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Introduction

'As you know, it's a long way to Canterbury. You need to stay happy on the journey. I've got an idea. You must all tell a story on the way. We'll give a free dinner to the person who tells the best story. Now, put up your hands if you agree.'

The pilgrims all held up their hands and cried out, ' Yes!'

A group of pilgrims are travelling together for five days from London to Canterbury. On the way, each pilgrim has to tell a story. Some stories are happy, and some are sad. But they all have a message, and we can learn from them.

The writer of these tales, Geoffrey Chaucer, was born in London in about 1342. We do not know exactly when he was born. His father, John, and his grandfather, Robert, worked in the wine business. They probably also worked for King Edward III. The family earned quite a lot of money and had a comfortable life.

When he was a young boy, Chaucer went to school in London. He then worked for an important lady in the king's family. It was a very good job and he met some very interesting people.

In 1359 Chaucer was sent abroad as a soldier. He was fighting for the king against France in part of the Hundred Years'War. He was taken prisoner by the French near Rheims, but after a year the king paid money for his return.

When he returned to England, Chaucer worked for the king, his family and friends. In about 1367 he married Philippa de Roet, a lady who worked for the Queen.

Chaucer was a great reader and he had an excellent memory. He learned to read in Latin, French, Anglo-Norman and Italian. He knew a lot about literature, history and science.

The king often sent him to other countries on important business for him. On two of these journeys Chaucer went to Italy; first to Genoa, in 1372, and then to Milan, in 1378. People think that Chaucer became interested in Italian story-tellers on these journeys. He probably met the Italian writer, Boccaccio, when he was in Italy. We can be sure that he read Boccaccio's book, the Decameron (1348—58).

Chaucer became a rich man during this time, but in December 1386 he lost his job. John of Gaunt, the king's son and Chaucer's friend, left England to fight in Spain. The Duke of Gloucester took his place and he didn't like Chaucer. He gave Chaucer's job to his friends. So Chaucer had more time for writing, and he began work on The Canterbury Tales.

In 1389 John of Gaunt returned to England and gave Chaucer an important job again. Chaucer was growing old. He felt that his writing was getting worse. He died on 25 October, 1400, and his body was put in Westminster Abbey.

We do not know exactly when Chaucer started writing poems. It was probably when he returned from the war in France.

Chaucer wrote a lot of poems, and some of his great books are The Book of the Duchess (1369—70), The House of Fame, The Parliament of Fowls (between 1372 and 1382), and Troilius and Criseyde (between 1380 and 1385). His most famous work is The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer worked on this from 1386 or 1387, but he never finished the book.

Printing was introduced in Germany in about 1450. In 1477 Caxton made the first machine which could print in England. He printed The Canterbury Tales in 1478.

The Canterbury Tales was not the  first book of short stories. Chaucer's idea — a group of people who each tell a story — wasn't a new idea either. In Boccaccio's Decameron, ten people escape to the country from a terrible illness in Florence. Each person tells a story to pass the time.        

In The Canterbury Tales, the story-tellers are pilgrims. Their stories are interesting, but the pilgrims also seem very real to us. We feel we know them personally by the end of their stories. They are ordinary people — rich and poor, intelligent and stupid, young and old, from the town and from the country. They do not do the same jobs as we do today. But we all know people like them. The pilgrims' stories help us to understand English life in Chaucer's time.

The pilgrims' stories are all completely different, and they come from all over Europe. Some of the stories even come from countries in the East. At that time, people in Europe loved stories which taught them something — stories with a message about life or a new idea.

The stories in The Canterbury Tales are told like poems, and they are written in Chaucer's English. For this Penguin Reader we have chosen seven of the pilgrims' stories, and we have written them in modern English.

The Prologue

At the Tabard Inn

Pilgrims are people who travel to special places because they want to please God. Their journeys are often to places where a saint lived or died. Thomas a Becket was a saint. He was killed in Canterbury, in a great old church. Years ago, pilgrims went to Canterbury to visit this church.

This book tells the story of some pilgrims who travelled from London to Canterbury together. On the journey each person had to tell a story — a tale.

The pilgrims met at a place called the Tabard Inn in London. The fat owner of the inn was always happy. He told amusing stories which made the pilgrims laugh. They had a good meal at his inn, with a lot of excellent food and drink.

After the meal, the fat man stood up and said,' Friends, I'm very pleased to meet you. As you know, it's a long way to Canterbury. You need to stay happy on the journey. I've got an idea. You must all tell a story on the way. We'll give a free dinner to the person who tells the best story. Now, put up your hands if you agree.'

The pilgrims all held up their hands and cried out,' Yes! Yes! That's a good idea. And you can decide which story is best.'

The next morning they all got up very early and started on their journey. After a time, they stopped and gave their horses water. Then the fat man said,' Now, who's going to tell the first story ? Sir Knight, will you ?'

The knight was travelling to Canterbury for a special reason. He wanted to thank God because he was safe after a dangerous war.

' Yes, all right,' he said.' I'll begin.'

And he started to tell his story.

The Knight's Tale

Palamon and Arcite

Many years ago in Greece, there was a great soldier called Duke Theseus. He and his wife, Queen Hippolyta, were the most important people in Athens. The queen's beautiful younger sister, Emily, lived with them.

One day, a soldier brought the duke some bad news.

' Creon has begun a war against you, Duke Theseus. And he has won Thebes already.'

When he heard this, Theseus and his knights rode to Thebes. There they fought Creon and killed him.

Two rich young knights in Thebes fought for Creon. Their names were Palamon and Arcite and they were hurt in the fighting. They were taken to see Theseus at the end of the war.

'Your families will pay a lot of gold if I free you,' the duke said to them. ' But you're my enemies. You fought against me, and you'll never be free again.'

The two knights were locked in a high tower in Athens. Then the duke rode home to Queen Hippolyta and her sister, Emily.

Palamon and Arcite were prisoners in the tower for many years.

One morning, Palamon got up early and looked out of the window at the duke's garden. There he saw the queen's beautiful sister, Emily. She was walking in the garden with flowers in her hair.

When Palamon saw her, he cried out. She was so beautiful.

'Dear Palamon, what's the matter?' asked Arcite in a worried voice.' Your face has gone white! Why did you cry out ?'

' I've just seen the most beautiful lady in the world,' Palamon answered.' Please God, get me out of this prison. If I can't make her my wife, then I want to die!'

Arcite jumped up quickly and looked out of the window. When he saw Emily he also fell in love with her.

' If she can't love me, I don't want to live,' he cried.

Palamon was very angry when he heard this.' But you can't steal my lady like that! I fell in love with her first, and I'll love her for ever. You must help me to win her.'

' You saw her first, but I love her as much as you do!' answered Arcite angrily. 'And how can you or I win her? We're prisoners in this terrible tower.'

' Perhaps we'll be free one day, and then the best man will marry her,' said Palamon sadly. Life seemed very hard to both the young men.

Duke Theseus had a good friend in Athens called Duke Perotheus. Perotheus knew the young knight, Arcite, and liked him very much. When he heard that Arcite was a prisoner in the tower, he said to Theseus, 'I'm very sorry that Arcites your prisoner. He's not like Creon, you know. He's a good young man. Dear friend, please free him so he can live in the real world again.' Duke Theseus thought hard and then answered, 'Perotheus, you're my good friend, so I'll free Arcite for you. But he must leave Athens, and never return. If he does return, I'll cut off his head!'

Before Arcite left the tower, he talked to Palamon.' I must leave Athens, but you can stay here and look at my beautiful lady in the garden. You're luckier than me.'

But Palamon was as sad as Arcite.' You'll be free. Perhaps you'll return to Athens with soldiers one day and fight Theseus. And if you win, my beautiful lady will be yours.'

Then the two knights said goodbye and Arcite left the tower.

The young knight went back to Thebes, but he was very sad without his beautiful Emily. He thought about her every day and every night, and soon he became very ill.

One night, the god Mercury visited him in his sleep and said, ' Go back to Athens, Arcite. Then you'll be happy again.'

Arcite jumped out of bed and cried, 'Yes, I'll go back immediately! If the duke catches me, he'll cut off my head. But I'm not afraid of death if I can see my beautiful lady again.'

Then he looked at his face in the mirror. He looked very different because of his illness.

'Nobody will know me now,' he thought. 'I can go to Athens safely'

So Arcite went back to Athens. Nobody knew who he was. He became one of Emily's servants - he got her water, cut wood, and worked very hard for her. He stayed in Emily's house for seven years and he was soon very popular. Even Duke Theseus began to notice him.

All this time, poor Palamon was a prisoner in the tower. He was very unhappy but he couldn't escape. A man watched him all day and all night.

One day, one of Palamon's friends had an idea. He put some poison into this man's drink. The man fell asleep and Palamon took his key, opened the great door, and was free at last!

' I'll return to Thebes now,' he thought. 'But I'll come back to Athens soon with a lot of soldiers and kill Theseus. Then I'll marry Emily.'

He ran away from the tower as fast as he could. He planned to walk all night and hide during the day. When the sun came up, he rested in a wood.

That morning, Arcite was riding in the wood, singing in the sunshine. He didn't know that Palamon was hiding there.

'Emily still doesn't know me,' he said to himself sadly. 'I'm only her servant. She's got no idea who I really am. What can I do to win her love ?'

Palamon was hiding behind a tree near Arcite. When he heard this, his face went as white as death. 'Arcite!' he shouted. ' I'm going to kill you! You were like a brother to me once, but you still love my lady. You or I must die!'

Arcite was very surprised, to see Palamon. But he answered quietly, 'Love is free, isn't it? I'll always love Emily, but let's fight for her tomorrow. I'll meet you here. If you win, the lady will be yours.'

'Good! I'll see you here tomorrow!' answered Palamon, walking away angrily.

The next morning, Palamon and Arcite met again and the great fight began. Duke Theseus, Queen Hippolyta and Emily were riding in the wood and heard the sound of fighting. Soon they saw the two knights.

' Stop !' shouted Theseus.' Why are you fighting like this ?'

' Sir, we're two unhappy men,' answered Arcite in a tired voice. 'You're our lord. Kill me first. Then kill my friend.'

' This is Arcite,' Palamon said. ' Do you remember him ? He works in Princess Emily's house. But he isn't really a servant. He's worked in her house all these years because he loves her. And I am Palamon. I escaped from your tower. I love Emily too. I'm happy to die now at her feet. Kill me, but kill Arcite too.'

The duke was very angry. He wanted to kill them both.

' Yes! You must both die!' he shouted.

But the queen, Emily and all their ladies began to cry.' No! No! These two fine young men mustn't die!'

Then the ladies all fell on their knees in front of the duke. ' Oh, sir! Please don't kill Palamon and Arcite!'

'All right,' Theseus said. 'You can live. But you must promise me that you'll never make war on my land. You must always be my friends.'        

' We promise, sir,' the knights said.' We'll always be your friends.'

' Emily can't marry both of you,' continued the duke, ' but I've got a plan. Go home to Thebes and come back in one year. Each of you must bring a hundred knights, ready to fight for you. Emily will marry the winner. Do you agree ?'

Palamon and Arcite both looked at Emily on her horse. They fell on their knees and thanked Theseus again and again. Then they went home to Thebes and began to get ready for the great fight.

Duke Theseus was busy too. He built a place outside Athens for the fight. It had stone walls, with white gates on the east and west sides. The duke built three temples - a temple of Venus, the goddess of love; a temple of Diana, the goddess of the moon; and a temple of Mars, the god of war.

There were beautiful pictures in the temple of Venus, and a garden full of flowers. The temple of Diana had a picture of the moon. The temple of Mars was very different. It was an unhappy place with pictures of wars and burning towns. In the middle was a picture of Mars with a fire in front of him.

After a year, Palamon and Arcite returned to Athens, and each of them had his hundred knights. When they heard about the temples, they both wanted to visit them.

Palamon thought, ' I'm going to the temple of Venus. She'll help me. I'll ask her for a quick death if I lose.'

So he went to Venus s temple and the goddess seemed to move her head.

When Palamon saw this, he cried out, 'Oh, I'm so happy. Venus has moved her head. That means she's going to help me!'

Arcite went to the temple of Mars, the god of war.

' Mars, please help me to win,' he said in the temple.

Suddenly the temple doors began to move and the fire in front of Mars burned strongly. Then a low voice said,' You will win, Arcite!'

Arcite was very happy when he heard this.' Mars is going to help me! I'm going to win!'

Now, pilgrims, you're going to hear how Mars and Venus kept their promises.

The next morning everyone in Athens went to see the great fight. There were lords and knights in fine clothes, and beautiful ladies in wonderful dresses. Duke Theseus, Queen Hippolyta and Emily sat and watched it all.

When everyone was quiet, a soldier cried out,' Duke Theseus doesn't want anyone to die today. If you are hurt, you will become a prisoner. If Palamon or Arcite become prisoners, then the fighting will end. Now, let's begin!'

Arcite then came onto the field through the west gate, near the temple of Mars. His clothes were all red. Palamon came through the east gate, near the temple of Venus. His clothes were all white.

Pilgrims, I can't tell you everything about the great fight. Horses fell to the ground, brave men were hurt, servants brought food and drink to the fighters. Then, at the end of the day, Palamon was hurt and the fighting stopped.

'Arcite can marry Emily now,' said the duke.' He's won her in this long day's fight!'

'Arcite's the winner!' shouted the people. 'Arcite! Arcite!'

There was loud music and Arcite rode proudly across the field towards Emily. She looked down at him and thought,' He's so brave and handsome! I'm sure I can love him!'

But suddenly something frightened Arcite's horse. The horse fell to the ground and Arcite was thrown off. People ran to him and carried him carefully to Theseus's house. They put him on a bed and waited for the doctor.

' He's very ill,' said the doctor when he came.' I'm afraid he's going to die.'

Arcite sent for Palamon and Emily.' I've loved you so much, Emily,' he said sadly.' I've been unhappy and ill because of you. And now I'm going to die for you. If you want a husband, marry Palamon. It will make me happy when I'm dead.'

Then he closed his eyes. Just before he died he looked up at Emily. He said her name.

When they heard the news, the people of Athens felt very sad. They cried for many days.

Months passed. Time makes most things better. The people of Athens were tired of all the fighting and they wanted to be friends with the people of Thebes. So Duke Theseus decided to send for Palamon.

When Palamon arrived in Athens, he was wearing black clothes for his lost friend, Arcite.' Don't be sad,' the duke said to him. 'You'll never forget your dear friend but you can still be happy. Remember what Arcite said to Emily: " If you want a husband, marry Palamon." Does that make you feel happier?'

Then the duke called for Emily and took her hand.' Emily, all my people want to be friends with the people of Thebes. If you agree to marry Palamon, then we'll stop being enemies. Take good Palamon, Emily, and marry him. He's loved you for a long time.'

Then he turned to Palamon,' Sir, take this lady by the hand. She'll be your dear wife.'      

So Palamon and Emily were married and lived happily together. And the people of Athens and Thebes were never enemies again.

At the end of the story, all the pilgrims said,' That was a beautiful story, Knight!'

Some of the other pilgrims told their stories. Then the fat man turned to the Clerk of Oxford.' You haven't said a word since we started our journey, Clerk. Perhaps you're thinking about your books. Well, now think about us. Have you got a good story to

tell us?'

The Clerk of Oxford was very poor and his clothes were old.' He and his horse never had enough food. But he loved books and he loved teaching people. He was happy to begin his story.

The Clerk's Tale

Patient Griselda

' My story is about a patient wife,' the clerk said. All the pilgrims listened carefully as he began his tale.

Walter, a great lord, lived in a beautiful part of Italy, . He was young, strong and handsome, and kind to all his people.

Walter wasn't married and this made his people very sad. One day, they went to see him. They asked him to listen to them. A wise old man spoke for all of them.

' Sir, we've come to talk to you because you're a good man. We want to tell you what's in our hearts. Don't be angry with us. Please get married, then we'll be happy. Your wife will love you and look after you, and you'll have children. We'll find a wife for you if you want. She'll be beautiful and rich!'

Walter laughed at the old man's words, but he was pleased.

' You know, my dear people, I like being free,' he answered.' I don't want a wife, but perhaps I need one. So, yes, I will get married very soon. But I'll choose my wife! And when I marry her, I want you all to talk to her like a princess.You must do this for me.'

Walter's people were very happy. 'Yes, of course we'll do that, sir,' they all said. And they went back to their homes and waited for the wedding day.

A very  poor man lived  near Walter's  house. His  name  was Janicula. He had a beautiful daughter called Griselda. She was a

kind girl and she looked after her old father well. She worked hard in their little house, and in the fields with their animals. She worked outside in the wind and the rain. Walter often saw her when he was riding in the country.

'She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen,' he thought to himself.' I'd like to marry her'. But he didn't tell anyone about Griselda and his love for her.

The day of the wedding arrived. Walter's great house was full of people. Everything was ready for the big day.

' Follow me,' Walter said to all the lords and ladies.

He went out to the fields where some of his people lived. The lords and ladies followed him. 'What's he going to do?' they asked in surprise.

That morning, Griselda finished her work early because she wanted to see Walter's new wife. She thought,' I'll stand with the other girls and watch Sir Walter with his beautiful lady. But first I must help my dear father to sit in the sun.'

She opened the door of the little house from inside — and there was Walter! He was standing outside in his rich clothes, like a king.

' Griselda,' he said,' where's your father?'

The old man came slowly out of the house and Walter took his hand.

'Janicula, I must tell you what's in my heart. I love your daughter, Griselda. I want to marry her if you'll agree.'

The old man was too surprised to speak at first. After some minutes he answered,' Yes, sir, of course. If Griselda agrees, she can be your wife.'

' I'd like to speak to her in your house, please,' Walter said quietly. ' I'll ask her to be my wife. But she must promise me something. She must always do what I ask.'

The people outside waited. They couldn't understand what was happening!

Inside the house, Walter spoke softly to Griselda.

' My dear Griselda, your father says that we can get married. Please take me as your husband. But first I must ask you this. Will you promise to do what I tell you — always ?'

'My lord,' Griselda answered,' I'll marry you if I can look after my father in my new life. And I'll always do everything you tell me to do.'

' Thank you, my dear Griselda,' said Walter.

He asked some of the ladies to come inside and dress Griselda in beautiful clothes. Then he kissed her hand and took her outside.

' This is my new wife, everybody,' he said proudly.

When Griselda came out of the house, the people cried out, ' She's the most beautiful girl we've ever seen!'

Walter was very happy. They were married that day and there was music and dancing all night.

For a long time all Walter's people lived happily. Griselda helped poor and sick people and everyone loved her. People said,' Our great lord did a wise thing when he married Griselda.'

Then Walter and Griselda had a little girl and everyone said,' One day this little girl will be as kind and as beautiful as her mother.'

But from that time things started to go very wrong.

Every day Walter watched his wife with her baby and thought, ' My wife will change now because she's got a child. If I ask her to do something difficult for me, she won't do it.'

Then Walter did something very bad. He came to see Griselda one day with a hard look on his face.

