Текст книги "Английский язык с Джеком Лондоном. В далекой стране (рассказы)"

Автор книги: Джек Лондон

Соавторы: Илья Франк
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Текущая страница: 19 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

frequent ['frJkwqnt], cairn [keqn], horror ['hOrq]

But the clerk had his own troubles. The dead men came out of their graves more frequently now, and rarely left him, waking or sleeping. He grew to wait and dread their coming, never passing the twin cairns without a shudder. One night they came to him in his sleep and led him forth to an appointed task. Frightened into inarticulate horror, he awoke between the heaps of stones and fled wildly to the cabin. But he had lain there for some time, for his feet and cheeks were also frozen.

Sometimes he became frantic at their insistent presence (временами он становился безумным от их настойчивого присутствия), and danced about the cabin (и скакал по хижине), cutting the empty air with an axe (разрубая пустой воздух топором), and smashing everything within reach (и сокрушая все в пределах досягаемости). During these ghostly encounters (во время этих схваток с привидениями), Cuthfert huddled into his blankets (Катферт сжимался в одеялах; to huddle – толпиться, жаться; съёживаться) and followed the madman about with a cocked revolver (и следил за безумцем со взведенным револьвером), ready to shoot him if he came too near (готовый выстрелить в него, если он подойдет слишком близко). But, recovering from one of these spells (но, придя в себя от одного из этих приступов), the clerk noticed the weapon trained upon him (конторщик заметил оружие, наведенное на него). His suspicions were aroused (его подозрения пробудились), and thenceforth he, too, lived in fear of his life (и с этого времени он тоже жил в страхе за свою жизнь). They watched each other closely after that (они внимательно наблюдали друг за другом после этого), and faced about in startled fright (и поворачивались кругом, вздрагивая от страха; to face about – поворачиваться кругом; to startle – испугать; поразить; вздрагивать) whenever either passed behind the other's back (всякий раз, когда один из них проходил за спиной другого). This apprehensiveness became a mania which controlled them even in their sleep (этот страх стал манией, которая господствовала над ними даже во сне; apprehensive – испытывающий тревогу, полный страха). Through mutual fear they tacitly let the slush-lamp burn all night (из-за взаимной боязни они молчаливо оставляли лампу на жиру гореть всю ночь; to let – позволять, разрешать /кому-либо что-либо/), and saw to a plentiful supply of bacon-grease before retiring (и заботились об обильном запасе свиного жира, прежде чем отойти ко сну; to see to – присматривать за чем-либо, кем-либо, заботиться о чем-либо, ком-либо; to retire – ложиться спать). The slightest movement on the part of one was sufficient to arouse the other (малейшего движения со стороны одного было достаточно, чтобы разбудить другого), and many a still watch their gazes countered (и много раз их пристальные взгляды натыкались на молчаливое пристальное наблюдение /со стороны другого/; to counter – противостоять; нанести встречный удар) as they shook beneath their blankets with fingers on the trigger-guards (когда они тряслись под одеялами с пальцами на спусковых курках; guard – предохранитель).

axe [xks], weapon ['wepqn], sufficient [sq'fISqnt]

Sometimes he became frantic at their insistent presence, and danced about the cabin, cutting the empty air with an axe, and smashing everything within reach. During these ghostly encounters, Cuthfert huddled into his blankets and followed the madman about with a cocked revolver, ready to shoot him if he came too near. But, recovering from one of these spells, the clerk noticed the weapon trained upon him. His suspicions were aroused, and thenceforth he, too, lived in fear of his life. They watched each other closely after that, and faced about in startled fright whenever either passed behind the other's back. This apprehensiveness became a mania which controlled them even in their sleep. Through mutual fear they tacitly let the slush-lamp burn all night, and saw to a plentiful supply of bacon-grease before retiring. The slightest movement on the part of one was sufficient to arouse the other, and many a still watch their gazes countered as they shook beneath their blankets with fingers on the trigger-guards.

