But it was too late
(но было слишком поздно). Relying upon the manacles (понадеявшись на «ручные» кандалы; to rely – полагаться; надеяться), the quartermaster had taken his hands for a moment off Craddock’s arm (интендант на мгновение выпустил руку Крэддока из своих; to take off – снимать, отпускать). In that instant he had flung off the carpenter (в тот же миг тот отшвырнул плотника; to fling) and, amid a spatter of pistol bullets (и под градом пистолетных пуль; amid – между, среди; spatter – брызганье, обрызгивание; капелька /грязи, дождя/), had sprung the bulwarks and was swimming for his life (перепрыгнул через фальшборт и поплыл изо всех сил: «ради своей жизни»; to spring). He had been hit and hit again (в него попали, еще и еще раз), but it takes many pistols to kill a resolute and powerful man (но нужно много пистолетных /пуль/, чтобы убить решительного и сильного человека) who has his mind set upon doing something before he dies (который задумал что-что сделать, прежде чем умрет; to set one’s mind upon – сосредоточить помыслы на).
But it was too late. Relying upon the manacles, the quartermaster had taken his hands for a moment off Craddock’s arm. In that instant he had flung off the carpenter and, amid a spatter of pistol bullets, had sprung the bulwarks and was swimming for his life. He had been hit and hit again, but it takes many pistols to kill a resolute and powerful man who has his mind set upon doing something before he dies.
He was a strong swimmer
(он был хорошим: «сильным» пловцом), and, in spite of the red trail which he left in the water behind him (и несмотря на красный след, который он оставлял на воде позади; to leave), he was rapidly increasing his distance from the pirate (он быстро увеличивал расстояние между собой и пиратским /барком/).“Give me a musket!” cried Sharkey, with a savage oath
(дайте мне мушкет! – закричал Шарки, изрыгая проклятия; savage – дикий; свирепый; oath – клятва, присяга; ругательство).He was a famous shot
(он был знаменитым стрелком; shot – выстрел; стрелок), and his iron nerves never failed him in an emergency (и его железные нервы никогда не подводили его в экстренных случаях). The dark head appearing on the crest of a roller (темная голова, то появлявшаяся на гребне буруна; roller – цилиндр, ролик; бурун, волна), and then swooping down on the other side (то снова устремлявшаяся вниз с другой его стороны), was already half-way to the sloop (находилась уже на полпути к шлюпу).
He was a strong swimmer, and, in spite of the red trail which he left in the water behind him, he was rapidly increasing his distance from the pirate.
“Give me a musket!” cried Sharkey, with a savage oath.
He was a famous shot, and his iron nerves never failed him in an emergency. The dark head appearing on the crest of a roller, and then swooping down on the other side, was already half-way to the sloop.