Английский язык с Р. Л. Стивенсоном. Остров сокровищ

The Hispaniola was under her main-sail and two jibs (Испаньола шла под своим главным парусом = гротом и двумя кливерами /кливер — косой треугольный парус в передней части судна (впереди фок-мачты)/), and the beautiful white canvas shone in the sun like snow or silver (и прекрасный белый парус сиял на солнце, словно снег или серебро; canvas — холст, парусина, брезент; парус)

. When I first sighted her, all her sails were drawing (когда я впервые увидел ее, все ее паруса были надуты; to draw — тащить, тянуть, натягивать); she was lying a course about north-west (она лежала на курсе = держала курс примерно на северо-запад); and I presumed the men on board were going round the island on their way back to the anchorage (и я предположил, что матросы на борту собираются обогнуть остров на своем пути назад к стоянке). Presently she began to fetch more and more to the westward (вскоре шхуна начала все больше и больше отклоняться к западу; to fetch — принести, достать

), so that I thought they had sighted me and were going about in chase (так что я подумал, что они заметили меня и собираются преследовать; chase — охота; преследование, погоня). At last, however, she fell right into the wind’s eye, was taken dead aback (наконец, однако, она встала прямо против ветра, застыла намертво; into the wind — против ветра; eye — глаз, око, центр /циклона/), and stood there a while helpless, with her sails shivering (и остановилась беспомощно, с колышущимися парусами;

to shiver — дрожать, трепетать, развеваться).

“Clumsy fellows (неуклюжие ребята),” said I; “they must still be drunk as owls (они, наверное, напились до бесчувствия: «как совы»).” And I thought how Captain Smollett would have set them skipping (и я подумал, как бы капитан Смоллетт заставил бы их пошевеливаться; to skip — прыгать, скакать

).

сanvas [`kænvəs] presumed [prɪ`zju:md] clumsy [`klʌmzɪ] owl [aul]

The Hispaniola was under her main-sail and two jibs, and the beautiful white canvas shone in the sun like snow or silver. When I first sighted her, all her sails were drawing; she was lying a course about north-west; and I presumed the men on board were going round the island on their way back to the anchorage. Presently she began to fetch more and more to the westward, so that I thought they had sighted me and were going about in chase. At last, however, she fell right into the wind’s eye, was taken dead aback, and stood there a while helpless, with her sails shivering.

“Clumsy fellows,” said I; “they must still be drunk as owls.” And I thought how Captain Smollett would have set them skipping.