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

Автор книги: Джек Лондон

Соавторы: Илья Франк
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Текущая страница: 20 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

How quickly the cabin cooled (как быстро остывала хижина)! The fire must be out (должно быть, погас огонь). The cold was forcing in (холод втискивался вовнутрь). It must be below zero already (наверное, уже ниже нуля), and the ice creeping up the inside of the door (и лед крадется вверх по внутренней части двери). He could not see it (он не видел этого), but his past experience enabled him to gauge its progress by the cabin's temperature (но прошлый опыт позволил ему оценить его продвижение по температуре в избушке). The lower hinge must be white ere now (нижняя дверная петля должна быть уже белой; ere this/now – уже). Would the tale of this ever reach the world (дойдет ли когда-нибудь до мира рассказ об этом)? How would his friends take it (как его воспримут его друзья)? They would read it over their coffee, most likely (они будут читать его за кофе, скорее всего; most likely – весьма правдоподобно, вероятнее всего), and talk it over at the clubs (и обсуждать в клубах). He could see them very clearly (он видел их очень четко). «Poor old Cuthfert (бедный старина Катферт),» they murmured (шептали они); «not such a bad sort of a chap, after all (не такой уж и плохой парень, в конечном счете).» He smiled at their eulogies (он улыбнулся их панегирикам), and passed on in search of a Turkish bath (и пошел дальше в поисках турецкой бани; in search of – в поисках).

zero ['zIqrqu], temperature ['temprICq], eulogy ['jHlqGI]

How quickly the cabin cooled! The fire must be out. The cold was forcing in. It must be below zero already, and the ice creeping up the inside of the door. He could not see it, but his past experience enabled him to gauge its progress by the cabin's temperature. The lower hinge must be white ere now. Would the tale of this ever reach the world? How would his friends take it? They would read it over their coffee, most likely, and talk it over at the clubs. He could see them very clearly. «Poor old Cuthfert,» they murmured; «not such a bad sort of a chap, after all.» He smiled at their eulogies, and passed on in search of a Turkish bath.

It was the same old crowd upon the streets (на улицах была та же прежняя толпа). Strange, they did not notice his moosehide moccasins and tattered German socks (странно, они не замечали его мокасинов из лосиной кожи и изорванных немецких носков)! He would take a cab (он возьмет кэб). And after the bath a shave would not be bad (а после бани неплохо бы побриться). No; he would eat first (нет, он сначала поест). Steak, and potatoes, and green things (бифштекс, картофель и зелень), – how fresh it all was (каким свежим все это было)! And what was that (а что было то)? Squares of honey (медовые соты), streaming liquid amber (стекающие жидким янтарем)! But why did they bring so much (но почему /они/ принесли так много)? Ha! ha! he could never eat it all (ха-ха, он никогда не сможет съесть это все). Shine (почистите)! Why certainly (ну, разумеется). He put his foot on the box (он поставил ногу на ящик). The bootblack looked curiously up at him (чистильщик сапог странно посмотрел вверх на него = поднял взгляд и странно посмотрел на него), and he remembered his moosehide moccasins and went away hastily (и он вспомнил о своих мокасинах из лосиной кожи и поспешно пошел прочь).

bath [bRT], steak [steIk], honey ['hAnI]

It was the same old crowd upon the streets. Strange, they did not notice his moosehide moccasins and tattered German socks! He would take a cab. And after the bath a shave would not be bad. No; he would eat first. Steak, and potatoes, and green things, – how fresh it all was! And what was that? Squares of honey, streaming liquid amber! But why did they bring so much? Ha! ha! he could never eat it all. Shine! Why certainly. He put his foot on the box. The bootblack looked curiously up at him, and he remembered his moosehide moccasins and went away hastily.