What with the Fear of the North, the mental strain, and the ravages of the disease (от Страха перед Севером, душевного напряжения и разрушительного действия болезни; ravage – опустошение; разрушительное действие), they lost all semblance of humanity (они потеряли всякое человеческое подобие), taking on the appearance of wild beasts, hunted and desperate (приобретя внешность диких зверей, затравленных и отчаявшихся; to take on – приобретать /форму, качество и т. п./). Their cheeks and noses (их щеки и носы), as an aftermath of the freezing (как следствие = вследствие обморожения), had turned black (почернели). Their frozen toes had begun to drop away at the first and second joints (их отмороженные пальцы ног начали отваливаться у первого и второго суставов). Every movement brought pain (каждое движение причиняло боль), but the fire box was insatiable (но печка была ненасытна), wringing a ransom of torture from their miserable bodies (вымогая выкуп в виде пытки от их несчастных тел; to wring – вымогать). Day in, day out (изо дня в день), it demanded its food (она требовала пищи), – a veritable pound of flesh (настоящий фунт мяса), – and they dragged themselves into the forest to chop wood on their knees (и они тащились в лес нарубить дров на коленях). Once, crawling thus in search of dry sticks (однажды, ползая таким образом в поисках сухих палок), unknown to each other they entered a thicket from opposite sides (неведомо друг от друга они вошли в заросли с противоположных сторон). Suddenly, without warning (вдруг, без предупреждения = неожиданно), two peering death's-heads confronted each other (два вглядывающихся черепа столкнулись лицом к лицу друг с другом; to confront – сталкиваться лицом к лицу). Suffering had so transformed them that recognition was impossible (страдания так преобразили их, что узнавание = что узнать друг друга было невозможно). They sprang to their feet (они вскочили на ноги; to spring to one's feet – вскочить на ноги), shrieking with terror (вопя от ужаса), and dashed away on their mangled stumps (и бросились прочь на покалеченных культях); and falling at the cabin door (и упав у двери в хижину), they clawed and scratched like demons (они рвали ногтями и царапали /друг друга/, как демоны) till they discovered their mistake (пока не обнаружили свою ошибку).

disease [dI'zJz], insatiable [In'seISqbl], recognition ["rekqg'nISqn]

What with the Fear of the North, the mental strain, and the ravages of the disease, they lost all semblance of humanity, taking on the appearance of wild beasts, hunted and desperate. Their cheeks and noses, as an aftermath of the freezing, had turned black. Their frozen toes had begun to drop away at the first and second joints. Every movement brought pain, but the fire box was insatiable, wringing a ransom of torture from their miserable bodies. Day in, day out, it demanded its food, – a veritable pound of flesh, – and they dragged themselves into the forest to chop wood on their knees. Once, crawling thus in search of dry sticks, unknown to each other they entered a thicket from opposite sides. Suddenly, without warning, two peering death's-heads confronted each other. Suffering had so transformed them that recognition was impossible. They sprang to their feet, shrieking with terror, and dashed away on their mangled stumps; and falling at the cabin door, they clawed and scratched like demons till they discovered their mistake.

* * *

Occasionally they lapsed normal (изредка они впадали в нормальное состояние), and during one of these sane intervals (и во время одного из таких здравых интервалов), the chief bone of contention, the sugar (главное яблоко раздора, сахар; bone of contention – яблоко раздора), had been divided equally between them (был поровну поделен между ними). They guarded their separate sacks (они сторожили свои отдельные мешки), stored up in the cache (которые хранились на складе), with jealous eyes (бдительными взорами); for there were but a few cupfuls left (ибо /сахара/ осталось лишь несколько чашек), and they were totally devoid of faith in each other (а они полностью лишились доверия друг к другу; devoid – лишённый, не имеющий). But one day Cuthfert made a mistake (но однажды Катферт допустил ошибку). Hardly able to move (почти не в состоянии двигаться), sick with pain (испытывающий тошноту от боли), with his head swimming and eyes blinded (при этом у него кружилась голова, а в глазах потемнело), he crept into the cache, sugar canister in hand (он заполз в склад с жестяной коробкой для сахара в руке; to creep – ползать), and mistook Weatherbee's sack for his own (и по ошибке принял мешок Уэзерби за свой собственный).

