Текст книги "Английский с Джеком Лондоном. Любовь к жизни / Jack London. Love of Live"

He looked into every pool of water vainly (он тщетно заглядывал в каждую лужу воды), until, as the long twilight came on (пока с приближением долгих сумерек; to come on – наступать, приближаться /о времени дня или года/), he discovered a solitary fish (он не обнаружил одинокую рыбку), the size of a minnow, in such a pool (размером с гольяна, в такой луже). He plunged his arm in up to the shoulder (он погрузил руку до плеча; to plunge in – погружать/ся/, окунать/ся/), but it eluded him (но она ускользнула от него; to elude – избежать, спастись; избавиться; выскользнуть). He reached for it with both hands (он потянулся за ней обеими руками; to reach for – тянуться за) and stirred up the milky mud at the bottom (и взбаламутил мутный ил на дне; to stir up – хорошенько размешивать, взбалтывать; трясти; сотрясать; вспенивать). In his excitement he fell in (в возбуждении он упал в /воду/; to fall in – падать в /что-либо/), wetting himself to the waist (промокнув: «намочив себя» до пояса; to wet – промокнуть, вымокнуть). Then the water was too muddy to admit of his seeing the fish (потом вода стала слишком мутной, чтобы позволить ему видеть рыбу), and he was compelled to wait until the sediment had settled (и он был вынужден подождать, пока не уляжется осадок; to settle – отстаиваться, оседать; to compel – заставлять, вынуждать).

search [sǝ:ʧ], exist [ɪɡ’zɪst], compel [kǝm’pel]

He was very weary and often wished to rest – to lie down and sleep; but he was continually driven on – not so much by his desire to gain the land of little sticks as by his hunger. He searched little ponds for frogs and dug up the earth with his nails for worms, though he knew in spite that neither frogs nor worms existed so far north.

He looked into every pool of water vainly, until, as the long twilight came on, he discovered a solitary fish, the size of a minnow, in such a pool. He plunged his arm in up to the shoulder, but it eluded him. He reached for it with both hands and stirred up the milky mud at the bottom. In his excitement he fell in, wetting himself to the waist. Then the water was too muddy to admit of his seeing the fish, and he was compelled to wait until the sediment had settled.

The pursuit was renewed (преследование было возобновлено = возобновилось), till the water was again muddied (пока вода снова не замутилась; mud – грязь, слякоть; ил, тина; muddy – грязный). But he could not wait (но он не мог ждать). He unstrapped the tin bucket and began to bale the pool (он отвязал оловянное ведро и начал вычерпывать лужу). He baled wildly at first (сначала он вычерпывал исступленно; wild – дикий), splashing himself and flinging the water so short a distance (забрызгивая себя и выплескивая воду на таком близком расстоянии) that it ran back into the pool (что она стекала обратно в лужу). He worked more carefully (он заработал более осторожно), striving to be cool (стремясь сохранять хладнокровие; cool – прохладный; невозмутимый, хладнокровный; неторопливый, спокойный /о человеке и его действиях/), though his heart was pounding against his chest and his hands were trembling (хотя его сердце сильно билось в груди, а руки дрожали). At the end of half an hour the pool was nearly dry (в конце = по истечении получаса лужа была почти сухой). Not a cupful of water remained (не осталось и чашки воды). And there was no fish (но не было и рыбы). He found a hidden crevice among the stones (он нашел скрытую расщелину среди камней) through which it had escaped to the adjoining and larger pool (через которую она ускользнула в прилегающую и бóльшую заводь; to escape – бежать, совершать побег; ускользать, избегать) – a pool which he could not empty in a night and a day (заводь, которую он не смог бы осушить за сутки: «за ночь и день»). Had he known of the crevice (если бы он знал об этой расщелине), he could have closed it with a rock at the beginning (он мог бы перекрыть ее камнем в /самом/ начале) and the fish would have been his (и рыба была бы его = и рыба досталась бы ему).

pursuit [pǝ’sju:t], crevice [‘krevɪs], night [naɪt]

The pursuit was renewed, till the water was again muddied. But he could not wait. He unstrapped the tin bucket and began to bale the pool. He baled wildly at first, splashing himself and flinging the water so short a distance that it ran back into the pool. He worked more carefully, striving to be cool, though his heart was pounding against his chest and his hands were trembling. At the end of half an hour the pool was nearly dry. Not a cupful of water remained. And there was no fish. He found a hidden crevice among the stones through which it had escaped to the adjoining and larger pool – a pool which he could not empty in a night and a day. Had he known of the crevice, he could have closed it with a rock at the beginning and the fish would have been his.