Hark (чу; hark – слушай! чу!)! The wind-vane must be surely spinning (наверняка крутится флюгер). No; a mere singing in his ears (нет, это лишь звон в ушах; to sing – звенеть в ушах; испытывать звон в ушах). That was all, – a mere singing (это был всего лишь звон). The ice must have passed the latch by now (сейчас лед, наверное, миновал щеколду). More likely the upper hinge was covered (вероятно, покрылась /льдом/ верхняя петля). Between the moss-chinked roof-poles (между законопаченными мхом щелями в крыше), little points of frost began to appear (начали появляться маленькие точки инея). How slowly they grew (как медленно они росли)! No; not so slowly (нет, не так уж медленно). There was a new one, and there another (там появилась новая, а там еще одна). Two – three – four (две – три – четыре); they were coming too fast to count (они появлялись слишком быстро, чтобы считать /их/). There were two growing together (появились две, срастающихся). And there, a third had joined them (а там к ним присоединилась третья). Why, there were no more spots (ну вот, больше нет пятен). They had run together and formed a sheet (они сбежались = слились и образовали саван; sheet – простыня; полотно, холст; саван; лист).

Well, he would have company (ну, у него будет компания = он будет не один). If Gabriel ever broke the silence of the North (если Гавриил когда-нибудь нарушит молчание Севера), they would stand together (они будут стоять вместе), hand in hand (рука об руку), before the great White Throne (перед великим Белым Престолом). And God would judge them (а Бог будет судить их), God would judge them (Бог будет судить их)!

Then Percy Cuthfert closed his eyes and dropped off to sleep (потом Перси Катферт закрыл глаза и провалился в сон; to drop off – падать; засыпать; умереть).

grew [grH], Gabriel ['geIbrIql], judge [GAG]

Hark! The wind-vane must be surely spinning. No; a mere singing in his ears. That was all, – a mere singing. The ice must have passed the latch by now. More likely the upper hinge was covered. Between the moss-chinked roof-poles, little points of frost began to appear. How slowly they grew! No; not so slowly. There was a new one, and there another. Two – three – four; they were coming too fast to count. There were two growing together. And there, a third had joined them. Why, there were no more spots. They had run together and formed a sheet.

Well, he would have company. If Gabriel ever broke the silence of the North, they would stand together, hand in hand, before the great White Throne. And God would judge them, God would judge them!

Then Percy Cuthfert closed his eyes and dropped off to sleep.

THE LAW OF LIFE
(Закон жизни)

Old Koskoosh listened greedily (старый Коскуш прислушался жадно). Though his sight had long since faded (/и/ хотя его зрение давно ослабло), his hearing was still acute (его слух был по-прежнему острым), and the slightest sound penetrated to the glimmering intelligence (и малейший/слабейший звук проникал в мерцающий ум) which yet abode behind the withered forehead (который еще обитал под сморщенным лбом), but which no longer gazed forth upon the things of the world (но который не был более направлен на вещи мира). Ah! That was Sit-cum-to-ha, shrilly anathematizing the dogs (то была Сит-кум-то-ха, пронзительно проклинающая собак) as she cuffed and beat them into the harnesses (в то время как она шлепала/ударяла рукой и била их, /одевая/ в упряжь). Sit-cum-to-ha was his daughter's daughter (Сит-кум-то-ха была дочерью его дочери), but she was too busy to waste a thought upon her broken grandfather (но она была слишком занята, чтобы тратить время на своего дряхлого деда; thought – мысль; to waste – тратить впустую), sitting alone there in the snow (сидящего одиноко там на снегу), forlorn and helpless (покинутого и беспомощного). Camp must be broken (лагерь должен быть свернут). The long trail waited while the short day refused to linger (долгая тропа/дорога ждала = предстояла, в то время как короткий день отказывался задержаться; trail – след; тропа). Life called her (жизнь звала ее), and the duties of life, not death (и обязанности жизни, /а/ не смерть). And he was very close to death now (а он был очень близко к смерти теперь).

slightest ['slaItIst], forlorn [fq'lLn], daughter ['dLtq]

Old Koskoosh listened greedily. Though his sight had long since faded, his hearing was still acute, and the slightest sound penetrated to the glimmering intelligence which yet abode behind the withered forehead, but which no longer gazed forth upon the things of the world. Ah! That was Sit-cum-to-ha, shrilly anathematizing the dogs as she cuffed and beat them into the harnesses. Sit-cum-to-ha was his daughter's daughter, but she was too busy to waste a thought upon her broken grandfather, sitting alone there in the snow, forlorn and helpless. Camp must be broken. The long trail waited while the short day refused to linger. Life called her, and the duties of life, not death. And he was very close to death now.