guard [gRd], faith [feIT], canister ['kxnIstq]

Occasionally they lapsed normal, and during one of these sane intervals, the chief bone of contention, the sugar, had been divided equally between them. They guarded their separate sacks, stored up in the cache, with jealous eyes; for there were but a few cupfuls left, and they were totally devoid of faith in each other. But one day Cuthfert made a mistake. Hardly able to move, sick with pain, with his head swimming and eyes blinded, he crept into the cache, sugar canister in hand, and mistook Weatherbee's sack for his own.

January had been born but a few days when this occurred (всего лишь за несколько дней до этого события родился = наступил январь). The sun had some time since passed its lowest southern declination (солнце за некоторое время до того прошло самую низкую точку южной деклинации; declination – уклон, наклон, отклонение /от вертикального или горизонтального положения/), and at meridian now threw flaunting streaks of yellow light upon the northern sky (и теперь в полдень отбрасывало яркие полосы желтого света на северное небо; meridian – полдень). On the day following his mistake with the sugar-bag (на следующий после его ошибки с сахарным мешком день), Cuthfert found himself feeling better (Катферт обнаружил, что чувствует себя лучше), both in body and in spirit (как физически, так и духовно). As noontime drew near and the day brightened (по мере того как приближался полдень и становился ярче дневной свет), he dragged himself outside to feast on the evanescent glow (он выволок себя = выбрался с трудом наружу, чтобы испытать наслаждение от мимолетного/эфемерного зарева; to feast on – испытывать наслаждение от чего-либо; evanescent – исчезающий; мимолётный; эфемерный), which was to him an earnest of the sun's future intentions (что было для него серьезностью будущих намерений солнца). Weatherbee was also feeling somewhat better (Уэзерби тоже чувствовал себя немного лучше), and crawled out beside him (и выполз рядом с ним). They propped themselves in the snow beneath the moveless wind-vane, and waited (они прислонились /к стене/ в снегу под неподвижным флюгером и ждали = стали ждать; to prop oneself – прислониться; подпереться).

occur [q'kW], evanescent ["Jvq'nesnt], earnest ['WnIst]

January had been born but a few days when this occurred. The sun had some time since passed its lowest southern declination, and at meridian now threw flaunting streaks of yellow light upon the northern sky. On the day following his mistake with the sugar-bag, Cuthfert found himself feeling better, both in body and in spirit. As noontime drew near and the day brightened, he dragged himself outside to feast on the evanescent glow, which was to him an earnest of the sun's future intentions. Weatherbee was also feeling somewhat better, and crawled out beside him. They propped themselves in the snow beneath the moveless wind-vane, and waited.

The stillness of death was about them (вокруг них была смертельная тишина). In other climes, when nature falls into such moods (в другом климате, когда природа впадает в такое настроение), there is a subdued air of expectancy (есть смягченная атмосфера надежды), a waiting for some small voice to take up the broken strain (ожидание некоего тихого голоса, который снимет неустойчивое напряжение; to take up – снимать, удалять; broken – неровный, неустойчивый). Not so in the North (не так на Севере). The two men had lived seeming aeons in this ghostly peace (двое мужчин прожили, кажется, вечность в этом призрачном покое; aeon – бесконечность, вечность; эра). They could remember no song of the past (они не могли вспомнить ни одной песни из прошлого); they could conjure no song of the future (они не могли представить песню из будущего; to conjure – заклинать, призывать /духов/; вызывать в воображении). This unearthly calm had always been (всегда был = присутствовал этот сверхъестественный покой), – the tranquil silence of eternity (безмятежное безмолвие вечности).

aeon ['Jqn], future ['fjHCq], eternity [I'tWnItI]

The stillness of death was about them. In other climes, when nature falls into such moods, there is a subdued air of expectancy, a waiting for some small voice to take up the broken strain. Not so in the North. The two men had lived seeming aeons in this ghostly peace. They could remember no song of the past; they could conjure no song of the future. This unearthly calm had always been, – the tranquil silence of eternity.