' Griselda, when I married you, my people were unhappy,' he lied. 'You were a poor man's daughter. Now you've got a child, and it's even worse for them. I'm going to ask someone to take this child away from you. You must give her to him. Remember your words on your wedding day!'

Griselda was very sad, but she said,' My child is yours, my lord. You can do what you want with her.'

Walter was happy when he heard this. He quickly sent a man to take the child away. When Griselda saw the man, she said quietly,' I must kiss my daughter before she goes.'

Then she took her child in her arms and said, ' Goodbye, my dear daughter. I'll never see you again but God will look after you.'

Then the man took Griselda' s daughter away.

'Please put her little body in the ground,' she called out to him.' Then it will be safe from all the animals and birds.'

The man carried the child to Walter.' Take her to my sister in Bologna,' he said.' Tell her to look after her well. But don't tell her that she's my child.'

Walter watched Griselda closely after this. She seemed to love him in the same way, but she was very quiet and her face often looked sad.

After some months a little boy was born. Walter's people were very happy.' One day this child will be our prince. One day we shall be his people,' they said.

But after two years Walter had another plan. He wanted to be sure that his wife loved him. So he decided to test her again.

He went to Griselda and said,' Griselda, my people don't want Janicula's grandson to be their prince. Once again, you must give your child to my man.'

'My lord,' she answered, 'I'll always do everything that you want. Take our son. And if you'll be happier without me too, please tell me. I'll die if it will please you. I only want to keep your love.'

Nothing  could  change   the  feelings  in Walter's  heart.  He sent the same man to take away her little boy. Again, she kissed her child before he left her for ever. And again she said to the man, 'Put his little body in the ground. Then no animal or bird can hurt him. 'Walter sent the little boy to Bologna to live with his sister.

Walter watched his wife carefully again. He saw that her patience and love for him never changed. But his people were angry with him. They talked about him all over the country.

' He's killed his two children!' they said.' He didn't want Lady Griselda to love them. She must only love him! And she never changes. She still loves him and looks after all of us.'

One day, Walter had another idea. He decided to send Griselda away and get a new wife. When Griselda heard about this, she thought,' This is the worst thing that's ever happened to me. I love my husband more than anything in the world. How can I ever live without him ?' She felt very sad.

First, Walter wrote a letter to his sister in Bologna. It said:

Please bring the two children to me. Tell everyone, 'This little girl's going to be Walter's new wife.' But don't tell anyone who sent the children to you years ago.

When she received this letter, his sister left Bologna with the two children. The little boy and girl were very beautiful. They were dressed in rich clothes and rode on fine horses.

Walter then called for Griselda and, in a room full of people, said to her,' Griselda, you've been a good wife to me. But now I must change my way of life. My people want me to send you away and marry a new wife — a girl from a rich family. She's on her way here now.'

Griselda's answer moved the hearts of all the people who heard her. But it didn't move the hard heart of her husband.

' I'm not good enough for you, my lord,' she said sadly.' I've always known that. Thank you for the beautiful home that I've lived in for so long. I'll gladly go back to my father now if you and your people want me to do that. I'll always love you and I'll never marry again. I thought you loved me too. But the old words are very true: "As men grow old, love grows cold." I must leave everything behind me here. I'll just take my old clothes.'

Then she put on her poorest clothes and began the long walk home. Many people followed her with tears in their eyes. They were very sad that Griselda was leaving like this. When her father saw her, he ran out of his house. He took his poor daughter in his arms.

For a time Griselda lived quietly with her father. It was like the old days. She worked in the little house and looked after the animals in the fields. But one day Walter sent for her.

' Griselda,' he said,' I want to make my new wife as happy as possible. You must help me. You know my house and you looked after me well. You must leave your home and work for my new wife. Start now and make everything ready for her.'

'My lord, I'll be happy to help you and your new wife,' Griselda answered. And she began work immediately. She cleaned all the gold and silver, made the beds and washed the floors. She told the servants in the house to work hard. She worked harder than everyone.

Later that day, many people came to Walter's house to see his new wife. Griselda met them and led them to their places. Then Walter brought in a beautiful young girl. He turned to Griselda and asked her,' Do you like my new young wife ?'

'I've never seen anyone who is more beautiful,' she answered. ' I hope you'll be very happy together. I only ask one thing — be kind to her. I was poor when I came here. But she's a lady and it will be harder for her. She'll be very unhappy if you're unkind to her.'

Walter finally realized that Griselda really loved him. He said to himself, ' I've been very bad. I've hurt Griselda but she still loves me.'

He turned to her and cried,' Griselda! Griselda! Please forgive me! I'll never hurt you again or make you sad. Now I know that you'll always be true to me.' And he took her in his arms and kissed her again and again.

Walter told Griselda everything and then he brought the children to her. ' This is your daughter, my dear. I'm not really going to marry her. And this is our son. I sent them both to Bologna, to live with my sister. She looked after them well, and they've been safe and happy all these years.'

When Griselda saw her children, she cried with happiness. She put her arms round them and kissed them.

'Oh, thank you, my lord!' she said to Walter, with tears in her eyes. ' I can die happily now. I have both my children and your love!'

Then her ladies took her to her rooms, took off her old clothes, and dressed her in her beautiful rich clothes. She was Walter's wife again.

Walter and Griselda lived happily together for many years. Janicula, Griselda's old father, came to live with them. Their daughter married a rich, handsome man. And when Walter died, their son became a lord and was loved by all his people.

Well, that's the end of my story,' said the clerk. 'But in my opinion,   Griselda   was   too   patient.  Husbands,  don't   test   the patience of your wives like Walter did. I'm sure they won't all be as patient as poor Griselda!

'And I want to say something to the wives too. Don't be afraid of your husband. Your words will always win a fight, even against a big, strong man!'

The Wife of Bath's Tale

What do women want most ?

Most of the pilgrims on their way to Canterbury were men. There were only a few women. One of them was the Wife of Bath. She was a large woman with a red face. She wore a big hat, and she rode on a very fat horse. She was rich and all her five husbands were dead!

The Wife of Bath was a happy woman and she loved to talk. This is her story about a knight at the time of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

Long ago, there was a young knight who did a very bad thing. He broke the law that all the knights had to live by. When King Arthur heard this, he was very angry.

' This knight must die!' he shouted.

But the queen and her ladies were sad because they liked the young knight very much.

' Please, please,' they cried to King Arthur, ' don't end this young man's life. He'll never make the same mistake again.'

The king turned to the queen and said, 'All right, do what you like with him, my dear. But we must punish him because he's broken the law.'

The queen thought for a short time, and then she said to the knight,' You can live if you tell me the answer to this question: What does a woman want most in all the world? I'll give you a year and a day to find the answer. If you can't find the answer, then you'll die.'

The knight thanked the queen, but he rode away very sadly.

' The queen has asked me a very difficult question. How can I find the answer ?' he thought to himself.

As he rode through the country, the knight asked a lot of people the queen's question. He was given many different answers.

One man said, 'Ah, that's easy. Women like money more than anything.'

A woman answered, ' What do women want most in all the world? They want to be happy, of course.'

Another woman replied,' Fine clothes. That's what they want.'

Then the knight asked some children the same question.

A little girl said,' My mother's happy when she's cooking good food for us.'

And a little boy replied,' My mother likes having a new baby in the family.'

' Our mother's happy when she sees our father come home at night,' said two or three children.

Many of the answers seemed good, but they were all different. ' Nobody agrees,' thought the knight sadly.' How can I find the right answer to the queen's question ?'

After a year, the knight had to return to the queen and give her the answer to her question.

'What can I say?' he thought. 'I've tried so hard to find the right answer! But I know I'm going to die.'

But then he came to a great wood. In the trees he saw twenty-four beautiful ladies! They were all laughing and singing and dancing on the green grass.

'I've got enough time to ask these ladies the question,' he said to himself.

He turned his horse towards the ladies ... but where were they? He could only see one very ugly, old woman! When he came near her, she stood up. She smiled at him.

'Sir Knight, are you looking for something?' she asked. 'Tell me what it is. Perhaps I can help you. We old people are wise and we know many things.'

'You're right — perhaps you can help me,' answered the knight. 'I have to find the answer to a question or I'll die. The question is: What does a woman want most in all the world? If you can tell me, I'll give you a lot of money.'

' Give me your hand, sir,' replied the old woman.' I'll tell you the right answer if you promise me something. You have to do the first thing that I ask you.'

That sounded easy to the knight.' I promise,' he answered in an excited voice. Perhaps the old woman could really help him!

' Good, then your life's safe,' said the old woman.' Nobody — not even the queen — will say that your answer is wrong.'

Then she spoke very quietly into the knight's ear.' That's the answer to your question,' she said with a smile.

The knight smiled back at the old woman and thanked her with all his heart. Then they went together to meet the queen and all the lords and ladies.

Everyone heard that the young knight was coming. They were very excited, but a lot of people were worried about his answer.

' It was a very difficult question,' they said.' It will be terrible if he can't give the queen the right answer. He will die!'

The queen and her lords and ladies met the knight. The queen started to speak and everyone listened carefully.

' Now, Sir Knight, can you answer my question ? What does a woman want most in all the world ?' she asked in a clear voice.

The knight came up to the queen and fell on his knees in front of her. All the people around them heard his words.

'My lady, I know the right answer to your question. All women want to be the head of their house. They want their husbands to do what they say!'

When they heard this, everyone laughed and shouted, 'He must live! He must live! That's the right answer!'

The queen smiled at the knight. She was very pleased with his answer.

' You will be free, Sir Knight,' she said.' You can live!'

But suddenly the ugly old woman walked towards the queen and said,'Be good to me too, my lady. I said to this knight,"I'll tell you the right answer. But you must promise me something. You have to do the first thing that I ask you." And you agreed, didn't you ?' she said, turning to the knight.

'Yes, madam,' said the young knight. 'That's what I promised.'

' Well, I want you to marry me!' said the old woman. Her face looked very ugly when she said these terrible words.

The knight replied unhappily,' I made a promise to you, it's true. But I can't marry you!'

' I'm old, ugly and poor but I want to be your wife,' cried the old woman.' I want to win your love.'

' My love!' laughed the knight.' You can't really hope for that!'

The queen and all the people around her were laughing.

' The knight wants to die now!' they shouted. ' He doesn't want to marry this ugly old woman!'

But the queen looked at the knight and said,' You must marry her, Sir Knight. You promised.'

'Yes, I know,' answered the knight unhappily. 'I can't break my promise.'

There was no dancing or singing at the wedding. There were no fine clothes or good food. At the end of the day, the knight sadly carried away his new wife.

That night, the ugly old woman turned to the knight and said, 'Come here, my dear husband. Why are you looking so unhappy? What have I done wrong? Tell me, and I'll try to do better. I'll make you happy.'

' Do better ? You can't become a young woman and you can't make yourself beautiful!' answered the knight.

' Is that the only problem ?' she asked with a smile on her face.

' That's enough!' he answered.

'I'm not beautiful,' said the old woman,'but that's only on the outside. Faces become old but hearts are always young. A person with a good heart is better than someone who does bad things.'

Then the woman talked quietly to her husband for a long time. He was very surprised when he heard her words.

'You're very wise and good,' he said at last. 'You've taught me a lot about men and women, and about good and bad.'

' Is it better to have a beautiful wife who makes you unhappy ?' she asked.' Or an old and ugly wife who is kind to you ?'

'My lady, my love, and my dear wife,' said the knight softly, 'you're right. I'll always do what you tell me.'

She laughed.' Remember the answer to the question! Can I be the head of our home?'

' Yes, my love, of course you can,' said the knight.

Then she kissed him and said, 'Don't be angry. I'll be a good wife to you. And I'll be as beautiful as a queen!'

The knight started to kiss his wife, but he suddenly jumped back in surprise! There, in front of him, stood the most beautiful girl in the world! His wife wasn't really an ugly old woman. She was a fairy!

' I wanted to be sure that you are a true knight,' she said.' Now I know that you're a good person. Now I don't have to be an ugly old woman!'

The knight kissed his beautiful young wife and then they went to see the queen. Everybody was very surprised when they saw the young woman. They all danced and sang when they heard the story.

The knight and his wife lived happily together all their lives. And they always remembered the answer to the queen's question.

' That's the end of my story,' said the Wife of Bath to the other pilgrims. 'Please God, send us husbands who are young and loving! Men, do what your wives tell you to do! And give them a lot of money to spend!'

The Pardoner's Tale

Three Men Look for Death

The pardoner told his story next. But first, he told the other pilgrims about his job.

' I speak to people in churches,' he said.' I always talk about the same thing. I tell people: " Love of money is a real problem. You do bad things, and bad things happen to you, because of it." And I sell pardons. I've got a lot of things that belonged to saints - bits of cloth and other old things. Well, they didn't really belong to saints, but people don't know that! If people buy these things, God will forgive them. And I make a lot of money. I don't like being poor. Oh no! I must have fine clothes and good food! The poor give me money and I have a good life. I sell them pardons and they're happy'

The pardoner was a very bad man but his story was very good. The pilgrims were surprised that a bad man could tell a good tale.

This is the story.

There were three young men who did many bad and stupid things.They drank too much and they did no work.

One morning, they were drinking when they heard a noise outside. People were carrying the body of a dead man.

They asked the boy who brought them more drink,' Whose body is that, boy ?'

'He was your friend,' answered the boy. 'He was killed last night while he was drinking here. He was killed by that quiet thief, Death. Death kills all the people in this country. He killed your friend and then went away. He's killed thousands and thousands of people. You should get ready to meet Death.'

'I'm not afraid to meet him!' cried one young man, and he quickly jumped up.'I'm going to find him! I'll look for him in every field and wood and town. Listen! Let's hold up our hands and promise to be brothers. Let's find Death and kill him!'

' I'll come with you,' said the second man.

'And me,' said the third. 'We'll kill this dangerous man, Death, before night comes.'

So the three men went to find Death. They walked a little way and saw an old man with a long white beard. He was wearing a lot of old clothes and carrying a stick. When he saw the three men, he spoke to them kindly.

' God be with you, rny young friends.'

But the men shouted at him,' You stupid old man! Why are you wearing all those clothes ?'

'Because I'm very old,' answered the man. 'I feel the cold and I can never get warm.'

'Well, why have you lived for so long then, you ugly old man? You should die more quickly!' they shouted.

The old man looked at them angrily.' I live like this because Death hasn't taken me. I travel up and down the country, looking for Death. I say to the ground under my feet: "Dear Mother Earth, let me in! Oh, Mother Earth, I want to lie down in you and sleep for ever!" But she isn't kind to me. That's why I'm old, young men.'

One of the men laughed loudly. The old man turned to him and said quietly,' You've spoken very unkindly to me and now you're laughing at me. But I've done nothing to hurt you. You should speak more kindly to an old man. Now, I've got nothing more to say to you. I'm going to continue on my journey to meet Death.'

'No, you can't do that!' they shouted. 'He's killed all our friends in this country. We're going to find him and kill him. Quickly, tell us where he is'.

'If you really want to find Death, I'll tell you,' answered the old man.' Can you see that little road? Go up there. Not long ago I saw him near a great tree in the wood. But you can't save men from Death. He won't be afraid of you. Go now. I hope God will help you to become better men.'

The three young men went up the road and ran towards the great tree, but there was nobody there. They sat down and looked around them. Then suddenly, on the ground, they saw a lot of money. They all got very excited and forgot about Death. But Death was very near and he was thinking about them.

Nobody said anything as they started to count the money. At last one of them spoke.

' Listen to me,' he said.' This money will bring us happiness for the rest of our lives but we must hide it. One of us must go      back to the town for food and drink. The other two can hide in      the wood. They must guard the money until night comes.'

This plan sounded sensible. So the youngest man went into      town and his two friends waited in the wood with the money.          'I've got an idea,' said one of the men. 'We're like three brothers, but one  of us  has gone  now. If you take  half the money, I'll take the other half. Then we'll be really rich!'        ' But how can we do that ?' asked the other man.' Our young brother knows about the money.'

' I'll tell you how we can do it. There are two of us. Two men are stronger than one. When he comes back, we'll play a game with him. You can start a friendly fight with him. I'll wait      and then kill him with my knife. After that, my dear brother, we can take all the money. Half for you and half for me!' And so they planned their young friend's death.

But the young friend was bad too. As he walked to the town, his mind was full of the beautiful money. He said to himself,' How can I get all that money? If I think of a good plan, I'll be the happiest, richest man in the world!'

At last he had an idea.

' I know what I'll do. I'll go to a shop and buy some poison. Then I'll kill the other two and take all the money'

So he went to a shop in the town and said to the shopkeeper, ' The cats on my farm are eating all my plants. Can you give me something to kill them?'

The shopkeeper showed him a small bottle of poison.

'This will kill your cats,' he said. 'Put it in their food or drinking water. It's very strong. It will kill a horse!'

Then the young man went to the next street and bought three bottles of wine. He put the poison into two of the bottles and he kept the third bottle.

'I'll need a drink after I've killed my two friends. I'll hide their bodies first and then hide the money. I'll need a good bottle of wine after all that!'

Then he bought some food and walked back to the wood. When the other two men saw him, they said, 'Ha! Here he comes! He's bringing us our supper but he'll never have another meal again!'

They were hungry and they ate the food immediately. Then the two men asked their young friend to play the fighting game. Their plan went well and they soon killed him.

' Let's eat again and drink some of this wine. Then we'll put his body in the ground,' they said.

One man got a bottle of wine and drank a lot of it. Then he gave the bottle to the other man.

Both men died slowly in a lot of pain.

They wanted to find Death and kill him. But when Death found them, they were all dead!

And Death laughed loudly for a long time!

'Well, that's the end of my story,' said the pardoner. 'Now, I've got some things here in my bag. They'll bring you forgiveness and save you all. Only a penny! Hurry! Hurry! Come and buy!'

The Franklin's Tale

Three Promises

The franklin was a rich farmer. He had a big house and a lot of land, and he liked good food and wine. His guests always had excellent things to eat and drink when they came to visit him. The franklin told the pilgrims a story about three promises.

Long ago, in France, there lived a knight called Arveragus. He was in love with a beautiful lady called Dorigen. She wanted to be sure that he was brave and good. So she asked him to do a lot of difficult things.

' Do these things for me. Then I'll know that you love me,' she said to him.

Arveragus went away and had many adventures. He did all the things that Dorigen asked him to do. Then he came back to his love, Dorigen.

' Now I know that you aren't afraid of anything,' Dorigen said to him.' I love you as much as you love me. I want to marry you.'

The knight loved his lady very much.' I want to marry you, too,' he said. ' I'll never ask you to do anything that you don't want to do,' he told her.

'And when we're married,' she said,' I'll be your loving wife. I'll never do anything that will make you unhappy.'

Arveragus and Dorigen got married and went to live in Arveragus's home in Brittany. They lived together happily for more than a year. But the knight was a man of war and he

wanted to fight in England. Even his love for his wife couldn't stop him.

So he sailed away for two' years.

poor Dorigen was left at home. She felt very sad without her husband, because she loved him very much. She couldn't sleep or eat when he was away.

