Robinson Crusoe Written Anew for Children

The water covered me. But I held my breath and tried to swim.

The wave became smaller and weaker as it rolled farther and farther up the long

beach.

At last I could keep my head and shoulders above water. I could breathe again.

I felt the ground under my feet. I struck out with all my might for the dry land.

But now the water was rushing back from the shore. I feared lest I should be

carried out to sea again.

I swam, I ran. I held on to the rocks. Then another great wave came and lifted me

high upon the shore.

In another moment I was safe on dry land.

I was worn out with the hard struggle, I lay down upon the green grass. I looked

up at the sky and thanked God that I was alive and safe.

After I had rested a little while I arose and looked around me.

Far out from the shore I could see the ship. It was still lying where it had stuck in

the sand. The waves were dashing over it.

"How was it possible for me to swim so far?" I asked myself.

Then I began to think of the men that were with me. Had any of them been saved?

I walked along the shore for a mile or more. I looked in every spot for some signs

of my friends.

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www

. f ranklang . r u

20

In one place I found a hat; in another, a cap; And in still another, two shoes that

were not mates.

But of the men themselves I saw nothing. All were drowned in the deep sea.

I FIND A STRANGE LODGING PLACE (нахожу странное место обитания)

IT was now late in the afternoon (поздно днем). The sun was shining in the

bright sky (солнце светило в ярком небе). The storm was at an end (закончился).

I began to look around me (смотреть вокруг = осматриваться), to see what kind

of place I was in (чтобы увидеть в какого рода месте я был). "Where shall I go?" I

asked myself (спросил себя). "What shall I do (что я буду делать)?"

My clothes were still wet (одежда была все еще мокрой). I could dry them only

by sitting in the sun (мог высушить только сидя на солнце).

I had nothing to eat or drink (не имел ничего есть или пить).

I had nothing about me but a knife, a pipe, and a little tobacco (с собой у меня не

было ничего, кроме ножа, трубки и немного табака).

How could I live on this strange shore without shelter and without food (жить на

этом чужом берегу без укрытия и еды)?

The thought of this (мысль об этом) made me almost wild (сделал меня почти

диким = привела в ужас). I ran this way and that, like a madman (бегал туда и сюда,

как сумасшедший).

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www

. f ranklang . r u

21

Then I sat down and cried like a child (заплакал, как ребенок).

I never felt so lonely (никогда не чувствовал себя таким одиноким; to feel) as

at that moment (как в это мгновение). I never felt so helpless and lost (таким

беспомощным и потерянным).

Soon I saw (вскоре я увидел) that night was coming on (ночь наступала).

I thought: "What if there are wild beasts in the woods (что если есть дикие

чудовища в лесу)? They will come out in the darkness (выйдут в темноте) and find me

here (найдут меня здесь). And then how can I save myself from them (спастись)?"

A little way from the shore (недалеко от берега) I saw a tree (дерево). It stood

all alone (стояло совсем одно), with no other trees near it (около него).

It was thick and bushy (толстое и ветвистое: «густое»; bush — куст), with long

thorns on its branches (с длинными сучьями на ветках).

I walked out to look at it.

To my great joy (к моей большой радости) I found a spring of fresh water

(источник пресной воды) bubbling out from among its roots (булькающий наружу

между ее корней).

I knelt down (встал на колени) and took a long drink (взял = сделал длинный

глоток), for I was very thirsty (так как очень хотел пить; to be thirsty — хотеть

пить; thirst — жажда). Then I climbed up (взобрался наверх) into the tree.

The branches grew very close together (ветки росли очень близко вместе =

друг к другу). I found a place where I could rest (отдохнуть), half sitting and half lying

(полусидя — полулежа), with no danger of falling (без опасности падения = не

опасаясь упасть).

With my pocket knife (своим карманным ножом) I cut a strong stick about two

feet long (отрезал крепкую толстую палку примерно два фута длиной /фут — мера

длины, равная 30,48 см, составляет одну треть ярда/). This would be my weapon

(будет моим оружием) if any beast should find me in the night (если какое-то

чудовище найдет меня в ночи).

It was now quite dark (довольно темно). The only sound (единственным

звуком) that I could hear was that of the waves breaking against the shore (был звук

волн, разбивающихся о берег).

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www

. f ranklang . r u

22