Virtuous [`vq:Cuqs] island [`aIlqnd] ocean [`quS(q)n]

HARRIS and I began to think that Bell Weir lock must have been done away with after the same manner. George had towed us up to Staines, and we had taken the boat from there, and it seemed that we were dragging fifty tons after us, and were walking forty miles. It was half-past seven when we were through, and we all got in, and sculled up close to the left bank, looking out for a spot to haul up in.

We had originally intended to go on to Magna Charta Island (мы первоначально намеревались пристать к острову Великая Хартия Вольностей), a sweetly pretty part of the river, where it winds through a soft, green valley (к очаровательному месту: «части» реки, где она змеится по ровной зеленой долине; soft — мягкий, легкий; приятный; пологий, ровный), and to camp in one of the many picturesque inlets to be found round that tiny shore (и заночевать в одном из многочисленных живописных заливов, которые можно найти у того крошечного побережья; inlet — узкий морской залив; фьорд). But, somehow, we did not feel that we yearned for the picturesque nearly so much now as we had earlier in the day (но почему-то мы не ощущали, что теперь жаждем живописного так же сильно, как раньше днем = утром). A bit of water between a coal-barge and a gas-works (немного воды между угольной баржей и газовым заводом) would have quite satisfied us for that night (вполне бы удовлетворило нас в эту ночь). We did not want scenery (мы не хотели пейзажа). We wanted to have our supper and go to bed (мы хотели поужинать и лечь спать). However, we did pull up to the point — "Picnic Point," it is called (тем не менее, мы подгребли к мысу — он называется «Мыс Пикник»; point — точка, пункт; тонкий конец, выступающая часть: мыс, коса) — and dropped into a very pleasant nook under a great elm-tree (и зашли в очень приятную бухточку под большим вязом; to drop into — случайно зайти, заглянуть; nook — угол/ок/, бухточка), to the spreading roots of which we fastened the boat (к разросшимся корням которого мы привязали лодку).

Then we thought we were going to have supper (потом мы собирались поужинать) (we had dispensed with tea, so as to save time) (мы обходились без чая /до этого/, чтобы сэкономить время), but George said no (но Джордж сказал «нет»); that we had better get the canvas up first, before it got quite dark (что нам лучше сначала натянуть брезент, до того, как станет совсем темно), and while we could see what we were doing (и пока мы можем видеть, что делаем). Then, he said, all our work would be done (тогда, сказал он, вся работа будет сделана), and we could sit down to eat with an easy mind (и мы сможем приняться за еду с легким сердцем).

Inlet [`Inlet] picturesque [,pIkCq`resk] fastened [fRsnd]

We had originally intended to go on to Magna Charta Island, a sweetly pretty part of the river, where it winds through a soft, green valley, and to camp in one of the many picturesque inlets to be found round that tiny shore. But, somehow, we did not feel that we yearned for the picturesque nearly so much now as we had earlier in the day. A bit of water between a coal-barge and a gas-works would have quite satisfied us for that night. We did not want scenery. We wanted to have our supper and go to bed. However, we did pull up to the point — "Picnic Point," it is called — and dropped into a very pleasant nook under a great elm-tree, to the spreading roots of which we fastened the boat.

Then we thought we were going to have supper (we had dispensed with tea, so as to save time), but George said no; that we had better get the canvas up first, before it got quite dark, and while we could see what we were doing. Then, he said, all our work would be done, and we could sit down to eat with an easy mind.

That canvas wanted more putting up than I think any of us had bargained for (тот брезент требовал больше вывешивания, чем, думаю, любой из нас ожидал = натягивание брезента оказалось не таким простым, как мы думали; to put up — поднимать; вывешивать; to bargain — заключить сделку; договориться; рассчитывать). It looked so simple in the abstract (это казалось так просто теоретически). You took five iron arches, like gigantic croquet hoops (вы берете пять железных дуг, похожих на огромные крокетные воротца), and fitted them up over the boat (устанавливаете их вдоль всей лодки), and then stretched the canvas over them, and fastened it down (потом натягиваете брезент поверх = на них и привязываете его): it would take quite ten minutes, we thought (это займет минут десять, думали мы).

That was an under-estimate (это было недооценкой).