Thus he thought (так он подумал), and crumpled up and sank down upon the wet earth (/и/ упал духом и опустился на сырую землю; to crumple up – приходить в уныние, падать духом; to crumple = to crumple up – комкать, мять; приводить в беспорядок). At first he cried softly to himself (сначала он заплакал тихонько про себя), then he cried loudly to the pitiless desolation that ringed him around (затем он зарыдал в голос перед безжалостной пустыней, которая окружала его; to ring around – опоясать, окружать кольцом); and for a long time after he was shaken by great dry sobs (и долгое время после этого его сотрясали долгие сухие рыдания = долгие рыдания без слез: «он был сотрясаем…»; to shake – трясти, сотрясать).

He built a fire and warmed himself by drinking quarts of hot water (он развел костер и грелся, выпивая = поглощая кварты горячей воды; quart – кварта /единица измерения объема жидкости; равняется 1/4 галлона = 2 пинтам = 1,14 л в Англии; 0,95 л в Америке/), and made camp on a rocky ledge in the same fashion he had the night before (и устроил лагерь на скалистом выступе точно так же: «в такой же манере», как и предыдущей ночью; to make a camp – раскинуть лагерь). The last thing he did was to see that his matches were dry and to wind his watch (последним, что он сделал = напоследок он выяснил, что его спички сухие, и завел часы). The blankets were wet and clammy (одеяла были сырые и холодные; clammy – холодный и влажный на ощупь). His ankle pulsed with pain (его лодыжка пульсировала от боли). But he knew only that he was hungry (но он осознавал лишь, что он голоден), and through his restless sleep he dreamed of feasts and banquets (и на всем протяжении беспокойного сна ему снились пиршества и банкеты) and of food served and spread in all imaginable ways (и еда, которую подавали и раскладывали всеми вообразимыми способами; to serve – накрывать на стол, подавать; to spread – развертывать/ся/; расстилать/ся/; разносить/ся/, распространять/ся/; to imagine – воображать, представлять себе).

earth [ǝ:θ], quart [kwɔ:t], banquet [‘bæŋkwɪt], imaginable [ɪ’mæʤɪnǝbl]

Thus he thought, and crumpled up and sank down upon the wet earth. At first he cried softly to himself, then he cried loudly to the pitiless desolation that ringed him around; and for a long time after he was shaken by great dry sobs.

He built a fire and warmed himself by drinking quarts of hot water, and made camp on a rocky ledge in the same fashion he had the night before. The last thing he did was to see that his matches were dry and to wind his watch. The blankets were wet and clammy. His ankle pulsed with pain. But he knew only that he was hungry, and through his restless sleep he dreamed of feasts and banquets and of food served and spread in all imaginable ways.

He awoke chilled and sick (он проснулся продрогший и больной). There was no sun (солнца не было). The gray of earth and sky had become deeper, more profound (серый цвет земли и неба стал темнее: «глубже», более насыщенным). A raw wind was blowing (дул промозглый ветер), and the first flurries of snow were whitening the hilltops (и первые снегопады покрывали белым вершины холмов; flurry – налетевший ливень или снегопад; to whiten – белить). The air about him thickened and grew white (воздух вокруг него сгустился и побелел) while he made a fire and boiled more water (пока он разводил костер и кипятил еще воду). It was wet snow (это был мокрый снег), half rain (наполовину дождь), and the flakes were large and soggy (и хлопья были крупными и мокрыми). At first they melted as soon as they came in contact with the earth (сначала они таяли, как только соприкасались с землей; to come in contact with – соприкоснуться с), but ever more fell (но /их/ падало все больше), covering the ground (/и они/ покрыли землю), putting out the fire (/и при этом/ затушили костер), spoiling his supply of moss-fuel (испортили его запас топлива из мха).

profound [prǝ’faʋnd], raw [rɔ:], half [hɑ:f]

He awoke chilled and sick. There was no sun. The gray of earth and sky had become deeper, more profound. A raw wind was blowing, and the first flurries of snow were whitening the hilltops. The air about him thickened and grew white while he made a fire and boiled more water. It was wet snow, half rain, and the flakes were large and soggy. At first they melted as soon as they came in contact with the earth, but ever more fell, covering the ground, putting out the fire, spoiling his supply of moss-fuel.