Their eyes were fixed upon the north (их глаза были прикованы к северу). Unseen, behind their backs (невидимое за их спинами), behind the towering mountains to the south (за возвышающимися горами к югу), the sun swept toward the zenith of another sky than theirs (солнце неслось к зениту другого неба, не их /неба/; to sweep – мчаться, нестись). Sole spectators of the mighty canvas (единственные зрители громадного полотна = величественной картины; canvas – полотно /о произведении искусства: фильме, картине и т. д./), they watched the false dawn slowly grow (они наблюдали, как медленно начинается фальшивый рассвет; to grow – возникать, брать начало). A faint flame began to glow and smoulder (слабое пламя начало раскаляться и тлеть). It deepened in intensity (оно стало интенсивнее; to deepen – стать глубже /интенсивнее, громче, насыщеннее, темнее и т. д./), ringing the changes of reddish-yellow, purple, and saffron (меняясь кругами красновато-желтого, пурпурного и шафранового цвета; to ring – опоясать, окружать кольцом; менять, изменять). So bright did it become (оно стало таким ярким) that Cuthfert thought the sun must surely be behind it (что Катферт подумал, что солнце должно быть наверняка за ним), – a miracle, the sun rising in the north (чудо, солнце восходит на севере)! Suddenly, without warning and without fading (вдруг, без предупреждения и постепенного исчезновения = всякого перехода), the canvas was swept clean (холст был вымыт начисто). There was no color in the sky (в небе не стало цвета). The light had gone out of the day (свет покинул день). They caught their breaths in half-sobs (они затаили дыхание в полурыданиях = чуть не зарыдав). But lo (но вот; lo – вот! слушай! смотри!)! the air was a-glint with particles of scintillating frost (воздух вспыхнул частичками сверкающего инея), and there, to the north, the wind-vane lay in vague outline on the snow (и там, на севере неясным контуром на снегу лежал флюгер). A shadow (тень)! A shadow (тень)! It was exactly midday (был ровно полдень). They jerked their heads hurriedly to the south (они торопливо и резко повернули головы на юг; to jerk – двигаться резкими толчками; jerk – резкое движение). A golden rim peeped over the mountain's snowy shoulder (золотой обод выглянул из-за снежного плеча горы), smiled upon them an instant (улыбнулся им на мгновение), then dipped from sight again (потом снова исчез из виду; to dip – прятаться).

tower ['tauq], false [fLls], exactly [Ig'zxktlI]

Their eyes were fixed upon the north. Unseen, behind their backs, behind the towering mountains to the south, the sun swept toward the zenith of another sky than theirs. Sole spectators of the mighty canvas, they watched the false dawn slowly grow. A faint flame began to glow and smoulder. It deepened in intensity, ringing the changes of reddish-yellow, purple, and saffron. So bright did it become that Cuthfert thought the sun must surely be behind it, – a miracle, the sun rising in the north! Suddenly, without warning and without fading, the canvas was swept clean. There was no color in the sky. The light had gone out of the day. They caught their breaths in half-sobs. But lo! the air was a-glint with particles of scintillating frost, and there, to the north, the wind-vane lay in vague outline on the snow. A shadow! A shadow! It was exactly midday. They jerked their heads hurriedly to the south. A golden rim peeped over the mountain's snowy shoulder, smiled upon them an instant, then dipped from sight again.