The thought made the old man panicky for the moment (эта мысль ужаснула старика: «сделала старика паническим» на мгновение), and he stretched forth a palsied hand (и он вытянул вперед дрожащую руку) which wandered tremblingly over the small heap of dry wood beside him (которая прошлась, дрожа, по маленькой кучке сухого дерева возле него). Reassured that it was indeed there (убедившись, что оно /дерево, хворост/ было действительно здесь), his hand returned to the shelter of his mangy furs (его рука вернулась под защиту/покров его поношенных мехов), and he again fell to listening (и он снова начал прислушиваться/слушать; to fall to something – приниматься за что-либо, начинать делать что-либо).

reassure [rJq'Suq], thought [TLt], fur [fW]

The thought made the old man panicky for the moment, and he stretched forth a palsied hand which wandered tremblingly over the small heap of dry wood beside him. Reassured that it was indeed there, his hand returned to the shelter of his mangy furs, and he again fell to listening.

The sulky crackling of half-frozen hides told him (мрачный треск полузамерзших шкур сказал ему) that the chief's moose-skin lodge had been struck (что вигвам вождя /из/ шкур лосей был убран; moose – американский лось), and even then was being rammed and jammed into portable compass (и как раз утрамбовывался и сжимался в переносной тюк). The chief was his son (вождь был его сыном), stalwart and strong (рослым и сильным), headman of the tribesmen (главой племени; tribe – племя; tribesmen – люди племени), and a mighty hunter (и могучим охотником). As the women toiled with the camp luggage (пока женщины усиленно трудились с лагерными пожитками), his voice rose, chiding them for their slowness (его голос усиливался: «поднимался», ругая их за медлительность). Old Koskoosh strained his ears (старый Коскуш напряг слух; ear – ухо). It was the last time he would hear that voice (это был последний раз, /когда/ он мог слышать этот голос). There went Geehow's lodge (затем последовал вигвам Ги-хау)! And Tusken's! Seven, eight, nine (семь, восемь, девять); only the shaman's could be still standing (только /вигвам/ шамана до сих пор стоял). There (ну вот: «там»)! They were at work upon it now (они /люди/ были за работой над ним сейчас). He could hear the shaman grunt as he piled it on the sled (он /Коскуш/ мог слышать ворчанье шамана, пока/в то время как он /шаман/ складывал его /вигвам/ на сани). A child whimpered (/какой-то/ ребенок захныкал), and a woman soothed it with soft, crooning gutturals (и /какая-то/ женщина утешила его мягкими, тихими гортанными напевами). Little Koo-tee, the old man thought (маленький Ку-ти, – подумал старик), a fretful child (капризный ребенок), and not over strong (и не сильный = слабый). It would die soon, perhaps (он скоро умрет, возможно), and they would burn a hole through the frozen tundra (и они выжгут яму в замерзшей тундре) and pile rocks above to keep the wolverines away (и навалят камней сверху, /чтобы/ сохранить от росомах; to keep away – держать в отдалении; не подпускать близко). Well, what did it matter (в самом деле, не все ли равно; to matter – иметь значение)? A few years at best (несколько лет в лучшем случае /он проживет/), and as many an empty belly as a full one (и /будет ходить/ чаще с пустым желудком, чем с полным; «столько же /лет/ пустой живот, как и полный»). And in the end (а в конце), Death waited, ever-hungry and hungriest of them all (смерть ожидала, вечно голодная и самая голодная из них всех).

luggage ['lAgIG], guttural ['gAt(q)r(q)l], wolverine ['wulvqrJn]