This was a signal for him to strap on his pack and stumble onward (это был сигнал для него надевать тюк и ковылять дальше), he knew not where (он не знал куда). He was not concerned with the land of little sticks (его не интересовала ни земля «прутиков»; concerned – заинтересованный; увлеченный; озабоченный, беспокоящийся), nor with Bill and the cache under the upturned canoe by the river Dease (ни Билл и тайник под перевернутым каноэ у реки Диз). He was mastered by the verb “to eat (он был управляем глаголом «есть»; to master – овладевать; руководить, управлять).” He was hunger-mad (он обезумел от голода). He took no heed of the course he pursued (он не обращал внимания на курс, которым он следовал; to take no heed of – не обращать внимания на), so long as that course led him through the swale bottoms (при условии, что этот курс вел его через болотистые низины). He felt his way through the wet snow to the watery muskeg berries (он пробирался ощупью сквозь мокрый снег к водянистым болотным ягодам), and went by feel as he pulled up the rush-grass by the roots (и шел наощупь, вырывая тростниковую траву за корешки). But it was tasteless stuff and did not satisfy (но она была безвкусной дрянью и не утоляла голод; to satisfy – удовлетворять; радовать, доставлять удовлетворение; утолять /голод, любопытство и т. п./; taste – вкус; stuff – материя /особ. шерстяная/, ткань; материал, вещество; дрянь, хлам, чепуха). He found a weed that tasted sour (он нашел водоросль, которая была кислой на вкус; to taste – иметь вкус, привкус) and he ate all he could find of it (и он съел ее всю, что смог найти), which was not much (чего = а ее было немного), for it was a creeping growth (ибо это было вьющееся растение; growth – плод, продукт; урожай; нарост; предмет выращивания; растительный покров), easily hidden under the several inches of snow (легко прячущееся под несколькими дюймами снега; hidden – спрятанный; to hide – прятать).

concerned [kǝn’sǝ:nd], course [kɔ:s], taste [teɪst], sour [‘saʋǝ]

This was a signal for him to strap on his pack and stumble onward, he knew not where. He was not concerned with the land of little sticks, nor with Bill and the cache under the upturned canoe by the river Dease. He was mastered by the verb “to eat.” He was hunger-mad. He took no heed of the course he pursued, so long as that course led him through the swale bottoms. He felt his way through the wet snow to the watery muskeg berries, and went by feel as he pulled up the rush-grass by the roots. But it was tasteless stuff and did not satisfy. He found a weed that tasted sour and he ate all he could find of it, which was not much, for it was a creeping growth, easily hidden under the several inches of snow.

He had no fire that night (в ту ночь у него не было ни костра), nor hot water (ни горячей воды), and crawled under his blanket to sleep the broken hunger-sleep (и [он] заполз под одеяло, чтобы поспать сном, прерываемым голодом: «ломаный сон голода»). The snow turned into a cold rain (снег превратился в холодный дождь). He awakened many times to feel it falling on his upturned face (он просыпался много раз, чтобы ощутить, как он падает на его повернутое вверх лицо). Day came (наступил день) – a gray day and no sun (серый день и без солнца). It had ceased raining (дождь перестал: «перестало дождить»). The keenness of his hunger had departed (острота голода ушла; keen – острый /в физическом смысле: с острым лезвием, концом, краем и т. д./: keen sword – острый меч; увлеченный, увлекающийся; сильно желающий /чего-либо/, стремящийся /к чему-либо/). Sensibility, as far as concerned the yearning for food, had been exhausted (исчерпалась чувствительность, насколько это касалось сильного желания пищи = поесть; to exhaust – исчерпывать, израсходовать, использовать полностью; to yearn – 1. томиться, тосковать /for, after – по ком-либо, чем-либо/; 2. жаждать, стремиться /for, to – к чему-либо/). There was a dull, heavy ache in his stomach (в желудке была тупая, интенсивная: «тяжелая» боль), but it did not bother him so much (но она не тревожила его так сильно). He was more rational (он стал более рациональным), and once more he was chiefly interested in the land of little sticks and the cache by the river Dease (и снова его главным образом интересовала земля «прутиков» и тайник у реки Диз).