Her friends tried hard to help her.

'You'll die if you don't sleep and eat more,' they said to her.

She listened to her friends and slowly got better. She was young and full of hope.

' My husband's going to come home soon,' she thought.

Arveragus sent her long, loving letters. 'All is well,' he wrote. ' I'll be home again very soon, my love.'

Her friends said to her, ' Now you're feeling better, so come outside with us. Don't sit alone in your house. Come and have fun.'

So she began to go out with them. One day, as she was walking with her friends, Dorigen saw great black rocks in the sea. She felt very frightened when she saw them. Sometimes, when she was far away from the sea, she thought about those terrible rocks.

' I don't like those rocks. If a ship hits them, the men on the ship will die. Will my dear Arveragus be safe ? Oh, why did God make something which can kill men ? He loves everyone!'  Her friends saw that she was becoming ill again. They were worried. They were kind people and they wanted to help her. So they kept her away from the black rocks, and they took her out with them to other places. They danced and played games together.

One day in spring, they went to a beautiful garden. They sat down on the grass and sang and danced. Only Dorigen was unhappy. АД the men were dancing happily, but her dear husband, Arveragus, was not there.

One of the dancers in the garden was a man called Aurelius. He was a handsome young man and he loved Dorigen with all his heart. But he never spoke to her about his feelings. Some of his friends knew that he was in love. But they didn't know who the lady was.

When Aurelius saw Dorigen in the garden on that spring day, he couldn't hide his love.

' I know that your heart lies over the sea with Arveragus,' he said to her. 'You're his wife. I know that you can't love me. But I love you very much.'

'You must never speak to me like that again, Aurelius,' Dorigen answered. 'Arveragus is my husband and I love him with all my heart. I'll never leave him.'

Then she laughed and said,'Aurelius, I will love you if you take away all the rocks from the sea. Then Arveragus can come home safely in his ship.'

' Is there no other way ?' he asked.

' No, there's no other way,' said Dorigen.

Aurelius went away sadly. First he spoke to the Sun God.

' Oh, Lord of the Sun, speak to your sister. Ask her to cover the rocks with the sea. Then my lady will love me. She won't break her promise, I'm sure.'

But nothing happened. The sea stayed the same and Aurelius could still see the black rocks. He got very ill and his brother looked after him. Aurelius told his brother everything.

' I must take those rocks away,' he said.' If I can do that, then Dorigen will love me. I'll be a happy man.'

Aurelius's brother loved him and wanted to help him. He started to read books. He had to find a way to move the rocks.

After two years, Arveragus came home from the war. Dorigen and all their friends were very happy. But Aurelius didn't know that he was back. He lay at home in bed, very ill. His brother stayed close to him. He read his books and thought about the rocks all the time.

' How can I help my dear brother?' he asked himself every day.

At last he remembered something. He sat down near Aurelius's bed and spoke to him quietly.

' One day in Orleans, I saw a book in a friend's house. It was a book about magic. Perhaps that book will help us with the rocks. If we can hide the rocks for a short time, Dorigen will love you.'

Aurelius listened to his brother and felt much better. He jumped out of his bed and in a day or two they went to Orleans together.

As they came near Orleans, they met a young man. He was a magician.

He said to them,' I know why you've come here.'

And to their great surprise he told them everything about Dorigen and the rocks.

That night, they went with the young man to his house. Before they ate, he showed them many strange things. They were all done by magic. Forests came in front of their eyes, full of animals. Next they saw a river in the room. Then they saw many knights, and they even saw Aurelius with his love, Dorigen. Aurelius was dancing with her.

Before they went to bed, Aurelius decided. He said to the young man,'If you hide those rocks, I'll pay you a thousand pounds.'

The young man agreed, and the next morning they all rode to Brittany. It was December and the weather was very cold. When they arrived, the young man started his magic immediately. The sea began to cover the rocks. At the end of the day, Aurelius and his brother couldn't see one single rock!

Aurelius was very excited. He found Dorigen and said to her, ' I still love you very much, dear lady. I know that you're married to Arveragus. But remember the promise that you made in the garden on that spring day. I've done what you told me to do. All the black rocks have disappeared!'

Then he went away and left her. Dorigen ran down to the sea and looked for the rocks.

' It's true!' she cried. 'All the rocks have gone - or the sea has hidden them. Aurelius has done what I asked. But what shall I do now ?'

Arveragus was away from home for a few days, so she couldn't tell him about her problem. She lay on her bed and cried.

'What can I do? Shall I kill myself? Some women kill themselves because their husbands don't love them. But Arveragus loves me. Other women kill themselves because they love another man. I don't love Aurelius but I've made a promise. I must keep my promise. But I can't! Oh, what shall I do ?'

She lay on her bed all day and night, and cried and cried.

After two days, Arveragus came home. He saw that his wife was unhappy. He asked her, 'My love, why are you crying? What's the matter?'

Dorigen told him the story.

' Is that all ?' he said, and looked at her lovingly. ' Is there nothing more ?'

' That's enough!' she cried.' Oh, Arveragus, what shall I do ?'

'A promise is a promise, my dear. You must keep your promise — that's very important. I won't love you if you break your promise.'

' Then I must go to the garden where Aurelius told me about his love. I must wait for him there,' answered Dorigen sadly.

She kissed her husband goodbye and walked slowly towards the garden.

Aurelius met Dorigen in the street. He looked very happy but Dorigen's eyes were red with tears.

' Where are you going ?' he asked her.

' I've spoken to my husband. He told me to keep my promise to you. So I'm going to the garden where I first met you,' she replied unhappily.

Aurelius looked at Dorigen. He saw her sad face and felt sorry for her.

'I'm doing a very bad thing,' he thought. 'She loves her husband, Arveragus, very much.'

' Tell your husband that he's a good man,' he said to Dorigen. 'I don't want to come between a man and his wife. You're the most loving wife I've ever met.'

When she heard these kind words, Dorigen fell on her knees. She thanked him. Then, with a heart full of happiness, she ran home to her husband.

For the rest of their long life together, Arveragus looked after her like a queen and she was always his true and loving wife.

But poor Aurelius didn't feel very happy. He was a worried man. ' How can I  ever pay the magician  all that money ?' he thought.' I'll have to sell everything that I own. And, even then, I won't have enough. Perhaps I can pay him a little every year.'

He had five hundred pounds, and he went to see the magician with this money.

' Here's all my money,' he said.' I'll pay you the rest but, please, give me two or three years.'

' But I did what I promised to do. And you promised to pay me a thousand pounds,' shouted the magician angrily.

' Yes, I know. You kept your promise but I can't pay you,' Aurelius answered unhappily.

'Well, have you seen your lady? Does she love you now?' asked the magician when he saw Aurelius's sad face.

' No, she doesn't,' said Aurelius. ' Her husband loves her very much but he told her to keep her promise. He sent her to me but I sent her back to him. She loves her husband and she looked so unhappy. I didn't want to hurt her.'

The magician was pleased to hear this. He said, 'My dear brother, you've done the right thing. And now I'll do the right thing too. I won't take your money.'

And he said goodbye, got on his horse, and rode away.

The  franklin  finished his  story  and then asked  the pilgrims a question.

'My friends, now you must tell me something. Which of those three men seemed the best to you ? Aurelius ? Arveragus ? Or the magician ?'

The Friar's Tale

The Summoner and the Devil

There was a summoner and a friar on the pilgrimage to Canterbury.

Summoners found people who did bad things. They took them to an important person in the church. People often paid summoners a lot of money to forget those bad things. A friar's job was different. He asked people for money for the church.

The summoner and friar on the pilgrimage were not friends.

The friar said to the pilgrims,' I'm going to tell you a story about summoners.'

Then the summoner said, 'And I'm going to tell you a story about friars.'

'Well, I'm going to tell my story first,' said the friar.

So the friar began.

There was an important man in the church who was very bad. He only wanted people's money. A summoner worked for this man. He watched people quietly. Then he caught them when they did bad things. 'You must leave the church,' he told them. 'But if you give me a lot of money, you can come into the church again.'

One day, the summoner was on his way to see an old woman. He thought that she was a bad woman. He wanted her to give him money.

On the way he met a man. The man was wearing bright red clothes and riding a brown horse.

' Where are you riding to ?' asked the man. Nobody liked the summoner, so he lied.

'I'm just going to get some money from an old woman. She has to pay the money to my lord.'

' Oh, so you're a bailiff,' said the man.

A bailiff is a man who looks after land for rich lords. He takes money from the farmers who use the land.

' Yes, that's right,' answered the summoner.' I'm a bailiff.' ' I've got a farm which I look after for a lord,' said the man. ' Oh, that's interesting,' said the summoner.' Tell me, how do you get your money from people ?'

' I get it in many different ways,' said the man.' I like having a lot of money, but my lord doesn't pay me much.'

' I've got my ways too,' said the summoner.' I don't mind if people are frightened of me or unhappy. I think we're the same, you and I.What's your name?'

The man's answer gave the summoner a surprise. ' I'll tell you who I am. I'm a devil, and I live in hell!' he said. ' Oh, I thought you were an ordinary man like me,' said the summoner.' You look like a man.'

' Devils can look like anything they want to,' laughed the devil. ' There are good reasons for this. Now, let's continue our journey.'

So the man and the devil rode along the road. After a short time, they saw a man with some horses. He was hitting the horses and shouting at them.

' The devil can take you, you lazy animals!' he cried.

'Did you hear that?' the summoner asked the devil. 'Go and take his horses. He says that the devil can take them!'

'You can't believe everything you hear,' answered the devil. 'Wait. Let's see what happens.'

After a few minutes the tired horses started to walk a little faster.' Good horses!' shouted their owner.' Good Brock! Good old Scottie! God will save you all!'

' What did I tell you ?' said the devil.' He said one thing but he meant another thing. There's nothing for me here. Let's continue.'

When the town was far behind them, the summoner said to the devil,' You didn't do very well with the man and his horses, did you? Now I'm going to get some money from this poor old woman. Watch carefully! You can see how I do it.'

He went to the old woman's door.' Come out!' he shouted. ' I'm sure you're doing something bad in there!'

'Who's that?' cried the old woman, coming quickly out of her house.

When she saw the summoner, she looked very frightened. ' Oh, it's you, sir,' she said.

' People are saying some very bad things about you,' said the summoner in a serious voice.' If they're true, you'll have to go to the church. You'll have to pay them a lot of money.'

When she heard this, the old woman began to cry.

' Oh, sir, please be kind to me,' she said.' I'm ill and I can't get to church. Can I pay you the money ?'

' Yes, but you must pay me now,' answered the summoner.' It will cost you twelve pennies. Quickly!'

' Twelve pennies!' cried the old woman.' Oh, God help me! I haven't got twelve pennies! What can I do ?'

' Give me your money!' shouted the summoner angrily.

' But I haven't done anything bad,' said the poor woman.

'Give me your money or I'll take your cooking pot. You were with a man who isn't your husband. You know you were!'

'No, I always loved my husband,' cried the old woman. 'I hope the blackest devil in hell carries you away! And the cooking pot too!'

Then the devil spoke to the old woman.' Do you really mean what you're saying, madam ?'

' Yes I do!' she answered. ' The devil can carry him away — clothes, cooking pot, everything.'

The summoner was still shouting at her. He was very angry.

' What ? Will I get no money from this stupid old woman ?'

'Why are you so angry?' asked the devil. 'You and the cooking pot are mine now. She gave you to me. Tonight you'll be in hell with me. You can learn about devils there and about how we do our work!'

Suddenly the devil jumped on the summoner and caught him. Then he carried him down to hell. There's a place for summoners in hell, and it's always very full!

The friar finished his story and looked at all the pilgrims.

'Think hard about my story,' he said. 'We must hope that God will keep us from the devil!'

Then the summoner told his story about the friar. But it wasn't a very interesting story so I haven't put it in this book.

The Nun's Priest's Tale

Chaunticleer and the Fox

There was a nun on the pilgrimage called Madam Eglantine. A priest was travelling with her to help her on the journey. His name was John.

The knight said, 'We've had enough sad stories. Let's have a happy story now! You, priest — can you tell us a happy story ?'

The nun's priest, John, thought for a minute and then answered, 'I'll try.'

So he told the story of Chaunticleer and Pertelote. Chaunticleer was a cock, and Pertelote was a hen.

This is the story.

A long time ago, there was a poor old woman who lived in a small house in the country. Near her house was a wood.

The old woman was very poor, so she couldn't buy any food. She only ate the things that she grew in her garden, and the eggs from her hens.

The hens lived in the garden during the day. Chaunticleer, the cock, was the lord of the hens. The name Chaunticleer means 'sing beautifully' and he had a wonderful voice. Every morning he sang when the sun came up. During the day he sang every hour. So the old woman didn't need a clock — she could always tell the time by the cock.

Chaunticleer was the lord of seven hens. His wife was called Pertelote. She was very wise and she knew her husband very well. He told her everything and they often sang love songs together.

At night, Chaunticleer and the hens slept on the roof of the old woman's house.

One morning, just before the sun came up, Chaunticleer was sitting on the roof with Pertelote and the other hens. He was making a terrible noise, like someone who is very frightened. When Pertelote heard him, she felt frightened too.

'Oh, dear heart! she cried. 'What's the matter? Did you sleep badly?'

'Don't be angry with me, my love,' answered her husband. 'I've had a very bad dream and I still feel frightened. I thought I was in great danger. Please God, bring me something good and not danger.'

'What was your dream about, dearest?' asked Pertelote in a worried voice.' Tell me about it.'

' I dreamed that I was walking in our garden. Suddenly I saw an animal that looked like a dog. It wanted to kill me! It looked terrible — it was yellow and red with black ears. And it had two burning eyes that were looking straight at me! I've never felt so afraid in all my life. That's why I was crying out in my sleep.'

'Oh, I thought I had a brave husband!' cried Pertelote. 'But you're not the kind of husband that a woman wants. How can a brave man be afraid of dreams? You're having bad dreams because you eat too much!'

Pertelote knew a lot about health. She was as good as a doctor.

' You're ill, you know. That's why you dreamed about danger. When we fly down to the ground this morning, I'll show you some plants. You must eat them to  get better.'

Chaunticleer was angry with his wife.

' She can't tell me what to do!' he thought.' I haven't eaten too much. And I'm not ill. Dreams mean something.'

He said to his wife,' Thank you for your lesson, but there are many wise books about dreams. These books say that all dreams mean something. And I know many true stories about dreams.'

Chaunticleer was a great talker and he read a lot of books He started to tell his wife about three dreams which came true This is the first dream.

One day, two pilgrims came to a town where there were a lot of people. It was very crowded, so there weren't many places to stay. In the end they had to sleep in different places. One man slept in a comfortable house, and the other man slept in a farmhouse.

In the night, the man in the comfortable house dreamed that his friend was calling him. His friend was crying,' Help! Help! There are dangerous animals in my room! They're going to kill me! Come quickly!'

The friend had the same dream three times.

The third time, the man in the farmhouse cried,' It's too late! I'm already dead! They've killed me and hidden my body. Go to the west gate of the town. You'll find my body there.'

So the friend went to the west gate, and there he found the body.

Chaunticleer said, 'You see, dreams have meanings. Now, I'll tell you another story.'

This was his second story.

Two men wanted to sail across the sea, but they had to wait for the right wind.

They went to stay in a city near the sea, and decided to sail early the next day. They went to bed in the same room. They were happy that they could start their journey soon.

But in the night one of the men dreamed that he saw a man in heir room. This man said to him,' If you sail tomorrow, you'll lie. Stay here, in the city, for one more day. Then you'll be safe.'

The man woke up and told his friend the story, but his friend laughed at him. He didn't believe that the dream was true.

'The wind's right today,' he said. 'You stay here if you want to wait. I'm leaving. Dreams mean nothing! Goodbye!'

He walked away and the man never saw his friend again. The ship sailed onto some rocks, and all the men in it were killed.

Then Chaunticleer told Pertelote his third story. It was about the King of Mercia's son.

This little boy was only seven years old. He dreamed that he was in great danger. He told a kind woman about his dream but she didn't believe him. Nobody believed his dream.

A few days later, the king's sister killed the little boy.

Chaunticleer finished his stories and said,' My dear Pertelote, I feel better now. I'm not frightened. Let's fly down to the garden.'

The cock and his wife both flew down from the roof and Chaunticleer called all his hens to him. He felt like a king and he wasn't afraid.

It was a beautiful morning. When Chaunticleer sang, his voice sounded happy and strong. He happily told the world what time it was.

'Madam Pertelote,' he said, 'listen to the birds. They sound wonderful! And look at the flowers. They look lovely after their long winter's sleep. My love, my heart is full of happiness.'

But then a terrible thing happened.

A fox lived in the little wood near the old woman's house. He came into the garden during the night and hid quietly behind the trees until it was midday.' That's the best time to catch poor Chaunticleer,' he thought to himself.

'Oh, Chaunticleer,' the nun's priest said, 'it was a bad day for you! You came down from your safe roof into the dangerous garden! You tried to forget your dream - but it was true!

' It was a mistake for Chaunticleer to listen to his wife. Women are often wrong. But I'm a nun's priest, so I mustn't say too much against women!'

Pertelote was sitting happily in the sun with all her sisters round her. Chaunticleer stood near them, singing loudly.

Then the cock heard a noise and turned quickly. There was the fox! He stopped singing immediately. He felt very, very frightened.

'Dear sir,' said the fox, 'why have you stopped singing? I'm your friend. I don't want to hurt you. You sing beautifully, like your mother and father. They've both been to my house. They were very kind to come. I was very happy to have them there.

'I've never heard anyone sing like your father on that morning. He shut his eyes and stood up tall. Now, please sir, can you sing for me like your father?'

Chaunticleer was very pleased to hear these words. He didn't understand the fox's true meaning. So he stood up tall, shut his eyes, and began to sing.

The fox suddenly caught Chaunticleer and threw him on his back. Then he ran with him towards the wood.

The hens saw the fox and made a terrible noise. Pertelote made the loudest noise. The old woman and her two daughters ran out of their house when they heard her.

' Fox! Fox!' they cried out, and ran into the wood. The seven hens followed them, then the old woman's three dogs, and the other farm animals. People ran out of their houses and threw things at the fox.

The women shouted, ' Fox! Fox!' The hens ran — ' Cluck!

Cluck!' The dogs ran - ' Woof! Woof!' Everyone followed the fox and poor Chaunticleer. -

' Now, good people,' said the nun's priest,' you must listen to the end of my story. Then you'll learn something.'

The fox ran deeper and deeper into the wood with Chaunticleer in his mouth. When he stopped for a rest, the cock spoke to him.

'Sir Fox, you must turn round and speak to those stupid people. Say to them, "Go back home! I've reached the wood now and I'm going to eat this cock. You can't do anything about it, so stop making that noise. Go home! "'

' That's a good idea,' answered the fox.

Of course, when the fox opened his mouth to speak, he dropped Chaunticleer. The cock quickly flew up into a high tree.

' Oh, dear Sir Chaunticleer,' said the fox, as he looked up,' I didn't want to frighten you. I didn't really want to eat you. Come down, and talk to me.'

