Робинзон Крузо (2).

Даниэль Дефо. (2 стр.книги)

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

When I went up on deck (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 высоко). A storm was coming (надвигалась буря).

I saw that it was time for me to hurry back to the shore (поспешить обратно).

I let myself down into the water (прыгнул в воду) and began to swim. The sea was rough (море было неспокойно, волновалось). The money was heavy (деньги были тяжелыми).

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

stuff [st?f] rough [r?f] castle [ca:sl]

I FIND A GREAT STORE OF THINGS

THE next day I went to the ship again. This I kept up for more than a week.

Every day I brought a load of things to the shore.

At last there was nothing left that one pair of hands could lift. But I do believe that if the fine days had held out, I would have brought away the whole ship.

You ask how I would have done that? I would have cut it into pieces and brought one piece at a time.

The last thing that I found was a secret drawer in the cabin. In that drawer there was some money.

A part of this money was in gold pieces—"pieces of eight," we called them. The rest was in silver.

I smiled to myself when I saw this money.

"O useless stuff!" I cried. '"What are you good for now? You are not worth picking up. This little old knife is worth much more. I have no manner of use for you. Lie there, where you are, and go to the bottom."

I was about to leave the cabin when I looked around again. The bright pieces were so pretty that I could not bear to leave them.

So I put them all in a strong bag and tied it around my waist like a belt.

"It will not do to throw good money away," I said.

When I went up on deck the wind was blowing hard. Dark clouds were beginning to cover the sky. The waves were rolling high. A storm was coming.

I saw that it was time for me to hurry back to the shore.

I let myself down into the water and began to swim. The sea was rough. The money was heavy.

I hastened home to my little tent. The storm had already begun.

I BUILD ME A CASTLE ( строю себе замок )

I LAY down on my bed (лег в постель), with my money and other precious things close at hand (с деньгами и другими ценными вещами близко к руке = положив возле себя).

All night long the wind blew and the rain poured (ветер дул и дождь лил; to blow).

Early in the morning I arose (встал) and looked out toward the sea (взглянул на море).

The waves were rolling (волны поднимались: «катились») very high.

The ship was gone (корабль исчез). The sea had swallowed it up (море проглотило его).

As I could make no more visits to the ship (так как я не мог делать больше визитов на корабль), I now began to think of other things.

I was still afraid lest there were savage beasts on the island (я все еще боялся, были ли дикие животные на острове = а вдруг на острове дикие животные).

Savage men (дикие люди), too, might come that way (тоже могли объявиться).

If any of these should find me (если бы кто-то из них нашел меня), how could I protect myself from them (как я смогу защититься от них)?

I must have a stronger house (более крепкий дом) to live in (в котором жить: «чтобы жить в /нем/»). I must build me a little fort or castle (построить себе небольшую крепость или замок).

The place I was in was flat and wet (место, в котором я был, было ровным и сырым). My tent was on open ground (на открытой земле) and could be plainly seen from a distance (мог быть легко увиден с расстояния). There was no fresh water near it (не было пресной воды рядом).

I must find a better place than this for my castle (лучшее место для замка).

A little way from the shore there was a rocky hill (скалистый холм). I went to look at it.

Halfway (на полпути) up the hill there was a large level place (большой уступ), with a great rock rising behind it like the side of a house (с большим камнем, вырастающим сзади как стена дома).

I climbed up (взобрался) to the level place. There was but one way to go (только один путь), and that was by a steep and winding path (по крутой и вьющейся дорожке).

I found the place much larger (намного больше) than I thought. It was more than a hundred yards long (сто ярдов длиной /ярд — мера длины, равная 3 футам или 914,4 мм/) and almost half as broad (почти половину этого шириной).

It was, indeed (в самом деле), a green field (зеленое поле), or plain (равнина), with steep cliff rising up behind it (с крутой скалой, поднимающейся за ней). You must think of it as a great shelf (большая полка) half way up the side of the hill (на полпути до верхушки холма).

"Here," I said to myself, "is the place for my castle (место для замка)."

It was no easy thing to carry (перевезти) all my goods up the steep path (по крутой тропинке) to this level plain (до уступа). I worked hard for many days (трудился упорно много дней); but, then, there was nothing else to do (ничего другого не было делать), and I must keep busy (а нужно было чем-то заняться).

At one place on the side of the great rock there was a break (пролом), or opening (отверстие), like the door to a cave (как дверь в пещеру). But there was no cave there (не было пещеры там).

Just in front of this break (как раз перед) I began to build my castle. First, I drew a half circle upon the ground (нарисовал полукруг на земле), with the opening (с углублением) at the center (в центре). The space which it inclosed (расстояние, которое он /полукруг/ ограничивал) was about thirty feet across (было около тридцати футов в диаметре).

In this half circle I set up two rows of strong stakes (два ряда крепких столбов, колов), driving them deep into the ground (вдолбив их глубоко в землю).

The rows (ряды) were not more than six inches apart (не больше, чем шесть дюймов друг от друга /дюйм = 2,5 см/). The stakes (столбы) were about two inches apart and as high as my head (такими высокими, как моя голова = на уровне головы).

Then between and around these stakes I laid the great ropes (уложил большие веревки) that I had brought (принес) from the ship. Among these I twined (скрутил, перевил) the slender branches of trees (тонкие ветки деревьев) and long grapevines (длинные ветки виноградной лозы) that I found in the woods (которые нашел в лесу).

When all was finished I had a wall nearly six feet high (я имел стены почти шести футов высотой). It was so strong that nothing could break through it (/стена/ была/ такой крепкой, что ничто не могло прорваться сквозь нее).

I made no door in the wall (не сделал двери в стене). The only way in which to get into the yard (единственный способ попасть внутрь двора) behind it (за стеной) was by going over the top (был пройти через верх). This was done by climbing a short ladder (это делалось посредством залезания по короткой лестнице) which I could lift up after me, and then let down again (которую я мог поднять за собой, а потом спустить вниз опять).

How safe I felt now (в какой безопасности я чувствовал себя сейчас), as I stood inside of my castle wall!

Over this wall I next carried all my riches (все мои богатства), food, my tools, my boxes of clothing (еду, инструменты, коробки с одеждой). Then, right against the great rock (прямо у большой скалы), I made me a large tent to shelter me from the rain (я сделал большой навес, чтобы укрывать себя от дождя).

Into this tent I brought everything that would be spoiled by getting wet (что было бы испорчено, если бы намокло). In the middle of it (в середине) I swung the hammock (повесил гамак; to swing) that I had brought from the ship. For you must remember that I was a sailor (так как вы должны помнить, что я был моряком), and I could sleep better in a hammock than on a bed (я мог спать лучше в гамаке, чем на кровати).

The hollow place in the rock (полость в скале) was just as I hoped (была точно такой, как я надеялся). It was, indeed, a large cleft or crack (большая расселина или трещина), filled only with earth and small stones (заполненная только землей и маленькими камнями).

With such tools as I had I began to dig the earth and stones away (выкапывать землю и камни). I carried them out through my tent and piled them up along (уложил их вдоль) the inside of my wall (внутренней стороны стены).

In a few days I had made quite a cave which would serve very well as a cellar to my castle (которая могла очень хорошо служить как подвал для моего замка).

I called the cave my kitchen (назвал пещеру моей кухней); but when I began my cooking I found it best to do most of that work outside (нашел, что лучше делать большую часть этого /готовки/ снаружи).

In bad weather (в плохую погоду), however (однако), the kitchen was an excellent place to live in (кухня была прекрасным местом для жизни).

halfway [‘ha:f’wei] ladder [l?d?]

I BUILD ME A CASTLE

I LAY down on my bed, with my money and other precious things close at hand. All night long the wind blew and the rain poured.

Early in the morning I arose and looked out toward the sea.

The waves were rolling very high.

The ship was gone. The sea had swallowed it up.

As I could make no more visits to the ship, I now began to think of other things.

I was still afraid lest there were savage beasts on the island.

Savage men, too, might come that way.

If any of these should find me, how could I protect myself from them?

I must have a stronger house to live in. I must build me a little fort or castle.

The place I was in was flat and wet. My tent was on open ground and could be plainly seen from a distance. There was no fresh water near it.

I must find a better place than this for my castle.

A little way from the shore there was a rocky hill. I went to look at it.

Halfway up the hill there was a large level place, with a great rock rising behind it like the side of a house.

I climbed up to the level place. There was but one way to go, and that was by a steep and winding path.

I found the place much larger than I thought. It was more than a hundred yards long and almost half as broad.

It was, indeed, a green field, or plain, with steep cliff rising up behind it. You must think of it as a great shelf half way up the side of the hill.

"Here," I said to myself, "is the place for my castle."

It was no easy thing to carry all my goods up the steep path to this level plain. I worked hard for many days; but, then, there was nothing else to do, and I must needs keep busy.

At one place on the side of the great rock there was a break, or opening, like the door to a cave. But there was no cave there.

Just in front of this break I began to build my castle. First, I drew a half circle upon the ground, with the opening at the center. The space which it inclosed was about thirty feet across.

In this half circle I set up two rows of strong stakes, driving them deep into the ground.

The rows were not more than six inches apart. The stakes were about two inches apart and as high as my head.

Then between and around these stakes I laid the great ropes that I had brought from the ship. Among these I twined the slender branches of trees and long grapevines that I found in the woods.

When all was finished I had a wall nearly six feet high. It was so strong that nothing could break through it.

I made no door in the wall. The only way in which to get into the yard behind it was by going over the top. This was done by climbing a short ladder which I could lift up after me, and then let down again.

How safe I felt now, as I stood inside of my castle wall!