yearning [‘jǝ:nɪŋ], exhaust [ɪɡ’zɔ:st], chiefly [‘ʧi:flɪ]

He had no fire that night, nor hot water, and crawled under his blanket to sleep the broken hunger-sleep. The snow turned into a cold rain. He awakened many times to feel it falling on his upturned face. Day came – a gray day and no sun. It had ceased raining. The keenness of his hunger had departed. Sensibility, as far as concerned the yearning for food, had been exhausted. There was a dull, heavy ache in his stomach, but it did not bother him so much. He was more rational, and once more he was chiefly interested in the land of little sticks and the cache by the river Dease.

He ripped the remnant of one of his blankets into strips and bound his bleeding feet (он разрезал остатки одного из одеял на полоски и перевязал кровоточащие ступни; to bind – перевязывать, делать перевязку; to rip – разрезать, распарывать, рвать /одним быстрым движением/). Also, he recinched the injured ankle and prepared himself for a day of travel (он также снова перетянул поврежденную лодыжку и приготовился ко дню движения; to cinch – подтягивать подпругу). When he came to his pack (когда он подошел к тюку), he paused long over the squat moose-hide sack (он остановился надолго над коротким и толстым мешочком из лосиной шкуры), but in the end it went with him (но в конце концов он = мешочек отправился с ним).

The snow had melted under the rain (снег /уже/ растаял под дождем), and only the hilltops showed white (и лишь вершины холмов представали белыми; to show – показывать себя; быть видным; появляться; казаться). The sun came out (вышло солнце), and he succeeded in locating the points of the compass (и ему удалось определить румбы компаса), though he knew now that he was lost (хотя теперь он знал, что заблудился). Perhaps, in his previous days’ wanderings (возможно, в блужданиях предыдущих дней), he had edged away too far to the left (он незаметно отошел слишком далеко влево; edge – кромка, край; грань, граница; to edge – продвигаться незаметно, протираться, проползать, пролезать; to edge away – отходить осторожно, бочком). He now bore off to the right to counteract the possible deviation from his true course (теперь он отклонился вправо, чтобы нейтрализовать возможное отклонение от истинного курса; to bear off – отклоняться).

bound [baʋnd], previous [‘pri:vɪǝs], deviation [,di:vɪ’eɪʃn]

He ripped the remnant of one of his blankets into strips and bound his bleeding feet. Also, he recinched the injured ankle and prepared himself for a day of travel. When he came to his pack, he paused long over the squat moose-hide sack, but in the end it went with him.

The snow had melted under the rain, and only the hilltops showed white. The sun came out, and he succeeded in locating the points of the compass, though he knew now that he was lost. Perhaps, in his previous days’ wanderings, he had edged away too far to the left. He now bore off to the right to counteract the possible deviation from his true course.

Though the hunger pangs were no longer so exquisite (хотя муки голода больше не были такими сильными; exquisite – изысканный, изящный, тонкий: exquisite taste – тонкий вкус; сильный, острый, резкий /о чувствах, ощущениях и т. д./), he realized that he was weak (он понял, что ослабел: «был слаб»). He was compelled to pause for frequent rests (он был вынужден останавливаться для частого отдыха: «для частых передышек/привалов»), when he attacked the muskeg berries and rush-grass patches (когда он набрасывался на болотные ягоды и участки с тростником; patch – клочок, лоскут, обрывок; заплата; небольшой участок земли). His tongue felt dry and large (его язык казался сухим и большим; to feel – чувствовать/ся/), as though covered with a fine hairy growth (словно покрытый мелкой ворсистой порослью), and it tasted bitter in his mouth (а во рту был привкус горечи). His heart gave him a great deal of trouble (его сердце причиняло ему большое беспокойство; to give trouble – причинять беспокойство). When he had travelled a few minutes it would begin a remorseless thump, thump, thump (когда он шел несколько минут = по прошествии нескольких минут ходьбы, оно начинало беспощадно биться с глухим шумом: бух-бух-бух; thump – тяжелый удар /кулаком, дубинкой/; глухой звук /удара/; глухой шум; to thump – ударяться; биться с глухим шумом), and then leap up and away in a painful flutter of beats (а потом сильно билось и уносилось в болезненном трепете ударов; to leap up – сильно биться, колотиться, прыгать в груди; to flutter – махать или бить крыльями; перепархивать; трепетать; биться неровно /о сердце/) that choked him and made him go faint and dizzy (который сдавливал ему горло и делал так, что у него возникали слабость и головокружение).

