telescope ['telIskqVp], direction [d(a)I'rekS(q)n], provision [prq'vIZ(q)n]

At noon that day the captain had been looking through his telescope and had seen something that looked like a sail. He had ordered his ship to sail in that direction, hoping to buy some provisions. He had sent some sailors off in a small boat and they had come back claiming that there was a house floating in the sea. He had returned with the sailors in the small boat and towed the box back to his ship.

I asked whether he or any of the sailors had seen any enormous birds in those parts (я спросил /капитана/, не видел ли он или кто-нибудь из матросов в тех местах громадных птиц; part — часть, доля; /обычно во мн. ч./ край, местность, места) around the time they had first seen my box (приблизительно в то время, когда мой ящик заметили: «впервые увидели» /с корабля/). One of the sailors had seen three eagles flying towards the north (/он ответил, что/ один из матросов видел трех орлов, летевших по направлению к северу), but he had not remarked on their size (но он не упоминал об их размере = что они были необычного размера; to remark on… — делать замечание, высказываться по поводу чего-л.). That must have been because they were flying at a great height (это, должно быть, потому что = это, вероятно, объясняется тем, что они летели на огромной высоте).

I could see that the captain found my question odd (я заметил, что мой вопрос показался капитану странным: «капитан нашел/счел мой вопрос странным»). I guessed what he was thinking (я догадался, о чем он подумал) when he once more suggested that I rest for a while (когда он снова предложил/посоветовал мне немного отдохнуть). When I explained that I was feeling very well indeed (когда я заявил, что чувствую себя прекрасно; to explain — объяснять; раскрывать, разъяснять) he grew serious at once (он сразу стал серьезным = посерьезнел). What law had I broken, he wished to know (/и/ спросил, какой такой закон я нарушил), that some prince or other had sent me to sea in a box and without any food (что некий государь отправил меня в море = пустил меня по морю в ящике и совсем без пищи; some ... or other — тот или иной, какой-то).

enormous [I'nLmqs], height [haIt], grew [grH]

I asked whether he or any of the sailors had seen any enormous birds in those parts around the time they had first seen my box. One of the sailors had seen three eagles flying towards the north, but he had not remarked on their size. That must have been because they were flying at a great height.

I could see that the captain found my question odd. I guessed what he was thinking when he once more suggested that I rest for a while. When I explained that I was feeling very well indeed, he grew serious at once. What law had I broken, he wished to know, that some prince or other had sent me to sea in a box and without any food.

Soon I had told him the story of my travels (скоро я поведал ему историю моих путешествий), from the time I left England (со времени, как я покинул Англию) to the time he found me (до момента, когда он меня нашел). When I had finished (когда я закончил = закончив /свой рассказ/), I could see that he believed me (я увидел, что он мне поверил). However, I wanted to give him some proof (однако я хотел представить ему какое-нибудь доказательство). I asked if he would be kind enough (я спросил /его/, не будет ли он так любезен) to have the cupboard from my travelling box brought to his cabin (приказать принести в свою каюту шкаф из моего дорожного ящика).

The captain looked on while I took the key from my pocket (капитан видел, как я достал из кармана ключ) and unlocked my cupboard (и открыл шкаф; lock — замок; запор). I showed him the comb I had made from the stumps of the King's beard (я показал ему гребень, который я смастерил из волосков королевской бороды). There was another I had made (там был /еще и/ другой, который я сделал) using a paring from the Queen's thumbnail as the back of the comb (употребив на его спинку: «в качестве спинки гребня» обрезок ногтя с большого пальца королевы; to pare — подрезать, стричь /ногти/; nail — ноготь; гвоздь). I still had some combings of the Queen's hair (у меня до сих пор было = хранилось несколько вычесок из волос королевы) and some of Glumdalclitch's needles (и несколько иголок /взятых у/ Глюмдалклич) that were a foot or more long (которые были длиною в фут и больше). I also showed him the four wasp stings (я показал ему также осиные жала) and a large gold ring the Queen had given me (и большое золотое кольцо, которое мне подарила королева). She had taken it from her little finger one day (она сняла его однажды со своего мизинца: «маленького пальца») and thrown it over my head like a collar (и надела мне на шею: «набросила его через мою голову» как ожерелье; collar — воротник; ожерелье).

cupboard ['kApbqd], beard [bIqd], paring ['pFqrIN]

Soon I had told him the story of my travels, from the time I left England to the time he found me. When I had finished, I could see that he believed me. However, I wanted to give him some proof. I asked it he would be kind enough to have the cupboard from my travelling box brought to his cabin.

The captain looked on while I took the key from my pocket and unlocked my cupboard. I showed him the comb I had made from the stumps of the King's beard. There was another I had made using a paring from the Queen's thumbnail as the back of the comb. I still had some combings of the Queen's hair and some of Glumdalclitch's needles that were a foot or more long. I also showed him the four wasp stings and a large gold ring the Queen had given me. She had taken it from her little finger one day and thrown it over my head like a collar.

I begged the captain to accept this ring (я очень просил капитана принять это кольцо) in return for the kindness he had shown me (в благодарность за доброту, проявленную им в отношении меня; kindness — доброта; благожелательность; любезность; доброе дело; одолжение; услуга; to show kindness — проявлять доброту, выказывать расположение). But this he refused to do (но он отказался). The only thing he would accept (единственная вещь, которую он согласился принять; would выражает волю, желание, склонность) was a servant’s tooth that I had cleaned and kept (— это зуб одного слуги, который я вычистил и сохранил). It had been pulled by mistake by the palace surgeon (он = зуб этот был выдернут придворным хирургом по ошибке) and was in perfect condition (и находился в прекрасном состоянии). It was about a foot long and four inches broad (он был около фута в длину и четыре дюйма в ширину).