The sailor seized him by the arm and dragged him roughly to the foot of the companion. Above him was a square of blue sky cut across by the mizzen gaff with the colours flying at the peak. But it was the sight of those colours which struck the breath from Stephen Craddock’s lips. For there were two of them, and the British ensign was flying above the Jolly Rodger – the honest flag above that of the rogue.

For an instant Craddock stopped in amazement (на мгновение Крэддок в изумлении остановился), but a brutal push from the pirates behind drove him up the companion ladder (но грубый толчок /идущего/ позади пирата погнал его вверх по сходному трапу; to drive – гнать). As he stepped out upon deck, his eyes turned up to the main (шагнув на палубу, он обратил взгляд к грот-мачте; main – главная часть; грот-мачта /мор./), and there again were the British colours flying above the red pennant (и там тоже над красным вымпелом вились флаги Британии), and all the shrouds and rigging were garlanded with streamers (а ванты и такелаж украшены гирляндами из вымпелов).

Had the ship been taken, then (значит, корабль захвачен)? But that was impossible (но это невозможно), for there were the pirates clustering in swarms along the port bulwarks (потому что вдоль левого борта группами стояли пираты; to cluster – собираться группами, толпиться; swarm – рой, стая; толпа; port – левый борт /корабля, самолета/; bulwarks – фальшборт), and waving their hats joyously in the air (и радостно махали в воздухе шляпами).

 For an instant Craddock stopped in amazement, but a brutal push from the pirates behind drove him up the companion ladder. As he stepped out upon deck, his eyes turned up to the main, and there again were the British colours flying above the red pennant, and all the shrouds and rigging were garlanded with streamers.

Had the ship been taken, then? But that was impossible, for there were the pirates clustering in swarms along the port bulwarks, and waving their hats joyously in the air.

Most prominent of all was the renegade mate (самым заметным из всех был ренегат-помощник), standing on the foc’sle head, and gesticulating wildly (он стоял на вершине полубака и дико жестикулировал; foc’sle = forecastle; head – голова; верхушка, верхняя часть). Craddock looked over the side to see what they were cheering at (Крэддок бросив взгляд через борт, увидел, чему они так радовались), and then in a flash he saw how critical was the moment (и тогда в один миг осознал всю важность момента; in a flash – в мгновение ока; to see – видеть; понимать, сознавать; critical – требовательный, критический).

On the port bow, and about a mile off, lay the white houses and forts of Port Royal (по левому борту, примерно в миле /от них/, стояли белые домики и форты Порт-Ройяля; bow – нос корабля, бак), with flags breaking out everywhere over their roofs (повсюду над их крышами развевались флаги; to break out – развертывать /флаг/).

 Most prominent of all was the renegade mate, standing on the foc’sle head, and gesticulating wildly. Craddock looked over the side to see what they were cheering at, and then in a flash he saw how critical was the moment.

On the port bow, and about a mile off, lay the white houses and forts of Port Royal, with flags breaking out everywhere over their roofs.

Right ahead was the opening of the palisades leading to the town of Kingston (прямо впереди между береговых скал был проход, ведущий в центр Кингстона; opening – открывание /процесс/; проход /в горах/; palisade – палисад, частокол; palisades – береговые скалы; town – город; деловой центр). Not more than a quarter of a mile off was a small sloop (не далее четверти мили от него виднелся небольшой шлюп) working out against the very slight wind (идущий против совсем слабенького ветерка; to work – работать; пробираться, продвигаться). The British ensign was at her peak (на верхушке /мачты/ реял вымпел Британии), and her rigging was all decorated (и весь такелаж был /празднично/ украшен). On her deck could be seen a dense crowd of people (на палубе можно было увидеть густую толпу людей = на палубе во множестве толпились люди) cheering and waving their hats (выкрикивая приветствия и размахивая шляпами), and the gleam of scarlet told that there were officers of the garrison among them (и мелькавшие /кое-где/ алые пятна говорили о том, что среди них находились и офицеры гарнизона; gleam – проблеск, вспышка).

 Right ahead was the opening of the palisades leading to the town of Kingston. Not more than a quarter of a mile off was a small sloop working out against the very slight wind. The British ensign was at her peak, and her rigging was all decorated. On her deck could be seen a dense crowd of people cheering and waving their hats, and the gleam of scarlet told that there were officers of the garrison among them.