' No,' shouted Chaunticleer,' I'm not coming down. I've been very stupid but now I understand you!'

'Ah!' replied the fox.' I was the stupid one. I spoke when you were in my mouth. I must learn to keep my mouth shut.'

' So,' said the nun's priest,' don't believe everything that people say to you in this world. My story isn't just a simple one about a fox, a cock and seven hens. It can teach you important things. You can learn from it.'

' Thank you,' said the pilgrims. ' Thank you, Sir Priest, for a very good story.'

материал подготовила Тамила Мамедова e-mail: tamila@mail.ru

(присылайте ваши комментарии и замечания!, т.к это мой первый опыт, хотелось бы узнать, насколько Вам понравилась моя работа)

Метод чтения Ильи Франка

BÂTARD Jack London

Батар Джек Лондон

Рассказ подготовила Наталья Архипова nata_lingvo@rambler.ru 

Метод чтения Ильи Франка

1. Bâtard was a devil. (Батар был дьяволом) This was recognized throughout the Northland. (это признавалось на всем Севере; to recognize – сознавать, осознавать, признавать; throughout – повсюду, везде) "Hell's Spawn" he was called by many men, (“порождение ада“ назывался он многими людьми; spawn – порождение, отродье) but his master, Black Leclère, chose for him the shameful name "Bâtard." (а его хозяин, Черный Леклер, выбрал для него это позорное имя «Батар»; Bâtard - франц. ублюдок ) Now Black Leclère was also a devil, (а Черный Леклер был также дьяволом; now – в начале предложения связывает его с предыдущим: а, так вот, и вот) and the twain were well matched. (и эти двое хорошо подходили друг другу; twain – двое, пара, близнецы; to match – подходить под пару, соотвествовать) There is a saying (говорят) that when two devils come together, hell is to pay. (что, когда два дьявола столкнутся, будет ад) This is to be expected, (это неизбежно) and this certainly was to be expected (и это, конечно, стало неизбежно) when Bâtard and Black Leclère came together (когда Батар и Черный Леклер столкнулись). 

1. Bâtard was a devil. This was recognized throughout the Northland. "Hell's Spawn" he was called by many men, but his master, Black Leclère, chose for him the shameful name "Bâtard." Now Black Leclère was also a devil, and the twain were well matched. There is a saying that when two devils come together, hell is to pay. This is to be expected, and this certainly was to be expected when Bâtard and Black Leclère came together.

2. The first time they met, ((первый раз) когда они познакомились) Bâtard was a part-grown puppy, (Батар был полу-выросшим щенком/щенком-подростком) lean and hungry, with bitter eyes; (тощим и голодным, со злыми глазами) and they met with snap and snarl, (и их знакомство началось с укуса и рычания) and wicked looks, (и злобных взглядов) for Leclère's upper lip had a wolfish way of lifting and showing the white, cruel teeth. (потому что верхняя губа Леклера имела волчью манеру поднятия/у Леклера была привычка по-волчьи вздергивать верхнюю губу и показывать белые, ужасные зубы ) And it lifted then, and his eyes glinted viciously, (и она (губа) подняласьтогда, и его глаза сверкнули злобно) as he reached for Bâtard and dragged him out from the squirming litter. (когда он протянул руку (в сторону) Батара, и вытащил его из копошащегося помета; to squirm – извиваться, изгибаться, корчиться; to reach – протягивать, вытягивать руку; a litter – помет собаки) It was certain (было неизбежно) that they divined each other, (что они разгадали друг друга; to divine - предугадывать) for on the instant Bâtard had buried his puppy fangs in Leclère's hand, (потому что в этот момент Батар вонзил свои щенячьи клыки в руку Леклера; to bury - погружать) and Leclère, thumb and finger, (и Леклер, большим и указательным пальцем; a thumb – большой палец руки; finger – зд.указательный палец) was coolly choking his young life out of him. (стал хладнокровно выдавливать его молодую жизнь из него; to choke – душить кого-либо)

2. The first time they met, Bâtard was a part-grown puppy, lean and hungry, with bitter eyes; and they met with snap and snarl, and wicked looks, for Leclère's upper lip had a wolfish way of lifting and showing the white, cruel teeth. And it lifted then, and his eyes glinted viciously, as he reached for Bâtard and dragged him out from the squirming litter. It was certain that they divined each other, for on the instant Bâtard had buried his puppy fangs in Leclère's hand, and Leclère, thumb and finger, was coolly choking his young life out of him.

3. "Sacredam," (французское ругательство, соединенное с английским) the Frenchman said softly, (француз сказал тихо) flirting the quick blood from his bitten hand (стряхивая быструю кровь/кровь, хлынувшую из его укушенной руки; to flirt – быстро взмахивать, трясти) and gazing down on the little puppy choking and gasping in the snow. (и глядя вниз на маленького щенка, задыхающегося и валяющегося в снегу )

Leclère turned to John Hamlin, storekeeper of the Sixty Mile Post. (to turn – поворачиваться; storekeeper – хозяин лавки, магазина) "Dat fo' w'at Ah lak heem. (= that for what I like him – вот за что он мне нравится) 'Ow moch, eh, you, M'sieu'? (how much, eh, you – сколько, эй, вы, м’сье?) 'Ow moch? Ah buy heem, now; Ah buy heem queek." (Сколько? Я купить его, сейчас, я купить его быстро)

3. "Sacredam," the Frenchman said softly, flirting the quick blood from his bitten hand and gazing down on the little puppy choking and gasping in the snow.

Leclère turned to John Hamlin, storekeeper of the Sixty Mile Post. "Dat fo' w'at Ah lak heem. 'Ow moch, eh, you, M'sieu'? 'Ow moch? Ah buy heem, now; Ah buy heem queek."

4. And because he hated him with an exceeding bitter hate, (и так как он ненавидел его с огромной злой ненавистью) Leclère bought Bâtard and gave him his shameful name. (Леклер купил Батара и дал ему его позорное имя) And for five years the twain adventured across the Northland, (и в течение пяти лет эта пара путешествовала по всему Северу) from St. Michael's and the Yukon delta to the head-reaches of the Pelly ( head-reaches - верховья) and even so far as the Peace River, Athabasca, and the Great Slave. ( и даже так далеко, как до реки Пис, Атабаски и Большого Невольничьего озера) And they acquired a reputation for uncompromising wickedness, (и они приобрели репутацию бескомпромисного порока, злодеяния, дурного поступка; to acquire – приобретать, получать) the like of which never before attached itself to man and dog. (подобной которой никогда ранее не заслужил ни один человек и ни одна собака)

4. And because he hated him with an exceeding bitter hate, Leclère bought Bâtard and gave him his shameful name. And for five years the twain adventured across the Northland, from St. Michael's and the Yukon delta to the head-reaches of the Pelly and even so far as the Peace River, Athabasca, and the Great Slave. And they acquired a reputation for uncompromising wickedness, the like of which never before attached itself to man and dog.

5. Bâtard did not know his father, -- hence his name, (вот откуда его имя) -- but, as John Hamlin knew, his father was a great gray timber wolf. (timber wolf – лесной волк) But the mother of Bâtard, as he dimly remembered her, (как он смутно помнил ее) was snarling, bickering, obscene, husky, (была ворчащей, драчливой, бесстыдной, эскимосской лайкой) full-fronted and heavy-chested, (большелобой и широкогрудой) with a malign eye, a cat-like grip on life, (со злобными глазами, живучая, как кошка; a grip – хватка) and a genius for trickery and evil. (и гениальная/талантливая на обман и зло) There was neither faith nor trust in her. (не было ни верности, ни преданности в ней) Her treachery alone could be relied upon, ( в одно ее вероломство можно было верить; to rely upon – полагаться, надеяться, доверять) and her wild-wood amours attested her general depravity. (а ее любовные похождения в диких лесах свидетельствовали о ее основной порочности/ развращенности; amour – любовная история, роман; depravity – порочность, равращенность) Much of evil and much of strength were there in these, (много зла и много сил было в них ) Bâtard's progenitors, (предках Батара) and, bone and flesh of their bone and flesh, he had inherited it all. (и, (являясь) кость и плоть от их кости и плоти, он наследовал это все) 

5. Bâtard did not know his father, -- hence his name, - but, as John Hamlin knew, his father was a great gray timber wolf. But the mother of Bâtard, as he dimly remembered her, was snarling, bickering, obscene, husky, full-fronted and heavy-chested, with a malign eye, a cat-like grip on life, and a genius for trickery and evil. There was neither faith nor trust in her. Her treachery alone could be relied upon, and her wild-wood amours attested her general depravity. Much of evil and much of strength were there in these, Bâtard's progenitors, and, bone and flesh of their bone and flesh, he had inherited it all.

6. And then came Black Leclère, to lay his heavy hand on the bit of pulsating puppy life, (и когда пришел Черный Леклер, чтобы наложить свою тяжелую руку на кусочек/частицу пульсирующей жизни щенка) to press and prod and mould till it became a big bristling beast, (чтобы давить и тыкать, и разделывать (его) до тех пор, пока он (не) стал большим ощетинившимся зверем; to prod – тыкать, колоть; to mould – делать по шаблону, формировать, разделывать (тесто); to bristle - ощетиниться) acute in knavery, overspilling with hate, (сильным/проницательным в обмане, дышащим ненавистью; knavery – мошенничество, плутовство, обман; to spill over – выходить за пределы чего-либо, превышать, быть избыточным) sinister, malignant, diabolical. (дурным, злобным, жестоким) With a proper master Bâtard might have made an ordinary, fairly efficient sled-dog. (с порядочным хозяином Батар мог бы стать обычной, весьма эффективной упряжной собакой; sled – сани, нарты) He never got the chance: (он никогда не получил этого шанса) Leclère but confirmed him in his congenital iniquity. ( Леклер только укрепил его в (его) врожденном грехе/порочности)

6. And then came Black Leclère, to lay his heavy hand on the bit of pulsating puppy life, to press and prod and mould till it became a big bristling beast, acute in knavery, overspilling with hate, sinister, malignant, diabolical. With a proper master Bâtard might have made an ordinary, fairly efficient sled-dog. He never got the chance: Leclère but confirmed him in his congenital iniquity.

7. The history of Bâtard and Leclère is a history of war -- of five cruel, relentless years, (пяти жестоких, безжалостных лет) of which their first meeting is fit summary. (из которых их первая встреча является соответствующим резюме) To begin with, it was Leclère's fault, (надо сказать, это была вина Леклера) for he hated with understanding and intelligence, (потому что он ненавидел с пониманием и разумением) while the long-legged, ungainly puppy hated only blindly, (тогда как длинноногий, неуклюжий/неловкий/нескладный щенок ненавидел только слепо) instinctively, without reason or method. (инстинктивно, без причины или метода) At first there were no refinements of cruelty (these were to come later), (сначала не было утонченностей жестокости (это пришло позже); refinement – утонченность, изысканность) but simple beatings and crude brutalities. (только простые побои/порки и грубые жестокости) In one of these Bâtard had an ear injured. (при одном из этих (побоев) Батару повредил (Леклер) ухо) He never regained control of the riven muscles, (он никогда не восстановил контроль над рассеченными мышцами) and ever after the ear drooped limply down (и всегда после это ухо свисало слабо/вяло вниз) to keep keen the memory of his tormentor. (чтобы хранить острую память о его мучителе) And he never forgot. (и он никогда не забыл)

7. The history of Bâtard and Leclère is a history of war -- of five cruel, relentless years, of which their first meeting is fit summary. To begin with, it was Leclère's fault, for he hated with understanding and intelligence, while the long-legged, ungainly puppy hated only blindly, instinctively, without reason or method. At first there were no refinements of cruelty (these were to come later), but simple beatings and crude brutalities. In one of these Bâtard had an ear injured. He never regained control of the riven muscles, and ever after the ear drooped limply down to keep keen the memory of his tormentor. And he never forgot.

8. His puppyhood was a period of foolish rebellion. (его щенячье детство/отрочество было периодом глупого восстания/мятежа) He was always worsted, (его всегда побеждали = он всегда был побежденным; to worst – победить, разбить кого-либо, нанести поражение) but he fought back because it was his nature to fight back. (а он давал сдачи, потому что это была его природа - сопротивляться; to fight back – отвечать ударом на удар, сопротивляться) And he was unconquerable. (и он был непокоряемым = его нельзя было покорить) Yelping shrilly from the pain of lash and club, (визжа пронзительно/резко от боли бича и дубинки) he none the less contrived always to throw in the defiant snarl, (он, тем не менее, ухитрялся всегда броситься в непокорном/дерзком рычании; none the less – тем не менее) the bitter vindictive menace of his soul ( - озлобленной мстительной угрозой его души) which fetched without fail more blows and beatings. (которая влекла за собой неудачи большие, чем удары (судьбы) и побои) But his was his mother's tenacious grip on life. (но у него была материнская цепкая хватка за жизнь) Nothing could kill him. (ничто не могло убить его) He flourished under misfortune, (он расцветал при несчастье) grew fat with famine, (становился жирным при голоде) and out of his terrible struggle for life (и его ужасная борьба за жизнь) developed a preternatural intelligence. (развила (в нем) необычную сообразительность) His were the stealth and cunning of the husky, his mother, (у него были сила и хитрость эскимосской лайки, его матери) and the fierceness and valor of the wolf, his father. (и свирепость и храбрость/отвага волка, его отца)

8. His puppyhood was a period of foolish rebellion. He was always worsted, but he fought back because it was his nature to fight back. And he was unconquerable. Yelping shrilly from the pain of lash and club, he none the less contrived always to throw in the defiant snarl, the bitter vindictive menace of his soul which fetched without fail more blows and beatings. But his was his mother's tenacious grip on life. Nothing could kill him. He flourished under misfortune, grew fat with famine, and out of his terrible struggle for life developed a preternatural intelligence. His were the stealth and cunning of the husky, his mother, and the fierceness and valor of the wolf, his father.

9. Possibly it was because of his father that he never wailed. (возможно, это было из-за его отца, то, что он никогда не скулил) His puppy yelps passed with his lanky legs, (его щенячьи повизгивания прошли (вместе) с его длинными/долговязыми ногами) so that he became grim and taciturn, (так что он стал мрачным/суровым и молчаливым) quick to strike, slow to warn. (быстро нападать, не спеша предупреждать (об этом)) He answered curse with snarl, (он отвечал на брань рычанием) and blow with snap, (а на удар - укусом) grinning the while his implacable hatred; (скалясь при безжалостной ненависти; to grin - оскалиться) but never again, under the extremest agony, (но никогда при агонии) did Leclère bring from him the cry of fear nor of pain. (не мог Леклер вызвать у него ни крика страха, ни боли) This unconquerableness but fanned Leclère's wrath and stirred him to greater deviltries. (эта непобеждаемость/непокоряемость только раздувала ярость Леклера и подстрекала его на большие издевательства)

9. Possibly it was because of his father that he never wailed. His puppy yelps passed with his lanky legs, so that he became grim and taciturn, quick to strike, slow to warn. He answered curse with snarl, and blow with snap, grinning the while his implacable hatred; but never again, under the extremest agony, did Leclère bring from him the cry of fear nor of pain. This unconquerableness but fanned Leclère's wrath and stirred him to greater deviltries.

10. Did Leclère give Bâtard half a fish and to his mates whole ones, (если Леклер давал Батару полрыбы, а его напарникам - по целой (рыбе) ) Bâtard went forth to rob other dogs of their fish. (Батар шел отнимать у других собак их рыбу) Also he robbed cach s and expressed himself in a thousand rogueries, (также он обкрадывал запасы пищи и выражал себя в тысяче проказ; roguery – жульничество, мошенничество) till he became a terror to all dogs and masters of dogs. (пока он не стал грозой/ужасом всех собак и хозяев собак) Did Leclère beat Bâtard and fondle Babette, (когда Леклер избил Батара и приласкал Бабетту; to fondle – ласкать, нежно поглаживать) -- Babette who was not half the worker he was, (Бабетту, которая не была и в половину работником, каким был он) -- why, Bâtard threw her down in the snow and broke her hind leg in his heavy jaws, (вот почему Батар повалил ее в снег и сломал ее заднюю ногу своими мощными челюстями) so that Leclère was forced to shoot her. (так что Леклер был вынужден пристрелить ее)

10. Did Leclère give Bâtard half a fish and to his mates whole ones, Bâtard went forth to rob other dogs of their fish. Also he robbed cach s and expressed himself in a thousand rogueries, till he became a terror to all dogs and masters of dogs. Did Leclère beat Bâtard and fondle Babette, -- Babette who was not half the worker he was, - why, Bâtard threw her down in the snow and broke her hind leg in his heavy jaws, so that Leclère was forced to shoot her.

11. Likewise, in bloody battles, (таким же образом в кровавых битвах/схватках) Bâtard mastered all his team-mates, (Батар подчинил себе всю команду напарников/команду упряжки) set them the law of trail and forage, (установил для них закон пути и кормежки) and made them live to the law he set. ( и заставил их жить по закону, (который) он установил) In five years he heard but one kind word, (за пять лет он услышал только одно доброе слово) received but one soft stroke of a hand, (получил только одно мягкое прикосновение руки; a stroke – поглаживание рукой) and then he did not know what manner of things they were. (и тогда он не понял что это такое было) He leaped like the untamed thing he was, (он подпрыгнул подобно дикому/неприрученному (зверю), которым он и был) and his jaws were together in a flash. (и его челюсти были вместе/сомкнулись в плоти) It was the missionary at Sunrise, a newcomer in the country, (это был миссионер из Санрайза, новичок в этой стране) who spoke the kind word and gave the soft stroke of the hand. (кто сказал доброе слово и дал мягкое поглаживание рукой = и ласково погладил его) And for six months after, (и в течение шести месяцев после ) he wrote no letters home to the States, (он не писал писем домой в Штаты) and the surgeon at McQuestion travelled two hundred miles on the ice to save him from blood-poisoning. (а хирург из МакКуэсчена проехал двести миль по льду, чтобы спасти его от заражения крови)

11. Likewise, in bloody battles, Bâtard mastered all his team-mates, set them the law of trail and forage, and made them live to the law he set. In five years he heard but one kind word, received but one soft stroke of a hand, and then he did not know what manner of things they were. He leaped like the untamed thing he was, and his jaws were together in a flash. It was the missionary at Sunrise, a newcomer in the country, who spoke the kind word and gave the soft stroke of the hand. And for six months after, he wrote no letters home to the States, and the surgeon at McQuestion travelled two hundred miles on the ice to save him from blood-poisoning.