The sulky crackling of half-frozen hides told him that the chief's moose-skin lodge had been struck, and even then was being rammed and jammed into portable compass. The chief was his son, stalwart and strong, headman of the tribesmen, and a mighty hunter. As the women toiled with the camp luggage, his voice rose, chiding them for their slowness. Old Koskoosh strained his ears. It was the last time he would hear that voice. There went Geehow's lodge! And Tusken's! Seven, eight, nine; only the shaman's could be still standing. There! They were at work upon it now. He could hear the shaman grunt as he piled it on the sled. A child whimpered, and a woman soothed it with soft, crooning gutturals. Little Koo-tee, the old man thought, a fretful child, and not over strong. It would die soon, perhaps, and they would burn a hole through the frozen tundra and pile rocks above to keep the wolverines away. Well, what did it matter? A few years at best, and as many an empty belly as a full one. And in the end, Death waited, ever-hungry and hungriest of them all.

What was that (что это было)? Oh, the men lashing the sleds and drawing tight the thongs (а, это мужчины, увязывающие сани/нарты и затягивающие крепко ремни; to lash – крепко связывать, привязывать). He listened, who would listen no more (он слушал, /тот/, кто скоро не будет слушать ничего). The whip-lashes snarled and bit among the dogs (удары бича свистели и били по собакам: «кусали среди собак»; lash – удар хлыстом, бичом; to snarl – рычать, визжать; to bite – кусать). Hear them whine (слышишь, как завыли)! How they hated the work and the trail (как они ненавидят работу и тропу)! They were off (они ушли)! Sled after sled churned slowly away into the silence (нарты за нартами тряслись медленно прочь в тишину). They were gone (они ушли). They had passed out of his life (они исчезли из его жизни), and he faced the last bitter hour alone (и он встречал последний горький час один: «оказался лицом к лицу с последним горьким часом»). No. The snow crunched beneath a moccasin (снег захрустел под мокасином); a man stood beside him (/какой-то/ человек стоял рядом с ним); upon his head a hand rested gently (на его голову рука легла мягко). His son was good to do this thing (его сын был добр, что сделал эту вещь). He remembered other old men (он помнил других стариков) whose sons had not waited after the tribe (чьи сыновья не ждали после племени). But his son had (а его сын /подождал/). He wandered away into the past (он унесся прочь в прошлое), till the young man's voice brought him back (пока голос молодого человека /не/ вернул его обратно).

churn [CWn], moccasin ['mOkqsIn], silence ['saIlqns]

What was that? Oh, the men lashing the sleds and drawing tight the thongs. He listened, who would listen no more. The whip-lashes snarled and bit among the dogs. Hear them whine! How they hated the work and the trail! They were off! Sled after sled churned slowly away into the silence. They were gone. They had passed out of his life, and he faced the last bitter hour alone. No. The snow crunched beneath a moccasin; a man stood beside him; upon his head a hand rested gently. His son was good to do this thing. He remembered other old men whose sons had not waited after the tribe. But his son had. He wandered away into the past, till the young man's voice brought him back.

«Is it well with you?» he asked (с тобой все хорошо? – спросил он).

And the old man answered, "It is well (и старик ответил: – хорошо)."

"There be wood beside you," the younger man continued (дерево/хворост рядом с тобой, – молодой человек продолжил), "and the fire burns bright (и костер горит ярко). The morning is gray (утро пасмурное: «серое»), and the cold has broken (и холод спадает: «сломлен»; to break – ломать, разбивать; прекращать). It will snow presently (снег пойдет сейчас). Even now is it snowing (уже сейчас идет снег)."

"Ay (да), even now is it snowing."

"The tribesmen hurry (люди племени спешат). Their bales are heavy (их тюки тяжелые), and their bellies flat with lack of feasting (а их животы плоские из-за отсутствия пищи). The trail is long (путь длинный) and they travel fast (и они двигаются быстро). Go now (/я/ ухожу сейчас). It is well?"

fire ['faIq], burn [bWn], hurry ['hArI]

«Is it well with you?» he asked.

And the old man answered, "It is well."

"There be wood beside you," the younger man continued, "and the fire burns bright. The morning is gray, and the cold has broken. It will snow presently. Even now is it snowing."

"Ay, even now is it snowing."

