Английский язык с Робинзоном Крузо (в пересказе для детей),

I now looked around to see what had become of the poor captive (я осмотрелся, чтобы увидеть, что стало с бедным пленником). I saw him standing still and gazing at me (я увидел егостоящим неподвижно и глазеющим/уставившимся на меня; to gaze — пристально глядеть; вглядываться; уставиться). The noise of my gun had frightened him so (шум моего ружья так испугал его) that he did not know what to do (что он не знал, что делать).

I called to him (я окликнул его): "Come here (иди сюда), my good fellow (приятель: «мой добрый товарищ»), I will not hurt you (я не обижу тебя; to hurt — причинить боль, ранить; обидеть)."

But of course he did not understand (конечно, он не понял). Then I motioned to him with signs (тогда я показал ему знаками; to motion — приглашать жестом, показывать жестом /что нужно или можно сделать/). He came a little way and then stopped (он подошел немного и затем остановился). He came a little farther (он подошел немного дальше) and stopped again (и вновь остановился). He was trembling like a leaf (он дрожал как лист).

No doubt (без сомнения) he was afraid that he would be killed as his two pursuers had been (он боялся, что будет убит, как были убиты два его преследователя).

I spoke kindly to him (я заговорил с ним доброжелательно) and made signs that I would not hurt him (и сделал знаки = знаками показал, что не причиню ему вреда). He came nearer and nearer (он подходил все ближе), trembling (дрожа), and kneeling down at almost every step (и чуть не вставая на колени почти при каждом шаге; to kneel down — преклонять колени, вставать на колени).

I smiled (я улыбнулся); I looked as pleasant as I could (я смотрел так мягко/любезно, как мог); I made still other signs (я еще делал другие знаки = продолжал делать знаки; still — до сих пор, /все/ еще, по-прежнему).

He came quite close to me (он подошел довольно близко ко мне). He laid his head upon the ground (он положил голову на землю; to lay — класть). He took hold of my foot and set it on his neck (он схватил мою ногу и поставил себе на шею). This was his way of saying that he would be my slave forever (это был способ сказать, что он будет моим рабом навсегда).

I took hold of his hand and lifted him up (я взял его руку и поднял его). I spoke kindly to him (я говорил с ним мягко).

Thus I at last got hold of a savage, as I had so long desired (таким образом я захватил дикаря, как я так долго хотел).

attack [ǝˈtæk], unusual [ˈʌnˈju:ʒuǝl], dance [dɑ:ns], miserable [ˈmɪz(ǝ)r(ǝ)bl], prisoner [ˈprɪznǝ], horrid [ˈhɔrɪd], once [wʌns], break [ˈbreɪk], liberty [ˈlɪbǝtɪ], fellow [ˈfelǝu], plunge [plʌnʤ], pursuer [pǝˈsju:ǝ], understood [ˌʌndǝˈstu:d], foremost [ˈfɔ:mǝust], pant [pɑ:nt], poor [ˈpuǝ], captive [ˈkæptɪv], forever [fǝˈrevǝ], desire [dɪˈzaɪǝ]

I GET HOLD OF A SAVAGE

FOR a year and a half I kept close watch upon the farther shore of the island as well as upon that nearest to my castle. But not a single savage came near. One morning in June, however, I had a great surprise.

I was just starting out from my castle when I saw five canoes lying high and dry on the beach not a mile away. There was not a man near them. The people who had come in them were perhaps asleep among the trees.

The number of canoes was greater than I had ever counted upon seeing. For there were always four or six savages in each canoe, and there must now be between twenty and thirty men somewhere on the shore.

I did not know what to think of it. I did not feel brave enough to attack so many.

So I stayed in my castle and made ready to defend myself.

"There is little hope of getting a savage this time," I thought to myself.

I waited a long while, but heard no unusual sound. I grew tired of waiting, and made up my mind to see what was going on.

So, with the help of my ladder, I climbed up to my lookout on the top of the rock. I put my spyglass to my eyes and looked down upon the beach.

Surely enough! there they were. I saw no fewer than thirty naked savages dancing around a fire. I saw that they were broiling meat upon the coals, but I could not tell what kind of meat it was.

As I watched I saw some of the dancers run to a boat and drag two miserable prisoners from it. They must have been in the boat all the time, but as they were lying down I did not see them.