“Now, Jim, you tell me true (ну, Джим, скажи мне правду): that ain’t Flint’s ship (это /ведь/ не корабль Флинта; ain’t = isn`t)?” he asked.

At this I had a happy inspiration (при этом у меня было счастливое вдохновение = меня осенила хорошая мысль). I began to believe that I had found an ally, and I answered him at once (я начал понимать, что нашел союзника, и ответил ему тотчас).

“It’s not Flint’s ship, and Flint is dead (это не корабль Флинта, Флинт умер); but I’ll tell you true, as you ask me (но я скажу вам правду, как вы просите меня) — there are some of Flint’s hands aboard (на борту находятся некоторые люди Флинта); worse luck for the rest of us (к несчастью для остальных из нас; worse luck — «худшая судьба»).”

tightened [`taItnd] forefinger [`fLfINgq] threateningly [`TretnINlI] inspiration [InspI`reISn]

“Rich! rich! I says. And I’ll tell you what: I’ll make a man of you, Jim. Ah, Jim, you’ll bless your stars, you will, you was the first that found me!”

And at this there came suddenly a lowering shadow over his face; and he tightened his grasp upon my hand, and raised a forefinger threateningly before my eyes.

“Now, Jim, you tell me true: that ain’t Flint’s ship?” he asked.

At this I had a happy inspiration. I began to believe that I had found an ally, and I answered him at once.

“It’s not Flint’s ship, and Flint is dead; but I’ll tell you true, as you ask me — there are some of Flint’s hands aboard; worse luck for the rest of us.”

“Not a man — with one — leg (/а/ нет /там/ человека с одной ногой)?” he gasped (он сказал он, задыхаясь; to gasp — дышать с трудом, ловить воздух).

“Silver (Сильвера)?” I asked.

“Ah, Silver (да, Сильвера)!” says he; “that were his name (таким было его имя = так его звали).”

“He’s the cook; and the ringleader, too (он /наш/ кок, и главарь /всей шайки/ также).”

He was still holding me by the wrist (он все еще держал меня за запястье), and at that he gave it quite a wring (и при таких /словах/ он сильно скрутил его: «дал ему весьма скручивание»).

“If you was sent by Long John (если ты послан Долговязым Джоном),” he said, “I’m as good as pork, and I know it (я пропал: «все равно что свинина», и я это знаю). But where was you, do you suppose (но где ты был = куда ты попал, знаешь ли ты)?”

ringleader [`rINlJdq] wrist [rIst] wring [rIN] pork [pLk]

“Not a man — with one — leg?” he gasped.

“Silver?” I asked.

“Ah, Silver!” says he; “that were his name.”

“He’s the cook; and the ringleader, too.”

He was still holding me by the wrist, and at that he gave it quite a wring.

“If you was sent by Long John,” he said, “I’m as good as pork, and I know it. But where was you, do you suppose?”

I had made my mind up in a moment (я принял решение = решил сразу же), and by way of answer told him the whole story of our voyage (и в качестве ответа рассказал ему всю историю нашего плавания; by way of — ради, с целью, посредством), and the predicament in which we found ourselves (и затруднительного положения, в котором мы оказались: «нашли себя»). He heard me with the keenest interest (он слышал меня с живейшим интересом; keen — острый, режущий, резкий, язвительный; глубокий, сильный, интенсивный /о чувствах или ощущениях/), and when I had done he patted me on the head (и когда я закончил, он погладил меня по голове; to pat — похлопывать; поглаживать).

“You’re a good lad, Jim (ты славный парень, Джим),” he said; “and you’re all in a clove hitch ain’t you (и вы все /завязаны/ мертвым узлом = дела ваши плохи, не так ли)? Well, you just put your trust in Ben Gunn (просто положись: «помести свое доверие» на Бена Ганна) — Ben Gunn’s the man to do it (Бен Ганн — тот человек, чтобы сделать это = выручит вас). Would you think it likely (как ты думаешь; likely — вероятно, возможно), now, that your squire would prove a liberal-minded one in case of help (оказался бы ваш сквайр либерально настроенным, в случае /оказания/ помощи = как поступил бы сквайр, если ему окажут помощь) — him being in a clove hitch, as you remark (ему, находящемуся в затруднительном положении: «мертвом узле», как ты замечаешь)?”

I told him the squire was the most liberal of men (я сказал ему, /что/ сквайр — самый щедрый из людей = на свете).

voyage [`vOIIG] predicament [prI`dIkqmqnt] clove hitch [`klquvhItS]

I had made my mind up in a moment, and by way of answer told him the whole story of our voyage, and the predicament in which we found ourselves. He heard me with the keenest interest, and when I had done he patted me on the head.

“You’re a good lad, Jim,” he said; “and you’re all in a clove hitch ain’t you? Well, you just put your trust in Ben Gunn — Ben Gunn’s the man to do it. Would you think it likely, now, that your squire would prove a liberal-minded one in case of help — him being in a clove hitch, as you remark?”