Over this wall I next carried all my riches, food, my tools, my boxes of clothing. Then, right against the great rock, I made me a large tent to shelter me from the rain.

Into this tent I brought everything that would be spoiled by getting wet. In the middle of it I swung the hammock that I had brought from the ship. For you must remember that I was a sailor, and I could sleep better in a hammock than on a bed.

The hollow place in the rock was just as I hoped. It was, indeed, a large cleft or crack, filled only with earth and small stones.

With such tools as I had I began to dig the earth and stones away. I carried them out through my tent and piled them up along the inside of my wall.

In a few days I had made quite a cave which would serve very well as a cellar to my castle.

I called the cave my kitchen; but when I began my cooking I found it best to do most of that work outside.

In bad weather, however, the kitchen was an excellent place to live in.

I GO A-HUNTING ( я иду на охоту ; to hunt — охотиться )

WEEKS and weeks passed before my castle was finished (недели и недели прошли до того, как мой замок был завершен).

I did not work at it all the time (не работал все время). Almost, every day I went out with my gun to see what I could find (почти каждый день я выходил со своим ружьем, чтобы увидеть, что я мог найти = поискать что-нибудь).

The very first day (в самый первый день) I saw a flock of goats (стадо коз). How glad I was (рад)!

But they were very shy and very swift (очень пугливыми и быстрыми). As soon as they saw me (как только они увидали меня) they ran away in great fright (убежали в большом страхе).

After that, I saw them nearly every day (почти каждый день). But it was hard to get near them (но было трудно подобраться к ним близко).

One morning I saw an old goat feeding (старую козу, кормящую) in the valley with a kid by her side (в долине с ребенком /козленком/ рядом с ней). I crept along among the rocks (пробрался между камнями) in such a way (так, таким образом) that she did not see me.

When I was close enough (близко достаточно), I raised my gun and fired (выстрелил). The mother goat fell (упала), being killed at once by the shot (будучи убитой выстрелом сразу).

It was a cruel deed (это был жестокий поступок), and I felt indeed sorry for the poor beast (я чувствовал жалость к бедному животному). But how else (но как еще) should I find food for myself in that lonely place (в этом уединенном месте)?

The kid did not run away (не убежал). It stood quite still (стоял совсем неподвижно) by its mother's side. When I picked up the old goat and carried her to my castle, the little one followed me (маленький пошел за мной).

I lifted it over the wall. I thought I would tame it (я думал, что смогу приручить его), and keep it as a pet (и держать как домашнее животное).

But it would not eat (он не хотел есть). I could do no better than kill it and use it for my own food (я не мог сделать ничего лучше, как убить его и использовать для моей еды).

The flesh (мясо) of these two goats lasted me a long time (служило: «продолжалось» мне долгое время); for I did not eat much meat (не ел много мяса), and I still had many of the biscuits (печенья) that I had saved from the ship.

About a month later I shot at a young goat and lamed it (выстрелил в молодую козу и покалечил ее, сделал хромой; lame — хромой). I caught it and carried it home (поймал и принес домой; to catch — ловить), dressed its wounded leg (перевязал раненую ногу), and fed it (и накормил; to feed).

Its leg was soon as well and as strong as ever (нога скоро была такой же здоровой и крепкой, как всегда). The little animal became quite tame (маленькое животное стало вполне прирученным) and followed me everywhere I went (следовало за мной, куда бы я не шел).

I thought how fine it would be if I could have a whole flock of such creatures (как хорошо было бы иметь целое стадо таких созданий, тварей, животных). Then I would be sure of food when my powder and shot were gone (тогда я был бы спокоен за еду, когда мой порох и дробь закончатся).

afterward [‘a:ft?w?d] creature [kri:t??] wounded [wu:ndid] fright [frait]

I GO A-HUNTING

WEEKS and weeks passed before my castle was finished.

I did not work at it all the time. Almost, every day I went out with my gun to see what I could find. The very first day I saw a flock of goats. How glad I was!

But they were very shy and very swift. As soon as they saw me they ran away in great fright.

After that, I saw them nearly every day. But it was hard to get near them.

One morning I saw an old goat feeding in the valley with a kid by her side. I crept along among the rocks in such a way that she did not see me.

When I was close enough, I raised my gun and fired. The mother goat fell, being killed at once by the shot.

It was a cruel deed, and I felt indeed sorry for the poor beast. But how else should I find food for myself in that lonely place?

The kid did not run away. It stood quite still by its mother's side. When I picked up the old goat and carried her to my castle, the little one followed me.

I lifted it over the wall. I thought I would tame it, and keep it as a pet.

But it would not eat. I could do no better than kill it and use it for my own food.

The flesh of these two goats lasted me a long time; for I did not eat much meat, and I still had many of the biscuits that I had saved from the ship.

About a month later I shot at a young goat and lamed it. I caught it and carried it home, dressed its wounded leg, and fed it.

Its leg was soon as well and as strong as ever. The little animal became quite tame and followed me everywhere I went.

I thought how fine it would be if I could have a whole flock of such creatures. Then I would be sure of food when my powder and shot were gone.

I KEEP MYSELF BUSY (я держу себя занятым = нахожу себе занятия)

AMONG the things that I brought from the ship there were several which I have not told you about (среди вещей, который я принес с корабля, было несколько, о которых я не рассказал вам). I will name them now (назову их сейчас).

First I got from the captain's desk some pens, ink, and paper (сначала я взял с капитанского стола несколько карандашей, чернила и бумагу). These were afterward a great comfort to me (они были впоследствии большим подспорьем для меня = очень пригодились; comfort — утешение; поддержка, помощь), as you shall learn (как вы узнаете).

There were some charts and compasses (карт и компасов), and three or four books on navigation (книг по навигации). These I threw in a corner (их я бросил в угол), for I did not think I should ever need them (так как я не думал, что когда-нибудь они потребуются мне).

Among my own things there were three very old Bibles (среди моих собственных вещей было три очень старых Библии), which I had bought in England and had packed with my clothing (которые я купил в Англии и упаковал вместе с моей одеждой).

And I must not forget the dog and two cats (не должен забывать = должен упомянуть собаку и двух кошек) that came to shore with me (которые прибыли на берег со мной). I carried both the cats on my raft with my first cargo (я привез обеих кошек на своем плоту с первым грузом).

As for the dog (что касается собаки), he jumped off the wreck (спрыгнула с потерпевшего крушение корабля) and swam to the shore (доплыла до берега). He was my best friend for a long time (он /пес/ был моим лучшим другом долгое время). He followed me everywhere (ходил за мной все время; to follow smb – следовать за кем-то). He would run and fetch things (он бегал и приносил вещи) to me as I bade him (как я просил его). I wanted him to talk to me (я хотел, чтобы он говорил со мной), but this he could not do (но этого он не мог делать).

As for my pens, ink, and paper, I took the greatest care of them (я очень заботился о них). As long as my ink lasted (пока мои чернила были; to last — продолжаться , сохраняться), I wrote down everything that happened to me (я записывал все, что происходило со мной).

But when that was gone (но когда это кончилось), I could write no more for I did not know how to make ink (не мог больше писать, так как не знал, как делать чернила).

I soon found that I needed many things to make me comfortable (вскоре обнаружил, что мне нужно было много вещей, чтобы устроиться удобно, обеспечить комфорт).

First, I wanted a chair and a table (во-первых, я хотел стул и стол); for without them I must live like a savage (так как без них я должен жить, как дикарь).

So I set to work (принялся за работу). I had never handled a tool in my life (никогда не управлялся с инструментами в моей жизни). But I had a saw (пилу), an ax (топор), and several hatchets (несколько топориков, резаков); and I soon learned to use them all (вскоре научился пользоваться ими всеми).

If I wanted a board (доску), I had to chop down a tree (должен был срубить дерево). From the trunk (из ствола) of the tree I cut a log (бревно) of the length that my board was to be. Then I split the log (раскалывал бревно) and hewed it flat till it was as thin as a board (и обрубал его плоско, пока оно не было тонким, как доска).

All this took time and much hard work (все это занимало время и /требовало/ много тяжелой работы). But I had nothing else to do (не было ничего другого, чем заняться).

I made the table and chair out of short pieces of board (из коротких обрубков доски) I had brought from the ship (/которые/ я принес с корабля).

Of the large boards which I hewed from trees (из больших досок, которые я вырубил из деревьев), I made some wide shelves (широкие полки) along the side of my cave or kitchen (вдоль стен моей пещеры и кухни).

On these shelves I laid my tools, nails, and other things (положил мои инструменты, гвозди и другие вещи).

I had a place for everything (место для всего), and kept everything in its place (держал все на своем месте).

My cave looked like some stores you have seen where a little of everything is kept for sale (моя пещера выглядела как некоторые магазины/склады, которые вы видели, где всего понемногу хранится на продажу).

From time to time I made many useful things (время от времени я делал много полезных вещей).

From a piece of hard wood (из куска крепкой древесины) that I cut in the forest (которую я срезал в лесу) I made a spade to dig with (я сделал лопату, которой /можно/ копать, чтобы копать). The handle I shaped (ручке я придал форму) just like the handles you buy at the stores (совсем как ручки, /которые/ вы покупаете в магазинах). But the shovel part (лопатная часть) was of wood and would not last long (не продержалась бы долго).

While I was digging my cave (пока я копал пещеру), I found it very hard work to carry the earth and small stones away (я обнаружил, что очень тяжело таскать землю и маленькие камни). I needed a wheelbarrow very much (мне очень нужна была тачка).

I could make the frame part of this (я мог сделать каркас из этого), but I did not know how to make the wheel (колесо). I worked four days at it (четыре дня над этим), and then had to give it up (должен был бросить это, отказаться от этого).