There were tears in their eyes as they sought each other (в их глазах были слезы, когда они искали друг друга; to seek – искать, разыскивать). A strange softening came over them (необычное смягчение = благодушие охватило их; to soften – смягчать, облегчать /боль, страдание/; становиться мягче, добрее, нежнее). They felt irresistibly drawn toward each other (они почувствовали, как их неудержимо тянет друг к другу). The sun was coming back again (солнце снова возвращалось). It would be with them to-morrow (оно будет с ними завтра), and the next day, and the next (и на следующий день, и на следующий). And it would stay longer every visit (и с каждым приходом оно будет оставаться дольше), and a time would come (и наступит время) when it would ride their heaven day and night (когда оно будет скользить по небу днем и ночью), never once dropping below the sky-line (никогда не опускаясь ниже линии горизонта). There would be no night (не будет ночи). The ice-locked winter would be broken (закованная в лед зима прекратится); the winds would blow and the forests answer (подуют ветры, и /им/ ответят леса); the land would bathe in the blessed sunshine (земля будет купаться в благословенном солнечном свете), and life renew (и возродится жизнь). Hand in hand (рука об руку), they would quit this horrid dream (они покинут этот ужасный сон) and journey back to the Southland (и отправятся назад на Юг). They lurched blindly forward (они пошли, пошатываясь, как слепые, вперед), and their hands met (и их руки встретились), – their poor maimed hands (их бедные покалеченные руки), swollen and distorted beneath their mittens (распухшие и деформированные под варежками).

irresistibly ["IrI'zIstqblI], heaven [hevn], poor [puq]

There were tears in their eyes as they sought each other. A strange softening came over them. They felt irresistibly drawn toward each other. The sun was coming back again. It would be with them to-morrow, and the next day, and the next. And it would stay longer every visit, and a time would come when it would ride their heaven day and night, never once dropping below the sky-line. There would be no night. The ice-locked winter would be broken; the winds would blow and the forests answer; the land would bathe in the blessed sunshine, and life renew. Hand in hand, they would quit this horrid dream and journey back to the Southland. They lurched blindly forward, and their hands met, – their poor maimed hands, swollen and distorted beneath their mittens.

But the promise was destined to remain unfulfilled (но надежде было суждено остаться неисполненной = не суждено было исполниться). The Northland is the Northland (Север есть Север), and men work out their souls by strange rules (и люди истощают свои силы по странным правилам; soul – мощность, сила, энтузиазм), which other men, who have not journeyed into far countries (которые другие люди, не путешествовавшие в далекие страны), cannot come to understand (не могут понять).

promise ['prOmIs], work [wWk], country ['kAntrI]

But the promise was destined to remain unfulfilled. The Northland is the Northland, and men work out their souls by strange rules, which other men, who have not journeyed into far countries, cannot come to understand.

* * *

An hour later, Cuthfert put a pan of bread into the oven (часом позже Катфер засунул противень с хлебом в печь), and fell to speculating on (и принялся размышлять о том) what the surgeons could do with his feet when he got back (что могут сделать хирурги с его ступнями, когда он вернется). Home did not seem so very far away now (теперь дом не казался таким уж далеким). Weatherbee was rummaging in the cache (Уэзерби тщательно исследовал склад продуктов). Of a sudden, he raised a whirlwind of blasphemy (внезапно он издал поток богохульств; to raise – издавать /крик/; whirlwind – вихрь; смерч, ураган), which in turn ceased with startling abruptness (который, в свою очередь, прекратился поразительно резко; abrupt – внезапный). The other man had robbed his sugar-sack (другой /человек/ ограбил его мешок с сахаром). Still, things might have happened differently (однако дела могли = все могло случиться = обернуться по-другому), had not the two dead men come out from under the stones and hushed the hot words in his throat (если бы два мертвеца не вышли из-под камней и не утихомирили брань у него в горле; hot words – брань). They led him quite gently from the cache (они вывели его очень тихо из склада), which he forgot to close (который он забыл запереть).

bread [bred], oven [Avn], surgeon ['sWGqn]

An hour later, Cuthfert put a pan of bread into the oven, and fell to speculating on what the surgeons could do with his feet when he got back. Home did not seem so very far away now. Weatherbee was rummaging in the cache. Of a sudden, he raised a whirlwind of blasphemy, which in turn ceased with startling abruptness. The other man had robbed his sugar-sack. Still, things might have happened differently, had not the two dead men come out from under the stones and hushed the hot words in his throat. They led him quite gently from the cache, which he forgot to close.

