nephew [`nevjH], eastward [`Jstwqd], forbidden [fq`bIdn], direction [dI`rekS(q)n, daI`rekS(q)n], engaged [In`geIGd]

An old man and his little nephew once lived in a dark woods. One day the man went hunting, and just before leaving told the boy he must not go eastward. But the boy became tired of playing in one place, and was one day tempted to go in the forbidden direction until he came to a large lake, where he stopped to play. While thus engaged a man came up to him and said, "Well, boy, where do you come from?"

The boy told him (мальчик рассказал ему) that he came from the woods (что он пришел из леса). Then the man said (тогда человек сказал), "Let us play together at shooting arrows (давай поиграем вместе в стрельбу из лука: «в стрельбу стрелами»)." So they shot off their arrows up into the air (итак, они выпустили свои стрелы вверх в воздух), and the boy's arrow went much the higher (и стрела мальчика ушла намного дальше). Then the man said, "Let us see (давай посмотрим) which can swim the farthest without breathing (который /из нас/ сможет проплыть дольше без дыхания = не дыша)," and again the boy beat the man (и снова мальчик победил мужчину; to beat — бить; побеждать). Then the latter said (тогда последний = мужчина сказал), "Let us go to the island (поедем на остров), where you will see many pretty birds (где ты увидишь много красивых птиц)." So they entered the canoe (и вот, они сели в каноэ: «зашли в каноэ»). Now, on either side of the canoe were three swans (а с каждой стороны каноэ было /по/ три лебедя) which propelled it (которые двигали его; to propel — толкать вперед, двигать; ускорять).

breathing [`bri:DIN], beat [bJt], island [`aIlqnd], canoe [kq`nH], swan [swOn], propel [prq`pel]

The boy told him that he came from the woods. Then the man said, "Let us play together at shooting arrows." So they shot off their arrows up into the air, and the boy's arrow went much the higher. Then the man said, "Let us see which can swim the farthest without breathing," and again the boy beat the man. Then the latter said, "Let us go to the island, where you will see many pretty birds." So they entered the canoe. Now, on either side of the canoe were three swans which propelled it.

As soon as they were seated in the canoe (как только они уселись в каноэ) the man began singing (мужчина начал петь), and very soon they arrived at the island (и очень скоро они приплыли на остров), around which they traveled for some time (вокруг которого они покатались некоторое время), and then the man took off all the boy's clothes (а затем мужчина снял всю одежду с мальчика), and, jumping into his canoe, said (и, запрыгнув в свое каноэ, сказал), "Come, swans, let us go home (пошли = вперед, лебеди, пойдем домой)," and he began to sing (и он начал петь). When the boy perceived (когда мальчик осознал; to perceive — воспринимать, понимать, осознавать) that he was deserted (что его бросили: «что он был оставлен/покинут») he went up the bank (он взобрался на берег) and sat down and cried (сел и заплакал), for he was naked and cold (ведь он был голый и замерз: «и холодный»).

arrive [q`raIv], jump [GAmp], perceive [pq`sJv], desert [dI`zq:t]

As soon as they were seated in the canoe the man began singing, and very soon they arrived at the island, around which they traveled for some time, and then the man took off all the boy's clothes, and, jumping into his canoe, said, "Come, swans, let us go home," and he began to sing. When the boy perceived that he was deserted he went up the bank and sat down and cried, for he was naked and cold.

It began to grow dark very fast (начало темнеть очень быстро; to grow dark — темнеть: «становиться темно»), and he was greatly frightened (и он был сильно напуган) when he heard a voice say (когда он услышал, /как/ /чей-то/ голос произнес), "Hist (тсс)! keep still (молчи: «держи тихо = оставайся тихим»)," and, looking around (и, оглянувшись), he saw a skeleton on the ground near him (он увидел скелет на земле возле него), which beckoned him and said (который поманил его и сказал; to beckon — манить, кивать; делать знак /рукой, пальцем/), "Poor boy (бедный мальчик), it was the same thing with me (та же самая вещь была и со мной = то же самое произошло и со мной), but I will help you (но я помогу тебе) if you will do something for me (если ты сделаешь кое-что для меня)." The boy readily consented (мальчик с готовностью согласился).

frighten [fraItn], skeleton [`skelItn], beckon [`bek(q)n], readily [`redIlI], consent [kqn`sent]

It began to grow dark very fast, and he was greatly frightened when he heard a voice say, "Hist! keep still," and, looking around, he saw a skeleton on the ground near him, which beckoned him and said, "Poor boy, it was the same thing with me, but I will help you if you will do something for me." The boy readily consented.

Then the skeleton told him to go to a tree near by (тогда скелет сказал ему пойти к дереву поблизости), and dig on the west side of it (и копать на западной стороне от него), and he would find a tobacco-pouch full of tobacco (и он найдет табачный мешочек, полный табака), a pipe (трубку), and a flint (и кремень); and the boy found them (и мальчик нашел их; to find) and brought them to the skeleton (и принес их скелету; to bring). It then said (он /скелет/ затем сказал), "Fill the pipe and light it (наполни трубку и зажги ее)"; and he did so (и он сделал так). "Put it in my mouth (вставь ее в мой рот)," said the skeleton (сказал скелет); and he did so (и он сделал так). Then, as the skeleton smoked (затем, пока скелет курил), the boy saw that its body was full of mice (мальчик увидел, что его тело было полно мышей), which went away because of the smoke (которые убежали из-за дыма).

pouch [pauC], tobacco [tq`bxkqu], body [`bOdI], mice [maIs]

Then the skeleton told him to go to a tree near by, and dig on the west side of it, and he would find a tobacco-pouch full of tobacco, a pipe, and a flint; and the boy found them and brought them to the skeleton. It then said, "Fill the pipe and light it"; and he did so. "Put it in my mouth," said the skeleton; and he did so. Then, as the skeleton smoked, the boy saw that its body was full of mice, which went away because of the smoke.