Nor had we much time left to us for thought. Suddenly, with a loud huzza, a little cloud of pirates leaped from the woods on the north side, and ran straight on the stockade. At the same moment, the fire was once more opened from the woods, and a rifle-ball sang through the doorway, and knocked the doctor’s musket into bits.

The boarders swarmed over the fence like monkeys (нападающие лезли через ограду, как обезьяны; boarder — идущий на абордаж). Squire and Gray fired again and yet again (сквайр и Грей стреляли снова и снова); three men fell, one forwards into the enclosure, two back on the outside (трое упали, один вперед, внутрь ограды, двое — назад, наружу). But of these, one was evidently more frightened than hurt (но из этих /трех/ один был, очевидно, больше напуган, чем ранен), for he was on his feet again in a crack (так как он снова был на ногах в два счета; crack — треск, хруст, скрежет; щелчок хлыста; in a crack — в один момент), and instantly disappeared among the trees (и тотчас исчез среди деревьев).

Two had bit the dust (двое умерли; to bite — кусать; dust — пыль; прах), one had fled (один убежал; to flee — убегать, спасаться бегством), four had made good their footing inside our defences (четверо заняли прочную позицию внутри = легли по эту сторону частокола; footing — основание, прочное положение, опора; defence — оборона, укрепления); while from the shelter of the woods seven or eight men (в то время как из укрытия леса = прячась в лесу, семь или восемь человек), each evidently supplied with several muskets (каждый, очевидно, снабженный = имеющий несколько мушкетов), kept up a hot though useless fire on the log-house (продолжали горячую, хотя и бесплодную, стрельбу по срубу).

The four who had boarded made straight before them for the building (четверо, которые проникли внутрь частокола, устремились к зданию), shouting as they ran (крича на бегу), and the men among the trees shouted back to encourage them (а люди посреди деревьев = засевшие в лесу кричали в ответ, чтобы подбодрить их). Several shots were fired (несколько выстрелов было сделано); but, such was the hurry of the marksmen (но такой была спешка стрелков), that not one appeared to have taken effect (что ни один, кажется, не имел результата). In a moment, the four pirates had swarmed up the mound and were upon us (в одно мгновение четверо пиратов вскарабкались на холм и приблизились к нам; to be upon — близиться, приближаться с целью нападения).

swarmed [swLmd] frightened [`fraItnd] encourage [In`kArIG] mound [maund]

The boarders swarmed over the fence like monkeys. Squire and Gray fired again and yet again; three men fell, one forwards into the enclosure, two back on the outside. But of these, one was evidently more frightened than hurt, for he was on his feet again in a crack, and instantly disappeared among the trees.

Two had bit the dust, one had fled, four had made good their footing inside our defences; while from the shelter of the woods seven or eight men, each evidently supplied with several muskets, kept up a hot though useless fire on the log-house.

The four who had boarded made straight before them for the building, shouting as they ran, and the men among the trees shouted back to encourage them. Several shots were fired; but, such was the hurry of the marksmen, that not one appeared to have taken effect. In a moment, the four pirates had swarmed up the mound and were upon us.

The head of Job Anderson, the boatswain, appeared at the middle loophole (головка Джоба Эндерсона, боцмана, появилась в средней бойнице).

“At ’em, all hands — all hands (на них = бей их, все — все)!” he roared, in a voice of thunder (орал он громовым голосом).

At the same moment, another pirate grasped Hunter’s musket by the muzzle (в то же мгновение другой пират схватил мушкет Хантера за дуло), wrenched it from his hands (вырвал его у того из рук), plucked it through the loophole (просунул его в бойницу; to pluck — выдергивать, выхватить), and, with one stunning blow (и одним оглушительным ударом), laid the poor fellow senseless on the floor (уложил бедного парня бесчувственным на пол). Meanwhile a third, running unharmed all round the house (тем временем третий, обежав благополучно вокруг дома), appeared suddenly in the doorway (появился внезапно в дверном проеме), and fell with his cutlass on the doctor (и напал с кортиком на доктора).

Our position was utterly reversed (наше положение было совершенно перевернутым = мы поменялись местами с нашими врагами). A moment since we were firing, under cover (минуту до этого мы стреляли, /находясь/ под прикрытием), at an exposed enemy (в незащищенного врага); now it was we who lay uncovered (теперь мы были открытыми), and could not return a blow (и не могли отразить удар).

grasped [grRspt] wrenched [rentSt] unharmed [An`hRmd] firing [`faIqrIN]

The head of Job Anderson, the boatswain, appeared at the middle loophole.

“At ’em, all hands — all hands!” he roared, in a voice of thunder.

At the same moment, another pirate grasped Hunter’s musket by the muzzle, wrenched it from his hands, plucked it through the loophole, and, with one stunning blow, laid the poor fellow senseless on the floor. Meanwhile a third, running unharmed all round the house, appeared suddenly in the doorway, and fell with his cutlass on the doctor.