At last I made me a kind of hod (подобие лотка /для подноса кирпичей/), like that which masons use (такие как каменотесы используют). It was better than a basket (лучше, чем ведро) and almost as good as a wheelbarrow (и почти такое же хорошее, как тачка).

wonder [w?nd?] hew [hju:] Bible [baibl]

I KEEP MYSELF BUSY

AMONG the things that I brought from the ship there were several which I have not told you about. I will name them now. First I got from the captain's desk some pens, ink, and paper. These were afterward a great comfort to me, as you shall learn.

There were some charts and compasses, and three or four books on navigation. These I threw in a corner, for I did not think I should ever need them.

Among my own things there were three very old Bibles, which I had bought in England and had packed with my clothing.

And I must not forget the dog and two cats that came to shore with me. I carried both the cats on my raft with my first cargo.

As for the dog, he jumped off the wreck and swam to the shore. He was my best friend for a long time. He followed me everywhere. He would run and fetch things to me as I bade him. I wanted him to talk to me, but this he could not do.

As for my pens, ink, and paper, I took the greatest care of them. As long as my ink lasted, I wrote down everything that happened to me.

But when that was gone, I could write no more for I did not know how to make ink.

I soon found that I needed many things to make me comfortable.

First, I wanted a chair and a table; for without them I must live like a savage.

So I set to work. I had never handled a tool in my life. But I had a saw, an ax, and several, hatchets; and I soon learned to use them all.

If I wanted a board, I had to chop down a tree. From the trunk of the tree I cut a log of the length that my board was to be. Then I split the log and hewed it flat till it was as thin as a board.

All this took time and much hard work. But I had nothing else to do.

I made the table and chair out of short pieces of board I had brought from the ship.

Of the large boards which I hewed from trees, I made some wide shelves along the side of my cave or kitchen.

On these shelves I laid my tools, nails, and other things.

I had a place for everything, and kept everything in its place.

My cave looked like some stores you have seen where a little of everything is kept for sale.

From time to time I made many useful things.

From a piece of hard wood that I cut in the forest I made a spade to dig with. The handle I shaped just like the handles you buy at the stores. But the shovel part was of wood and would not last long.

While I was digging my cave, I found it very hard work to carry the earth and small stones away. I needed a wheelbarrow very much.

I could make the frame part of this, but I did not know how to make the wheel. I worked four days at it, and then had to give it up.

At last I made me a kind of hod, like that which masons use. It was better than a basket and almost as good as a wheelbarrow.

I HAVE A GREAT FRIGHT ( я имею большой страх )

THE very next day after my cave was finished (на следующий день после /того как/ моя пещера была закончена) a frightful thing happened (страшная вещь случилась). I came near losing everything and my own life as well (я подошел близко = был на грани потери всего и моей жизни также).

I will tell you about it.

I was busy behind my tent (занят за навесом) when I heard a fearful noise (страшный шум) above my head (над головой). Before I could look up (посмотреть вверх), a great load of earth and stones came tumbling down (большой вес = куча земли и камней повалилась вниз).

It was a wonder that I was not buried alive (было чудо, что я не был похоронен заживо). I was scared (испуган), for I thought the whole top of the cave was falling in (так как подумал, что вся верхушка пещеры падала).

I ran out and climbed over my wall (выбежал и залез на стену). The great rock behind my castle seemed to be shaking (большая скала за замком, казалось, тряслась). Stones and earth were rolling down its side (катились вниз по ее склону).

"An earthquake! an earthquake (землетрясение)!" I cried.

The ground shook (земля затряслась). A tall rock (высокий камень) that stood between me and the seashore toppled over and fell (который стоял между мной и морским берегом, перевернулся и упал). The noise was the most frightful I ever heard (самым страшным, какой я когда-либо слышал).

There were three shocks (три тряски) about eight minutes apart (около восьми минут между = с перерывом в восемь минут). The strongest building you ever saw would have been overturned (самое крепкое здание, какое вы когда-либо видели, было бы перевернуто).

I was so frightened that I did not know what to do (был так напуган, что не знал, что делать). I sat on the ground and could not move (сел на землю и не мог пошевелиться). I could only cry, over and over again (мог только плакать, опять и опять), "Lord, have mercy on me (Господи, имей жалость ко мне)!"

After the third shock was over I began to grow braver (после /того, как/ третий толчок закончился, я начал становиться смелее). But still I sat on the ground, wondering what would come next (думая, что произойдет потом).

All at once the sky was overcast (небо было закрыто). Dark clouds rolled over the sea (темные облака набежали над морем). The wind began to blow (ветер начал дуть). A dreadful hurricane was at hand (смертельный ураган был близок).

The sea was covered with foam (покрыто пеной). The waves were mountain high (с гору высотой). On the shore, trees were torn up by the roots (деревья были вывернуты с корнем). If my tent had not been well sheltered behind the great rock (если бы мой навес не был хорошо укрыт за большой скалой), it would have been carried away (был бы снесен).

The hurricane lasted fully three hours (ураган длился полных три часа). Then the rain began to pour down (дождь начал лить).

All this time I sat on the ground outside, too much frightened to go back into my castle (все это время я сидел на земле снаружи, слишком сильно напуганный, чтобы вернуться назад в мой замок).

Toward night the rain slackened (к ночи дождь ослаб), and I ventured over my wall (отважился перелезть через стену). The tent was half beaten down (навес был наполовину снесен). So I crept through into the cave (пробрался в пещеру). I was half afraid that even it would tumble down on my head (я был наполовину напуган = немного опасался, что даже это могло упасть на мою голову).

damage [d?mid?] ground [graund] earthquake [‘?:?kweik]

I HAVE A GREAT FRIGHT

THE very next day after my cave was finished a frightful thing happened. I came near losing everything and my own life as well. I will tell you about it.

I was busy behind my tent when I heard a fearful noise above my head. Before I could look up, a great load of earth and stones came tumbling down.

It was a wonder that I was not buried alive. I was scared, for I thought the whole top of the cave was falling in.

I ran out and climbed over my wall. The great rock behind my castle seemed to be shaking. Stones and earth were rolling down its side.

"An earthquake! an earthquake!" I cried.

The ground shook. A tall rock that stood between me and the seashore toppled over and fell. The noise was the most frightful I ever heard.

There were three shocks about eight minutes apart. The strongest building you ever saw would have been overturned.

I was so frightened that I did not know what to do. I sat on the ground and could not move. I could only cry, over and over again, "Lord, have mercy on me!"

After the third shock was over I began to grow braver. But still I sat on the ground, wondering what would come next.

All at once the sky was overcast. Dark clouds rolled over the sea. The wind began to blow. A dreadful hurricane was at hand.

The sea was covered with foam. The waves were mountain high. On the shore, trees were torn up by the roots. If my tent had not been well sheltered behind the great rock, it would have been carried away.

The hurricane lasted fully three hours. Then the rain began to pour down.

All this time I sat on the ground outside, too much frightened to go back into my castle.

Toward night the rain slackened, and I ventured over my wall. The tent was half beaten down. So I crept through into the cave. I was half afraid that even it would tumble down on my head.

I EXPLORE MY ISLAND ( исследую свой остров )

IT rained all that night (шел дождь всю ночь). But in the cave everything was warm and dry (но в пещере все было теплым и сухим), and little by little I lost my fear (мало-помалу утратил свой страх).

The earthquake and the hurricane had done great damage to my castle (причинили большой ущерб моему замку). I had to work hard for many days (должен был усиленно трудиться много дней) to put things to rights again (чтобы привести все в порядок).

I had now been on the island about ten months (был уже на острове около десяти месяцев). In all that time I had seen only a small part of it (за все это время я видел только малую часть его).

One morning I set out with my gun on my shoulder for a long walk (одним утром пустился с ружьем на плече на длительную прогулку).

I went up the little river (прошел вверх вдоль маленькой реки) where I had first landed with my rafts (где я впервые причаливал с моими плотами). I found that it was a very short river (я обнаружил, что это была очень короткая река). After about two miles (через примерно две мили), the tide did not flow any higher (прилив не приливал выше); and above that (кроме того), the stream was only a little brook of fresh water (над этим /местом/ поток был только маленьким ручьем пресной воды).

Along the brook there were pleasant meadows (красивые луга), covered with high grass (покрытые высокой травой).

In the dryer parts of these meadows (в более сухих частях этих лугов) I found tobacco growing wild (нашел табак, растущий диким = дикорастущий табак).

I looked for the roots of a plant which the Indians use instead of bread (искал корни растения, которое индейцы используют вместо хлеба), but could find none (не мог найти ни одного).

In one place, however (однако), I saw many tall sugar canes (много высоких /растений/ сахарного тростника) and some fair-looking plants of a kind that was strange to me (несколько красиво выглядящих растений вида, который был незнаком мне).

As I went back to my castle I wondered how I could learn something useful about the many objects I had seen (пока я шел обратно в мой замок, я думал, как я мог узнать что-то полезное о многих объектах, /которые/ я видел). But I had never taken much thought about such things (но я никогда много не думал об этих вещах), and now I had but little chance to learn (и теперь я имел лишь маленький шанс = не имел особой возможности узнать).

The next day I went up the same way, but much farther (на следующий день я пошел по тому же пути, но намного дальше).

Beyond the meadows (за лугами) I came to some beautiful woods (красивые леса).

Here I found several different kinds of fruits (несколько разных видов фруктов). There were grapevines covering the trees (были виноградные лозы, покрывающие деревья), and huge clusters of ripe grapes were hanging from them (огромные гроздья зрелого винограда свисали с них).