12. Men and dogs looked askance at Bâtard (люди и собаки смотрели с подозрением/искоса на Батара) when he drifted into their camps and posts. (когда он появлялся в их лагерях и поселках; to drift - перемещаться) The men greeted him with feet threateningly lifted for the kick, (люди приветствовали его ногой, угрожающе поднятой для пинка) the dogs with bristling manes and bared fangs. (собаки – ощетинивались и обнажали клыки) Once a man did kick Bâtard, and Bâtard, with quick wolf snap, (однажды какой-то человек лягнул Батара, и Батар, стремительной волчьей хваткой; to kick – ударять ногой, давать пинок, лягать) closed his jaws like a steel trap on the man's calf (сомкнул свои челюсти как стальной капкан на икре человека) and crunched down to the bone. (и вонзил зубы до кости; to crunch – грызть, раздавливать) Whereat the man was determined to have his life, (после этого человек решил убить его = получить его жизнь) only Black Leclère, with ominous eyes and naked hunting-knife, stepped in between. (но Черный Леклер, со зловещими глазами оголил охотничий нож, протиснулся между ними) The killing of Bâtard -- ah, sacredam, that was a pleasure Leclère reserved for himself. (убийство Батара – это удовольствие - Леклер приберег для себя ) Some day it would happen, or else -- bah! who was to know? Anyway, the problem would be solved. (когда-нибудь это случится, или, же – кто знает? В любом случае эта задача будет решена )

12. Men and dogs looked askance at Bâtard when he drifted into their camps and posts. The men greeted him with feet threateningly lifted for the kick, the dogs with bristling manes and bared fangs. Once a man did kick Bâtard, and Bâtard, with quick wolf snap, closed his jaws like a steel trap on the man's calf and crunched down to the bone. Whereat the man was determined to have his life, only Black Leclère, with ominous eyes and naked hunting-knife, stepped in between. The killing of Bâtard -- ah, sacredam, that was a pleasure Leclère reserved for himself. Some day it would happen, or else -- bah! who was to know? Anyway, the problem would be solved.

13. For they had become problems to each other. (потому что они стали задачами друг для друга) The very breath each drew was a challenge and a menace to the other. (каждый вздох каждого (из них) был вызовом и угрозой другому; to draw – приближать, тянуть) Their hate bound them together as love could never bind. (их ненависть связала их вместе как любовь не могла бы никогда связать) Leclère was bent on the coming of the day (Леклер ждал наступление (того) дня; to bent on something – решиться на что-либо, твердо решиться что-либо сделать) when Bâtard should wilt in spirit and cringe and whimper at his feet. (когда Батар поникнет духом и будет раболепствовать/пресмыкаться и скулить у его ног; to wilt – слабеть, никнуть, падать духом; to cringe – проявлять раболепный страх) And Bâtard -- Leclère knew what was in Bâtard's mind, (а Батар – Леклер знал, что было у Батара на уме) and more than once had read it in Bâtard's eyes. (и более, чем раз читал это в глазах Батара) And so clearly had he read, (и так ясно он читал (это) ) that when Bâtard was at his back, he made it a point to glance often over his shoulder. (что, когда Батар был у него за спиной, он оглядывался часто поверх своих плеч)

13. For they had become problems to each other. The very breath each drew was a challenge and a menace to the other. Their hate bound them together as love could never bind. Leclère was bent on the coming of the day when Bâtard should wilt in spirit and cringe and whimper at his feet. And Bâtard -- Leclère knew what was in Bâtard's mind, and more than once had read it in Bâtard's eyes. And so clearly had he read, that when Bâtard was at his back, he made it a point to glance often over his shoulder.

14. Men marvelled when Leclère refused large money for the dog. (люди удивлялись, когда Леклер отказался от больших денег за собаку ) "Some day you'll kill him and be out his price," said John Hamlin once, (в один день ты убьешь его и будешь без денег = без его цены, - сказал Джон Хэмлин однажды ) when Bâtard lay panting in the snow where Leclère had kicked him, (когда Батар лежал, задыхаясь, в снегу, куда Леклер пнул его; pant – одышка, затрудненное дыхание) and no one knew whether his ribs were broken, (и никто не знал, были ли его ребра сломаны) and no one dared look to see. (и никто не осмелился подойти посмотреть)

"Dat," said Leclère, dryly, "dat is my biz'ness, M'sieu'." (это, - сказал Леклер сухо, - это мое дело, м’сье)

14. Men marvelled when Leclère refused large money for the dog. "Some day you'll kill him and be out his price," said John Hamlin once, when Bâtard lay panting in the snow where Leclère had kicked him, and no one knew whether his ribs were broken, and no one dared look to see. "Dat," said Leclère, dryly, "dat is my biz'ness, M'sieu'."

15. And the men marvelled that Bâtard did not run away. (и (эти) люди удивлялись, почему Батар не убежал) They did not understand. But Leclère understood. (to understand - понимать) He was a man who lived much in the open, (он был человеком, который жил много/долго на открытом месте/пространстве ) beyond the sound of human tongue, (без звука человеческого языка/речи) and he had learned the voices of wind and storm, (и он выучил голоса ветра и шторма) the sigh of night, the whisper of dawn, the clash of day. (вздох/дуновение ночи, шепот рассвета, шум дня; clash – лязг, гул, грохот) In a dim way he could hear the green things growing, (В туманном/сумеречном пути он мог слышать как зеленые растения растут) the running of the sap, the bursting of the bud. (бег сока в дереве, лопанье почки; sap – сок растений, живица) And he knew the subtle speech of the things that moved, (и он знал эту, едва различимую речь вещей, (того) что двигалось) of the rabbit in the snare, (кролика в ловушке) the moody raven beating the air with hollow wing, (угрюмого ворона, бьющего воздух вогнутым крылом) the baldface shuffling under the moon, (оленя, шаркающего под луной; baldface – с белым пятном на лбу, о животных) the wolf like a gray shadow gliding betwixt the twilight and the dark. (волка, подобно серой тени, скользящего между сумерками и темнотой; betwixt – истор., поэт., между) And to him Bâtard spoke clear and direct. (и с ним Батар разговаривал ясно и прямо) Full well he understood why Bâtard did not run away, (очень хорошо он понимал, почему Батар не убежал) and he looked more often over his shoulder. (и он смотрел все чаще поверх своих плеч = оглядывался все чаще)

15. And the men marvelled that Bâtard did not run away. They did not understand. But Leclère understood. He was a man who lived much in the open, beyond the sound of human tongue, and he had learned the voices of wind and storm, the sigh of night, the whisper of dawn, the clash of day. In a dim way he could hear the green things growing, the running of the sap, the bursting of the bud. And he knew the subtle speech of the things that moved, of the rabbit in the snare, the moody raven beating the air with hollow wing, the baldface shuffling under the moon, the wolf like a gray shadow gliding betwixt the twilight and the dark. And to him Bâtard spoke clear and direct. Full well he understood why Bâtard did not run away, and he looked more often over his shoulder.

16. When in anger, Bâtard was not nice to look upon, (когда (он был) в ярости, Батар не выглядел хорошо = являл собой мало приятное зрелище) and more than once had he leapt for Leclère's throat, (и более, чем однажды прыгал он на горло Леклера) to be stretched quivering and senseless in the snow, (чтобы (потом) быть вытянутым, дрожа и без сознания в снегу) by the butt of the ever ready dogwhip. (при помощи рукоятки всегда готового бича; butt – толстый конец, комель орудия, оружия; whip – плеть, кнут, хлыст, бич) And so Bâtard learned to bide his time. (и, таким образом, Батар выучился ждать свое время = ждать своего часа; to bide – выжидать, терпеть) When he reached his full strength and prime of youth, (когда он достиг своей полной силы и лучшего времени молодости) he thought the time had come. (он решил, что это время пришло) He was broad-chested, powerfully muscled, ( он был широкогрудым, с могучими мускулами) of far more than ordinary size, (много больше обычного размера) and his neck from head to shoulders was a mass of bristling hair (а его шея от головы до плеч была массой щетинистых волос) -- to all appearances a full-blooded wolf. (со всем сходством с чистокровным волком) Leclère was lying asleep in his furs (Леклер лежал, спя = спал в своих мехах) when Bâtard deemed the time to be ripe. (когда Батар решил, что это время подходящее; to deem – полагать, думать, считать; ripe – подходящий, подошедший о времени) He crept upon him stealthily, (он подкрался к нему осторожно) head low to earth and lone ear laid back, (голова низко к земле и единственное ухо прижато к спине = лежало на спине) with a feline softness of tread. (с кошачьей мягкостью шага) Bâtard breathed gently, very gently, (Батар дышал тихо, очень тихо) and not till he was close at hand did he raise his head. (и пока он не стал вплотную к руке = на расстоянии вытянутой руки он не поднимал свою голову) He paused for a moment, and looked at the bronzed bull throat, naked and knotty, (он замер на миг, и посмотрел на бронзовое/покрытое бронзовым загаром бычье горло, голое/обнаженное и узловатое/жилистое) and swelling to a deep and steady pulse. (и, набухающий в глубине, и ровный пульс) The slaver dripped down his fangs (слюна стекала вниз по его клыкам) and slid off his tongue at the sight, (и соскальзывала с языка при виде этого (зрелища)) and in that moment he remembered his drooping ear, (и в тот момент он вспомнил свое свисающее ухо) his uncounted blows and prodigious wrongs, (свои несчетные побои и огромные обиды) and without a sound sprang on the sleeping man. (и без звука бросился на спящего человека)

16. When in anger, Bâtard was not nice to look upon, and more than once had he leapt for Leclère's throat, to be stretched quivering and senseless in the snow, by the butt of the ever ready dogwhip. And so Bâtard learned to bide his time. When he reached his full strength and prime of youth, he thought the time had come. He was broad-chested, powerfully muscled, of far more than ordinary size, and his neck from head to shoulders was a mass of bristling hair - to all appearances a full-blooded wolf. Leclère was lying asleep in his furs  when Bâtard deemed the time to be ripe. He crept upon him stealthily, head low to earth and lone ear laid back, with a feline softness of tread. Bâtard breathed gently, very gently, and not till he was close at hand did he raise his head. He paused for a moment, and looked at the bronzed bull throat, naked and knotty, and swelling to a deep and steady pulse. The slaver dripped down his fangs and slid off his tongue at the sight, and in that moment he remembered his drooping ear, his uncounted blows and prodigious wrongs, and without a sound sprang on the sleeping man.

17. Leclère awoke to the pang of the fangs in his throat, (Леклер проснулся от внезапной острой боли клыков на его горле) and, perfect animal that he was, (и, как превосходный зверь, которым он и был) he awoke clear-headed and with full comprehension. (он проснулся с ясной головой и с полным пониманием) He closed on Bâtard's windpipe with both his hands, (он сомкнул на дыхательном горле/трахее Батара обе свои руки) and rolled out of his furs to get his weight uppermost. (и скатился с мехов чтобы дать своему весу преобладать/быть сверху) But the thousands of Bâtard's ancestors had clung at the throats of unnumbered moose and caribou (но тысячи предков Батара держали за горла бесчисленных лосей и оленей/карибу; to cling – держаться, цепляться) and dragged them down, (и тащили их вниз = валили их на землю) and the wisdom of those ancestors was his. (и мудрость тех предков была его (мудростью) ) When Leclère's weight came on top of him, (когда вес Леклера оказался сверху его) he drove his hind legs upward and in, and clawed down chest and abdomen, (он подогнул задние лапы и стал когтями рвать его грудь и живот) ripping and tearing through skin and muscle. (распарывая и разрывая кожу и мышцы) And when he felt the man's body wince above him and lift, (и когда он почувствовал, что тело человека содрогнулось/дернулось над ним и поднялось) he worried and shook at the man's throat. (он терзал и тряс горло человека; to worry at – терзать, рвать зубами о волке, собаке) His team-mates closed around in a snarling circle, (его товарищи по упряжке сгрудились вокруг в рычащий круг) and Bâtard, with failing breath and fading sense, (а Батар, со слабеющим дыханием и замирающим/теряющимся сознанием) knew that their jaws were hungry for him. (знал, что их челюсти были голодны на него/хотели грызть Батара ) But that did not matter -- it was the man, the man above him, (но они не волновали его - это был человек, человек над ним, (кто волновал его) ) and he ripped and clawed, (и он рвал и терзал) and shook and worried, to the last ounce of his strength. (и тряс, и рвал зубами, до последней капли своей силы) But Leclère choked him with both his hands, (но Леклер душил его обеими руками) till Bâtard's chest heaved and writhed for the air denied, (до тех пор пока грудь Батара судорожно вздулась и дернулась в отсутствовие воздуха; to heave – подниматься и опускаться, вздыматься; to writhe – корчиться, извиваться, сводить мышцы) and his eyes glazed and set, (а его глаза остекленели и остановились) and his jaws slowly loosened, (и челюсти медленно разжались) and his tongue protruded black and swollen. (и его язык высунулся черный и распухший)

17. Leclère awoke to the pang of the fangs in his throat, and, perfect animal that he was, he awoke clear-headed and with full comprehension. He closed on Bâtard's windpipe with both his hands, and rolled out of his furs to get his weight uppermost. But the thousands of Bâtard's ancestors had clung at the throats of unnumbered moose and caribou and dragged them down, and the wisdom of those ancestors was his. When Leclère's weight came on top of him, he drove his hind legs upward and in, and clawed down chest and abdomen, ripping and tearing through skin and muscle. And when he felt the man's body wince above him and lift, he worried and shook at the man's throat. His team-mates closed around in a snarling circle, and Bâtard, with failing breath and fading sense, knew that their jaws were hungry for him. But that did not matter -- it was the man, the man above him, and he ripped and clawed, and shook and worried, to the last ounce of his strength. But Leclère choked him with both his hands, till Bâtard's chest heaved and writhed for the air denied, and his eyes glazed and set, and his jaws slowly loosened, and his tongue protruded black and swollen.

18. "Eh? Bon, you devil!" Leclère gurgled, (Ну? Хорошо, ты, дьявол! – пробулькал Леклер) mouth and throat clogged with his own blood, (рот и горло наполнились его собственной кровью; to clog – препятствовать, мешать, засоряться, набиваться) as he shoved the dizzy dog from him. (пока он отшвыривал оглушенного пса от себя; to dizzy – оглушать, дурманить)

And then Leclère cursed the other dogs off as they fell upon Bâtard. (а затем Леклер с руганью прогнал других собак, так как они навалились на Батара ; to curse – ругаться, проклинать) They drew back into a wider circle, (они переместились обратно, в более широкий круг; to draw – пододвигаться, перемещаться, приближаться) squatting alertly on their haunches and licking their chops, (присев настороженно на задние ноги и облизывая свои пасти = облизываясь ; squat – сидение на корточках, припадание к земле у животных) the hair on every neck bristling and erect. (шерсть на каждой шее ощетинилась и стала дыбом)

Bâtard recovered quickly, and at sound of Leclère's voice, (Батар пришел в себя быстро, и при звуке голоса Леклера) tottered to his feet and swayed weakly back and forth. (шатался на своих ногах и качался слабо назад и вперед; to totter – трястись, шататься; to sway – качаться, колебаться)

"A-h-ah! You beeg devil!" Leclère spluttered. "Ah fix you; Ah fix you plentee, by Gar!" (а, ты большой дьявол! – прошипел Леклер. – я устрою тебе, я устрою тебе досыта, клянусь Богом!)

18. "Eh? Bon, you devil!" Leclère gurgled, mouth and throat clogged with his own blood, as he shoved the dizzy dog from him.

And then Leclère cursed the other dogs off as they fell upon Bâtard. They drew back into a wider circle, squatting alertly on their haunches and licking their chops, the hair on every neck bristling and erect.

Bâtard recovered quickly, and at sound of Leclère's voice, tottered to his feet and swayed weakly back and forth.

"A-h-ah! You beeg devil!" Leclère spluttered. "Ah fix you; Ah fix you plentee, by Gar!" 

19. Bâtard, the air biting into his exhausted lungs like wine, (Батар, воздух жалил его изнуренные легкие как вино; to bite – кусать, жалить, причинять боль) flashed full into the man's face, (бросился прямо в лицо человека) his jaws missing and coming together with a metallic clip. (его челюсти промахнулись и встретились вместе с металлическим лязгом) They rolled over and over on the snow, (они покатились снова и снова по снегу) Leclère striking madly with his fists. (Леклер колотил сумашедше своими кулаками; to strike – ударять, бить) Then they separated, face to face, (затем они разделились, лицом к лицу) and circled back and forth before each other. (и кружили взад и вперед друг перед другом) Leclère could have drawn his knife. ( Леклер мог бы вытащить свой нож) His rifle was at his feet. ( его винтовка была у его ног) But the beast in him was up and raging.  (но зверь в нем проснулся и буйствовал) He would do the thing with his hands -- and his teeth. (он мог бы сделать это своими руками и зубами) Bâtard sprang in, (Батар прыгнул ) but Leclère knocked him over with a blow of the fist, fell upon him, (но Леклер сшиб его (с ног) ударом кулака, повалил его) and buried his teeth to the bone in the dog's shoulder. (и погрузил свои зубы в кость плеча собаки = прокусил ему плечо до кости)

19. Bâtard, the air biting into his exhausted lungs like wine, flashed full into the man's face, his jaws missing and coming together with a metallic clip. They rolled over and over on the snow, Leclère striking madly with his fists. Then they separated, face to face, and circled back and forth before each other. Leclère could have drawn his knife. His rifle was at his feet. But the beast in him was up and raging. He would do the thing with his hands -- and his teeth. Bâtard sprang in, but Leclère knocked him over with a blow of the fist, fell upon him, and buried his teeth to the bone in the dog's shoulder.

20. It was a primordial setting and a primordial scene, (это была первобытная окружающая обстановка и первобытная сцена) such as might have been in the savage youth of the world. (которая могла бы быть в пору дикой юности мира) An open space in a dark forest, (открытое пространство в темном лесу) a ring of grinning wolf-dogs, (кольцо скалящих зубы полудиких собак; to grin – скалить зубы) and in the centre two beasts, (а в центре - два зверя) locked in combat, snapping and snarling, (сцепились в бою, кусаясь и рыча) raging madly about, panting, sobbing, cursing, (буйствуют сумашедше вокруг, задыхаются, стонут, ругаются) straining, wild with passion, in a fury of murder, (рвутся (друг к другу) , дикие от страсти, в страстной жажде убийства) ripping and tearing and clawing in elemental brutishness. (рвут и раздирают когтями (друг друга) в стихийной жестокости)

20. It was a primordial setting and a primordial scene, such as might have been in the savage youth of the world. An open space in a dark forest, a ring of grinning wolf-dogs, and in the centre two beasts, locked in combat, snapping and snarling, raging madly about, panting, sobbing, cursing, straining, wild with passion, in a fury of murder, ripping and tearing and clawing in elemental brutishness.