exquisite [‘ekskwɪzɪt], frequent [‘fri:kwǝnt], trouble [trʌbl]

Though the hunger pangs were no longer so exquisite, he realized that he was weak. He was compelled to pause for frequent rests, when he attacked the muskeg berries and rush-grass patches. His tongue felt dry and large, as though covered with a fine hairy growth, and it tasted bitter in his mouth. His heart gave him a great deal of trouble. When he had travelled a few minutes it would begin a remorseless thump, thump, thump, and then leap up and away in a painful flutter of beats that choked him and made him go faint and dizzy.

In the middle of the day he found two minnows in a large pool (в середине дня он нашел двух гольянов в большой заводи). It was impossible to bale it (ее невозможно было вычерпать), but he was calmer now and managed to catch them in his tin bucket (но он был спокойнее теперь, и ему удалось поймать их в оловянное ведро). They were no longer than his little finger (они были не длиннее его мизинца), but he was not particularly hungry (но он был не особенно голоден). The dull ache in his stomach had been growing duller and fainter (тупая боль в желудке становилась тупее и слабее). It seemed almost that his stomach was dozing (почти казалось, что его желудок дремлет; to doze – дремать). He ate the fish raw (он съел рыбу сырой), masticating with painstaking care (жуя с усердной тщательностью; painstaking – кропотливый, скрупулезный, тщательный; to take pains – прилагать усилия: «брать боли»; pain – боль; pains – боли; старания, труды; усилия), for the eating was an act of pure reason (ибо еда была действием чисто здравого смысла; reason – благоразумие, здравомыслие; здравый смысл). While he had no desire to eat (несмотря на то, что у него не было желания есть), he knew that he must eat to live (он понимал, что должен есть, чтобы выжить).

manage [‘mænɪʤ], almost [‘ɔ:lmǝʋst], care [keǝ]

In the middle of the day he found two minnows in a large pool. It was impossible to bale it, but he was calmer now and managed to catch them in his tin bucket. They were no longer than his little finger, but he was not particularly hungry. The dull ache in his stomach had been growing duller and fainter. It seemed almost that his stomach was dozing. He ate the fish raw, masticating with painstaking care, for the eating was an act of pure reason. While he had no desire to eat, he knew that he must eat to live.

In the evening he caught three more minnows (вечером он поймал еще трех гольянов), eating two and saving the third for breakfast (съел двух и отложил третьего на завтрак; to save – спасать; припасать, откладывать, копить). The sun had dried stray shreds of moss (солнце высушило отдельные клочки мха), and he was able to warm himself with hot water (и он смог согреться горячей водой = кипятком). He had not covered more than ten miles that day (в тот день он прошел не больше десяти миль; to cover – покрывать; преодолевать, проходить /какое-либо расстояние/); and the next day, travelling whenever his heart permitted him (а на следующий день, идя все то время, когда только ему позволяло его сердце; whenever – всякий раз когда; когда бы ни), he covered no more than five miles (он прошел не более пяти миль). But his stomach did not give him the slightest uneasiness (но его желудок не доставлял ему ни малейшего беспокойства; uneasiness – неудобство, беспокойство; easy – удобный; легкий, не вызывающий неприятных ощущений). It had gone to sleep (он /желудок/ заснул). He was in a strange country, too (к тому же он оказался в незнакомой местности), and the caribou were growing more plentiful (и карибу становились более изобильными = и карибу становилось больше; plentiful – изобилующий, изобильный, обильный), also the wolves (и волков тоже). Often their yelps drifted across the desolation (часто их вой проносился через пустошь; yelp – визг, повизгивание; лай), and once he saw three of them slinking away before his path (а однажды он увидел, как трое их прокрались перед его тропинкой; to slink away – красться, идти крадучись).

breakfast [‘brekfǝst], slight [slaɪt], wolves [wʋlvz]

In the evening he caught three more minnows, eating two and saving the third for breakfast. The sun had dried stray shreds of moss, and he was able to warm himself with hot water. He had not covered more than ten miles that day; and the next day, travelling whenever his heart permitted him, he covered no more than five miles. But his stomach did not give him the slightest uneasiness. It had gone to sleep. He was in a strange country, too, and the caribou were growing more plentiful, also the wolves. Often their yelps drifted across the desolation, and once he saw three of them slinking away before his path.