I was very glad of this (очень рад этому). I made up my mind to come another day (в другой день) and gather some of this fruit (собрать какие-то из этих фруктов). I would dry the grapes in the sun (я бы высушил = высушу виноград на солнце), and have some raisins (и имел бы = получу изюм).

Night came on (ночь пришла) while I was still in the woods (пока я все еще был в лесу), and I could not do better than stay there till morning (не мог сделать ничего лучше, как остаться там до утра). So I climbed into a tree and slept there quite well (залез на дерево и поспал там очень хорошо).

It was the first night that I had spent away from home (была первая ночь, которую я провел вне дома).

The next day I went on through the woods for nearly four miles (я прошел по лесу почти четыре мили).

At last I came to an open space where the land sloped to the west (наконец я пришел к открытому пространству, где земля клонилась к западу). The country was so fresh and green that it looked like a big garden (местность была такой свежей и зеленой, что выглядела, как большой сад).

I went down into a pleasant valley (красивую долину) where there were many beautiful trees (где было много прекрасных деревьев). There I found oranges, lemons, limes, and citrons (апельсины, лаймы /маленькие зеленые лимончики/, лимоны), besides many grapes (помимо множества винограда).

I loaded myself with fruit and started homeward (нагрузился фруктами и начал /идти/ домой). "I must come again and bring a sack (принести мешок)," I said.

It was three days before I reached my castle (только через три дня я достиг дома: «замка»). By that time the fruit had lost all its flavor (к тому времени фрукты потеряли весь свой вкус).

The next day I went back to the same valley (вернулся в ту же самую долину). I carried two small sacks to bring home my harvest (я нес два маленьких мешка, чтобы принести домой мой урожай).

But I found many of the grapevines torn down (обнаружил многие лозы сорванными; to tear down — срывать , разрушать). The fruit was scattered on the ground (плоды были разбросаны по земле). Some had been eaten (некоторые были съедены). Some had been trodden to pieces (растоптаны на куски).

A wild animal had been there (дикое животное было там). Perhaps it was a goat (возможно, коза), perhaps it was a larger beast (большее животное). Perhaps several animals had done the mischief (повреждение).

valley [‘v?li] meadow [‘med?u] hurricane [‘h?rik?n]

I EXPLORE MY ISLAND

IT rained all that night. But in the cave everything was warm and dry, and little by little I lost my fear. The earthquake and the hurricane had done great damage to my castle. I had to work hard for many days to put things to rights again.

I had now been on the island about ten months. In all that time I had seen only a small part of it .

One morning I set out with my gun on my shoulder for a long walk.

I went up the little river where I had first landed with my rafts. I found that it was a very short river. After about two miles, the tide did not flow any higher; and above that, the stream was only a little brook of fresh water.

Along the brook there were pleasant meadows, covered with high grass.

In the dryer parts of these meadows I found tobacco growing wild.

I looked for the roots of a plant which the Indians use instead of bread, but could find none.

In one place, however, I saw many tall sugar canes and some fair-looking plants of a kind that was strange to me.

As I went back to my castle I wondered how I could learn something useful about the many objects I had seen. But I had never taken much thought about such things, and now I had but little chance to learn.

The next day I went up the same way, but much farther.

Beyond the meadows I came to some beautiful woods.

Here I found several different kinds of fruits. There were grapevines covering the trees, and huge clusters of ripe grapes were hanging from them.

I was very glad of this. I made up my mind to come another day and gather some of this fruit. I would dry the grapes in the sun, and have some raisins.

Night came on while I was still in the woods, and I could not do better than stay there till morning. So I climbed into a tree and slept there quite well.

It was the first night that I had spent away from home.

The next day I went on through the woods for nearly four miles.

At last I came to an open space where the land sloped to the west. The country was so fresh and green that it looked like a big garden.

I went down into a pleasant valley where there were many beautiful trees. There I found oranges, lemons, limes, and citrons, besides many grapes.

I loaded myself with fruit and started homeward. "I must come again and bring a sack," I said.

It was three days before I reached my castle. By that time the fruit had lost all its flavor.

The next day I went back to the same valley. I carried two small sacks to bring home my harvest.

But I found many of the grapevines torn down. The fruit was scattered on the ground. Some had been eaten. Some had been trodden to pieces.

A wild animal had been there. Perhaps it was a goat, perhaps it was a larger beast. Perhaps several animals had done the mischief.

I GET READY FOR WINTER ( я готовлюсь к зиме )

I WAS so much pleased with the valley I had discovered (я был так доволен этой долиной, /которую/ я открыл) that I spent much of my time there (что я проводил большую часть времени там).

At last I built me a small summer house (наконец я построил себе маленький летний домик) close by a grove of orange trees (близко к роще апельсиновых деревьев).

It was but little more than a bower (чуть больше, чем беседка), made of the branches of trees (сделанная из веток деревьев).

I built a strong fence around it (крепкий забор вокруг него). This was made of two rows of tall stakes (из двух рядов высоких кольев) with brushwood between (с ветками между /ними/).

There was no gate in this fence (не было ворот в этом заборе), but only a short ladder (только короткая лестница), just as at my castle (совсем как в моем замке).

Here I sometimes stayed two or three nights together (здесь я иногда оставался на две или три ночи кряду).

I gathered about two hundred clusters of grapes and hung them up to dry (собрал почти двести гроздьев винограда и повесил сушиться). In due time (в должное время) they made the finest of raisins (из них сделался самый вкусный изюм). I took them down and carried them to my castle (я собрал их и отнес в мой замок).

Thus little by little I gathered food for winter (мало-помалу я собрал еду на зиму).

The winters there were not cold. But the rain fell every day (дождь падал = шел каждый день), and often all the day (и часто весь день).

I had just finished my bower (только что закончил беседку), and was beginning to enjoy myself when the rainy season or winter, began (и начал наслаждаться, когда = как сезон дождей, или зима, начался).

What could I do but hurry back to my castle and its dry, warm cave (что я мог сделать, кроме как поторопиться обратно в замок и в его сухую, теплую пещеру)?

For weeks I could not stir out without getting wet (не мог выйти, не намокнув; to stir — шевелиться , двигаться). My store of food began to grow small (мои запасы еды начали сокращаться).

One day, in spite of the rain (несмотря на дождь), I went out and killed a goat (вышел и убил козу). The next day I found a very large turtle among the rocks (нашел очень большую черепаху среди камней).

This was all good luck (это все была удача), for I had now enough to eat for many a day (так как у меня было достаточно /всего/ поесть на много дней).

My meals were simple and plain (мои блюда были простыми и несложными).

For breakfast (на завтрак), I had a bunch of raisins and a bit of biscuit (горсть изюма и кусок печенья).

For dinner (на обед), I had broiled turtle (вареную черепаху). I could not have turtle soup (суп из черепахи), for I had no vessel in which to cook it (так как не имел сосуда, в котором приготовить его).

For supper (на ужин), I ate two or three turtle's eggs (черепашьих яйца).

Although I was kept close indoors by the rain (хотя я содержался внутри из-за дождя), I was never idle (я никогда не был без дела; idle — праздный).

Every day I worked at making my cave larger (каждый день я работал /над тем, чтобы/ сделать мою пещеру больше). I dug far in (копал дальше), behind the rock (за скалу), and made a fine, large room there (и сделал красивую, большую комнату там).

Then I made another door or way out (дверь или выход), which opened on the outside of my wall (которая открывалась снаружи моей стены). So now I could come into the castle through the cellar (мог входить в замок через подвал), or kitchen (или кухню), and without climbing the ladder (не взбираясь по лестнице).

This was much handier and easier than the other way (намного удобнее и легче, чем наоборот). But it did not seem so safe (не казалось таким безопасным). I feared now lest some wild beast might get into my house (я боялся, как бы дикие животные не смогли попасть в мой дом); and yet the biggest animal (хотя самым большим животным) I had seen on the island was a goat (/которое/ я видел на острове, была коза).

Soon after this I put a roof over my whole inclosure (скоро после этого я поместил крышу над всем своим убежищем). I took a number of long poles for rafters (несколько длинных шестов в качестве стропил) and laid one end of each on the wall (положил один конец каждого /стропила/ на стену), while the other end leaned against the rock above the cave (когда другой конец опирался на стену над пещерой).

These I covered with boughs of trees (ветками деревьев), long grass (длинной травой), and such other things as I could get (и такими другими вещами, которые мог достать). In this way I made a very good roof which turned the rain and kept everything dry (так я сделал очень хорошую крышу, которая отклоняла = защищала от дождя и сохраняла все сухим).

My castle was now a very roomy place (очень просторным местом). It was quite warm and dry even in the worst of weather (довольно теплым и сухим даже в самую плохую погоду).

inclosure [ink’l?u??] gather [g???] orange [‘orind?]

I GET READY FOR WINTER

I WAS so much pleased with the valley I had discovered that I spent much of my time there. At last I built me a small summer house close by a grove of orange trees.

It was but little more than a bower, made of the branches of trees.

I built a strong fence around it. This was made of two rows of tall stakes with brushwood between.

There was no gate in this fence, but only a short ladder, just as at my castle.

Here I sometimes stayed two or three nights together.

I gathered about two hundred clusters of grapes and hung them up to dry. In due time they made the finest of raisins. I took them down and carried them to my castle.

Thus little by little I gathered food for winter.

The winters there were not cold. But the rain fell every day, and often all the day.

I had just finished my bower, and was beginning to enjoy myself when the rainy season, or winter, began.

What could I do but hurry back to my castle and its dry, warm cave?

For weeks I could not stir out without getting wet. My store of food began to grow small.

