Английский язык с Р. Л. Стивенсоном. Остров сокровищ

For the last little while I had even lost (на какое-то время я даже отстал /от нее/; to lose — nотерять, лишаться, упускать); but now, redoubling my efforts (но теперь, удваивая усилия; to redouble — усилить, увеличить, удвоить; effort — усилие, попытка), I began once more to overhaul the chase (я начал снова ее нагонять; chase — охота, погоня; дичь).

yawing [`jɔ:ɪŋ] naturally [`nætʃrəlɪ] revolved [rɪ`vɔlvd] efforts [`efəts]

For some time she had been doing the worst thing possible for me — standing still. She headed nearly due south, yawing, of course, all the time. Each time she fell off her sails partly filled, and these brought her, in a moment, right to the wind again. I have said this was the worst thing possible for me; for helpless as she looked in this situation, with the canvas cracking like cannon, and the blocks trundling and banging on the deck, she still continued to run away from me, not only with the speed of the current, but by the whole amount of her leeway, which was naturally great.

But now, at last, I had my chance. The breeze fell, for some seconds, very low, and the current gradually turning her, the Hispaniola revolved slowly round her centre, and at last presented me her stern, with the cabin window still gaping open, and the lamp over the table still burning on into the day. The main-sail hung drooped like a banner. She was stock-still, but for the current.

For the last little while I had even lost; but now, redoubling my efforts, I began once more to overhaul the chase.

I was not a hundred yards from her (я был менее чем в ста ярдах от нее) when the wind came again in a clap (когда ветер вернулся в мгновение ока, резко надув паруса; clap — хлопок); she filled on the port tack (шхуна повернула на левый галс; on the port tack — левым галсом; галс — курс парусного судна относительно направления ветра), and was off again (и поплыла снова; to be off — отправляться, начинать движение

), stooping and skimming like a swallow (наклоняясь и скользя /по волнам/, словно ласточка).

My first impulse was one of despair (моим первым побуждением было отчаяние = сперва я отчаялся), but my second was towards joy (но моим вторым /импульсом/ была радость). Round she came, till she was broadside on to me (она описала круг, пока не стала ко мне бортом; to come round — объехать кругом, изменить направление) — round still till she had covered a half

(вот она покрыла половину; to cover — покрывать, преодолевать), and then two-thirds (затем две трети), and then three-quarters of the distance that separated us (а потом и три четверти расстояния, которое разделяло нас). I could see the waves boiling white under her forefoot (я видел, как волны пенились под хвостовиком ее форштевня; to boil — вариться, кипеть, бурлить; форштевень — крайний носовой брус, заканчивающий корпус судна). Immensely tall she looked to me from my low station in the coracle (чрезвычайно громадной казалась она мне с моего низкого места в челноке; station — пост, место, положение).