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

I had never seen potters at work. I did not know how to build a kiln for firing the pots. I had never heard how earthenware is glazed.

But I made up my mind to see what could be done.

I put several pots and small jars in a pile, one upon another. I laid dry wood all over and about them, and then set it on fire.

As fast as the wood burned up, I heaped other pieces upon the fire. The hot flames roared all round the jars and pots. The red coals burned beneath them.

I kept the fire going all day. I could see the pots become red-hot through and through. The sand on the side of a little jar began to melt and run.

After that I let the fire go down, little by little. I watched it all night, for I did not wish the pots and jars to cool too quickly.

In the morning I found that I had three very good earthen pots. They were not at all pretty, but they were as hard as rocks and would hold water.

I had two fine jars also, and one of them was well glazed with the melted sand.

After this I made all the pots and jars and plates and pans that I needed. They were of all shapes and sizes.

You would have laughed to see them.

Of course I was awkward at this work. I was like a child making mud pies.

But how glad I was when I found that I had a vessel that would bear the fire! I could hardly wait to put some water in it and boil me some meat.

That night I had turtle soup and barley broth for supper.

I BUILD A BIG CANOE

(я мастерю большое каноэ)

WHILE I was doing these things I was always trying to think of some way to escape from the island (пока я делал эти вещи, я постоянно пытался подумать о каком-то пути /как/ сбежать с острова).

True (правда), I was living there with much comfort (я жил там с большим удобствами). I was happier than I had ever been while sailing the seas (я был счастливее, чем был когда-либо, пока плавал по морям = чем когда плавал по морям).

But I longed to see other men (но я очень хотел увидеть других людей). I longed for home and friends (я очень хотел увидеть дом и друзей; to long for smth. — очень хотеть, страстно желать чего-л., стремиться к чему-л.).

You will remember that when I was over at the farther side of the island (вы, наверное, помните, что когда я был на дальней стороне острова) I had seen land in the distance (я видел на расстоянии/в отдалении землю). Fifty or sixty miles of water lay between me and that land (пятьдесят или шестьдесят миль воды лежало между мной и той землей). Yet I was always wishing that I could reach it (но я всегда желал, чтобы я мог достичь ее).

It was a foolish wish (это глупое желание). For there was no telling what I might find on that distant shore (потому что трудно было предположить, что я мог бы найти на том далеком берегу; distant — отдаленный).