One day, in spite of the rain, I went out and killed a goat. The next day I found a very large turtle among the rocks.

This was all good luck, for I had now enough to eat for many a day.

My meals were simple and plain.

For breakfast, I had a bunch of raisins and a bit of biscuit.

For dinner, I had broiled turtle. I could not have turtle soup, for I had no vessel in which to cook it.

For supper, I ate two or three turtle's eggs.

Although I was kept close indoors by the rain, I was never idle.

Every day I worked at making my cave larger. I dug far in, behind the rock, and made a fine, large room there.

Then I made another door or way out, which opened on the outside of my wall. So now I could come into the castle through the cellar, or kitchen, and without climbing the ladder.

This was much handier and easier than the other way. But it did not seem so safe. I feared now lest some wild beast might get into my house; and yet the biggest animal I had seen on the island was a goat.

Soon after this I put a roof over my whole inclosure. I took a number of long poles for rafters and laid one end of each on the wall, while the other end leaned against the rock above the cave.

These I covered with boughs of trees, long grass, and such other things as I could get. In this way I made a very good roof which turned the rain and kept everything dry.

My castle was now a very roomy place. It was quite warm and dry even in the worst of weather.

I MAKE ME A CALENDAR ( делаю себе календарь )

IT was now just one year since I was cast upon this lonely island (сейчас был как раз один год с того времени, когда я был выброшен на этот необитаемый остров).

Do you wonder how I have kept an account of the time (вам интересно, как я вел счет времени)? I will tell you.

A few days after the ship wreck (несколько дней спустя после кораблекрушения) it came into my mind that I should lose track of the days and the seasons (мне пришло в голову, что я могу потерять счет дней и сезонов = времен года). For I had neither almanac nor notebook (так как не имел ни альманаха = календаря, ни записной книжки). It would be hard always to remember the days of the week (было бы трудно всегда помнить дни недели) and I might even forget when it was Sunday (мог бы даже забыть, когда воскресенье).

So I set up a large post by my door (установил большой шест у двери). At the top of this post I cut in large letters these words (на верхушке шеста я вырезал большими буквами эти слова):

I CAME ON SHORE HERE (я высадился на берег здесь)

SEPTEMBER 30, 1659.

Every morning I cut a little notch on the side of the post under these words (вырезал зарубку на боку шеста под этими словами).

Every seventh notch was twice as long as the rest (каждая седьмая зарубка была в два раза длиннее других; rest — остаток , остальное), and this showed me that the day was Sunday.

Every thirtieth notch was longer and broader (каждая тридцатая зарубка была длиннее и шире). This showed me that a full month had gone by (она показывала мне, что целый месяц прошел).

It was thus I made my calendar (вот так я сделал календарь).

One morning I found, on counting up (одним утром я нашел, подсчитывая), that there were three hundred and sixty-five notches (365 зарубок на столбе). I knew, therefore, that it was just one year since my landing (я узнал, таким образом, что прошел уже год со времени моей высадки).

I sat in my castle and thought of the goodness of God in thus keeping me alive (я сидел в моем замке и думал о благодетели Бога /который/ так сохранил мне жизнь) and safe in the midst of so many perils (посреди столь многих опасностей)

I humbled myself (смирился), and thanked him for his many mercies (за многие милости).

For twelve hours I tasted nothing (двенадцать часов я не ел ничего). When, at last, the sun went down, I ate a biscuit and a bunch of grapes and went to bed (когда, наконец, солнце зашло, я съел печенье и гроздь винограда и пошел в постель).

Having now been on the island a whole year (пробыв на острове целый год), I had learned that the seasons there were not the same as in England (я узнал, что времена года не были такими, как в Англии).

They were not to be spoken of as spring, summer, autumn, and winter (не приходилось говорить о весне, лете, осени и зиме). They were rather to be called the wet season and the dry season (скорее их нужно было называть дождливым и сухим сезонами). Indeed, there were two wet seasons and two dry seasons, in the year (в самом деле, было два влажных сезона = сезона дождей и два сухих сезона в году).

season [si:zn] almanac [‘o:lm?n?k] account [?’kaunt]

I MAKE ME A CALENDAR

IT was now just one year since I was cast upon this lonely island. Do you wonder how I have kept an account of the time? I will tell you.

A few days after the ship wreck it came into my mind that I should lose track of the days and the seasons. For I had neither almanac nor notebook. It would be hard always to remember the days of the week and I might even forget when it was Sunday.

So I set up a large post by my door. At the top of this post I cut in large letters these words:

I CAME ON SHORE HERE

SEPTEMBER 30, 1659.

Every morning I cut a little notch on the side of the post under these words.

Every seventh notch was twice as long as the rest, and this showed me that the day was Sunday.

Every thirtieth notch was longer still and broader. This showed me that a full month had gone by.

It was thus I made my calendar.

One morning I found, on counting up, that there were three hundred and sixty-five notches on the post. I knew, therefore, that it was just one year since my landing.

I kept this day as a solemn fast.

I sat in my castle and thought of the goodness of God in thus keeping me alive and safe in the midst of so many perils

I humbled myself, and thanked him for his many mercies.

For twelve hours I tasted nothing. When, at last, the sun went down, I ate a biscuit and a bunch of grapes and went to bed.

Having now been on the island a whole year, I had learned that the seasons there were not the same as in England.

They were not to be spoken of as spring, summer, autumn, and winter. They were rather to be called the wet season and the dry season. Indeed, there were two wet seasons and two dry seasons, in the year.

I SOW SOME GRAIN ( сею зерно )

THE first wet season began about the middle of February (первый влажный сезон начался примерно в середине февраля) and lasted till the middle April (длился до середины апреля).

The first dry season began about the middle of April and lasted till the middle of August.

The second wet season began about the middle of August and lasted till the middle October.

The second dry season began about the middle of October and lasted till the middle of February.

I could not have kept track of these thing easily if it had not been for my calendar (я не смог бы вести учет этому так легко, если бы не мой календарь).

Just before the first rainy season began I was one day rummaging among the shelves in my cave (совсем перед тем, как первый сезон дождей начался, я одним днем тщательно искал среди полок в пещере; to rummage – тщательно разыскивать что - то).

There I found the little bag (сумку) that I had brought from the ship with some barley in it (которую я принес с корабля с некоторым количеством ячменя в ней), as I have already told you (как я уже говорил вам).

I lifted it; it was almost empty (я поднял ее, она была почти пуста).

I looked inside (внутрь). I saw nothing there but some dust and chaff (не увидел там ничего, кроме пыли и мякины). The rats had been there (крысы побывали там), and had eaten the grains of barley (съели зерна ячменя).

The bag would be useful for something else (сумка могла бы быть полезна для чего-нибудь другого). I took it outside and shook the dust and chaff upon he ground (я вынес ее наружу и вытряс пыль и мякину на землю). It was a sunny place (солнечное место), close by the great rock (близко к большой скале).

About a month after this (примерно /через/ месяц после этого), I saw that something green was starting to grow at that place (что-то зеленое начинало расти на том месте). I wondered what it was (я задался вопросом, что это было). It could not be grass (это не могла быть трава), for the stalks were larger and stronger (так как стебли были больше и крепче).

I had forgotten about the barley (забыл о ячмене). But I took care that nothing should break the stalks down (позаботился, чтобы ничто не сломало стебли).

They grew fast (они росли быстро), and were soon as high as my waist (скоро были такими высокими, как моя талия). Then I was surprised to see ten or twelve heads of green barley come out (был удивлен = с удивлением увидел как появились десять или двенадцать головок зеленого ячменя).

You cannot think how glad I was (вы не можете подумать = представить себе, как рад я был). I remembered, then, how I had shaken the bag of dust and chaff over that very spot (я вспомнил тогда, как я вытряс сумку пыли и мякины именно над тем местом).

But there was another surprise for me (но был и другой сюрприз, другая неожиданность для меня). I noticed in the wet ground (заметил в мокрой земле) a little nearer the rock some other green plants (немного ближе к скале, несколько других зеленных растений). These were not so tall as the barley stalks (они не были такими высокими, как стебли ячменя), and they did not seem to be the same (и они не казались такими же).

I watched them for several days (наблюдал за ними несколько дней). Then I saw that they were stalks of rice (они были стеблями риса). No doubt some grains of rice had been in the bag with the barley (без сомнения, несколько зерен риса было в сумке с ячменем), and had fallen out with the dust and chaff (вывалились вместе с пылью и мякиной).

You may be sure that I took good care of the grain (можете быть уверены, я хорошо позаботился о зерне). As soon as the barley was ripe I harvested it (как только ячмень был созревшим = созрел, я собрал урожай; to harvest — собирать урожай). There was only a handful or two (горсть или две); but I put it away where no rats could get to it (но я убрал его подальше, где никакие крысы не могли достать его). I wished to keep it safe and plant it again the next season (я хотел сохранить его и посадить вновь в следующем сезоне).

I did the same way with the rice (сделал тоже с рисом).

There was so little to begin with that it took a long time to grow a big crop (для начала было так мало, что заняло долгое время вырастить большой урожай). It was not until the fourth harvest that I could keep some of the barley for bread (только с четвертым урожаем я смог сберечь немного ячменя для хлеба).

I found that the best place to plant the grain was not on the hillside (я обнаружил, что лучшее место сажать зерно было не на склоне холма), but in a moist spot not far from my summer home (но в мокром месте недалеко от летнего дома).

One day, as soon as the wet season was at an end (однажды, как только мокрый сезон закончился), I made a visit to the country to see how my crops were growing (я совершил визит вглубь острова чтобы посмотреть, как мой урожай растет).

