deal [dJl], field [fJld], grass [grRs]

I could see a good deal of the countryside from the top of the hill. There were a lot of fields and a number of different crops. But it was the length of the grass that surprised me most. It was more than twenty feet high. I began to walk along what seemed to be a main road.

As soon as I began walking down this road (как только я начал идти по этой дороге = ступил на эту дорогу) I could no longer see the countryside on either side of me (я уже не мог видеть окрестностей ни с одной стороны; either — любой, каждый /из двух/; тот и другой; оба). Corn grew on both sides to a height of at least forty feet (хлеба по обеим сторонам /дороги/ росли = достигали в вышину не менее сорока футов; corn — зерно; зерновые хлеба; бобовые; злаки; to grow). It took me an hour to walk past the corn (мне потребовался час, чтобы пройти через все поле; past — мимо; за пределы /чего-л./), after which I came to a hedge (после чего я вышел к живой изгороди) and some very tall trees (с несколькими очень высоким деревьям). There was a stile in the hedge (у изгороди находились приступки; stile — ступеньки для перехода через забор или стену; перелаз; приступки /у изгороди/). The trees were so tall (деревья были такими большими) that I was quite unable to guess their height (что я совсем не мог определить их высоту; to guess — /у/гадать, догад/ыв/аться; приблизительно определять). The hedge seemed to be at least one hundred and twenty feet high (изгородь имела, по-видимому, не менее ста двадцати футов вышины).

height [haIt], unable [An'eIb(q)l], guess [ges]

As soon as I began walking down this road I could no longer see the countryside on either side of me. Corn grew on both sides to a height of at least forty feet. It took me an hour to walk past the corn, after which I came to a hedge and some very tall trees. There was a stile in the hedge. The trees were so tall that I was quite unable to guess their height. The hedge seemed to be at least one hundred and twenty feet high.

The stile had four steps (лестница /через изгородь/ имела четыре ступени) and a larger stone to cross over at the top (и камень большего размера сверху, через который нужно было перешагнуть; cross — крест; to cross /over smth./ — пересекать, переходить /через что-л./; over относится к stone). I could see (я понимал: «мог видеть/понять») that I would never be able to climb over it (что мне никогда не удастся перебраться через нее = эту лестницу). Each of the steps was taller than my own height (каждая из ступеней была выше моего роста) and the large stone on the top (а большой камень сверху) seemed to be about twenty feet high (имел, по-видимому, около двадцати футов вышины). I began to look for a gap in the hedge (я начал искать /какую-нибудь/ щель/дыру в изгороди) that I could climb through (сквозь которую я смог бы пролезть). Suddenly I saw a monster on the far side of the hedge coming towards the stile (вдруг на другой: «дальней» стороне изгороди я увидел исполина, идущего к лестнице). He was the same size as the one (он был такой же величины, как тот) I had seen in the sea chasing our boat (которого я видел в море гонящимся за лодкой). I have never in my life been so frightened (никогда в жизни я не был так напуган). I ran back and hid in the corn (я побежал назад и спрятался в хлебах; to hide). This monster was a man (чудовище это было мужчиной/человеком), as tall as a church spire (высотой с церковный шпиль).

hedge [heG], through [TrH], spire ['spaIq]

The stile had four steps and a larger stone to cross over at the top. I could see that I would never be able to climb over it. Each of the steps was taller than my own height and the large stone on the top seemed to be about twenty feet high. I began to look for a gap in the hedge that I could climb through. Suddenly I saw a monster on the far side of the hedge coming towards the stile. He was the same size as the one I had seen in the sea chasing our boat. I have never in my life been so frightened. I ran back and hid in the corn. This monster was a man, as tall as a church spire.

Looking out through the corn (взглянув сквозь стебли), I could see him standing on the top of the stile (я увидел его стоящим наверху лестницы). He looked back and called out something (он посмотрел назад и что-то крикнул). His voice was so loud (его голос был так громок) that at first I thought it was thunder (что сначала я подумал, что это гром = я принял его за раскаты грома). Seven monsters like himself came towards him (к нему подошли семь чудовищ, таких же как он сам) and began climbing over the stile (и стали перебираться по лестнице) into the field where I was hiding (в поле, где = в котором я прятался). They wore poorer clothes than the first man (они были одеты беднее первого: «в более бедную одежду, чем первый мужчина»; to wear — носить /одежду и т. п./; быть одетым /во что-л./) and seemed to be farm workers (и являлись, по-видимому, батраками: «рабочими в крестьянском хозяйстве»). Each of them carried a reaping-hook (каждый из них нес = у каждого в руках был серп; to reap — жать или косить /хлеб/; hook — крюк, крючок; кривой нож; серп). The hook was about six times the length of a scythe (серп был примерно в шесть раз длиннее /нашей/ косы). As soon as I saw that the farm workers were moving towards the corn (как только я увидел = увидев, что батраки подходят к хлебам = полю) and starting to reap (и начинают жать), I began moving backwards (я начал отступать назад /вглубь поля/).

wore [wL], scythe [saID], backwards ['bxkwqdz]

Looking out through the corn, I could see him standing on the top of the stile. He looked back and called out something. His voice was so loud that at first I thought it was thunder. Seven monsters like himself came towards him and began climbing over the stile into the field where I was hiding. They wore poorer clothes than the first man and seemed to be farm workers. Each of them carried a reaping-hook. The hook was about six times the length of a scythe. As soon as I saw that the farm workers were moving towards the corn and starting to reap, I began moving backwards.

I moved back through the stalks of corn (я пробирался назад = в глубину поля сквозь стебли) trying all the time to get as far away from these monsters as possible (все время стараясь как можно дальше убраться от чудовищ: «так далеко от чудовищ, как /только/ возможно»). What I had thought was a main road (/то/ что я принял за большую дорогу: «что, я думал, было главной дорогой») was no more than a narrow foot-path through a field for these people (для этих людей было не более чем = всего лишь узкой тропинкой через поле). Some of the stalks were not more than a foot apart (некоторые стебли росли на расстоянии не более фута друг от друга; apart — в отдалении, в стороне; на расстоянии от других или друг от друга) and I found it very difficult to squeeze between them (и мне было очень трудно: «я находил это очень трудным» протискиваться между ними; to squeeze — сжимать; сдавливать; втискивать/ся/; протискиваться). I kept going until I could go no further (я продолжал двигаться до тех пор, пока не мог больше сделать ни шагу: «идти дальше»). I had reached a part of the field (я достиг части поля) where the wind and rain had flattened the corn to the ground (где ветер и дождь пригнули стебли к земле; flat — плоский; распростертый, лежащий плашмя; to flatten — делать плоским, ровным; повалить). I tried to creep through (я попытался проползти сквозь /них/), but it was quite impossible (но это было совершенно невозможно). I could hear the monsters cutting through the corn (я слышал, как чудовища срезают колосья) not more than a hundred yards behind me (не более = не дальше ста ярдов позади меня).

stalk [stLk], foot-path ['fVtpRT], difficult ['dIfIk(q)lt]

I moved back through the stalks of corn trying all the time to get as far away from these monsters as possible. What I had thought was a main road was no more than a narrow foot-path through a field for these people. Some of the stalks were not more than a foot apart and I found it very difficult to squeeze between them. I kept going until I could go no further. I had reached a part of the field where the wind and rain had flattened the corn to the ground. I tried to creep through, but it was quite impossible. I could hear the monsters cutting through the corn not more than a hundred yards behind me.