We took up the hoops, and began to drop them into the sockets placed for them (мы взяли дуги и начали вставлять их в расположенные для них гнезда; socket — впадина, гнездо, углубление). You would not imagine this to be dangerous work (кто бы мог предположить: «вы бы не представили», что это опасная работа); but, looking back now, the wonder to me is that any of us are alive to tell the tale (но, вспоминая теперь, удивление для меня = я удивляюсь тому, что все мы живы и /можем/ рассказать эту историю). They were not hoops, they were demons (это были не дуги, это были дьяволы; demon — демон, дьявол, сатана). First they would not fit into their sockets at all (сначала они не вставлялись в гнезда вообще), and we had to jump on them, and kick them (и нам пришлось прыгать по ним, бить их ногами), and hammer at them with the boat-hook (и стучать по ним багром); and, when they were in, it turned out (и, когда они вставились, я обнаружил) that they were the wrong hoops for those particular sockets, and they had to come out again (что они не те дуги для конкретных гнезд = вставлены не туда, и их пришлось вытащить снова; particular — особый; отдельный, одиночный, частный).

croquet [`krqukeI] demon [`dJmqn]

That canvas wanted more putting up than I think any of us had bargained for. It looked so simple in the abstract. You took five iron arches, like gigantic croquet hoops, and fitted them up over the boat, and then stretched the canvas over them, and fastened it down: it would take quite ten minutes, we thought.

That was an under-estimate.

We took up the hoops, and began to drop them into the sockets placed for them. You would not imagine this to be dangerous work; but, looking back now, the wonder to me is that any of us are alive to tell the tale. They were not hoops, they were demons. First they would not fit into their sockets at all, and we had to jump on them, and kick them, and hammer at them with the boat-hook; and, when they were in, it turned out that they were the wrong hoops for those particular sockets, and they had to come out again.

But they would not come out, until two of us had gone and struggled with them for five minutes (но они не вытаскивались до тех пор, пока двое из нас не сражались с ними пять минут), when they would jump up suddenly (после чего они выскакивали внезапно), and try and throw us into the water and drown us (и пытались сбросить нас в воду и утопить). They had hinges in the middle, and, when we were not looking (у них были шарниры посередине, и, когда мы не смотрели; hinge — петля, шарнир, крюк), they nipped us with these hinges in delicate parts of the body (они щипали нас этими шарнирами за нежные/чувствительные части тела); and, while we were wrestling with one side of the hoop (и, пока мы боролись с одной стороной дуги), and endeavouring to persuade it to do its duty (и пытались убедить ее выполнить свой долг), the other side would come behind us in a cowardly manner, and hit us over the head (другая сторона подходила к нам сзади трусливым образом = коварно и ударяла по голове).

We got them fixed at last, and then all that was to be done was to arrange the covering over them (мы закрепили их наконец, и теперь все, что оставалось сделать — расположить оболочку поверх них = натянуть на них брезент). George unrolled it, and fastened one end over the nose of the boat (Джордж развернул его и укрепил один конец на носу лодки). Harris stood in the middle to take it from George and roll it on to me (Гаррис встал посередине, чтобы взять его у Джорджа и бросить мне), and I kept by the stern to receive it (а я держался у кормы, чтобы поймать его; to receive — получать; принимать). It was a long time coming down to me (он долго доходил до меня). George did his part all right (Джордж сделал свое дело хорошо), but it was new work to Harris, and he bungled it (но это было новой работой для Гарриса, и он все испортил; to bungle — неумело работать; портить работу, испортить дело).

wrestling [`reslIN] endeavouring [In`devqrIN] persuade [pq`sweId]

But they would not come out, until two of us had gone and struggled with them for five minutes, when they would jump up suddenly, and try and throw us into the water and drown us. They had hinges in the middle, and, when we were not looking, they nipped us with these hinges in delicate parts of the body; and, while we were wrestling with one side of the hoop, and endeavouring to persuade it to do its duty, the other side would come behind us in a cowardly manner, and hit us over the head.

We got them fixed at last, and then all that was to be done was to arrange the covering over them. George unrolled it, and fastened one end over the nose of the boat. Harris stood in the middle to take it from George and roll it on to me, and I kept by the stern to receive it. It was a long time coming down to me. George did his part all right, but it was new work to Harris, and he bungled it.