There I saw something that surprised me (там у видел что-то, что поразило меня).

You will remember the fence that I built around my summer house (вы вспомните забор, который я построил вокруг моего летнего дома), or bower as I called it (или беседки, как я называл его). It was made of two rows of tall stakes, with brush between (он был сделан из двух рядов длинных кольев с ветками между /ними/).

Well, I now found that the stakes were still green (так, я теперь обнаружил, что колья были зелеными), and that long shoots or twigs were growing from them (длинные побеги росли их них). Some of these branches were already two or three feet long (некоторые из веток были уже два-три фута длиной).

This pleased me very much (порадовало меня очень). I cut and trained the growing branches into just such shapes as I wished (подрезал и согнул растущие ветки как раз в такую форму, как я хотел).

They grew very fast (они росли очень быстро), and soon the whole fence was covered with green leaves (вскоре весь забор был покрыт зелеными листьями). Then I trained the long branches toward the top of a pole which I set up in the center of my bower (затем я загнул длинные ветки к верхушке шеста, который я установил в центре беседки).

In a few months the whole inclosure was covered with a green roof (через несколько месяцев все убежище было покрыто зеленой крышей).

You cannot think how beautiful it was (не можете себе представить, насколько это было красиво). The place was shady and cool (тенистым и прохладным), the pleasantest spot one could wish to have (самое приятное место, /которое/ кто-либо мог желать иметь).

I did not know what kind of tree it was that grew in this wonderful way (я не знал, какой вид дерева это был, что рос таким удивительным способом). But I cut some more stakes of the same sort and carried them home to my castle (но я срезал несколько еще кольев этого же вида и принес их домой в мой замок).

I set these stakes in a double row (воткнул эти колья в двойной ряд), about twenty inches outside of my first wall (примерно в двадцати дюймах снаружи от моей первой стены). In a few weeks they began to grow (через несколько недель они начали расти). They grew so fast that in two years they covered the whole space in front of my castle (они росли так быстро, что через два года они закрыли все пространство перед моим замком).

They were not only handsome to look at (на них не только было приятно смотреть), but they helped to protect my castle (они помогали защищать мой замок).

barley [‘ba:li] rummage [‘r?mid?] February [‘febru?ri]

I SOW SOME GRAIN

THE first wet season began about the middle of February and lasted till the middle April. The first dry season began about the middle of April and lasted till the middle of August.

The second wet season began about the middle of August and lasted till the middle October.

The second dry season began about the middle of October and lasted till the middle of February.

I could not have kept track of these thing easily if it had not been for my calendar.

Just before the first rainy season began I was one day rummaging among the shelves in my cave.

There I found the little bag that I had brought from the ship with some barley in it, as I have already told you.

I lifted it; it was almost empty.

I looked inside. I saw nothing there but some dust and chaff. The rats had been there, and had eaten the grains of barley.

The bag would be useful for something else. I took it outside and shook the dust and chaff upon he ground. It was a sunny place, close by the great rock.

About a month after this, I saw that something green was starting to grow at that place. I wondered what it was. It could not be grass, for the stalks were larger and stronger.

I had forgotten about the barley. But I took care that nothing should break the stalks down.

They grew fast, and were soon as high as my waist. Then I was surprised to see ten or twelve heads of green barley come out.

You cannot think how glad I was. I remembered, then, how I had shaken the bag of dust and chaff over that very spot.

But there was another surprise for me. I noticed in the wet ground a little nearer the rock some other green plants. These were not so tall as the barley stalks, and they did not seem to be the same.

I watched them for several days. Then I saw that they were stalks of rice. No doubt some grains of rice had been in the bag with the barley, and had fallen out with the dust and chaff.

You may be sure that I took good care of the grain. As soon as the barley was ripe I harvested it. There was only a handful or two; but I put it away where no rats could get to it. I wished to keep it safe and plant it again the next season.

I did the same way with the rice.

There was so little to begin with that it took a long time to grow a big crop. It was not until the fourth harvest that I could keep some of the barley for bread.

I found that the best place to plant the grain was not on the hillside, but in a moist spot not far from my summer home.

One day, as soon as the wet season was at an end, I made a visit to the country to see how my crops were growing.

There I saw something that surprised me.

You will remember the fence that I built around my summer house, or bower as I called it. It was made of two rows of tall stakes, with brush between.

Well, I now found that the stakes were still green, and that long shoots or twigs were growing from them. Some of these branches were already two or three feet long.

This pleased me very much. I cut and trained the growing branches into just such shapes as I wished.

They grew very fast, and soon the whole fence was covered with green leaves. Then I trained the long branches toward the top of a pole which I set up in the center of my bower.

In a few months the whole inclosure was covered with a green roof.

You cannot think how beautiful it was. The place was shady and cool, the pleasantest spot one could wish to have.

I did not know what kind of tree it was that grew in this wonderful way. But I cut some more stakes of the same sort and carried them home to my castle.

I set these stakes in a double row, about twenty inches outside of my first wall. In a few weeks they began to grow. They grew so fast that in two years they covered the whole space in front of my castle.

They were not only handsome to look at, but they helped to protect my castle.

I MAKE A LONG JOURNEY (предпринимаю длинное путешествие)

I HAD long wished to see the whole of my island (я долго желал увидеть весь мой остров). So, one fine morning (итак, одним прекрасным утром), I set out to travel across to the other side of it (я пустился путешествовать через /него/ до другого берега).

Of course I carried my gun with me (конечно, я нес мое ружье с собой). In my belt (на ремне) was my best hatchet (топорик). In my pouch (в /патронной/ сумке) I had plenty of powder and shot (много пороха и дроби). In my pocket were two biscuits and a big bunch of raisins (в кармане было два печенья и большая горсть изюма). My dog followed behind me (моя собака следовала за мной).

I went past my summer house (шел мимо летнего дома), or bower (или беседки), and toward evening came to a fine open place close by the sea (к вечеру пришел на красивое открытое место близко к морю).

It was a beautiful sight (красивый вид). The sky was clear, the air was still (небо было ясным, воздух спокойным). The smooth waters (тихие воды) stretched away and away toward the setting sun (тянулись вдаль и вдаль к к заходящему солнцу).

Far in the distance (далеко на расстоянии) I could see land (я мог видеть землю). I could not tell whether it was an island or some part of the mainland of America (я не мог сказать был ли это остров или часть континента Америки). It was at least fifty miles away (по меньшей мере в 50 милях).

If it were the mainland (если бы это был материк), I felt quite sure that I would at some time or other see a ship sailing hither to it or from it (был совершенно уверен, что когда-нибудь увижу корабль, плывущий к нему или от него). If it were an island (если это был остров), there might be savages (там могли быть дикари) whom it would not be safe for me to meet (которых для меня было бы небезопасно встретить). But it would do no good to worry my mind about such matters (не было смысла беспокоить мой ум /вопросами/ о подобных вещах: «материях»).

I found this side of the island much more beautiful than that where my castle was (я обнаружил, что эта сторона острова была намного красивее, чем та, где был мой замок).

Here were large, open fields, green with grass (большие, открытые поля, зеленые от травы = покрытые травой) and sweet with flowers (красивые: «сладкие, приятные» от цветов). Here, too, were fine woods, with many strange trees and vines (были красивые рощи с множеством странных деревьев и вьющихся растений).

I saw many green parrots among the trees (много зеленых попугаев среди деревьев), and I thought how I would catch one and teach it to talk (думал, как бы мне поймать одного и научить его говорить).

After a great deal of trouble I knocked a young one down with my stick (после множества трудностей я сбил молодого /попугая/ палкой). He was a good fighter (хороший боец), and it was no easy matter to get him (было не простым вопросом заполучить его). But at last I picked him up and put him in my bag (но в конце концов я подобрал его и положил в свою сумку).

He was not hurt (не был ранен), and I carried him home (принес его домой). It was a long time before I could make him talk (прошло много времени, прежде чем я заставил, научил его говорить). But at last he became a great pet (прекрасным питомцем) and would call me by my name (называл меня по имени). I shall have a funny story to tell about him after a while (я буду иметь смешную историю рассказать = я расскажу смешную историю о нем через некоторое время).

Besides parrots there were many other birds in the woods (кроме попугаев, там было много других птиц в лесу). Some of these were of kinds that I had never seen before (некоторые из них были видов, которых я никогда раньше не видел).

In the low grounds I saw some animals that looked like rabbits (на низких землях = в низинах я видел некоторых животных, которые выглядели как кролики). There were others that I took to be foxes (принимал за лис), but they were not such foxes as we have in England (но они были не такими лисами, каких мы имеем в Англии).

I traveled very slowly around the island (я путешествовал очень медленно по острову), for I wished to see everything (так как хотел увидеть все). Often I did not go more than two miles in a day (часто я не проходил более двух миль в день).

At night I sometimes slept in a tree (ночью я иногда спал на дереве), while my dog watched below me (пока моя собака охраняла внизу). Sometimes I shut myself up in a little pen made by driving tall stakes into the ground (иногда я скрывался в маленьком «пенале», сделанном посредством вбивания длинных палок в землю). I felt quite safe (чувствовала себя в безопасности), for nothing could come near me without waking me (так как ничто не могло приблизиться ко мне, не разбудив меня).

Along the seashore there were thousands of turtles (вдоль берега были тысячи черепах) and a great plenty of waterfowl (множество водоплавающих птиц).

I had no trouble to find all the food I needed (не имел проблем с нахождением всей той еды, которая мне была нужна). Sometimes I had a roast pigeon for dinner (жареного голубя на обед), sometimes the juicy meat of a turtle (сочное мясо черепахи), sometimes that of a goat (иногда мясо козы). No king could have fared better (никакой король не мог бы поесть лучше; to fare — жить, поживать; питаться).

