As we stood, waiting for the eventful moment, I heard someone behind call out (пока мы стояли, ожидая важного момента, я услышал, как кто-то сзади крикнул; eventful — полный событий, богатый событиями; чреватый важными последствиями):

"Hi! look at your nose (эй, посмотрите на свой нос)."

agility [@'dZIlItI] forehead ['fOrId; 'fO:hed] cynicism ['sInIsIzm]

And then, at last, the truth flashed across me, and I wondered if I should be in time. Ours was the first boat, and it would be unkind of me to spoil the man's picture, I thought.

So I faced round quickly, and took up a position in the prow, where I leant with careless grace upon the hitcher, in an attitude suggestive of agility and strength. I arranged my hair with a curl over the forehead, and threw an air of tender wistfulness into my expression, mingled with a touch of cynicism, which I am told suits me.

As we stood, waiting for the eventful moment, I heard someone behind call out:

"Hi! look at your nose."

I could not turn round to see what was the matter (я не мог повернуться, чтобы посмотреть, в чем дело), and whose nose it was that was to be looked at (и на чей нос нужно посмотреть). I stole a side-glance at George's nose (я бросил косой взгляд на нос Джорджа; to steal a look — взглянуть украдкой; side-glance — взгляд искоса, мимоходом)! It was all right — at all events, there was nothing wrong with it that could be altered (с ним все было в порядке — во всяком случае, не было ничего неправильного, что можно было бы изменить = ничего нельзя было изменить). I squinted down at my own, and that seemed all that could be expected also (я покосился на свой собственный, он казался всем, что можно было ожидать = тоже оправдал ожидания).

"Look at your nose, you stupid ass (посмотрите на свой нос, тупой осел)!" came the same voice again, louder (раздался тот же голос снова, громче).

And then another voice cried (затем другой голос крикнул):

"Push your nose out, can't you, you — you two with the dog (вытолкните свой нос, эй вы, двое с собакой)!"

squinted ['skwIntId] louder ['laud@]

I could not turn round to see what was the matter, and whose nose it was that was to be looked at. I stole a side-glance at George's nose! It was all right — at all events, there was nothing wrong with it that could be altered. I squinted down at my own, and that seemed all that could be expected also.

"Look at your nose, you stupid ass!" came the same voice again, louder.

And then another voice cried:

"Push your nose out, can't you, you — you two with the dog!"

Neither George nor I dared to turn round (ни Джордж, ни я не осмеливались повернуться). The man's hand was on the cap, and the picture might be taken any moment (рука фотографа была на крышке /объектива/, и снимок мог быть сделан в любую минуту; cap — шляпка, крышка, колпачок; капсюль). Was it us they were calling to (уж не нам ли они кричали)? What was the matter with our noses (что такое случилось с нашими носами)? Why were they to be pushed out (почему их нужно было вытолкнуть)!

But now the whole lock started yelling, and a stentorian voice from the back shouted (но теперь весь шлюз начал кричать, и громкий/зычный голос сзади выкрикнул):

"Look at your boat, sir; you in the red and black caps (посмотрите на свою лодку, сэр; эй, вы, в красно-черных фуражках). It's your two corpses that will get taken in that photo, if you ain't quick (а то ваши два трупа получатся на снимке, если не поторопитесь)."

We looked then, and saw that the nose of our boat had got fixed under the woodwork of the lock (тогда мы посмотрели и увидели, что нос нашей лодки застрял под деревянными частями = сваями шлюза), while the in-coming water was rising all around it, and tilting it up (а прибывающая вода поднималась /вокруг/ и наклоняла лодку; in-coming — поступающий, прибывающий; на подходе). In another moment we should be over (через минуту мы бы перевернулись). Quick as thought, we each seized an oar, and a vigorous blow against the side of the lock with the butt-ends (с быстротой молнии: «быстрые как мысль» мы схватили весло, и сильный удар по боковине шлюза рукоятью) released the boat, and sent us sprawling on our backs (освободил лодку, и мы полетели на спину; to send — посылать; to sprawl — растягивать/ся/, разваливаться; разбрасывать/ся/).

stentorian [sten'tO:rI@n] seized [si:zd]

Neither George nor I dared to turn round. The man's hand was on the cap, and the picture might be taken any moment. Was it us they were calling to? What was the matter with our noses? Why were they to be pushed out!

But now the whole lock started yelling, and a stentorian voice from the back shouted:

"Look at your boat, sir; you in the red and black caps. It's your two corpses that will get taken in that photo, if you ain't quick."

We looked then, and saw that the nose of our boat had got fixed under the woodwork of the lock, while the in-coming water was rising all around it, and tilting it up. In another moment we should be over. Quick as thought, we each seized an oar, and a vigorous blow against the side of the lock with the butt-ends released the boat, and sent us sprawling on our backs.

We did not come out well in that photograph, George and I (мы плохо получились на этой фотографии, Джордж и я). Of course, as was to be expected, our luck ordained it (конечно, как и следовало ожидать, наша удача так предопределила = так нам повезло), that the man should set his wretched machine in motion at the precise moment (что фотограф привел в действие свой несчастный аппарат в тот самый момент; to set in motion — приводить в действие, движение; запускать) that we were both lying on our backs with a wild expression of "Where am I? and what is it?" on our faces (когда мы оба лежали на спине с диким выражением «Где я?» и «Что такое?» на лицах = с растерянным и ошеломленным видом), and our four feet waving madly in the air (и неистово болтая /четырьмя/ ногами в воздухе; to wave — развеваться, качаться; размахивать).