How he managed it I do not know, he could not explain himself (как ему это удалось, я не знаю, он и сам не мог объяснить); but by some mysterious process or other he succeeded, after ten minutes of superhuman effort (но каким-то таинственным образом он сумел после десяти минут сверхчеловеческих усилий; process — процесс; прием, способ), in getting himself completely rolled up in it (полностью закататься в нее /в парусину/). He was so firmly wrapped round and tucked in and folded over, that he could not get out (он был так плотно завернут и закутан в нее, что не мог выбраться; to tuck in — заправить; подоткнуть одеяло; to fold — загибать, складывать; заворачивать). He, of course, made frantic struggles for freedom (он, конечно, вел яростную борьбу за свободу) — the birthright of every Englishman (право по рождению каждого англичанина), — and, in doing so (I learned this afterwards), knocked over George (и, борясь /я узнал об этом позже/, сбил с ног Джорджа); and then George, swearing at Harris, began to struggle too (и потом Джордж, ругая Гарриса, тоже начал бороться), and got himself entangled and rolled up (и завернулся и закатался сам /в парусину/; to entangle — запутывать, вовлекать).

I knew nothing about all this at the time (я ничего не знал обо всем этом в то время). I did not understand the business at all myself (я вообще не понимал, в чем дело). I had been told to stand where I was, and wait till the canvas came to me (мне сказали стоять на месте: «где я есть» и ждать, пока брезент не достигнет меня), and Montmorency and I stood there and waited, both as good as gold (и мы с Монморенси стояли там и ждали послушно: «оба послушные»; both as good as gold — очень хороший, добрый; послушный). We could see the canvas being violently jerked and tossed about, pretty considerably (мы видели, как брезент резко дергает и бросает из стороны в сторону весьма значительно); but we supposed this was part of the method, and did not interfere (но мы полагали, что это часть способа = что так и нужно, и не вмешивались).

effort [`efqt] considerably [kqn`sId(q)rqblI] interfere [,Intq`fIq]

How he managed it I do not know, he could not explain himself; but by some mysterious process or other he succeeded, after ten minutes of superhuman effort, in getting himself completely rolled up in it. He was so firmly wrapped round and tucked in and folded over, that he could not get out. He, of course, made frantic struggles for freedom — the birthright of every Englishman, — and, in doing so (I learned this afterwards), knocked over George; and then George, swearing at Harris, began to struggle too, and got himself entangled and rolled up.

I knew nothing about all this at the time. I did not understand the business at all myself. I had been told to stand where I was, and wait till the canvas came to me, and Montmorency and I stood there and waited, both as good as gold. We could see the canvas being violently jerked and tossed about, pretty considerably; but we supposed this was part of the method, and did not interfere.

We also heard much smothered language coming from underneath it (мы также слышали много приглушенных слов, исходивших = доносившихся из-под него; language — язык, речь), and we guessed that they were finding the job rather troublesome (мы поняли, что они находят эту работу довольно хлопотной/трудной = работа причиняет им неудобства; to guess — /от/гадать, догадаться; полагать, считать; troublesome — причиняющий беспокойство, трудный, хлопотливый), and concluded that we would wait until things had got a little simpler before we joined in (и решили, что подождем, пока вещи станут немного проще = пока все немного уляжется, прежде чем присоединиться /к ним/; to conclude — заключить, сделать вывод, решить).

We waited some time, but matters seemed to get only more and more involved (мы ждали некоторое время, но дело, казалось, только запутывалось все больше и больше; to get involved — вмешиваться, ввязываться), until, at last, George's head came wriggling out over the side of the boat, and spoke up (пока, наконец, голова Джорджа не вылезла, извиваясь, над бортом лодки, и не проговорила громко; to speak up — говорить громко и отчетливо; высказаться).

It said: "Give us a hand here, can't you, you cuckoo (помоги же нам: «дай нам руку», идиот; cuckoo — кукушка; разиня, глупец, ненормальный); standing there like a stuffed mummy, when you see we are both being suffocated, you dummy (стоишь там как набитая мумия, когда видишь, что мы оба задыхаемся, болван)!"

guessed [gest] wriggling [`rIglIN] cuckoo [`kukH]

We also heard much smothered language coming from underneath it, and we guessed that they were finding the job rather troublesome, and concluded that we would wait until things had got a little simpler before we joined in.