Another night (еще одна ночь); and in the morning, being more rational (а утром, будучи более разумным), he untied the leather string that fastened the squat moose-hide sack (он развязал кожаный ремешок, который завязывал короткий и толстый мешочек из лосиной кожи). From its open mouth poured a yellow stream of coarse gold-dust and nuggets (из его открытого жерла полился желтый поток крупного золотого песка и самородков). He roughly divided the gold in halves (он на глаз разделил золото пополам; roughly – приблизительно, на глаз, ориентировочно), caching one half on a prominent ledge (спрятав одну половину на выдающемся уступе), wrapped in a piece of blanket (завернув в кусок одеяла), and returning the other half to the sack (и вернув другую половину в мешок). He also began to use strips of the one remaining blanket for his feet (он также начал использовать полосы одного оставшегося одеяла для своих ступней). He still clung to his gun (он все еще цеплялся за ружье; to cling – цепляться), for there were cartridges in that cache by the river Dease (ибо в том тайнике у реки Диз были патроны).

rational [‘ræʃǝnl], leather [‘leðǝ], half [hɑ:f]

Another night; and in the morning, being more rational, he untied the leather string that fastened the squat moose-hide sack. From its open mouth poured a yellow stream of coarse gold-dust and nuggets. He roughly divided the gold in halves, caching one half on a prominent ledge, wrapped in a piece of blanket, and returning the other half to the sack. He also began to use strips of the one remaining blanket for his feet. He still clung to his gun, for there were cartridges in that cache by the river Dease.

This was a day of fog (это был туманный день; fog – туман), and this day hunger awoke in him again (и в этот день в нем снова проснулся голод; to awake). He was very weak and was afflicted with a giddiness (он был очень слаб и страдал от головокружения; afflicted – страдающий /от болезни/, пораженный болезнью; to afflict – беспокоить /with/; страдать; задевать, огорчать; причинять боль: to afflict with hunger – страдать от голода; поражать болезнью; giddy – испытывающий головокружение) which at times blinded him (которое временами ослепляло его). It was no uncommon thing now for him to stumble and fall (теперь для него спотыкаться и падать не было редким делом = было обычным делом; uncommon – необыкновенный, неординарный; редкий, редко встречающийся или случающийся, необычный); and stumbling once (а однажды споткнувшись), he fell squarely into a ptarmigan nest (он упал прямо в гнездо белой куропатки). There were four newly hatched chicks (там было четыре недавно вылупившихся цыпленка), a day old (день отроду) – little specks of pulsating life no more than a mouthful (маленькие частички пульсирующей жизни – не больше, чем на один укус; mouthful – кусок; глоток); and he ate them ravenously (и он алчно съел их), thrusting them alive into his mouth and crunching them like egg-shells between his teeth (засовывая их живьем в рот и с хрустом перемалывая их, как яичные скорлупки, между зубов; to crunch – грызть с хрустом). The mother ptarmigan beat about him with great outcry (мать-куропатка металась вокруг него с сильным неистовым криком). He used his gun as a club with which to knock her over (он воспользовался ружьем, как дубинкой, /которой/ чтобы сбить ее), but she dodged out of reach (но она увертывалась от ударов /оставаясь/ вне досягаемости /ружья/; to dodge – избегать, увертываться, уклоняться /от удара/; прятаться; out of reach – вне досягаемости). He threw stones at her and with one chance shot broke a wing (он стал бросать по ней камнями и одним случайным броском перебил /ей/ крыло). Then she fluttered away, running, trailing the broken wing, with him in pursuit (тогда она отпорхнула прочь, бежа, подтягивая сломанное крыло, с ним вдогонку = а он за ней в погоню; to flutter – махать или бить крыльями; перепархивать).