21. But Leclère caught Bâtard behind the ear, (но Леклер схватил Батара за ухом; to catch – поймать, схватить) with a blow from his fist, knocking him over, (ударом кулака, ударяя его поверх; to knock – ударять, бить) and, for the instant, stunning him. (и на мгновение оглушив его) Then Leclère leaped upon him with his feet, (затем Леклер прыгнул на него ногами) and sprang up and down, striving to grind him into the earth. (и подпрыгивал вверх и вниз, стараясь втоптать его в землю; to strive – стараться, прилагать усилия; to grind – перемалывать, толочь) Both Bâtard's hind legs were broken ere Leclère ceased that he might catch breath. (обе задние ноги Батара были сломаны, прежде чем Леклер прекратил (прыгать), для того, чтобы он мог передохнуть)

"A-a-ah! A-a-ah!" he screamed, incapable of speech, shaking his fist, (он вопил/кричал, неспособный к речи, потрясая кулаком) through sheer impotence of throat and larynx. (через полнейшее бессилие горла и глотки)

21. But Leclère caught Bâtard behind the ear, with a blow from his fist, knocking him over, and, for the instant, stunning him. Then Leclère leaped upon him with his feet, and sprang up and down, striving to grind him into the earth. Both Bâtard's hind legs were broken ere Leclère ceased that he might catch breath.

"A-a-ah! A-a-ah!" he screamed, incapable of speech, shaking his fist, through sheer impotence of throat and larynx.

22. But Bâtard was indomitable. (но Батар был неукротим) He lay there in a helpless welter, (он валялся там в беспомощной кучей) his lip feebly lifting and writhing to the snarl he had not the strength to utter. (его губа слабо/немощно поднималась и подрагивала, чтобы (издать) рычание, но он не имел силы, чтобы издавать звук) Leclère kicked him, and the tired jaws closed on the ankle, (Леклер пнул его, и уставшие челюсти сомкнулись у него на лодыжке/щиколотке) but could not break the skin. (но (он) не мог порвать/прокусить кожу) Then Leclère picked up the whip and proceeded almost to cut him to pieces, (тогда Леклер поднял бич и продолжил, словно (решил) рассечь его на куски) at each stroke of the lash crying: (при каждом ударе бича выкрикивая) "Dis taim Ah break you! Eh? By Gar! Ah break you!" (this time I break you! – на этот раз я обломать тебя! Клянусь Богом! Я обломать тебя!)

22. But Bâtard was indomitable. He lay there in a helpless welter, his lip feebly lifting and writhing to the snarl he had not the strength to utter. Leclère kicked him, and the tired jaws closed on the ankle, but could not break the skin. Then Leclère picked up the whip and proceeded almost to cut him to pieces, at each stroke of the lash crying: "Dis taim Ah break you! Eh? By Gar! Ah break you!"

23. In the end, exhausted, (наконец, измученный) fainting from loss of blood, (теряя сознание от потери крови) he crumpled up and fell by his victim, (он съежился и упал рядом со своей жертвой; to crumple – мять, морщиться) and when the wolf-dogs closed in to take their vengeance, (и когда волкоподобные собаки приблизились, чтобы совершить свое мщение) with his last consciousness dragged his body on top Bâtard to shield him from their fangs. (с последним сознанием/теряя сознание (он) навалился своим телом поверх Батара, чтобы защитить/прикрыть его от их клыков)

23. In the end, exhausted, fainting from loss of blood, he crumpled up and fell by his victim, and when the wolf-dogs closed in to take their vengeance, with his last consciousness dragged his body on top Bâtard to shield him from their fangs.

24. This occurred not far from Sunrise, (это произошло недалеко от Санрайза) and the missionary, opening the door to Leclère a few hours later, (и миссионер, открывая дверь Леклеру несколькими часами позже) was surprised to note the absence of Bâtard from the team. (с удивлением заметил отсутствие Батара в упряжке) Nor did his surprise lessen (его удивление не уменьшилось = он удивился еще больше) when Leclère threw back the robes from the sled, (когда Леклер сбросил полость с нарт; to throw – бросать, кидать, швырять; robe – меховая полость у саней) gathered Bâtard into his arms, and staggered across the threshold. (схватил Батара в руки/в охапку, и пошел, шатаясь, через порог; to stagger – идти шатаясь, покачиваться) It happened (оказалось) that the surgeon of McQuestion, who was something of a gadabout, (что хирург из МакКуэсчена, кто был бродягой по природе) was up on a gossip, and between them they proceeded to repair Leclère. (заехал посплетничать, и они оба захотели осмотреть Леклера)

"Merci, non," said he. "Do you fix firs' de dog. To die? Non. Eet is not good. (спасибо, нет, - сказал он. – вы сначала зафиксируйте собаку. Умереть? Это не хорошо.) Becos' heem Ah mus' yet break. Dat fo' w'at he mus' not die." (Из-за него. Я должен еще обломать. Вот почему он не должен издохнуть/умереть)

24. This occurred not far from Sunrise, and the missionary, opening the door to Leclère a few hours later, was surprised to note the absence of Bâtard from the team. Nor did his surprise lessen  when Leclère threw back the robes from the sled, gathered Bâtard into his arms, and staggered across the threshold. It happened that the surgeon of McQuestion, who was something of a gadabout, was up on a gossip, and between them they proceeded to repair Leclère.

"Merci, non," said he. "Do you fix firs' de dog. To die? Non. Eet is not good. Becos' heem Ah mus' yet break. Dat fo' w'at he mus' not die."

25. The surgeon called it a marvel, the missionary a miracle, (хирург назвал это исключительным случаем, миссионер - чудом) that Leclère pulled through at all; (что Леклер выжил при всем; to pull through – разг. выжить ) and so weakened was he, (и таким ослабленным был он) that in the spring the fever got him, (что весной лихорадка поймала его; to get a cold – простудиться, схватить грипп) and he went on his back again. (и он слег в постель опять) Bâtard had been in even worse plight, (Батар был совсем плох ; plight – состояние , положение, обыкновенно плохое, трудное) but his grip on life prevailed, (но его хватка жизни восторжествовала) and the bones of his hind legs knit, (и кости его задних ног срослись) and his organs righted themselves, (и его органы восстановились) during the several weeks he lay strapped to the floor. (в течение тех нескольких недель, пока он лежал, привязанный ремнями к полу; to strap – связывать, стягивать ремнями) And by the time Leclère, finally convalescent, (а к тому времени (когда) Леклер, окончательно поправился) sallow and shaky, took the sun by the cabin door, ( с желтым лицом и шаткой/нетвердой (походкой), грелся на солнце/ловил солнце у двери хижины; cabin – хижина, лачуга) Bâtard had reasserted his supremacy among his kind, (Батар вновь отстоял свое главенство среди своего племени; to assert – утверждать, заявлять, отстаивать) and brought not only his own team-mates but the missionary's dogs into subjection. (и подчинил не только свою собственную упряжку, но и собак миссионера)

25. The surgeon called it a marvel, the missionary a miracle, that Leclère pulled through at all; and so weakened was he, that in the spring the fever got him, and he went on his back again. Bâtard had been in even worse plight, but his grip on life prevailed, and the bones of his hind legs knit, and his organs righted themselves, during the several weeks he lay strapped to the floor. And by the time Leclère, finally convalescent, sallow and shaky, took the sun by the cabin door, Bâtard had reasserted his supremacy among his kind, and brought not only his own team-mates but the missionary's dogs into subjection.

26. He moved never a muscle, nor twitched a hair, (ни один мускул у него не дрогнул, ни один волос не пешевельнулся; to twitch – дергаться, подергиваться) when, for the first time, Leclère tottered out on the missionary's arm, (когда, в первый раз, Леклер вышел нетвердой походкой, опираясь на руки миссионера) and sank down slowly and with infinite caution on the three-legged stool. (и опустился медленно и с беспредельной осторожностью на трехногий табурет)

"Bon! --" he said. "Bon! De good sun!" (хорошее солнце) And he stretched out his wasted hands and washed them in the warmth. (и вытянул свои ослабленные руки, и купал их в этом тепле)

26. He moved never a muscle, nor twitched a hair, when, for the first time, Leclère tottered out on the missionary's arm, and sank down slowly and with infinite caution on the three-legged stool.

"Bon! --" he said. "Bon! De good sun!" And he stretched out his wasted hands and washed them in the warmth.

27. Then his gaze fell on the dog, (затем его взгляд упал на собаку) and the old light blazed back in his eyes. (и прежний огонь загорелся опять у него в глазах) He touched the missionary lightly on the arm. (он притронулся слегка к руке миссионера) "Mon p re, dat is one beeg devil, dat Bâtard. (мой отец, (франц.) это большой дьявол, этот Батар) You will bring me one pistol, so, dat Ah drink de sun in peace." (вы принести мне один пистолет, так, чтобы я мог пить солнце в спокойно)

27. Then his gaze fell on the dog, and the old light blazed back in his eyes. He touched the missionary lightly on the arm. "Mon p re, dat is one beeg devil, dat Bâtard. You will bring me one pistol, so, dat Ah drink de sun in peace."

28. And thenceforth for many days he sat in the sun before the cabin door. (и с этих пор в течение многих дней он сидел на солнце перед дверью хижины) He never dozed, (он никогда не дремал) and the pistol lay always across his knees. (а пистолет лежал всегда у него на коленях) Bâtard had a way, the first thing each day, ( Батар имел привычку, первым делом, каждый день) of looking for the weapon in its wonted place. (искать оружие в его привычном месте; to look for something – искать что-либо) At sight of it he would lift his lip faintly in token (при виде его он поднимал губу слегка в знак того) that he understood, (что он понял) and Leclère would lift his own lip in an answering grin. (а Леклер поднимал свою губу в ответной усмешке) One day the missionary took note of the trick. (как-то раз/однажды миссионер обратил внимание на этот трюк/фокус)

28. And thenceforth for many days he sat in the sun before the cabin door. He never dozed, and the pistol lay always across his knees. Bâtard had a way, the first thing each day, of looking for the weapon in its wonted place. At sight of it he would lift his lip faintly in token  that he understood, and Leclère would lift his own lip in an answering grin. One day the missionary took note of the trick.

29. "Bless me!" he said. "I really believe the brute comprehends." (Господи! – он сказал. – я действительно верю, что это животное/зверь понимает )

Leclère laughed softly. "Look you, mon p re. Dat w'at Ah now spik, to dat does he lissen." (Леклер рассмеялся тихо. Смотрите, отец мой. Что я сейчас говорить, то он слушать)

As if in confirmation, (и словно в подтверждение) Bâtard just perceptibly wriggled his lone ear up to catch the sound. (Батар чуть заметно изогнул свое единственное ухо вверх/навострил, чтобы поймать звук)

"Ah say `keel.'" (я сказать “убью”)

Bâtard growled deep down in his throat, (Батар заворчал глухо/глубоко в горле) the hair bristled along his neck, and every muscle went tense and expectant. (шерсть взъерошилась вдоль его шеи/на загривке, и каждый мускул стал напряженным и выжидающим)

29. "Bless me!" he said. "I really believe the brute comprehends."

Leclère laughed softly. "Look you, mon p re. Dat w'at Ah now spik, to dat does he lissen."

As if in confirmation, Bâtard just perceptibly wriggled his lone ear up to catch the sound.

"Ah say `keel.'"

Bâtard growled deep down in his throat, the hair bristled along his neck, and every muscle went tense and expectant.

30. "Ah lift de gun, so, like dat." (я поднимать пистолет вот так) And suiting action to word, he sighted the pistol at Bâtard. (и превращая слово в дело, он навел пистолет на Батара)

Bâtard, with a single leap, sideways, (Батар одним прыжком в сторону) landed around the corner of the cabin out of sight. (приземлился за углом хижины вне видимости)

"Bless me!" he repeated at intervals. (Господи! – он (миссионер) повторил через некоторое время ???)

Leclère grinned proudly. (Леклер осклабился горделиво)

"But why does he not run away?" (но почему он не убежит?)

The Frenchman's shoulders went up in the racial shrug (плечи француза поднялись в национальном пожимании) that means all things from total ignorance to infinite understanding. (которое означает все вещи - от полного неведения до бесконечного понимания)

30. "Ah lift de gun, so, like dat." And suiting action to word, he sighted the pistol at Bâtard.

Bâtard, with a single leap, sideways, landed around the corner of the cabin out of sight.

"Bless me!" he repeated at intervals. Leclère grinned proudly. "But why does he not run away?"

The Frenchman's shoulders went up in the racial shrug that means all things from total ignorance to infinite understanding.

31. "Then why do you not kill him?" (тогда почему вы не убьете его?)

Again the shoulders went up. (опять плечи поднялись)

"Mon p re," he said after a pause, "de taim is not yet. (Отец мой, - он сказал после паузы, - время еще не пришло) He is one beeg devil. Some taim Ah break heem, so, an' so, all to leetle bits. Hey? Some taim. Bon! --" (он – большой дьявол. Когда-нибудь я обломать его, так, и так, всего на маленькие кусочки. Когда-нибудь.)

31. "Then why do you not kill him?"

Again the shoulders went up.

"Mon p re," he said after a pause, "de taim is not yet. He is one beeg devil. Some taim Ah break heem, so, an' so, all to leetle bits. Hey? Some taim. Bon! --"

32. A day came when Leclère gathered his dogs together (настал день, когда Леклер собрал своих собак вместе) and floated down in a bateau to Forty Mile, and on to the Porcupine, (и сплавился вниз (по реке) в плоскодонной лодке до Форти Майл, и до Поркьюпайна ) where he took a commission from the P. C. Company, (где он взял поручение/полномочие = поступил на службу от Тихоокеанской коммерческой компании) and went exploring for the better part of a year. (и занялся изысканиями в течение большей части года ) After that he poled up the Koyokuk to deserted Arctic City, (затем он поднялся вверх по Койокуку до пустынного Арктик Сити; to pole – двигать судно баграми или веслами) and later came drifting back, from camp to camp, along the Yukon. (и позже вернулся, плывя по течению, от лагеря до лагеря, вдоль/по Юкону; to drift – плыть по течению) And during the long months Bâtard was well lessoned. (и втечение этих долгих месяцев Батар был хорошо проучен) He learned many tortures, and, notably, the torture of hunger, (он подвергся многим пыткам, и, особенно, пытке голодом) the torture of thirst, the torture of fire, (пытке жаждой, пытке огнем) and, worst of all, the torture of music. (и самой худшей из всех, пытке музыкой)

32. A day came when Leclère gathered his dogs together and floated down in a bateau to Forty Mile, and on to the Porcupine, where he took a commission from the P. C. Company, and went exploring for the better part of a year. After that he poled up the Koyokuk to deserted Arctic City, and later came drifting back, from camp to camp, along the Yukon. And during the long months Bâtard was well lessoned. He learned many tortures, and, notably, the torture of hunger, the torture of thirst, the torture of fire, and, worst of all, the torture of music.

33. Like the rest of his kind, he did not enjoy music. (как и все остальные (особи) его племени, он не любил музыки) It gave him exquisite anguish, (она причняла ему сильное страдание) racking him nerve by nerve, ( раздражала его нерв за нервом = действовала на нервы; to rack – пытать, мучить, напрягать; nerve-racking – раздражающий, действующий на нервы) and ripping apart every fibre of his being. (и разрывала на части каждую нить его существа; to rip – разрывать, проникать) It made him howl, long and wolf-like, (она заставляла его выть долго и подобно волку) as when the wolves bay the stars on frosty nights. (как волки воют на звезды в морозные ночи) He could not help howling. (он не мог удержаться (чтобы) не выть ) It was his one weakness in the contest with Leclère, (это была его единственная слабость в борьбе с Леклером) and it was his shame. (shame – стыд, позор) Leclère, on the other hand, passionately loved music (on the other hand – с другой стороны; passionately - страстно) -- as passionately as he loved strong drink. (так же страстно, как и алкоголь) And when his soul clamored for expression, (и когда его душа требовала проявления; to clamor for – настойчиво требовать) it usually uttered itself in one or the other of the two ways, (она обычно высказывала себя в одном или другом из этих двух способов) and more usually in both ways. (и чаще обычно в обоих путях) And when he had drunk, (и когда он напивался) his brain a-lilt with unsung song (его мозг пел = играл с неспетыми песнями; to lilt – петь, играть, двигаться живо и ритмично) and the devil in him aroused and rampant, (и дьявол в нем пробуждался и неистовал/свирепствовал) his soul found its supreme utterance in torturing Bâtard. (его душа находила свое высшее проявление в пытке Батара)

33. Like the rest of his kind, he did not enjoy music. It gave him exquisite anguish, racking him nerve by nerve, and ripping apart every fibre of his being. It made him howl, long and wolf-like, as when the wolves bay the stars on frosty nights. He could not help howling. It was his one weakness in the contest with Leclère, and it was his shame. Leclère, on the other hand, passionately loved music - as passionately as he loved strong drink. And when his soul clamored for expression, it usually uttered itself in one or the other of the two ways, and more usually in both ways. And when he had drunk, his brain a-lilt with unsung song and the devil in him aroused and rampant, his soul found its supreme utterance in torturing Bâtard.

34. "Now we will haf a leetle museek," he would say. "Eh? W'at you t'ink, Bâtard?" (now we will have a little music, - говорил он, - what you think?)

It was only an old and battered harmonica, (это была всего лишь старая и разбитая губная гармоника) tenderly treasured and patiently repaired; (заботливо хранимая и терпеливо ремонтируемая) but it was the best that money could buy, (но она была самой лучшей, что он мог купить за деньги) and out of its silver reeds he drew weird vagrant airs (и из ее серебряных язычков он извлекал причудливые изменчивые мотивы; reed – язычок музыкального инструмента) that men had never heard before. (каких люди никогда не слыхали ранее) Then Bâtard, dumb of throat, (тогда Батар, онемевший горлом) with teeth tight clenched, (с зубами крепко стиснутыми) would back away, inch by inch, (пятился назад, дюйм за дюймом) to the farthest cabin corner. (в самый дальний угол хижины) And Leclère, playing, playing, a stout club tucked under his arm, (а Леклер играл и играл, с крепкой дубинкой в руке; to tuck – скрывать, прятать, засовыват, входить, помещаться) followed the animal up, inch by inch, step by step, (надвигался на животное; step - шаг, дюйм за дюймом, шаг за шагом) till there was no further retreat. (пока не было дальнейшего отступления)

34. "Now we will haf a leetle museek," he would say. "Eh? W'at you t'ink, Bâtard?"

It was only an old and battered harmonica, tenderly treasured and patiently repaired; but it was the best that money could buy, and out of its silver reeds he drew weird vagrant airs that men had never heard before. Then Bâtard, dumb of throat, with teeth tight clenched, would back away, inch by inch, to the farthest cabin corner. And Leclère, playing, playing, a stout club tucked under his arm, followed the animal up, inch by inch, step by step, till there was no further retreat.

