scarcely ['skeqslI], warily ['weqrIlI], destruction [dIs'trAkS(q)n]

"Ye speak with a loud voice, people of the stars," Twala answered, in a tone which I scarcely liked. "Remember that the stars are far off, and ye are here. How if I make ye as him whom they bore away?"

I laughed out loud, though there was little laughter in my heart.

"O king," I said, "be careful; walk warily over hot stones, lest thou shouldst burn thy feet; hold the spear by the handle, lest thou shouldst cut thy hands. Touch but one hair of our heads, and destruction shall come upon thee. What, have not these," pointing to Infadoos and Scragga (who, young villain that he was, was employed in cleaning the blood of the soldier off his spear), "told thee what manner of men we are? Hast thou ever seen the like of us?" and I pointed to Good, feeling quite sure that he had never seen anybody before who looked in the least like him as he then appeared.

"It is true, I have not (это правда, не видел)," said the king.

"Have they not told thee how we strike with death from afar (разве они не сказали тебе, как мы поражаем смертью издалека)?" I went on (продолжил я).

"They have told me, but I believe them not (они мне рассказали, но я им не поверил). Let me see you kill (дай мне самому увидеть, как ты убиваешь). Kill me a man among those who stand yonder (убей для меня какого-нибудь человека среди тех, кто стоит вон там)" — and he pointed to the opposite side of the kraal (и он указал на противоположную сторону крааля) — "and I will believe (и тогда я поверю)."

"Nay (нет)," I answered; "we shed no blood of man except in just punishment (мы не проливаем человеческой крови просто так, а только в случае справедливого наказания; to shed— ронять, терять; проливать, лить /слезы, кровь/; except— исключая, кроме; to punish— наказывать; карать; punishment— кара, наказание); but if thou wilt see (но если ты желаешь взглянуть), bid thy servants drive in an ox through the kraal gates (прикажи своим слугам пригнать быка через ворота крааля; to bid— предлагать цену /обыкн. на аукционе/; приказывать), and before he has run twenty paces I will strike him dead (и, прежде чем он пробежит двадцать шагов, я поражу его насмерть)."

true [tru:], yonder ['jOndq], punishment ['pAnISmqnt]

"It is true, I have not," said the king.

"Have they not told thee how we strike with death from afar?" I went on.

"They have told me, but I believe them not. Let me see you kill. Kill me a man among those who stand yonder" — and he pointed to the opposite side of the kraal — "and I will believe."

"Nay," I answered; "we shed no blood of man except in just punishment; but if thou wilt see, bid thy servants drive in an ox through the kraal gates, and before he has run twenty paces I will strike him dead."

"Nay," laughed the king (рассмеялся король), "kill me a man, and I will believe (убей для меня человека, и тогда я поверю)."

"Good, O king, so be it (хорошо, король, пусть будет так)," I answered, coolly (холодно ответил я; cool — прохладный, свежий; невозмутимый, хладнокровный; coolly — спокойно, хладнокровно); "do thou walk across the open space (пройди через площадь: «открытое пространство»), and before thy feet reach the gate thou shalt be dead (и прежде, чем твои ноги дойдут до ворот, ты будешь мертв); or, if thou wilt not, send thy son Scragga (или, если ты не пожелаешь /пойти сам/, отправь своего сына Скраггу)" (whom at that moment it would have given me much pleasure to shoot (пристрелить которого в тот момент доставило бы мне огромное удовольствие)).

On hearing this suggestion Scragga gave a sort of howl (услышав такое предложение, Скрагга взвизгнул; howl — вой, завывание; крик, вопль), and bolted into the hut (и бросился в хижину; to bolt — запирать на засов; убегать, удирать).

pleasure ['pleZq], suggestion [sq'dZesC(q)n], howl [haul]

"Nay," laughed the king, "kill me a man, and I will believe."

"Good, O king, so be it," I answered, coolly; "do thou walk across the open space, and before thy feet reach the gate thou shalt be dead; or, if thou wilt not, send thy son Scragga" (whom at that moment it would have given me much pleasure to shoot).

On hearing this suggestion Scragga gave a sort of howl, and bolted into the hut.

Twala frowned majestically (Твала величаво нахмурился; frown — сдвинутые брови, хмурый взгляд; to frown — хмурить брови, смотреть неодобрительно); the suggestion did not please him (такое предложение вовсе ему не понравилось).

"Let a young ox be driven in (пусть приведут молодого бычка)," he said.

Two men at once departed, running swiftly (двое мужчин тут же поспешно убежали: «бегом удалились»).

"Now, Sir Henry (в этот раз, сэр Генри)," said I, "do you shoot (стреляйте вы). I want to show this ruffian that I am not the only magician of the party (я хочу показать этому головорезу, что я не единственный чародей в нашей компании)."

Sir Henry accordingly took the "express," and made ready (тогда сэр Генри взял "экспресс" и приготовился).

frown [fraun], ruffian ['rAfIqn], magician [mq'dZIS(q)n], accordingly [q'kO:dINlI]

Twala frowned majestically; the suggestion did not please him.