I have a strange visitor

THE next morning, when the tide was at its lowest I swam out to the ship again.

There were still many things on board of it that might be useful to me in my island home. I wished to save all that I could.

I climbed up the ship's side just as I had done the day before.

Before looking for anything I made another raft, just like the first one, but smaller. It was not so easy to make, for I had used up all the best planks. It was neither so large nor so strong as the first raft.

In the carpenter's shop I found three bags of nails and a grindstone. I found also a box full of little hatchets and a small barrel of musket balls.

In the captain's room I found six or seven guns, which I had overlooked before, and another keg of powder.

All these things I loaded with much care upon my raft.

Then I gathered up as many clothes as I could find; also a spare sail, a hammock, and some bedding.

The raft was now quite full. The things were not heavy, but they made a large pile.

When the tide turned for the shore, I cut loose and was soon floating homeward.

I had found a good oar in the ship. This I used as a paddle, and I had no trouble in guiding the raft to the right landing place.

I looked to see if the goods were safe which I brought over the day before.

There, on one of my chests, I saw a strange animal sitting. She looked like a wild cat.

As I went toward her, she jumped down and ran a little way. Then she stood still.

I followed. She stood very firm and looked in my face. She looked as though she had a mind to get acquainted.

I pointed my gun at her, and shouted. But she did not care for that.

I had a bit of biscuit in my pocket. This I now tossed toward her. "Take this and begone," I shouted.

It rolled quite close to her nose. She smell of it and ate it. Then she looked up for more.

"Thank you, I have no more to give you," I said.

Whether she understood me, I do not know. But, with that, she turned and marched away.

I now set to work to get my second cargo on shore. It was no easy task, and I had to make many trips to and from the raft.

When everything was safely landed, I made me a little tent with the sail and some poles that I cut.

Then I put everything into the tent that needed to be kept dry. The empty boxes, I piled outside. They made a kind of wall around the tent, like the wall of a fort.

"This will keep the wild beasts out," I said.

By this time the day was nearly done. I spread one of the beds on the ground. I laid two loaded pistols near its head, and one of the guns by one side of it. Then I crept in and was soon fast asleep.

I find a great store of things (я нахожу большой склад вещей)

THE next day I went to the ship again (на следующий день я вновь пошел к кораблю). This I kept up for more than a week (это я продолжал делать более недели: «больше, чем неделю»; to keep up — поддерживать; соблюдать, придерживаться).

Every day I brought a load of things to the shore (каждый день я привозил груз вещей на берег; to bring — приносить; привозить).

At last there was nothing left (в конце концов не было ничего оставшегося: «не было ничего оставлено»; to leave — оставлять) that one pair of hands could lift (что могла поднять пара рук). But I do believe that if the fine days had held out (я действительно верю, что, если бы хорошие дни сохранились), I would have brought away the whole ship (я бы вынес весь корабль).

You ask how I would have done that (вы спрашиваете, как я бы сделал это)? I would have cut it into pieces and brought one piece at a time (я бы разрезал его на части и приносил бы одну часть за раз).

The last thing that I found was a secret drawer in the cabin (последней вещью, которую я обнаружил, был секретный /выдвижной/ ящик в каюте; drawer — /выдвижной/ ящик /стола, комода/; to draw — тащить, тянуть). In that drawer there was some money (в ящике было какое-то количество денег).

A part of this money was in gold pieces (часть этих денег была в золотых слитках)—"pieces of eight," we called them (мы называли их песо: «кусками /из/ восьми»; piece of eight — старинное испанское песо, равнявшееся восьми реалам). The rest was in silver (остальная часть была серебром; rest — остаток, остальная часть).

I smiled to myself (я улыбнулся себе = про себя/в мыслях) when I saw this money (когда увидел эти деньги).

"O useless stuff (бесполезная вещь; stuff — материя, материал; дрянь, хлам)!" I cried (воскликнул я). '"What are you good for now (что пользы от вас сейчас)? You are not worth picking up (вы не стоите того, чтобы подобрать вас). This little old knife (старый ножик) is worth much more (стоит много большего/обладает гораздо большей ценностью; worth — стоящий). I have no manner of use for you (я не знаю, как вас использовать: «не имею способа использования вас»; manner — способ, метод; образ действий; манера). Lie there, where you are (лежите там, где вы есть), and go to the bottom (и идите на дно)."

I was about to leave the cabin (я собирался уже покинуть кабину; to be about /+ инфинитив/ — быть готовым что-л. сделать) when I looked around again (когда я вновь ооглянулся). The bright pieces were so pretty (яркие слитки были столь красивы) that I could not bear to leave them (что я не мог вынести оставить их = просто не смог их оставить).

So I put them all in a strong bag (так что я поместил их в крепкую сумку) and tied it around my waist like a belt (и завязал ее вокруг талии, как ремень).

"It will not do (не пойдет = не годится) to throw good money away (выбрасывать добрые деньги)," I said.

When I went up on deck (когда я поднялся на палубу) the wind was blowing hard (ветер дул сильно). Dark clouds were beginning to cover the sky (темные облака начинали покрывать небо). The waves were rolling high (волны поднимались: «катились» высоко). A storm was coming (надвигалась буря).

I saw that it was time for me to hurry back to the shore (я увидел = понял, что было самое время для меня поспешить обратно к берегу).

I let myself down into the water (я спустился в воду: «пустил себя вниз в воду») and began to swim (и начал плыть = поплыл). The sea was rough (море было неспокойно/волновалось; rough — грубый; неровный; бурный /о море/). The money was heavy (деньги были тяжелыми).

I hastened home to my little tent (я поспешил домой к моему маленькому навесу). The storm had already begun (шторм уже начался).

last [lQ:st], secret ['si:krIt], drawer ['drO:q], lie ['laI], waist ['weIst], cloud ['klaud], hasten ['heIs(q)n], already [Ll'redI]