"The tribesmen hurry. Their bales are heavy, and their bellies flat with lack of feasting. The trail is long and they travel fast. Go now. It is well?"

"It is well. I am as a last year's leaf (я как последний лист в году), clinging lightly to the stem (цепляющийся едва за стебель; lightly – легко, слегка). The first breath that blows (первое дуновение /ветра/, которое подует), and I fall (и я упаду). My voice is become like an old woman's (мой голос стал, как у старой женщины/старухи). My eyes no longer show me the way of my feet (мои глаза больше не показывают мне дорогу моих ног = не вижу, куда идут мои ноги), and my feet are heavy, and I am tired (а мои ноги тяжелы, и я устал). It is well."

heavy ['hevI], leaf [lJf], first [fWst]

«It is well. I am as a last year's leaf, clinging lightly to the stem. The first breath that blows, and I fall. My voice is become like an old woman's. My eyes no longer show me the way of my feet, and my feet are heavy, and I am tired. It is well.»

He bowed his head in content (он наклонил голову в знак согласия; content – удовлетворенность) till the last noise of the complaining snow had died away (пока последний шум жалующегося снега не умер вдали), and he knew his son was beyond recall (и он понял: «знал», что сын был за пределами зова). Then his hand crept out in haste to the wood (тогда его рука протянулась поспешно за дровами; to creep – ползти, медленно двигаться). It alone stood between him and the eternity that yawned in upon him (он /хворост/ один стоял между ним и вечностью, которая разверзлась перед ним; to yawn – зевать; зиять; разверзаться). At last the measure of his life was a handful of fagots (и вот, наконец, мерой его жизни была охапка хвороста). One by one they would go to feed the fire (один за другим они /дрова/ пойдут, чтобы питать огонь), and just so (и так же), step by step (шаг за шагом), death would creep upon him (смерть будет подползать к нему). When the last stick had surrendered up its heat (когда последняя палка отдаст свое тепло), the frost would begin to gather strength (мороз начнет набирать силу). First his feet would yield, then his hands (сначала сдадутся его ноги, потом руки); and the numbness would travel, slowly, from the extremities to the body (и оцепенение/окоченение пойдет, медленно, от конечностей к телу). His head would fall forward upon his knees (его голова упадет вперед на колени), and he would rest (и он успокоится). It was easy (это было легко). All men must die (все люди должны умереть).

beyond [bI'jOnd], surrender [sq'rendq], numbness ['nAmnIs]

He bowed his head in content till the last noise of the complaining snow had died away, and he knew his son was beyond recall. Then his hand crept out in haste to the wood. It alone stood between him and the eternity that yawned in upon him. At last the measure of his life was a handful of fagots. One by one they would go to feed the fire, and just so, step by step, death would creep upon him. When the last stick had surrendered up its heat, the frost would begin to gather strength. First his feet would yield, then his hands; and the numbness would travel, slowly, from the extremities to the body. His head would fall forward upon his knees, and he would rest. It was easy. All men must die.

