I now felt sure that the poor fellow had gone crazy in his solitude, and I suppose I must have shown the feeling in my face, for he repeated the statement hotly: —

“Rich (богат)! Rich (богат)! I says. And I’ll tell you what (и вот что я тебе скажу): I’ll make a man of you, Jim (я сделаю из тебя человека, Джим). Ah, Jim, you’ll bless your stars, you will, you was the first that found me (о, Джим, ты благословишь судьбу: «свои звезды», о да, /за то, что/ был первым, кто нашел меня)!”

And at this there came suddenly a lowering shadow over his face (при этом внезапно его лицо потемнело: «охватила мрачная тень»; to lower — спускаться, опускаться); and he tightened his grasp upon my hand (и он сильнее сжал мою руку; tight — плотный; to tighten — уплотнить, сжать, натянуть; grasp — хват, сжатие, зажим), and raised a forefinger threateningly before my eyes (и поднял указательный палец угрожающе перед моими глазами; to threaten — угрожать).

“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 [`taɪtnd] forefinger [`fɔ:fɪŋgə] threateningly [`θretnɪŋlɪ] inspiration [ɪnspɪ`reɪʃn]

“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 [`rɪŋli:də] wrist [rɪst] wring [rɪŋ] pork [pɔ:k]

“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?”