35. At first Bâtard would crowd himself into the smallest possible space, (сначала Батар сжимался в самом маленьком возможном пространстве) grovelling close to the floor; ( прижимаясь близко к полу; to grovel – быть распростертым ниц, ползать) but as the music came nearer and nearer, (но так как музыка наступала ближе и ближе) he was forced to uprear, (он был вынужден подниматься (на задние лапы )) his back jammed into the logs, (его спина втискивалась в бревенчатую стену) his fore legs fanning the air as though to beat off the rippling waves of sound. (его передние лапы махали в воздухе, словно отбивались от набегающих волн звука; to fan – обмахивать, отмахиваться; to ripple – покрываться рябью, струиться) He still kept his teeth together, (он не разжимал зубов = он сохранял зубы вместе) but severe muscular contractions attacked his body, (но жесткие мышечные сокращения атаковали его тело) strange twitchings and jerkings, (странные судороги и подергивания) till he was all a-quiver and writhing in silent torment. (пока он весь дрожал и корчился в немой муке; jerk – судорожное подергивание, вздрагивание) As he lost control, his jaws spasmodically wrenched apart, (так как он (по)терял контроль (над собой) = не мог владеть собой, его челюсти судорожно разжимались) and deep throaty vibrations issued forth, (и глубоко из гортани вибрации исходили наружу) too low in the register of sound for human ear to catch. (слишком низкие, чтобы уловило человеческое ухо) And then, nostrils distended, eyes dilated, (а потом ноздри раздувались, глаза расширялись) hair bristling in helpless rage, arose the long wolf howl. ( шерсть вставала дыбом в бессильной ярости, раздавался протяжный волчий вой) It came with a slurring rush upward, (он (вой) появлялся, плавно и стремительно повышался; slur – легато, муз.; rush – стремительное движение; upward – движущийся вверх, восходящий) swelling to a great heart-breaking burst of sound, ( нарастая в огромный сердцеразрывающий = душераздирающий взрыв звука/вопль ;to swell – нарастать, усиливаться) and dying away in sadly cadenced woe (и затухал в грустной мерной печали) -- then the next rush upward, octave upon octave; (затем - следующее стремительное движение вверх, октава за октавой) the bursting heart; and the infinite sorrow and misery, (разрывающееся сердце, и (эта) бесконечная печаль и страдание) fainting, fading, falling, and dying slowly away. (скорбь, замирает, падает и угасает медленно; to faint – ослабевать, терять сознание; to fade – увядать, замирать, стихать)

35. At first Bâtard would crowd himself into the smallest possible space, grovelling close to the floor; but as the music came nearer and nearer, he was forced to uprear, his back jammed into the logs, his fore legs fanning the air as though to beat off the rippling waves of sound. He still kept his teeth together, but severe muscular contractions attacked his body, strange twitchings and jerkings, till he was all a-quiver and writhing in silent torment. As he lost control, his jaws spasmodically wrenched apart, and deep throaty vibrations issued forth, too low in the register of sound for human ear to catch. And then, nostrils distended, eyes dilated, hair bristling in helpless rage, arose the long wolf howl. It came with a slurring rush upward, swelling to a great heart-breaking burst of sound, and dying away in sadly cadenced woe - then the next rush upward, octave upon octave; the bursting heart; and the infinite sorrow and misery, fainting, fading, falling, and dying slowly away.

36. It was fit for hell. (to fit – соответствовать, годиться, подходить; hell – ад) And Leclère, with fiendish ken, (и Леклер, с дьявольским знанием) seemed to divine each particular nerve and heartstring, ( казалось, предугадывал каждый индивидуальный нерв и струну души; string - струна) and with long wails and tremblings (и протяжными завываниями и дрожаниями) and sobbing minors to make it yield up its last shred of grief. (и всхлипываниями меньшими, чтобы заставить его (пса) сдаться до последней частицы печали) It was frightful, (frightful – страшный, ужасный) and for twenty-four hours after, Bâtard was nervous and unstrung, (и в течение двадцати четырех часов после этого, Батар был нервным и расшатанным) starting at common sounds, tripping over his own shadow, (вздрагивая при обычных звуках, шарахаясь от своей собственной тени) but, withal, vicious and masterful with his team-mates. (но, не смотря ни на что, (был) - злобным и деспотичным с упряжными собаками) Nor did he show signs of a breaking spirit. (он не показывал вида сломленного духа) Rather did he grow more grim and taciturn, (скорее он становился более угрюмым и замкнутым ) biding his time with an inscrutable patience (ожидая своего часа с непостижимым терпением) that began to puzzle and weigh upon Leclère. (которое начало удивлять и тяготить Леклера) The dog would lie in the firelight, motionless, for hours, ((эта) собака могла лежать перед огнем неподвижно часами) gazing straight before him at Leclère, ( глядя прямо перед собой = глядя в упор на Леклера) and hating him with his bitter eyes. (и ненавидя его своими озлобленными глазами)

36. It was fit for hell. And Leclère, with fiendish ken, seemed to divine each particular nerve and heartstring, and with long wails and tremblings and sobbing minors to make it yield up its last shred of grief. It was frightful, and for twenty-four hours after, Bâtard was nervous and unstrung, starting at common sounds, tripping over his own shadow, but, withal, vicious and masterful with his team-mates. Nor did he show signs of a breaking spirit. Rather did he grow more grim and taciturn, biding his time with an inscrutable patience that began to puzzle and weigh upon Leclère. The dog would lie in the firelight, motionless, for hours, gazing straight before him at Leclère, and hating him with his bitter eyes.

37. Often the man felt (часто человек чувствовал) that he had bucked against the very essence of life (что он выступал против самой сущности жизни; to buck – взбрыкивать, рвануть, дернуть, выступать против, противиться, выслуживаться, подхалимничать, хвастаться) -- the unconquerable essence (этой непобедимой сущности) that swept the hawk down out of the sky like a feathered thunderbolt, (что смахивает ястреба с неба как пернатую молнию; to sweep – сметать, смахивать, уничтожать) that drove the great gray goose across the zones, (что гонит грузного/крупного серого гуся через страны) that hurled the spawning salmon through two thousand miles of boiling Yukon flood. (что заставляет мчаться мечущего икру лосося на две тысячи миль по бурному потоку Юкона; to hurl – мчаться, нестись, опрокидывать, бросать) At such times he felt impelled to express his own unconquerable essence; (в такие мгновения он чувствовал себя вынужденным выразить свою собственную непобедимую сущность; to impel – побуждать, заставлять, вынуждать) and with strong drink, wild music, (и пьяный, с дикой музыкой) and Bâtard, he indulged in vast orgies, (и Батаром, он доставлял себе удовольствие в многочисленных разгулах ) wherein he pitted his puny strength in the face of things, (где он противопоставлял (миру) свою ничтожную силу в лице вещей) and challenged all that was, and had been, and was yet to be. (и бросал вызов всему, что было, есть и будет; to challenge – бросать вызов)

37. Often the man felt  that he had bucked against the very essence of life - the unconquerable essence that swept the hawk down out of the sky like a feathered thunderbolt, that drove the great gray goose across the zones, that hurled the spawning salmon through two thousand miles of boiling Yukon flood. At such times he felt impelled to express his own unconquerable essence; and with strong drink, wild music, and Bâtard, he indulged in vast orgies, wherein he pitted his puny strength in the face of things, and challenged all that was, and had been, and was yet to be.

38. "Dere is somet'ing dere," he affirmed, (there is something there, - тут что-то есть, - утверждал он) when the rhythmed vagaries of his mind touched the secret chords of Bâtard's being (когда рифмованные причуды его разума касались тайных струн существа Батара) and brought forth the long lugubrious howl. (и вызывали у пса протяжный, мрачный вой) "Ah pool eet out wid bot' my han's, so, an' so. Ha! Ha! Eet is fonee! Eet is ver' fonee! (Я вытягивать эт-то обеими руками, вот так и так.) De priest chant, de womans pray, de mans swear, de leetle bird go peep-peep, Bâtard, heem go yow-yow -- an' eet is all de ver' same t'ing. Ha! Ha!" (Ха! Ха! Эт-то смешно! Эт-то очень смешно! Священник распевать псалмы,женщины молиться, мужчины ругаться, птички делать "чирик-чирик", Батар, делать "йоу-йоу", и все эт-то одно и то же. Ха! Ха!)

Father Gautier, a worthy priest, (Отец Готье, достойный пастырь) once reproved him with instances of concrete perdition. (однажды начал было увещевать Леклера, угрожая ему неминуемой карой в аду ) He never reproved him again. (и с тех пор закаялся)

"Eet may be so, mon p re," he made answer. (это может быть и так, мой отец, - ответил он) "An' Ah t'ink Ah go troo hell a-snappin', lak de hemlock troo de fire. Eh, mon p re?" ( а я думать, я пройти через ад и там буду щелкать хвойные ветки в огонь. Правда?)

38. "Dere is somet'ing dere," he affirmed, when the rhythmed vagaries of his mind touched the secret chords of Bâtard's being and brought forth the long lugubrious howl. "Ah pool eet out wid bot' my han's, so, an' so. Ha! Ha! Eet is fonee! Eet is ver' fonee! De priest chant, de womans pray, de mans swear, de leetle bird go peep-peep, Bâtard, heem go yow-yow -- an' eet is all de ver' same t'ing. Ha! Ha!"

Father Gautier, a worthy priest, once reproved him with instances of concrete perdition. He never reproved him again.

"Eet may be so, mon p re," he made answer. "An' Ah t'ink Ah go troo hell a-snappin', lak de hemlock troo de fire. Eh, mon p re?"

39. But all bad things come to an end as well as good, (но все плохое = плохие вещи приходит к концу, также как и хорошее) and so with Black Leclère. (и так же с Черным Леклером) On the summer low water, in a poling boat, (по летним низким водам = летом по мелководью, в лодке (с веслами)) he left McDougall for Sunrise. (он отправился из МакДугалла в Санрайз) He left McDougall in company with Timothy Brown, (он покинул МакДугалл в компании Тимоти Брауна) and arrived at Sunrise by himself. (а прибыл в Санрайз один) Further, it was known (в дальнейшем стало известно) that they had quarrelled just previous to pulling out; (что они повздорили перед тем как отчалить) for the Lizzie, a wheezy ten-ton sternwheeler, (Лиззи, хриплый десятитонный пароход) twenty-four hours behind, beat Leclère in by three days. (двадцать четыре часа спустя, обогнал Леклера на три дня; to baen – победить, превосходить, поколотить) And when he did get in, (и когда он прибыл; to get in – прибывать, приходить) it was with a clean-drilled bullet-hole through his shoulder muscle, (то явился с простреленным навылет плечом) and a tale of ambush and murder. (и рассказом (о) засаде и убийстве)

39. But all bad things come to an end as well as good, and so with Black Leclère. On the summer low water, in a poling boat, he left McDougall for Sunrise. He left McDougall in company with Timothy Brown, and arrived at Sunrise by himself. Further, it was known that they had quarrelled just previous to pulling out; for the Lizzie, a wheezy ten-ton sternwheeler, twenty-four hours behind, beat Leclère in by three days. And when he did get in, it was with a clean-drilled bullet-hole through his shoulder muscle, and a tale of ambush and murder.

40. A strike had been made at Sunrise, (в Санрайзе нашли золото = месторождение было открыто в Санрайзе; a strike – открытие месторождения нефти, руды) and things had changed considerably. (и многое там изменилось значительно ) With the infusion of several hundred gold-seekers, (с вливанием нескольких сотен золотоискателей = нахлынули сотни золотоискателей) a deal of whiskey, and half a dozen equipped gamblers, (потоки виски, и полдюжины профессиональных игроков) the missionary had seen the page of his years of labor with the Indians wiped clean. (и миссионер увидел, что страница его жизни (посвященная) труду с индейцами, стерта начисто ) When the squaws became preoccupied with cooking beans (когда скво/индейские женщины стали озабочены приготовлением бобов) and keeping the fire going for the wifeless miners, (и хранением огня = топкой печей для одиноких золотоискателей) and the bucks with swapping their warm furs for black bottles and broken timepieces, (а индейцы - обменом своих теплых мехов на черные бутылки и сломанные часы; a buck – амер.презрит. индеец, самец) he took to his bed, said "bless me" several times, (он слег в постель, сказал «Господи, благослови» несколько раз ) and departed to his final accounting in a rough-hewn, oblong box. (и отправился к своему конечному отсчету = туда, где ему предстояло дать свой последний отчет в грубо сколоченном длинном ящике) Whereupon the gamblers moved their roulette and faro tables into the mission house, (тогда игроки перенесли свои рулетки и столы (для игры) фараон в дом миссионера) and the click of chips and clink of glasses went up from dawn till dark and to dawn again. (и стук фишек и звон стаканов раздавались от восхода до заката и до восхода снова)

40. A strike had been made at Sunrise, and things had changed considerably. With the infusion of several hundred gold-seekers, a deal of whiskey, and half a dozen equipped gamblers, the missionary had seen the page of his years of labor with the Indians wiped clean. When the squaws became preoccupied with cooking beans  and keeping the fire going for the wifeless miners, and the bucks with swapping their warm furs for black bottles and broken timepieces, he took to his bed, said "bless me" several times, and departed to his final accounting in a rough-hewn, oblong box. Whereupon the gamblers moved their roulette and faro tables into the mission house, and the click of chips and clink of glasses went up from dawn till dark and to dawn again.

41. Now Timothy Brown was well beloved among these adventurers of the north. (и вот оказалось, что Тимоти Браун был любим среди этих искателей приключений севера) The one thing against him was his quick temper and ready fist, (одна вещь = одно было против него – его быстрый темперамент и готовый кулак = он был драчлив) -- a little thing, for which his kind heart and forgiving hand more than atoned. (маленькая вещь, потому что с его добрым сердцем и прощающим сердцем (зд. «рука» используется в качестве синонима «сердце») все более чем искупалось) On the other hand, (с другой стороны) there was nothing to atone for Black Leclère. ( не было ничего, чтобы искупить (грехи) Черного Леклера) He was "black," as more than one remembered deed bore witness, (он был «черным», о чем свидетельствовали многие его всем памятные деяния (здесь инверсия)) while he was as well hated as the other was beloved. (в то время как один был ненавидим, так другой был любим) So the men of Sunrise put an antiseptic dressing on his shoulder (поэтому люди Санрайза наложили антисептическую повязку на его (Леклера) плечо) and haled him before Judge Lynch. (и потащили его на суд Линча)

41. Now Timothy Brown was well beloved among these adventurers of the north. The one thing against him was his quick temper and ready fist, - a little thing, for which his kind heart and forgiving hand more than atoned. On the other hand, there was nothing to atone for Black Leclère. He was "black," as more than one remembered deed bore witness, while he was as well hated as the other was beloved. So the men of Sunrise put an antiseptic dressing on his shoulder and haled him before Judge Lynch.

42. It was a simple affair. (это было простое дело) He had quarrelled with Timothy Brown at McDougall. ( to quarrell with somebody – поругаться, повздорить с кем-либо) With Timothy Brown he had left McDougall. (to leave (left) – уезжать, уходить, покидать ) Without Timothy Brown he had arrived at Sunrise. (to arrive – приезжать, прибывать) Considered in the light of his evilness, (приняв во внимание его пороки) the unanimous conclusion was that he had killed Timothy Brown. (единогласное заключение состояло в том, что он убил Тимоти Брауна) On the other hand, Leclère acknowledged their facts, (с другой стороны, Леклер подтверждал их факты) but challenged their conclusion, and gave his own explanation. (но опровергал сделанные из них выводы и давал свое собственное объяснение)

42. It was a simple affair. He had quarrelled with Timothy Brown at McDougall. With Timothy Brown he had left McDougall. Without Timothy Brown he had arrived at Sunrise. Considered in the light of his evilness, the unanimous conclusion was that he had killed Timothy Brown. On the other hand, Leclère acknowledged their facts, but challenged their conclusion, and gave his own explanation.

43. Twenty miles out of Sunrise he and Timothy Brown were poling the boat along the rocky shore. ( двадцать миль от Санрайза он и Тимоти Браун отплыли на лодке вдоль скалистого берега) From that shore two rifle-shots rang out. ( с того берега два выстрела из винтовки раздались) Timothy Brown pitched out of the boat (Тимоти Браун вывалился из лодки) and went down bubbling red, (и пошел ко дну, пуская красные пузыри) and that was the last of Timothy Brown. (и то был конец Тимоти Брауна) He, Leclère, pitched into the bottom of the boat with a stinging shoulder. (он, Леклер, бросился на дно лодки с жалящей болью в плече) He lay very quiet, peeping at the shore. (он лежал очень тихо, посматривая на берег) After a time two Indians stuck up their heads (немного погодя, двое индейцев высунули головы ) and came out to the water's edge, (и вышли к краю воды (на берег)) carrying between them a birch-bark canoe. (неся между собой каноэ из березовой коры) As they launched it, Leclère let fly. ( как только они спустили его (на воду), Леклер начал стрелять) He potted one, who went over the side after the manner of Timothy Brown. (он попал в одного, кто погрузился в воду как Тимоти Браун) The other dropped into the bottom of the canoe, (другой упал на дно челнока) and then canoe and poling boat went down the stream in a drifting battle. (и затем каноэ и лодка поплыли вниз по течению, обгоняя друг друга) After that (после этого ) they hung up on a split current, (они подплыли к месту, где река делилась на два рукава; split – разделение, расщепление; current – течение, поток) and the canoe passed on one side of an island, (и каноэ проследовало с одной стороны острова) the poling boat on the other. (а лодка – с другой) That was the last of the canoe, (это было последнее каноэ = это был последний раз, когда Леклер видел каноэ ) and he came on into Sunrise. (и он приехал в Санрайз) Yes, from the way the Indian in the canoe jumped, (да, судя по тому, как индеей в каноэ подпрыгнул) he was sure he had potted him. (он был уверен, что попал в него) That was all.

43. Twenty miles out of Sunrise he and Timothy Brown were poling the boat along the rocky shore. From that shore two rifle-shots rang out. Timothy Brown pitched out of the boat and went down bubbling red, and that was the last of Timothy Brown. He, Leclère, pitched into the bottom of the boat with a stinging shoulder. He lay very quiet, peeping at the shore. After a time two Indians stuck up their heads and came out to the water's edge, carrying between them a birch-bark canoe. As they launched it, Leclère let fly. He potted one, who went over the side after the manner of Timothy Brown. The other dropped into the bottom of the canoe, and then canoe and poling boat went down the stream in a drifting battle. After that they hung up on a split current, and the canoe passed on one side of an island, the poling boat on the other. That was the last of the canoe, and he came on into Sunrise. Yes, from the way the Indian in the canoe jumped, he was sure he had potted him. That was all.

44. This explanation was not deemed adequate. (это объяснение не было посчитано достаточным) They gave him ten hours' grace (они дали ему десять часов отсрочки) while the Lizzie steamed down to investigate. (в то время как Лиззи отправилась вниз по течению на поиски) Ten hours later she came wheezing back to Sunrise. (десятью часами позже она вернулась, посапывая, в Санрайз) There had been nothing to investigate. (ей ничего не удалось узнать ) No evidence had been found to back up his statements. (никакого доказательства не было обнаружено, чтобы поддержать его заявление) They told him to make his will, (они сказали ему сделать завещание) for he possessed a fifty-thousand-dollar Sunrise claim, (потому что он владел пятидесятью тысячедолларовым прииском в Санрайзе ) and they were a law-abiding as well as a law-giving breed. (а они были законопослушным, также как и законознающим племенем) Leclère shrugged his shoulders. (Леклер пожал плечами) "Bot one t'ing," he said; "a leetle, w'at you call, favor -- a leetle favor, dat is eet. (но одна вещь, - сказал он, - маленькая милость) I gif my feefty t'ousan' dollair to de church. (я давать мои 50 тысяч долларов церкви) I gif my husky dog, Bâtard, to de devil. (я давать мой эскимосский пес Батар черту) De leetle favor? Firs' you hang heem, an' den you hang me. Eet is good, eh?" (маленькая милость? Сначала вы вешать его, потом вы вешать меня. Это хорошо, да?)

