I make a bold rescue (отважное спасение)

I KNEW that the tide would not be at its highest again before night (что прилив не будет на своем самом высоком /уровне/ до ночи). So I thought that I would arm myself (вооружусь), and, as soon as it was dark (как только станет темно), would venture out (решусь сделать вылазку) and learn more about my strange visitors if I could (и выясню больше о моих странных гостях, если смогу).

I looked at my guns and got everything ready (подготовил все), and then sat down to wait.

The day, as I have said, was very hot. The three men who had been prisoners still sat under a tree by the shore (все еще сидели под деревом на берегу). But all the rest were in the woods. No doubt they would rest in some shady place (в тенистом месте) until the sun went down.

At about two o'clock I became so uneasy (беспокойным) that I could wait no longer (не мог больше ждать).

"Friday," I said, "let us go out and see what we can do (давай выйдем и посмотрим, что мы можем сделать)."

You should have seen us as we marched out of the castle (вам следовало бы видеть нас, как мы маршировали из замка).

I had two guns on my shoulders (плечах) and Friday had three (и Пятница нес три). I had on my goatskin coat and my great hat that I have told you about. At my side was a naked sword (обнаженная шпага), and in my belt were two huge pistols (два огромных пистолета).

I must have looked very fierce (свирепым).

We went quietly down the hill, keeping ourselves hidden among the trees (скрываясь: «держа нас скрытыми» за деревьями). At last, when we were quite near the three men, I jumped suddenly out before them and cried (выпрыгнул вдруг перед ними и выкрикнул), "What are you, gentlemen?"

Never were men more surprised (никогда люди не бывали удивлены больше).

They sprang to their feet (вскочили на ноги), but they could not speak a word. In fact, they were on the point of running away from me when I cried (были готовы убежать от меня, когда я крикнул): "Hold (стойте), gentlemen! Do not be afraid. I am a friend. I bring help (я несу помощь)."

"Then, indeed," said one of them, "you must have been sent from heaven (должно быть, посланы с небес); for our case is hopeless (ибо наша участь безнадежна)."

"All help is from heaven, sir," I said; and then I briefly (кратко) told them how I had seen them brought to the shore.

"I am an Englishman," I said, "and I stand ready to help you. I have one servant (слугу), and we are well armed. Tell us what is your case (в чем ваше дело = что случилось; case — случай, обстоятельство, дело, положение), and how we may serve you (чем: «как» мы можем служить вам)."

"Our case," said the foremost of the three men (передний/главный из трех человек), "is too long to tell you now; for our enemies are very near (враги очень близко). I was the captain of the ship that lies at anchor offshore (которое лежит на якоре в море). Three days ago the sailors all rose against me (моряки восстали против меня). They made me their prisoner (пленником). They seized upon the ship (захватили корабль), for they wanted to become pirates (хотели стать пиратами).

"They were about to kill me (готовы убить меня); but this morning they decided to leave me on this island to die (оставить меня на острове погибать). The men who are with me, they are doomed to the same fate (приговорены к той же участи). One is my mate (друг), the other a passenger (пассажир).

"Being brought ashore here, we had no hope but to perish (только погибнуть). For it did not seem to us that any one could live in such a desolate place (чтобы кто-то мог жить в таком пустынном месте)."

"But where are those cruel enemies of yours (где те жестокие ваши враги)?" I asked. "Do you know where they are gone?"

"They are there, sir," he said, pointing to a grove (указал на лесок) not far away. "They are sleeping in the shade (в тени). If they should wake and see you with us, they would kill us all."

"Have they any firearms (огнестрельное оружие)?" I asked.

"Only two muskets (мушкета)," he answered, "and one of these they have left in the boat."

"Then trust everything to me (доверьте все мне)," I said. "If they are asleep it will be easy to kill them all. But I think it will be better to make them our prisoners."

The captain then told me that there were two very wicked fellows among them (два больших злодея: «злых парня» среди них; wicked — злой, безнравственный) who were the ringleaders (зачинщиками).

"It is they who have made all this trouble (волнение, беспорядок)," he said. "If they and two others could be overcome the rest would come back and do their duty (если их и двоих других можно будет одолеть, другие вернутся и будут исполнять свой долг). Indeed (в самом деле), I am sure that many of them have gone into this business against their will (я уверен, что многие из них пошли в дело против своей воли)."

prudent ['pru:dǝnt] existence [ιg'zιstǝns]