One day my dog caught a young kid (собака поймала козленка). I ran and got hold of it (схватил его), and would not let him hurt it (не позволил ей ранить его).

I had a great mind to take it home with me (у меня было большое желание взять его домой с собой). So I made a collar for it (ошейник для него), and led it along by a string which I had in my pocket (отвел его рядом с собой на веревке, которая была у меня в кармане).

It was quite wild (довольно диким) and did not lead well (нелегко было его вести). It gave me so much trouble that I took it to my summer house and left it there (он доставил мне так много проблем, что я отвел его в летний дом и оставил там).

I then went home to my castle.

smooth [smu:?] pouch [paut?] journey [‘d??:ni]

I MAKE A LONG JOURNEY

I HAD long wished to see the whole of my island. So, one fine morning, I set out to travel across to the other side of it. Of course I carried my gun with me. In my belt was my best hatchet. In my pouch I had plenty of powder and shot. In my pocket were two biscuits and a big bunch of raisins. My dog followed behind me.

I went past my summer house, or bower, and toward evening came to a fine open place close by the sea.

It was a beautiful sight. The sky was clear, the air was still. The smooth waters stretched away and away toward the setting sun.

Far in the distance I could see land. I could not tell whether it was an island or some part of the mainland of America. It was at least fifty miles away.

If it were the mainland, I felt quite sure that I would at some time or other see a ship sailing hither to it or from it. If it were an island, there might be savages on it whom it would not be safe for me to meet. But it would do no good to worry my mind about such matters.

I found this side of the island much more beautiful than that where my castle was.

Here were large, open fields, green with grass and sweet with flowers. Here, too, were fine woods, with many strange trees and vines.

I saw many green parrots among the trees, and I thought how I would catch one and teach it to talk.

After a great deal of trouble I knocked a young one down with my stick. He was a good fighter, and it was no easy matter to get him. But at last I picked him up and put him in my bag.

He was not hurt, and I carried him home. It was a long time before I could make him talk. But at last he became a great pet and would call me by my name. I shall have a funny story to tell about him after a while.

Besides parrots there were many other birds in the woods. Some of these were of kinds that I had never seen before.

In the low grounds I saw some animals that looked like rabbits. There were others that I took to be foxes, but they were not such foxes as we have in England.

I traveled very slowly around the island, for I wished to see everything. Often I did not go more than two miles in a day.

At night I sometimes slept in a tree, while my dog watched below me. Sometimes I shut myself up in a little pen made by driving tall stakes into the ground. I felt quite safe, for nothing could come near me without waking me.

Along the seashore there were thousands of turtles and a great plenty of waterfowl.

I had no trouble to find all the food I needed. Sometimes I had a roast pigeon for dinner, sometimes the juicy meat of a turtle, sometimes that of a goat. No king could have fared better.

One day my dog caught a young kid. I ran and got hold of it, and would not let him hurt it.

I had a great mind to take it home with me. So I made a collar for it, and led it along by a string which I had in my pocket.

It was quite wild and did not lead well. It gave me so much trouble that I took it to my summer house and left it there.

I then went home to my castle.

I HARVEST MY GRAIN ( я собираю свое зерно )

I CANNOT tell you how glad I was to get to my old house again (как рад я был попасть в мой старый дом вновь) and lie down in my good hammock bed (и лечь в мою кровать-гамак).

I had been away for nearly a month (меня не было /здесь/ почти месяц).

I was so tired from my long journey (так устал от длинного путешествия) that I stayed in my castle nearly a week (что я остался в замке почти неделю).

While I was thus resting myself (пока я так отдыхал), I made a cage for my parrot (клетку для попугая) which I named Poll (которого я назвал Попка; poll — стандартная кличка для попугая). He was very gentle for a parrot (он был очень послушным, смирным для попугая), and soon became very fond of me (стал любить меня).

Then I began to think of the kid (козленке) that I had left in my summer bower (которого я оставил в беседке). So I went with my dog to fetch it (я пошел со своей собакой забрать его).

I found it where I had left it (нашел его там, где оставил его). It had eaten all the grass inside of the fence (съел всю траву внутри забора) and was now very hungry (был очень голоден).

I gave it as much as it wished (столько столько, сколько он хотел), and then I tied the string to it to lead it away (привязал веревку к нему, чтобы вывести его). But there was no need of that (не было нужды в этом), for it was quite tame (довольно ручным).

It followed me everywhere (следовал за мной всюду). It was very gentle and loving (очень добрым и любящим).

I had now a number of pets (несколько: «число» домашних животных) and was no longer lonesome (больше не был одиноким).

My life was much happier (намного счастливее) than it had been while I was sailing the seas (чем она была, когда я плавал по морям). I took delight in many things (я радовался многим вещам; delight — радость , отрада) that I had never cared for before (на которые ранее я никогда не обращал внимания).

My barley and rice had grown well (ячмень и рис выросли хорошо) and in another month would be ready to be harvested (и через месяц будут готовы к тому, чтобы быть собранными).

But one day I saw that some animals had been in the field (некоторые животные побывали в поле). Goats and rabbits had trampled upon the green stalks (козы и кролики потоптали зеленые стебли) and had eaten the long blades of barley (съели длинные листья ячменя).

If things kept on this way I should soon lose my grain (если так будет продолжаться, я потеряю все мое зерно).

There was nothing to be done but to build a fence or hedge around the field (ничего не оставалось делать как только построить забор или ограду вокруг поля). This was easy, for the field was not large (это было легко, так как поле не было большим).

I drove tall stakes into the ground all around my growing crops (воткнул длинные колья в землю вокруг моего растущего урожая). These stakes were so close together (они были так близко вместе = друг к другу) that not even a rabbit could get between them (что даже кролик не мог пробраться между них).

Then I tied my dog near the gate of the little field (привязал собаку у ворот маленького поля), so that he would bark whenever any animal came near (так, чтобы она бы залаяла, когда бы какое-либо животное не приблизилось).

My grain was now safe from the beasts (в безопасности от зверей). It grew fast (росло быстро). The barley sent out large heads (выпустил большие головки = семенные коробочки) which soon began to ripen (которые скоро начали зреть).

But now the birds came down in great flocks to rob me (птицы спускались большими стаями, чтобы грабить меня). They sat on the fence (сидели на заборе), they flew among the stalks of grain (летали между стеблями зерна), they carried away all the ripe barley they could find (уносили весь зрелый ячмень, /который/ могли найти).

This troubled me very much (беспокоило меня очень сильно). The most of the grain was still green (большая часть зерна была еще зеленой). But I feared that as soon as it ripened I should lose it all (но я боялся, что как только оно созреет, я потеряю его полностью).

I loaded my gun (зарядил ружье) and went out to the field (вышел в поле). There I saw the thieves (воров), sitting on the fence and watching me (сидящих на заборе и наблюдающих за мной). I was so angry (я был таким злым) that I fired right among them and killed three (что я выстрелил прямо между ними и убил троих).

"Now I will show you how to steal my grain (сейчас я покажу, как воровать мое зерно)!" I cried.

I put up a long pole in the center of the field (установил длинный шест в центре поля), and on top of it I hung the three dead birds (на верхушке повесил три мертвых птицы).

"This will I do to all that venture to come into my field (это я сделаю со всеми, кто решится зайти на мое поле)," I said.

Strange to say, this ended all my troubles (странно сказать, но это прекратило все мои горести). Not another bird came to that place so long as my scarecrows hung there (ни одна другая птица не приходила = не прилетала на это место, пока мои пугала висели там ; scarecrow — пугало). In fact, the birds went away from that part of the island, and I did not soon see another (на самом деле, птицы ушли с этой части острова, я не скоро увидел другую = не скоро увидел других птиц).

hungry [‘h?ngri] parrot [‘p?r?t] hammock [‘h?m?k]

I HARVEST MY GRAIN

I CANNOT tell you how glad I was to get to my old house again and lie down in my good hammock bed.

I had been away for nearly a month. I was so tired from my long journey that I stayed in my castle nearly a week.

While I was thus resting myself, I made a cage for my parrot which I named Poll. He was very gentle for a parrot, and soon became very fond of me.

Then I began to think of the kid that I had left in my summer bower. So I went with my dog to fetch it.

I found it where I had left it. It had eaten all the grass inside of the fence and was now very hungry.

I gave it as much as it wished, and then I tied the string to it to lead it away. But there was no need of that, for it was quite tame.

It followed me everywhere. It was very gentle and loving.

I had now a number of pets and was no longer lonesome.

My life was much happier than it had been while I was sailing the seas. I took delight in many things that I had never cared for before.

My barley and rice had grown well and in another month would be ready to be harvested.

But one day I saw that some animals had been in the field. Goats and rabbits had trampled upon the green stalks and had eaten the long blades of barley.

If things kept on this way I should soon lose my grain.

There was nothing to be done but to build a fence or hedge around the field. This was easy, for the field was not large.

I drove tall stakes into the ground all around my growing crops. These stakes were so close together that not even a rabbit could get between them.

Then I tied my dog near the gate of the little field, so that he would bark whenever any animal came near.

My grain was now safe from the beasts. It grew fast. The barley sent out large heads which soon began to ripen.

But now the birds came down in great flocks to rob me. They sat on the fence, they flew among the stalks of grain, they carried away all the ripe barley they could find.

This troubled me very much. The most of the grain was still green. But I feared that as soon as it ripened I should lose it all.

I loaded my gun and went out to the field. There I saw the thieves, sitting on the fence and watching me. I was so angry that I fired right among them and killed three.

