Английский язык с Джеком Лондоном. В далекой стране (рассказы)

Percy Cuthfert's evil star must have been in the ascendant, for he, too, joined this company of argonauts. He was an ordinary man, with a bank account as deep as his culture, which is saying a good deal. He had no reason to embark on such a venture, — no reason in the world, save that he suffered from an abnormal development of sentimentality. He mistook this for the true spirit of romance and adventure. Many another man has done the like, and made as fatal a mistake.

The first break-up of spring found the party following the ice-run of Elk River (первое весеннее вскрытие рек ото льда застало отряд следующим за ледоходом на реке Элк;[8]

to break up — вскрываться /о реке/). It was an imposing fleet (это была внушительная флотилия), for the outfit was large (ибо снаряжения было много), and they were accompanied by a disreputable contingent of half-breed voyageurs with their women and children (и их сопровождал пользующийся дурной славой контингент канадских проводников-полукровок с женщинами и детьми; disreputable — пользующийся дурной репутацией, имеющий сомнительную репутацию; имеющий дурную славу

). Day in and day out (изо дня в день), they labored with the bateaux and canoes (они продвигались с трудом на канадских плоскодонках и каноэ; bateaux — канадские плоскодонки), fought mosquitoes and other kindred pests (сражались с москитами и другими сходными вредителями; to fight — бороться, сражаться), or sweated and swore at the portages (или потели и ругались на переправах волоком; to swear — клясться; ругаться

). Severe toil like this lays a man naked to the very roots of his soul (такой суровый тяжелый труд обнажает человека до самых корней его души), and ere Lake Athabasca was lost in the south (и прежде чем озеро Атабаска пропало из виду на юге), each member of the party had hoisted his true colors (каждый член отряда показал свое истинное лицо; to hoist one’s true colors — показать свое истинное лицо, показать себя в истинном свете: «поднять истинные цвета /флага/ = истинный флаг»; to hoist one’s flag — обнаружить свои истинные намерения; раскрыть карты; in one's true colours — в истинном свете, в своём настоящем виде).

bateaux [ba'tO], sweat [swet], ere [eq]

The first break-up of spring found the party following the ice-run of Elk River. It was an imposing fleet, for the outfit was large, and they were accompanied by a disreputable contingent of half-breed voyageurs with their women and children. Day in and day out, they labored with the bateaux and canoes, fought mosquitoes and other kindred pests, or sweated and swore at the portages. Severe toil like this lays a man naked to the very roots of his soul, and ere Lake Athabasca was lost in the south, each member of the party had hoisted his true colors.