He did not complain (он не жаловался). It was the way of life, and it was just (это было путем/манерой жизни, и это было справедливо). He had been born close to the earth (он родился близко к земле = на земле), close to the earth had he lived (на земле он жил), and the law thereof was not new to him (и этот закон ее не был новым для него). It was the law of all flesh (это был закон всего живого; all flesh – все живое: «вся плоть»). Nature was not kindly to the flesh (природа не была добра к плоти). She had no concern for that concrete thing called the individual (она не имела интереса/заботы о том конкретном существе, называемом индивидуумом). Her interest lay in the species, the race (ее интерес состоит: «лежит» в виде, расе). This was the deepest abstraction old Koskoosh's barbaric mind was capable of (это была глубочайшая абстракция, /на которую/ примитивный ум старого Коскуша был способен), but he grasped it firmly (но он усвоил это твердо). He saw it exemplified in all life (он видел это, показанное на примере всей жизни; to exemplify – иллюстрировать, показывать на примере). The rise of the sap (подъем живительной силы /в растениях/; sap – сок /растений/), the bursting greenness of the willow bud (готовая распуститься зелень ивовой почки; to burst – лопаться; разрываться), the fall of the yellow leaf (опадание желтого листа) – in this alone was told the whole history (в этом одном была рассказана целая история). But one task did Nature set the individual (но одну задачу природа поставила перед живым существом). Did he not perform it, he died (/если/ оно не выполнило ее, оно умирало). Did he perform it, it was all the same, he died (/если/ выполнило ее – было то же самое – оно умирало). Nature did not care (природа была безразлична); there were plenty who were obedient (было множество /тех/, кто был послушен), and it was only the obedience in this matter (и только покорность в этом деле/вопросе: «материи»), not the obedient (а не /сами/ покорные), which lived and lived always (которая жила и жила всегда = и только покорность была вечной, а сами покорные умирали). The tribe of Koskoosh was very old (племя Коскуша было очень старым). The old men he had known when a boy (старики, которых он знал, когда /был/ мальчиком), had known old men before them (знали стариков до себя). Therefore it was true that the tribe lived (следовательно, это была правда, что племя жило), that it stood for the obedience of all its members (что оно означало покорность/подчинение всех своих членов; to stand for – поддерживать, стоять за; символизировать, означать, обозначать, значить), way down into the forgotten past (сколько бы ни отступать: «/весь/ путь вниз» в забытое прошлое), whose very resting-places were unremembered (чьи сами могилы = даже могилы которых были забыты). They did not count; they were episodes (они не в счет, они были эпизодами; to count – считать; иметь значение). They had passed away like clouds from a summer sky (они ушли, подобно облакам с летнего неба). He also was an episode, and would pass away (он также был эпизодом и уйдет /тоже/).

concern [kqn'sWn], barbaric [bR'bxrIk], obedience [q'bJdIqns]

He did not complain. It was the way of life, and it was just. He had been born close to the earth, close to the earth had he lived, and the law thereof was not new to him. It was the law of all flesh. Nature was not kindly to the flesh. She had no concern for that concrete thing called the individual. Her interest lay in the species, the race. This was the deepest abstraction old Koskoosh's barbaric mind was capable of, but he grasped it firmly. He saw it exemplified in all life. The rise of the sap, the bursting greenness of the willow bud, the fall of the yellow leaf – in this alone was told the whole history. But one task did Nature set the individual. Did he not perform it, he died. Did he perform it, it was all the same, he died. Nature did not care; there were plenty who were obedient, and it was only the obedience in this matter, not the obedient, which lived and lived always. The tribe of Koskoosh was very old. The old men he had known when a boy, had known old men before them. Therefore it was true that the tribe lived, that it stood for the obedience of all its members, way down into the forgotten past, whose very resting-places were unremembered. They did not count; they were episodes. They had passed away like clouds from a summer sky. He also was an episode, and would pass away.

Nature did not care (природа безразлична: «не заботилась, не волновалась»). To life she set one task, gave one law (жизни она поставила одну задачу, дала один закон; to give – дарить, давать, вручать). To perpetuate was the task of life, its law was death (/навсегда/ сохраняться было задачей жизни, ее законом была смерть). A maiden was a good creature to look upon (девушка была хорошим созданием /для того, чтобы/ смотреть /на нее/), full-breasted and strong (полногрудой и сильной), with spring to her step and light in her eyes (с живостью/энергичностью в походке и светом в глазах). But her task was yet before her (но ее задача была еще впереди: «перед ней»). The light in her eyes brightened (свет в ее глазах разгорается), her step quickened (ее походка убыстряется), she was now bold with the young men (она была то смелая с юношами), now timid (то робкая), and she gave them of her own unrest (и она передавала им свое собственное волнение; rest – покой; unrest – беспокойство). And ever she grew fairer and yet fairer to look upon (и постоянно она становилась красивее и еще красивее, /чтобы/ смотреть на нее = на вид), till some hunter (пока какой-нибудь охотник), able no longer to withhold himself (не способный более сдерживаться), took her to his lodge to cook and toil for him and to become the mother of his children (брал ее в свой вигвам, /чтобы/ готовить и трудиться для него, и стать матерью его детей). And with the coming of her offspring her looks left her (и с приходом ее отпрыска/ребенка красота покидала ее; look – вид, внешность, облик). Her limbs dragged and shuffled (ее конечности волочились и шаркали), her eyes dimmed and bleared (ее глаза тускнели и затуманивались), and only the little children found joy against the withered cheek of the old squaw by the fire (и только маленькие дети находили радость у морщинистой щеки этой старой скво; squaw – скво, индианка). Her task was done (ее задача была выполнена). But a little while (но скоро; in a little while – скоро), on the first pinch of famine or the first long trail (при первой атаке голода или первом длинном переходе; to pinch – щипать; pinch – щипок; сжатие, сужение; крайняя нужда; стесненное положение), and she would be left (и она будет оставлена), even as he had been left (точно так, как он был оставлен = как оставили его), in the snow, with a little pile of wood (в снегу, с маленькой кучкой дров). Such was the law (таков был закон).