We waited some time, but matters seemed to get only more and more involved, until, at last, George's head came wriggling out over the side of the boat, and spoke up.

It said: "Give us a hand here, can't you, you cuckoo; standing there like a stuffed mummy, when you see we are both being suffocated, you dummy!"

I never could withstand an appeal for help, so I went and undid them (я никогда не мог устоять перед просьбой о помощи, поэтому я развязал их; to withstand — устоять, выдержать; не поддаваться; to undo); not before it was time, either, for Harris was nearly black in the face (и это было очень вовремя, так как Гаррис почти побагровел лицом; black in the face — побагровевший /от гнева, злости, усилий и т.д./).

It took us half an hour's hard labour, after that (это заняло у нас получасовой тяжелый труд = нам пришлось тяжело потрудиться полчаса после этого), before it was properly up, and then we cleared the decks, and got out supper (прежде, чем брезент был должным образом натянут, а потом мы очистили место в лодке и стали готовить ужин; to clear the decks: «очистить палубы» — приготовиться к действиям, к бою; to get out — выходить; доставать; готовить). We put the kettle on to boil, up in the nose of the boat (мы поставили чайник кипятиться на носу лодки), and went down to the stern and pretended to take no notice of it (пошли на корму и сделали вид, что не обращаем на него внимания), but set to work to get the other things out (и стали доставать остальные вещи; to set to — браться, приступать).

That is the only way to get a kettle to boil up the river (это единственный способ заставить чайник закипеть на реке). If it sees that you are waiting for it and are anxious, it will never even sing (если он видит, что вы ждете его с нетерпением: «сильно желаете», он никогда даже не запоет; to sing — петь; гудеть, свистеть). You have to go away and begin your meal, as if you were not going to have any tea at all (вам приходится отходить и начинать есть, словно вы не собираетесь вообще пить чай). You must not even look round at it (вы не должны даже оглядываться на него). Then you will soon hear it sputtering away, mad to be made into tea (тогда вы вскоре услышите, как он булькает, безумно /желающий/ быть заваренным в чай; to sputter — брызгать слюной; шипеть, трещать /об огне, жире и т.д./).

labour [`leIbq] stern [stq:n] pretended [prI`tendId]

I never could withstand an appeal for help, so I went and undid them; not before it was time, either, for Harris was nearly black in the face.

It took us half an hour's hard labour, after that, before it was properly up, and then we cleared the decks, and got out supper. We put the kettle on to boil, up in the nose of the boat, and went down to the stern and pretended to take no notice of it, but set to work to get the other things out.

That is the only way to get a kettle to boil up the river. If it sees that you are waiting for it and are anxious, it will never even sing. You have to go away and begin your meal, as if you were not going to have any tea at all. You must not even look round at it. Then you will soon hear it sputtering away, mad to be made into tea.

It is a good plan, too, if you are in a great hurry (также хороший план = хорошо, если вы очень торопитесь: «в большой спешке»), to talk very loudly to each other about how you don't need any tea, and are not going to have any (говорить очень громко друг другу о том, как вам не нужен чай, и что вы не собираетесь его пить). You get near the kettle, so that it can overhear you, and then you shout out (вы подходите к чайнику так, чтобы он мог вас услышать, а потом выкрикиваете; to overhear — подслушать; нечаянно услышать), "I don't want any tea; do you, George (я не хочу чая, а ты, Джордж)?" to which George shouts back (на что Джордж кричит в ответ), "Oh, no, I don't like tea; we'll have lemonade instead — tea's so indigestible (о нет, я не люблю чай; выпьем лимонаду вместо него — чай такой неудобоваримый)." Upon which the kettle boils over, and puts the stove out (после чего чайник перекипает и заливает спиртовку; to put out — выдвигать, высовывать; тушить, гасить).

We adopted this harmless bit of trickery, and the result was that (мы применили эту безобидную хитрость, и результатом было то; to adopt — усыновлять, удочерять; принимать, внедрять; trickery — надувательство, обман, проделка), by the time everything else was ready, the tea was waiting (что ко времени, когда все остальное было готово, чай /уже/ ждал). Then we lit the lantern, and squatted down to supper (тогда мы зажгли фонарь и сели за ужин; to light; to squat — сидеть на корточках, садиться на корточки).

We wanted that supper (нам был необходим этот ужин).