That consummation was reached (/та/ цель была достигнута); that something they had whispered to him in his dreams was about to happen (то, о чем они нашептывали ему в его снах, должно было вот-вот случиться; to be about – собираться /сделать что-либо/, предполагать). They guided him gently, very gently, to the woodpile (они подвели его тихо, очень тихо к поленнице), where they put the axe in his hands (где они вложили ему в руки топор). Then they helped him shove open the cabin door (затем они помогли ему открыть дверь избушки; to shove – пихать, толкнуть), and he felt sure they shut it after him (и он уверенно ощутил = был уверен, что они закрыли ее за ним), – at least he heard it slam and the latch fall sharply into place (по крайней мере он услышал, как она захлопнулась, и щеколда резко упала на место). And he knew they were waiting just without (и он знал, что они ждут его непосредственно снаружи), waiting for him to do his task (ждут, когда он выполнит свою задачу).

guide [gaId], door [dL], task [tRsk]

That consummation was reached; that something they had whispered to him in his dreams was about to happen. They guided him gently, very gently, to the woodpile, where they put the axe in his hands. Then they helped him shove open the cabin door, and he felt sure they shut it after him, – at least he heard it slam and the latch fall sharply into place. And he knew they were waiting just without, waiting for him to do his task.

«Carter! I say, Carter (послушай, Картер)!»

Percy Cuthfert was frightened at the look on the clerk's face (Перси Катферт был испуган видом лица конторщика), and he made haste to put the table between them (и он поспешил поставить стол между ними).

Carter Weatherbee followed (Картер Уэзерби преследовал /его/), without haste and without enthusiasm (без спешки и без исступления). There was neither pity nor passion in his face (на его лице не было ни сострадания, ни гнева; passion – вспышка гнева), but rather the patient, stolid look of one who has certain work to do and goes about it methodically (но скорее терпеливое, бесстрастное выражение лица человека, которому нужно выполнить какую-то работу, и он методично приступает к ней; to go about – начинать /что-либо; делать что-либо/, приступать /к чему-либо/).

haste [heIst], enthusiasm [In'TjHzIxzm], patient ['peISqnt]

«Carter! I say, Carter!»

Percy Cuthfert was frightened at the look on the clerk's face, and he made haste to put the table between them.

Carter Weatherbee followed, without haste and without enthusiasm. There was neither pity nor passion in his face, but rather the patient, stolid look of one who has certain work to do and goes about it methodically.

«I say, what's the matter (послушай, в чем дело)?»

The clerk dodged back (клерк увернулся назад), cutting off his retreat to the door (отрезая отступление к двери), but never opening his mouth (но так и не открыл рта).

"I say, Carter, I say (послушай, Картер, послушай); let's talk (давай поговорим). There’s a good chap (ты же хороший парень)."

The master of arts was thinking rapidly, now (теперь магистр искусств думал быстро), shaping a skillful flank movement on the bed (сделав ловкое боковое движение к кровати; to shape – делать по какому-либо образцу; продумывать, планировать) where his Smith & Wesson lay (на которой лежал его «смит-вессон»; to lie – лежать). Keeping his eyes on the madman (не сводя глаз с сумасшедшего: «сохраняя глаза на сумасшедшем»), he rolled backward on the bunk (он перекатился назад по койке), at the same time clutching the pistol (одновременно схватив пистолет; at the same time – одновременно).

"Carter!"

retreat [rI'trJt], mouth [mauT], roll [rqul]

«I say, what 's the matter?»

The clerk dodged back, cutting off his retreat to the door, but never opening his mouth.

"I say, Carter, I say; let 's talk. There 's a good chap."

The master of arts was thinking rapidly, now, shaping a skillful flank movement on the bed where his Smith & Wesson lay. Keeping his eyes on the madman, he rolled backward on the bunk, at the same time clutching the pistol.

