Английский с А. Конан Дойлем. Пиратские истории / A. Conan Doyle. Tales of Pirates

The after sail-room next the cabin was transformed into a powder magazine (парусная комната на корме рядом с каютой была переделана в пороховой погреб; magazine – склад боеприпасов; артиллерийский погреб), and she carried as many round shot as a well-found privateer (а на самом судне имелось так же много ядер, как на хорошо снаряженном капере; to carry – носить, возить; иметь при себе, нести в себе). Water and provisions were shipped for a long voyage (пресной воды и провианта погрузили /в расчете/ на длительное путешествие).

But the preparation of his ship’s company was most surprising (но самым удивительным был подбор членов экипажа корабля; preparation – приготовление, подготовка; company – общество, компания; экипаж, команда /мор./). It made Freeman, the manager, realize (это заставило Фримэна, управляющего, поверить в то; to make /зд./ – заставлять, побуждать /кого-л. сделать что-л./) that there was truth in the rumour (что была /доля/ правды в слухах) that his master had taken leave of his senses (будто его хозяин тронулся рассудком; to take leave of one’s senses – сойти с ума). For, under one pretext or another (потому что под тем или иным предлогом), he began to dismiss the old and tried hands (он начал увольнять старых и испытанных матросов; to begin; to dismiss – отпускать, распускать; увольнять; hand – рука /кисть/; матрос), who had served the firm for years (которые служили фирме /многие/ годы), and in their place he embarked the scum of the port (а вместо них он собрал все портовые отбросы; to embark – садиться на /корабль, самолет/; scum – пена, накипь; отбросы, мусор) – men whose reputations were so vile (людей, чья репутация была столь ужасной) that the lowest crimp would have been ashamed to furnish them (что самый скверный вербовщик постыдился бы их нанять; to furnish – обставлять мебелью; предоставлять, поставлять).

 The after sail-room next the cabin was transformed into a powder magazine, and she carried as many round shot as a well-found privateer. Water and provisions were shipped for a long voyage.

But the preparation of his ship’s company was most surprising. It made Freeman, the manager, realise that there was truth in the rumour that his master had taken leave of his senses. For, under one pretext or another, he began to dismiss the old and tried hands, who had served the firm for years, and in their place he embarked the scum of the port – men whose reputations were so vile that the lowest crimp would have been ashamed to furnish them.