные). Good-morning, Mrs. Smith (до свидания, миссис Смит). — There is a boatman here with a wherry, Watson (вон лодка с лодочником, Ватсон; wherry — лодка, ялик). We shall take it and cross the river (мы возьмем ее и пересечем реку).
broad [brO:d], wherry ['werI]
"Ah! She's not that old green launch with a yellow line, very broad in the beam?"
"No, indeed. She's as trim a little thing as any on the river. She's been fresh painted, black with two red streaks."
"Thanks. I hope that you will hear soon from Mr. Smith. I am going down the river; and if I should see anything of the Aurora I shall let him know that you are uneasy. A black funnel, you say?"
"No, sir. Black with a white band."
"Ah, of course. It was the sides which were black. Good-morning, Mrs. Smith. — There is a boatman here with a wherry, Watson. We shall take it and cross the river.