"Carter!"

The powder flashed full in Weatherbee's face (порох вспыхнул прямо в лицо Уэзерби), but he swung his weapon and leaped forward (но он взмахнул своим оружием и прыгнул вперед; to swing – махать, размахивать). The axe bit deeply at the base of the spine (топор врубился глубоко в основание позвоночника; to bite – кусать; колоть, рубить /любым холодным оружием/), and Percy Cuthfert felt all consciousness of his lower limbs leave him (и Перси Катферт почувствовал, как его покидает всякое ощущение нижних конечностей). Then the clerk fell heavily upon him (затем клерк тяжело навалился на него; to fall – падать, валиться), clutching him by the throat with feeble fingers (хватая его за горло ослабевшими пальцами). The sharp bite of the axe had caused Cuthfert to drop the pistol (от резкого удара топором Катферт выронил пистолет; to cause – послужить причиной/поводом для чего-либо; мотивировать что-либо), and as his lungs panted for release (и пока его легкие страстно желали освободиться; to pant for – страстно желать, томиться, тосковать), he fumbled aimlessly for it among the blankets (он бессмысленно нащупывал его среди одеял). Then he remembered (тогда он вспомнил). He slid a hand up the clerk's belt to the sheath-knife (он просунул руку к ремню конторщика за ножом в ножнах; to slide – скользить; всовывать, засовывать); and they drew very close to each other in that last clinch (и они очень /тесно/ сблизились друг с другом в этом последнем объятии).

powder ['paudq], cause [kLz], release [rI'lJs]

The powder flashed full in Weatherbee's face, but he swung his weapon and leaped forward. The axe bit deeply at the base of the spine, and Percy Cuthfert felt all consciousness of his lower limbs leave him. Then the clerk fell heavily upon him, clutching him by the throat with feeble fingers. The sharp bite of the axe had caused Cuthfert to drop the pistol, and as his lungs panted for release, he fumbled aimlessly for it among the blankets. Then he remembered. He slid a hand up the clerk's belt to the sheath-knife; and they drew very close to each other in that last clinch.

Percy Cuthfert felt his strength leave him (Перси ощущал, как силы покидают его). The lower portion of his body was useless (нижняя часть его тела была недееспособна). The inert weight of Weatherbee crushed him (неподвижный вес Уэзерби придавил его), – crushed him and pinned him there like a bear under a trap (придавил его и схватил его, как медведя капкан). The cabin became filled with a familiar odor (хижина наполнилась знакомым запахом), and he knew the bread to be burning (и он понял, что подгорает хлеб). Yet what did it matter (однако, какое это имело значение)? He would never need it (он ему никогда не понадобится). And there were all of six cupfuls of sugar in the cache (и было еще целых шесть чашек сахара на складе), – if he had foreseen this (если бы он предвидел это) he would not have been so saving the last several days (он не экономил бы так последние несколько дней). Would the wind-vane ever move (двинется ли когда-нибудь флюгер)? It might even be veering now (возможно даже, что он сейчас поворачивается). Why not (почему бы и нет)? Had he not seen the sun to-day (он не видел сегодня солнце)? He would go and see (он пойдет и посмотрит). No; it was impossible to move (нет, невозможно было двинуться). He had not thought the clerk so heavy a man (он не думал, что клерк такой тяжелый мужик).

inert [I'nWt], familiar [fq'mIlIq], might [maIt]

Percy Cuthfert felt his strength leave him. The lower portion of his body was useless. The inert weight of Weatherbee crushed him, – crushed him and pinned him there like a bear under a trap. The cabin became filled with a familiar odor, and he knew the bread to be burning. Yet what did it matter? He would never need it. And there were all of six cupfuls of sugar in the cache, – if he had foreseen this he would not have been so saving the last several days. Would the wind-vane ever move? It might even be veering now. Why not? Had he not seen the sun to-day? He would go and see. No; it was impossible to move. He had not thought the clerk so heavy a man.