I spent much time with Poll, the parrot. He soon learned to talk so well that it was a pleasure to hear him.
My dog had been my best friend and companion. He lived for sixteen years, and then died of old age.
As for my cats, the woods were full of them. All ran wild except the two that I kept in my castle. These were good mousers and fine pets.
I had also several tame fowls. These I had caught near the seashore when they were young. I cut their wing feathers short and taught them to eat from my hand.
I never knew what kind of birds they were, but they were large, almost as large as chickens. They lived among the hedge trees in front of my castle.
They made their nests there and kept me well supplied with eggs. I did not need to keep any other poultry.
Thus I lived very pleasantly in my island home. I would have been content to live there always if I could have felt safe from savages.
I SEE SAVAGES
(я вижу дикарей)
EARLY one morning (рано утром) in harvest time (во время сбора урожая) I went out to my grain fields to cut down some barley (я выходил в мои зерновые поля срезать ячмень = собирать ячмень). The days were so very hot that it was pleasanter to rise before daylight (эти дни были такими жаркими, что было приятнее встать до восхода) and do the heavier part of my work before the sun was high (и сделать самую тяжелую часть моей работы прежде, чем солнце будет высоко).
On this morning of which I am telling you (тем утром, о котором я рассказываю вам), I started out while it was still quite dark (я вышел в путь, когда еще было довольно темно). I had been to the fields so often that I could have found the way with my eyes shut (я бывал в полях так часто, что мог бы найти путь с закрытыми глазами; to shut — закрывать).
As I went along (пока я шел; to go along — двигаться вперед /обычно по дороге, по улице/), I was surprised to see a light far over toward my side of the island (я был удивлен увидеть огонек вдалеке ближе к моей стороне острова). I stopped and looked (я остановился и стал смотреть). It was plainly the light of a blazing fire (это был явно свет ярко горящего костра; to blaze — гореть ярким пламенем; fire — огонь; костер).
Who could have built a fire there (кто мог бы развести там костер)?
Surely none but savages (определенно никто, кроме дикарей).
I was so much surprised (я так удивлен) that I stood still and wondered (что остановился как вкопанный и задумался).
What if those savages should find my grain fields (что если те дикари найдут мои зерновые поля)?
They would know at once that somebody had planted them (они сразу узнают = поймут, что кто-то их посадил), and they would never rest till they should find me (и не успокоятся, пока не найдут меня; never — никогда).
I could now see the blaze quite plainly (я мог теперь видеть довольно ясно/отчетливо). As the day dawned (день рассветал), I could also see the smoke rising above the trees (я мог также видеть дым, поднимающийся над деревьями). The fire was not more than two miles away (костер был не более чем в двух милях).
I hurried back to my castle as fast as I could run (я поспешил обратно к замку так быстро, как только мог бежать). I made everything on the outside of it look as wild as possible (я сделал, чтобы все снаружи его выглядело так дико = необитаемо, как возможно).
I climbed over the wall and pulled up the ladder after me (я перелез через забор и затащил лестницу за собой).
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