giddiness [‘ɡɪdɪnɪs], ravenous [‘rævǝnǝs], chance [ʧɑ:ns]

This was a day of fog, and this day hunger awoke in him again. He was very weak and was afflicted with a giddiness which at times blinded him. It was no uncommon thing now for him to stumble and fall; and stumbling once, he fell squarely into a ptarmigan nest. There were four newly hatched chicks, a day old – little specks of pulsating life no more than a mouthful; and he ate them ravenously, thrusting them alive into his mouth and crunching them like egg-shells between his teeth. The mother ptarmigan beat about him with great outcry. He used his gun as a club with which to knock her over, but she dodged out of reach. He threw stones at her and with one chance shot broke a wing. Then she fluttered away, running, trailing the broken wing, with him in pursuit.

The little chicks had no more than whetted his appetite (маленькие цыплята не более чем возбудили его аппетит; to whet – точить, править /бритву, косу и т. п./; to whet a knife – точить нож; разжигать, раззадоривать; возбуждать /аппетит, желание/). He hopped and bobbed clumsily along on his injured ankle (он неловко прыгал и подскакивал на своей травмированной лодыжке), throwing stones and screaming hoarsely at times (бросая камни и временами хрипло вопя); at other times hopping and bobbing silently along (а временами подпрыгивая и подскакивая молча), picking himself up grimly and patiently (непреклонно и терпеливо поднимаясь; to pick up – поднимать, подбирать) when he fell (когда он падал), or rubbing his eyes with his hand (или тер глаза рукой) when the giddiness threatened to overpower him (когда головокружение угрожало одолеть его).

The chase led him across swampy ground in the bottom of the valley (погоня завела его через болотистую местность в нижнюю часть лощины; swamp – болото; bottom – дно), and he came upon footprints in the soggy moss (и он наткнулся на следы в мокром мху). They were not his own (они = это были не его /следы/) – he could see that (он видел это). They must be Bill’s (должно быть, это /следы/ Билла). But he could not stop (но он не мог остановиться), for the mother ptarmigan was running on (ибо мать-куропатка бежала дальше). He would catch her first (сначала он поймает ее), then he would return and investigate (потом он вернется и расследует = займется расследованием; to investigate – расследовать; получать сведения; изучать, исследовать).

appetite [‘æpɪtaɪt], hoarse [hɔ:s], threaten [θretn]

The little chicks had no more than whetted his appetite. He hopped and bobbed clumsily along on his injured ankle, throwing stones and screaming hoarsely at times; at other times hopping and bobbing silently along, picking himself up grimly and patiently when he fell, or rubbing his eyes with his hand when the giddiness threatened to overpower him.

The chase led him across swampy ground in the bottom of the valley, and he came upon footprints in the soggy moss. They were not his own – he could see that. They must be Bill’s. But he could not stop, for the mother ptarmigan was running on. He would catch her first, then he would return and investigate.

He exhausted the mother ptarmigan (он утомил мать-куропатку; to exhaust – изнурять, утомлять /о живых существах/); but he exhausted himself (но он изнурил /и/ себя). She lay panting on her side (она лежала, тяжело дыша, на боку; to lie – лежать; to pant – часто и тяжело дышать, задыхаться). He lay panting on his side (он лежал, тяжело дыша, на боку), a dozen feet away (в дюжине футов от нее), unable to crawl to her (не в состоянии доползти до нее; unable – неспособный). And as he recovered (а когда он оправился) she recovered (оправилась /и/ она), fluttering out of reach as his hungry hand went out to her (упорхнув за пределы досягаемости, когда его голодная рука вытянулась к ней). The chase was resumed (погоня возобновилась: «была возобновлена»). Night settled down and she escaped (опустилась ночь, и она сбежала). He stumbled from weakness and pitched head foremost on his face (он споткнулся от слабости и упал головой вперед на лицо; to pitch – падать), cutting his cheek, his pack upon his back (порезав щеку, с тюком на спине). He did not move for a long while (долгое время он не двигался); then he rolled over on his side (затем он перекатился на бок), wound his watch (завел часы; to wind – мотать; наматывать; заводить /часы/), and lay there until morning (и лежал там = так до утра).