44. This explanation was not deemed adequate. They gave him ten hours' grace  while the Lizzie steamed down to investigate. Ten hours later she came wheezing back to Sunrise. There had been nothing to investigate. No evidence had been found to back up his statements. They told him to make his will, for he possessed a fifty-thousand-dollar Sunrise claim, and they were a law-abiding as well as a law-giving breed. Leclère shrugged his shoulders. "Bot one t'ing," he said; "a leetle, w'at you call, favor -- a leetle favor, dat is eet. I gif my feefty t'ousan' dollair to de church. I gif my husky dog, Bâtard, to de devil. De leetle favor? Firs' you hang heem, an' den you hang me. Eet is good, eh?"

45. Good it was, they agreed, (и правда хорошо, согласились они) that Hell's Spawn should break trail for his master across the last divide, (что исчадие ада проложит путь для своего хозяина через последний перевал) and the court was adjourned down to the river bank, (и заседание суда перенесли вниз к берегу реки) where a big spruce tree stood by itself. (где большая ель стояла одиноко) Slackwater Charley put a hangman's knot in the end of a hauling-line, (Лежебок Чарли сделал петлю на конце тольстой веревки) and the noose was slipped over Leclère's head (и петлю надел поверх головы Леклера) and pulled tight around his neck. (и затянул вокруг его шеи) His hands were tied behind his back, (его руки были связаны за спиной) and he was assisted to the top of a cracker box. (и ему помогли взобраться на ящик из-под сухарей/крекеров) Then the running end of the line was passed over an overhanging branch, (затем свободный конец веревки был протянут поверх и наброшен через ветки) drawn taut, and made fast. (натянули и завязали) To kick the box out from under would leave him dancing on the air. (оставалось только выбить ящик из-под ног, чтобы тело затанцевало в воздухе)

45. Good it was, they agreed, that Hell's Spawn should break trail for his master across the last divide, and the court was adjourned down to the river bank, where a big spruce tree stood by itself. Slackwater Charley put a hangman's knot in the end of a hauling-line, and the noose was slipped over Leclère's head and pulled tight around his neck. His hands were tied behind his back, and he was assisted to the top of a cracker box. Then the running end of the line was passed over an overhanging branch, drawn taut, and made fast. To kick the box out from under would leave him dancing on the air.

46. "Now for the dog," said Webster Shaw, sometime mining engineer. (а теперь собаку, - сказал Уэбстер Шоу, бывший горный инженер) "You'll have to rope him, Slackwater." (ты должен повесить его, Лежебок)

Leclère grinned. (Леклер осклабился) Slackwater took a chew of tobacco, (Лежебок откусил жевательного табака) rove a running noose, (сделал скользящую петлю) and proceeded leisurely to coil a few turns in his hand. (и не спеша принялся наматывать веревку на руку) He paused once or twice to brush particularly offensive mosquitoes from off his face. (он останавливался раз или два, чтобы смахнуть с лица особенно назойливых комаров) Everybody was brushing mosquitoes, except Leclère, (все отмахивались от комаров, кроме Леклера) about whose head a small cloud was visible. (над чьей головой было видимо маленькое облачко (комаров)) Even Bâtard, lying full-stretched on the ground, (даже Батар, растянувшийся наземле) with his fore paws rubbed the pests away from eyes and mouth. (передними лапами отгонял их от глаз и морды)

46. "Now for the dog," said Webster Shaw, sometime mining engineer. "You'll have to rope him, Slackwater."

Leclère grinned. Slackwater took a chew of tobacco, rove a running noose, and proceeded leisurely to coil a few turns in his hand. He paused once or twice to brush particularly offensive mosquitoes from off his face. Everybody was brushing mosquitoes, except Leclère, about whose head a small cloud was visible. Even Bâtard, lying full-stretched on the ground, with his fore paws rubbed the pests away from eyes and mouth.

47. But while Slackwater waited for Bâtard to lift his head, (но пока Лежебок ждал, когда Батар поднимет голову) a faint call came down the quiet air, (тишину нарушил далекий крик) and a man was seen waving his arms and running across the flat from Sunrise. (и все увидели человека, размахивающего руками и бегущего по низине из Санрайза) It was the storekeeper. (это был лавочник.)

"C-call 'er off, boys," he panted, as he came in among them. (П-постойте, ребята, - проговорил он, еле переводя дух, и начал)

47. But while Slackwater waited for Bâtard to lift his head, a faint call came down the quiet air, and a man was seen waving his arms and running across the flat from Sunrise. It was the storekeeper.

"C-call 'er off, boys," he panted, as he came in among them.

48. "Little Sandy and Bernadotte's jes' got in," (Только что явились Маленький Сэнди и Бернадотт) he explained with returning breath. (он объяснил, отдышавшись) "Landed down below an' come up by the short cut. (Высадились ниже по течению и пришли пешком напрямик) Got the Beaver with 'm. (Привели с собойБобра) Picked 'm up in his canoe, (Захватили его в челноке) stuck in a back channel, with a couple of bullet holes in 'm. (в дальней протоке, у Бобра две пулевые раны) Other buck was Klok-Kutz, the one that knocked spots out of his squaw and dusted." (другой был Клок-Катс - тот, что изувечил свою скво и смылся.)

"Eh? W'at Ah say? Eh?" Leclère cried exultantly. "Dat de one fo' sure! Ah know. Ah spik true." (Эй? А я что говорить? Эй? - ликующе закричал Леклер. - Эт-то он! Я знать, что я говорить правду )

48. "Little Sandy and Bernadotte's jes' got in," he explained with returning breath. "Landed down below an' come up by the short cut. Got the Beaver with 'm. Picked 'm up in his canoe, stuck in a back channel, with a couple of bullet holes in 'm. Other buck was Klok-Kutz, the one that knocked spots out of his squaw and dusted."

"Eh? W'at Ah say? Eh?" Leclère cried exultantly. "Dat de one fo' sure! Ah know. Ah spik true."

49. "The thing to do is teach these damned Siwashes a little manners," spoke Webster Shaw. (вот что, надо нам проучить этих проклятых сивашей, - промолвилУэбстер Шоу) "They're getting fat and sassy, (они разжирели и обнаглели) and we'll have to bring them down a peg. (и нам придется их осадить) Round in all the bucks and string up the Beaver for an object lesson. (соберите-ка всех индейцев и повесьте Бобра для примера) That's the programme. Come on and let's see what he's got to say for himself." (Вот какая у нас будет программа. Идем послушаем, что он скажет в свою защиту.)

49. "The thing to do is teach these damned Siwashes a little manners," spoke Webster Shaw. "They're getting fat and sassy, and we'll have to bring them down a peg. Round in all the bucks and string up the Beaver for an object lesson. That's the programme. Come on and let's see what he's got to say for himself."

50. "Heh, M'sieu'!" Leclère called, (эй, м’сье! – закричал Леклер) as the crowd began to melt away through the twilight in the direction of Sunrise. (когда толпа начала рассеиваться в в сумерках в направлении Санрайза) "Ah lak ver' moch to see de fon." (Я тоже очень хотеть посмотреть на спектакль.)

"Oh, we'll turn you loose when we come back," Webster Shaw shouted over his shoulder. (мы освободим тебя, когда вернемся, - крикнул ему Уэбстер Шоу, оглянувшись) "In the meantime meditate on your sins and the ways of providence. (а пока поразмысли о своих грехах и путях провидения) It will do you good, so be grateful." (это тебе пойдет на пользу, спасибо нам скажешь)

50. "Heh, M'sieu'!" Leclère called, as the crowd began to melt away through the twilight in the direction of Sunrise. "Ah lak ver' moch to see de fon."

"Oh, we'll turn you loose when we come back," Webster Shaw shouted over his shoulder. "In the meantime meditate on your sins and the ways of providence. It will do you good, so be grateful."

51. As is the way with men who are accustomed to great hazards, (как и все люди, привыкшие к опасностям) whose nerves are healthy and trained to patience, (со здоровыми нервами и научившиеся терпению) so it was with Leclère, who settled himself to the long wait (так было и с Леклером, который приготовился ждать долго) -- which is to say that he reconciled his mind to it. (иначе говоря, примирился с мыслью об этом)There was no settling of the body, (но тело его не могло примириться с неудобным положением) for the taut rope forced him to stand rigidly erect. (потому что туго натянутая веревка принуждала его стоять вытянувшись) The least relaxation of the leg muscles pressed the rough-fibred noose into his neck, (малейшее ослабление мышц ног прижимало шершавую веревочную петлю к шее) while the upright position caused him much pain in his wounded shoulder. (в то время как противоположная позиция причиняла ему боль в раненом плече) He projected his under lip and expelled his breath upward along his face (он выпятил нижнюю губу и дул кверху) to blow the mosquitoes away from his eyes. (чтобы сдуть комаров с глаз) But the situation had its compensation. (но эта ситуация имела свою компенсацию) To be snatched from the maw of death was well worth a little bodily suffering, ( ведь есть расчет немного потерпеть, если удалось вырваться из лап смерти) only it was unfortunate that he should miss the hanging of the Beaver. (жаль только ему не придется посмотреть, как будут вешать Бобра )

51. As is the way with men who are accustomed to great hazards, whose nerves are healthy and trained to patience, so it was with Leclère, who settled himself to the long wait  -- which is to say that he reconciled his mind to it. There was no settling of the body, for the taut rope forced him to stand rigidly erect. The least relaxation of the leg muscles pressed the rough-fibred noose into his neck, while the upright position caused him much pain in his wounded shoulder. He projected his under lip and expelled his breath upward along his face  to blow the mosquitoes away from his eyes. But the situation had its compensation. To be snatched from the maw of death was well worth a little bodily suffering, only it was unfortunate that he should miss the hanging of the Beaver.

52. And so he mused, (и так он рассуждал мысленно) till his eyes chanced to fall upon Bâtard, (пока взгляд его не упал на Батара) head between fore paws and stretched on the ground asleep. (голова на лапах = который дремал, положив голову на передние лапы и растянувшись на земле ) And then Leclère ceased to muse. (и тогда рассуждения закончились) He studied the animal closely, (Леклер начал внимательно присматриваться к животному ) striving to sense if the sleep were real or feigned. (стараясь понять, действительно ли он спит или только притворяется спящим) Bâtard's sides were heaving regularly, (бока Батара мерно приподнимались) but Leclère felt that the breath came and went a shade too quickly; (но Леклер чувствовал, что дыхание стало и продолжалось немного быстрее) also he felt that there was a vigilance or alertness to every hair (также он почувствовал, что все в нем до последнего волоска насторожилось) that belied unshackling sleep. (как нельзя насторожиться в расковывающем сне) He would have given his Sunrise claim to be assured that the dog was not awake, (он отдал бы свой прииск в Санрайзе, лишь бы быть уверенным, что собака действительно спит = что собака не проснулась) and once, when one of his joints cracked, (и когда один из его суставов хрустнул) he looked quickly and guiltily at Bâtard to see if he roused. (он взглянул быстро и виновато на Батара, ожидая, что тот встрепенется ) He did not rouse then, (в этот миг он (Батар) не встрепенулся) but a few minutes later he got up slowly and lazily, (но несколько минут спустя он встал медленно и лениво) stretched, and looked carefully about him. (потянулся и оглянулся внимательно кругом = посмотрел внимательно вокруг себя)

52. And so he mused, till his eyes chanced to fall upon Bâtard, head between fore paws and stretched on the ground asleep. And then Leclère ceased to muse. He studied the animal closely, striving to sense if the sleep were real or feigned. Bâtard's sides were heaving regularly, but Leclère felt that the breath came and went a shade too quickly; also he felt that there was a vigilance or alertness to every hair that belied unshackling sleep. He would have given his Sunrise claim to be assured that the dog was not awake, and once, when one of his joints cracked, he looked quickly and guiltily at Bâtard to see if he roused. He did not rouse then, but a few minutes later he got up slowly and lazily, stretched, and looked carefully about him.

53. "Sacredam," said Leclère, under his breath. (проклятье, - сказал Леклер сквозь зубы)

Assured that no one was in sight or hearing, (убедившись, что никого не было поблизости) Bâtard sat down, curled his upper lip almost into a smile, (Батар сел, скривил свою верхнюю губу почти в улыбку) looked up at Leclère, and licked his chops. (посмотрел вверх на Леклера, и облизался)

"Ah see my feenish," the man said, and laughed sardonically aloud. (I see my finish = я вижу мой конец, - сказал человек и рассмеялся сардонически громко)

53. "Sacredam," said Leclère, under his breath.

Assured that no one was in sight or hearing, Bâtard sat down, curled his upper lip almost into a smile, looked up at Leclère, and licked his chops.

"Ah see my feenish," the man said, and laughed sardonically aloud.

54. Bâtard came nearer, (Батар подошел ближе) the useless ear wabbling, (его искалеченное ухо болталось) the good ear cocked forward with devilish comprehension. (здоровое ухо вытянулось в струнку с дьявольским пониманием) He thrust his head on one side quizzically, (он наклонил голову набок игриво) and advanced with mincing, playful steps. (и стал приближаться мелкими танцующими шажками) He rubbed his body gently against the box (он потерся тихонько о ящик) till it shook and shook again. (и тот сдвинулся снова и снова) Leclère teetered carefully to maintain his equilibrium. (Леклер осторожно переминался с ноги на ногу, чтобы сохранить равновесие)

54. Bâtard came nearer, the useless ear wabbling, the good ear cocked forward with devilish comprehension. He thrust his head on one side quizzically, and advanced with mincing, playful steps. He rubbed his body gently against the box till it shook and shook again. Leclère teetered carefully to maintain his equilibrium.

55. "Bâtard," he said calmly, "look out. Ah keel you." (Батар, - проговорил он спокойно, - берегись. Я тебя убью ) Bâtard snarled at the word, (Батар зарычал при этом слове) and shook the box with greater force. (и толкнул ящик сильнее) Then he upreared, (потом он встал на задние лапы) and with his fore paws threw his weight against it higher up. (а передними с силой уперся в верхнюю часть ящика) Leclère kicked out with one foot, (Леклер хотел было пнуть его ногой) but the rope bit into his neck and checked so abruptly as nearly to overbalance him. (но веревка врезалась ему в шею и так резко оборвала его движение, что он чуть не потерял равновесия)

"Hi, ya! Chook! Mush-on! --" he screamed. (Хай-йа! Пошел! Вперед! - заорал он)

55. "Bâtard," he said calmly, "look out. Ah keel you." Bâtard snarled at the word, and shook the box with greater force. Then he upreared, and with his fore paws threw his weight against it higher up. Leclère kicked out with one foot, but the rope bit into his neck and checked so abruptly as nearly to overbalance him.

"Hi, ya! Chook! Mush-on! --" he screamed.

56. Bâtard retreated, for twenty feet or so, (Батар отступил футов на двадцать или около (того)) with a fiendish levity in his bearing (с таким сатанинским лукавым видом) that Leclère could not mistake. (что Леклер не мог ошибиться) He remembered the dog often breaking the scum of ice on the water hole, (он вспомнил, как пес часто разбивал ледяную корку на проруби) by lifting up and throwing his weight upon it; (подпрыгивая и бросаясь на нее всем телом) and, remembering, he understood what he now had in mind. (и, вспомнив это, он понял, что тот замышляет) Bâtard faced about and paused. ( Батар повернулся кругом и замер) He showed his white teeth in a grin, (он показал свои белые зубы в оскале) which Leclère answered; ( на что Леклер ответил) and then hurled his body through the air, (потом взметнулся в воздух) in full charge, straight for the box. (и всей своей тяжестью рухнул на ящик )

56. Bâtard retreated, for twenty feet or so, with a fiendish levity in his bearing that Leclère could not mistake. He remembered the dog often breaking the scum of ice on the water hole, by lifting up and throwing his weight upon it; and, remembering, he understood what he now had in mind. Bâtard faced about and paused. He showed his white teeth in a grin, which Leclère answered; and then hurled his body through the air, in full charge, straight for the box.

57. Fifteen minutes later, (четверть часа спустя) Slackwater Charley and Webster Shaw, returning, (Лежебок Чарли и Уэбстер Шоу, возвращаясь) caught a glimpse of a ghostly pendulum swinging back and forth in the dim light. (различили в сумраке страшный маятник, качающийся из стороны в сторону) As they hurriedly drew in closer, (подбежав ближе) they made out the man's inert body, (они увидели мертвое человеческое тело) and a live thing that clung to it, and shook and worried, (и вцепившееся в него живое существо, которое извивалось на нем, трясло его, рвало) and gave to it the swaying motion. (и качалось вместе с ним)

57. Fifteen minutes later, Slackwater Charley and Webster Shaw, returning, caught a glimpse of a ghostly pendulum swinging back and forth in the dim light. As they hurriedly drew in closer, they made out the man's inert body, and a live thing that clung to it, and shook and worried, and gave to it the swaying motion.

58. "Hi, ya! Chook! you Spawn of Hell," yelled Webster Shaw. (прочь, ты, порождение ада, - закричал Уэбстер Шоу)

But Bâtard glared at him, and snarled threateningly, without loosing his jaws. (но Батар уставился на него злобно, и заручал угрожающе, не разжимая своих челюстей; to glare – уставляться взглядом (часто злым), пристально смотреть)

Slackwater Charley got out his revolver, (Лежебок Чарли вытащил револьвер) but his hand was shaking, as with a chill, and he fumbled. (но руки его дрожали, как от холода, и он вертел его в руках; to fumble – теребить что-либо, вертеть в руках)

"Here, you take it," he said, passing the weapon over. (эй, ты возьми его, - сказал он, передавая оружие товарищу; over – зд.указывает на передачу чего-л. от одного лица другому)

58. "Hi, ya! Chook! you Spawn of Hell," yelled Webster Shaw.

But Bâtard glared at him, and snarled threateningly, without loosing his jaws.

Slackwater Charley got out his revolver, but his hand was shaking, as with a chill, and he fumbled.

"Here, you take it," he said, passing the weapon over.

59. Webster Shaw laughed shortly, (Уэбстер Шоу рассмеялся коротко) drew a sight between the gleaming eyes, and pressed the trigger. (прицелился между горящими глазами (пса) и надавил курок) Bâtard's body twitched with the shock, (тело Батара дернулось от толчка) threshed the ground spasmodically for a moment, (забилось о землю в судороге на какой-то момент) and went suddenly limp. (и вдруг обмякло/стало мягким) But his teeth still held fast locked. (но его зубы оставались крепко стиснутыми)

59. Webster Shaw laughed shortly, drew a sight between the gleaming eyes, and pressed the trigger. Bâtard's body twitched with the shock, threshed the ground spasmodically for a moment, and went suddenly limp. But his teeth still held fast locked.