maiden [meIdn], perpetuate [pq'peCueIt], withered ['wIDqd], squaw [skwL]

Nature did not care. To life she set one task, gave one law. To perpetuate was the task of life, its law was death. A maiden was a good creature to look upon, full-breasted and strong, with spring to her step and light in her eyes. But her task was yet before her. The light in her eyes brightened, her step quickened, she was now bold with the young men, now timid, and she gave them of her own unrest. And ever she grew fairer and yet fairer to look upon, till some hunter, able no longer to withhold himself, took her to his lodge to cook and toil for him and to become the mother of his children. And with the coming of her offspring her looks left her. Her limbs dragged and shuffled, her eyes dimmed and bleared, and only the little children found joy against the withered cheek of the old squaw by the fire. Her task was done. But a little while, on the first pinch of famine or the first long trail, and she would be left, even as he had been left, in the snow, with a little pile of wood. Such was the law.

He placed a stick carefully upon the fire (он положил палку осторожно в огонь) and resumed his meditations (и продолжил свои размышления). It was the same everywhere, with all things (так было повсюду, со всем). The mosquitoes vanished with the first frost (комары/москиты пропадали с первым морозом). The little tree-squirrel crawled away to die (маленькая древесная белка уползала прочь /чтобы/ умереть). When age settled upon the rabbit it became slow and heavy (когда возраст подходил к кролику, он становился медлительным и тяжелым), and could no longer outfoot its enemies (и не мог более унести ноги /от/ своих врагов). Even the big bald-face grew clumsy (даже большой /медведь/ с белым пятном на морде становится неповоротливым; bald – с белым пятном /о животных/) and blind (и слепым) and quarrelsome (и сварливым), in the end to be dragged down by a handful of yelping huskies (/чтобы/ в конце быть стащенным вниз = сбитым горсткой визжащих собак; husky – лайка). He remembered how he had abandoned his own father on an upper reach of the Klondike one winter (он вспомнил, как он покинул = бросил своего собственного отца в верховье Клондайка одной зимой; upper reach – участок верхнего течения реки), the winter before the missionary came with his talk-books and his box of medicines (той зимой, перед тем /как/ пришел миссионер со своими молитвенниками и своим ящиком лекарств). Many a time had Koskoosh smacked his lips over the recollection of that box (много раз Коскуш причмокивал губами при воспоминании о том ящике), though now his mouth refused to moisten (хотя сейчас его рот отказывался увлажняться = у него не было уже слюны). The «painkiller» had been especially good («болеутолитель» был особенно хорош). But the missionary was a bother after all (но миссионер был обузой/беспокойством для всех), for he brought no meat into the camp (потому что он не приносил мясо в лагерь), and he ate heartily (и он ел охотно/усердно), and the hunters grumbled (и охотники ворчали). But he chilled his lungs on the divide by the Mayo (но он застудил легкие на водоразделе около Мэйо), and the dogs afterwards nosed the stones away and fought over his bones (и собаки потом растолкали носом камни = разбросали камни и подрались из-за его костей).