"Now I will show you how to steal my grain!" I cried.

I put up a long pole in the center of the field, and on top of it I hung the three dead birds.

"This will I do to all that venture to come into my field," I said.

Strange to say, this ended all my troubles. Not another bird came to that place so long as my scarecrows hung there. In fact, the birds went away from that part of the island, and I did not soon see another.

I WORK UNDER MANY DIFFICULTIES ( я работаю «под многими сложностями» = в трудных условиях)

MY barley ripened (созрел) and was ready to be harvested (был готов быть собранным). I had neither scythe nor sickle to cut it down (у меня не было ни косы, ни серпа, чтобы срезать его).

But you will remember that I had two old swords which I had found in the ship (но вы вспомните, что я имел две шпаги, которые я нашел на корабле).

With one of the swords I cut off the heads of the barley and dropped them into a big basket I had made (одной шпагой я срезал головки ячменя и бросал их в большую корзину, /которую/ я сделал). I carried these heads into my cave and thrashed out the grain with my hands (молотил зерно руками).

When all my harvesting was done (когда весь сбор урожая был закончен), I measured the grain (взвесил зерно). I had two bushels of rice (два бушеля риса /бушель — мера емкости = 36,3 л/) and two bushels and a half of barley (и два с половиной бушеля ячменя).

This pleased me very much (это очень меня порадовало). I felt now that I should soon be able to raise grain enough for food (я чувствовал сейчас, что скоро смогу вырастить достаточно зерна для еды).

Have you ever thought how many things are necessary for the making of your bread (вы когда-нибудь думали, сколько вещей необходимы для приготовления хлеба)?

You have nothing to do but eat the bread after others have made it (вы не знаете других забот, как /только/ есть хлеб после того, как другие сделали его). But I had to sow (я должен был сеять), to reap (жать), to thrash (молотить), to grind (молоть), to sift (просеивать), to mix (смешивать), and to bake (печь).

To do all these I needed many tools (много инструментов).

I had no plow to turn up the ground (не имел плуга, чтобы вскапывать землю). I had no spade nor shovel with which to dig it (не лопаты, ни мотыги, которыми копать ее). But with great labor (с большим трудом) I made me a wooden spade (деревянную лопату), which was better than nothing (лучше, чем ничего).

After the ground was turned up (после того, как земля была вскопана), I sowed the seed by scattering it with my hands (я сеял зерно, разбрасывая его руками). But it must be covered so it would grow (но оно должно быть накрыто /землей/, чтобы оно росло), and I had no harrow (борону). I cut down the branch of a tree (срезал ветку дерева), and dragged it over the field (протащил ее по полю). This, I think, was the way that people in old times harrowed their ground (это, я думаю, был способ, как люди в старые времена боронили землю).

The third thing to be done was to build a fence around my field (третье дело, которое нужно было сделать, было построить забор вокруг поля). After that came the reaping (после этого пришла жатва), the curing (собирание, заготовка), the carrying home (доставка домой), the thrashing (молотьба), the parting of the grain from the chaff (отделение зерна от мякины), the grinding (помол).

I needed a mill to do the grinding (мне нужна была мельница, чтобы молоть). I needed a sieve to sift the flour (сито, чтобы просеивать муку). I needed yeast and salt to mix with the dough (дрожжи и соль, чтобы смешать /их/ с тестом). I needed an oven to bake it (печь, чтобы испечь его).

I had to do without the most of these things (приходилось обходиться без большинства этих вещей). And this made my work very slow and hard (это делало мою работу очень медленной и тяжелой).

I was very lucky in having saved so many tools from the wreck (мне повезло, /что я/ сохранил так много инструментов с остова разбитого судна), and for this I was indeed thankful (и за это я в самом деле был благодарен). What a hard case I would have been in if I had saved nothing at all (в каком затруднительном положении был бы я, если бы не сохранил ничего вообще)!

From time to time (время от времени), as I felt the need of things (когда чувствовал необходимость вещей = в какой-либо вещи) I made a number of tools that served me very well (я делал ряд инструментов, которые служили мне очень хорошо). They were not such tools as you would buy at the store (они не были такими инструментами, которые вы бы купили в магазине), but what did it matter (но имело ли это значение)?

I have already told you about the shovel which I made from a piece of hard wood (о лопате, которую я сделал из куска твердого дерева). Next to the shovel I needed a pickax most of all (после лопаты мне нужна была киркомотыга больше всего).

Among the many things that I had saved from the wreck, I found an old crowbar (старый лом). This I heated in the fire until it was almost white hot (нагрел на огне, пока он не стал почти белым от жара).

I then found that I could bend it quite easily (затем я обнаружил, что мог согнуть его довольно легко). Little by little I shaped it until I had made quite a good pickax of it (мало-помалу я придавал ему форму пока я не сделал довольно хорошую киркомотыгу из него). Of course, it was heavy and not at all pretty (конечно, она была тяжелой и совсем не красивой). But who would look for beauty in a pickax (кто бы стал искать красоту в киркомотыге)?

I at first felt the need of some light baskets (вначале я чувствовал необходимость легких корзин) in which to carry my fruit and grain (в которых носить мои плоды и зерно). So I began to study how baskets are made (изучать, как делаются корзины).

It was not until I had searched almost every nook on the island (только после того, как я обыскал каждый уголок острова) that I found some long slender twigs (длинные гибкие прутья) that would bend to make wicker ware (которые бы гнулись, чтобы сделать ивовую лозу = которые можно было гнуть, как ивовую лозу). Then I spent many an hour learning how to weave these twigs together (я провел много часов, изучая, как сплетать эти прутья вместе) and shape them into the form of a basket (придавать форму корзины).

In the end (в конце концов), however (тем не менее), I was able to make as good baskets as were ever bought in the market (я мог делать такие хорошие корзины, которые когда-либо покупались на рынке).

I had quite a goodly number of edge tools (хорошее количество режущих инструментов). Among these there were three large axes (три больших топора) and a great store of hatchets (большой запас топориков); for you will remember that we carried hatchets to trade with the savages (так как вы должны помнить, что мы везли топорики, чтобы торговать с дикарями). I had also many knives (также много ножей).

But all these became very dull with use (стали тупыми от использования). I had saved a grindstone from the wreck (спас точильный камень с остова корабля), but I could not turn it and grind my tools at the same time (не мог крутить его и точить инструменты в одно и то же время).

I studied hard to overcome this difficulty (напряженно думал, как преодолеть эту трудность). At last (наконец), I managed to fasten a string to the crank of the grindstone in such a way that I could turn it with my foot (умудрился прицепить веревку к ручке точильного камня так, что я мог вертеть его ногой).

My tools were soon sharp, and I kept them so (инструменты вскоре были острыми, и я держал их такими = поддерживал в таком состоянии).

sword [so:d] sickle [sikl] scythe [sai?]

I WORK UNDER MANY DIFFICULTIES

MY barley ripened and was ready to be harvested. I had neither scythe nor sickle to cut it down.

But you will member that I had two old swords which I had found in the ship. With one of the swords I cut off the heads of the barley and dropped them into a big basket I had made. I carried these heads into my cave and thrashed out the grain with my hands.

When all my harvesting was done, I measured the grain. I had two bushels of rice and two bushels and a half of barley.

This pleased me very much. I felt now that I should soon be able to raise grain enough for food.

Have you ever thought how many things are necessary for the making of your bread?

You have nothing to do but eat the bread after others have made it. But I had to sow, to reap, to thrash, to grind, to sift, to mix, and to bake.

To do all these I needed many tools.

I had no plow to turn up the ground. I had no spade nor shovel with which to dig it. But with great labor I made me a wooden spade, which was better than nothing.

After the ground was turned up, I sowed the seed by scattering it with my hands. But it must be covered so it would grow, and I had no harrow. I cut down the branch of a tree, and dragged it over the field. This, I think, was the way that people in old times harrowed their ground.

The third thing to be done was to build a fence around my field. After that came the reaping, the curing, the carrying home, the thrashing, the parting of the grain from the chaff, the grinding.

I needed a mill to do the grinding. I needed a sieve to sift the flour. I needed yeast and salt to mix with the dough. I needed an oven to bake it.

I had to do without the most of these things. And this made my work very slow and hard.

I was very lucky in having saved so many tools from the wreck, and for this I was indeed thankful. What a hard case I would have been in if I had saved nothing at all!

From time to time, as I felt the need of things I made a number of tools that served me very well. They were not such tools as you would buy at the store, but what did it matter?

I have already told you about the shovel which I made from a piece of hard wood. Next to the shovel I needed a pickax most of all.

Among the many things that I had saved from the wreck, I found an old crowbar. This I heated in the fire until it was almost white hot.

I then found that I could bend it quite easily. Little by little I shaped it until I had made quite a good pickax of it. Of course, it was heavy and not at all pretty. But who would look for beauty in a pickax?

I at first felt the need of some light baskets in which to carry my fruit and grain. So I began to study how baskets are made.

It was not until I had searched almost every nook on the island that I found some long slender twigs that would bend to make wicker ware. Then I [73] spent many an hour learning how to weave these twigs together and shape them into the form of a basket.

In the end, however, I was able to make as good baskets as were ever bought in the market.

I had quite a goodly number of edge tools. Among these there were three large axes and a great store of hatchets; for you will remember that we carried hatchets to trade with the savages. I had also many knives.

But all these became very dull with use. I had saved a grindstone from the wreck, but I could not turn it and grind my tools at the same time.

I studied hard to overcome this difficulty. At last, I managed to fasten a string to the crank of the grindstone in such a way that I could turn it with my foot.

My tools were soon sharp, and I kept them so.