fast [fRst], summon [`sAmqn], nation [neISn], ant [Rnt], deliberate [dI`lIb(q)rqt]

"If that is so," said the Little Black Ant, "I will be the one to help you"; and he ran down to the world as fast as he could. When he got there he sent out the crier to summon all his nation, and also that of the In-toon, the Big Red Ants. Soon all the armies of the Little Black Ants and the Big Red Ants met at the foot of the pine, and held a council. They smoked the weer and deliberated what should be done.

"You Big Red Ants are stronger than we who are small (Вы, Большие Красные Муравьи, сильнее, чем мы, которые меньше)," said the War-Captain of the Little Black Ants (сказал Военачальник Маленьких Черных Муравьев; war — война; captain — капитан; командир),"and for that you ought to take the top of the tree to work (и поэтому вы должны заняться верхушкой дерева)."

"No!" said the War-Captain of the Big Red Ants. "If you think we are the stronger (если вы думаете, /что/ мы сильнее), give us the bottom (дайте нам низ = оставьте нам низ), where we can work more (где мы сможем поработать больше), and you go to the top (а вы отправляйтесь на вершину)."

small [smLl], ought [Lt], war [wL], captain [`kxptIn], bottom [`bOtqm], more [mL]

"You Big Red Ants are stronger than we who are small," said the War-Captain of the Little Black Ants, "and for that you ought to take the top of the tree to work."

"No!" said the War-Captain of the Big Red Ants. "If you think we are the stronger, give us the bottom, where we can work more, and you go to the top."

So it was agreed (так и порешили: «так это было решено»), and the captains made their armies ready (и военачальники приготовили армии; to make smth. ready — подготовить что-либо: «сделать что-либо готовым»). But first the Little Black Ants got the cup of an acorn (но сначала Маленькие Черные Муравьи принесли чашку из желудя), and mixed in it corn-meal (и смешали в ней маисовую муку) and water and honey (и воду c медом), and carried it up the tree (и отнесли ее на верх дерева; to carry). They were so many (их было так много) that they covered its trunk (что они покрыли его ствол) all the way to the sky (до самых небес; way — путь, дорога).

When Kahp-too-'oo-yoo saw (когда Кахп-ту-'o-йу увидел), his heart was heavy (его сердце осталось мрачным/печальным), and he thought (и он подумал; to think): "But what good will that very little do me (но что хорошего /сможет/ эта малость принести/сделать мне), for I am dying of hunger and thirst (когда я умираю от голода и жажды)?"

ready [`redI], honey [`hAnI], trunk [trANk], heavy [`hevI], thirst [Tq:st]

So it was agreed, and the captains made their armies ready. But first the Little Black Ants got the cup of an acorn, and mixed in it corn-meal and water and honey, and carried it up the tree. They were so many that they covered its trunk all the way to the sky.

When Kahp-too-'oo-yoo saw, his heart was heavy, and he thought: "But what good will that very little do me, for I am dying of hunger and thirst?"

"Nay, friend (нет, друг)," answered (ответил) the Captain of the Little Black Ants, who knew his thought (который понял его мысль; to know — знать; узнавать). "A person should not think so (человеку = никому нельзя думать так). This little is enough (этой малости достаточно; little — небольшое количество), and there will be some left (и еще немного останется; some — некоторое количество; to leave — оставлять)."

And it was so (и было так); for when Kahp-too-'oo-yoo had eaten all he could (так как когда Кахп-ту-'o-йу съел все, /что/ он мог), the acorn-cup was still nearly full (желудевая чашка была все еще почти полной). Then the ants carried the cup to the ground and came back to him (затем муравьи отнесли чашку на землю и вернулись назад к нему).

"Now, friend (теперь, друг)," said the Captain, "we will do our best (мы сделаем все, что возможно; to do one’s best — сделать все возможное, стараться изо всех сил). But now you must shut your eyes till I say (но сейчас ты должен закрыть свои глаза, пока я не скажу) 'Ahw (ау)!'"

friend [frend], enough [I`nAf], acorn [`eIkLn]

"Nay, friend," answered the Captain of the Little Black Ants, who knew his thought. "A person should not think so. This little is enough, and there will be some left."

And it was so; for when Kahp-too-'oo-yoo had eaten all he could, the acorn-cup was still nearly full. Then the ants carried the cup to the ground and came back to him.

"Now, friend," said the Captain, "we will do our best. But now you must shut your eyes till I say 'Ahw!'"

Kahp-too-'oo-yoo shut his eyes (закрыл свои глаза; to shut), and the Captain sent signals down to those at the foot of the tree (и Военачальник послал знак вниз, тем, кто /был/ у подножия дерева; to send; at the foot of). And the Little Black Ants above put their feet against the sky (и Маленькие Черные Муравьи наверху уперлись лапками в небо) and pushed with all their might on the top of the pine (и оттолкнулись изо всех сил на верхушке сосны; might — энергия; мощность, физическая сила); and the Big Red Ants below caught the trunk (а Большие Красные Муравьи охватили ствол внизу; to catch — ловить; хватать, охватывать) and pulled as hard as they could (и потянули так сильно, как могли; hard /нареч./ — жестко; крепко; энергично, активно, решительно, настойчиво); and the very first tug (и самый первый рывок) drove the great pine a quarter of its length into the earth (загнал огромную сосну на четверть ее длины в землю; to drive — гнать).