warily ['wrl], habitation [haeb'ten], revolver [r'vlv]

As I approached the hut, walking as warily as Stapleton would do when with poised net he drew near the settled butterfly, I satisfied myself that the place had indeed been used as a habitation. A vague pathway among the boulders led to the dilapidated opening which served as a door. All was silent within. The unknown might be lurking there, or he might be prowling on the moor. My nerves tingled with the sense of adventure. Throwing aside my cigarette I closed my hand upon the butt of my revolver and, walking swiftly up to the door, I looked in. The place was empty.

But there were ample signs (но там было достаточно признаков, /свидетельствовавших о том/) that I had not come upon a false scent (что я не пошел по ложному следу; scent — запах; след). This was certainly where the man lived (здесь определенно жил человек). Some blankets rolled in a waterproof (несколько одеял, завернутых в непромокаемый плащ) lay upon that very stone slab (лежали на той самой каменной плите) upon which neolithic man had once slumbered (на которой некогда спал неолитический человек; once — один раз; когда-то, некогда). The ashes of a fire were heaped in a rude grate (зола от костра кучей лежала в грубом очаге). Beside it lay some cooking utensils (рядом располагались какая-то кухонная утварь) and a bucket half-full of water (и бадья, наполовину наполненная водой). A litter of empty tins (разбросанные в беспорядке пустые консервные банки; litter — разбросанные вещи) showed that the place had been occupied for some time (показывали, что в этом месте некоторое время /кто-то/ жил), and I saw, as my eyes became accustomed to the chequered light (и я увидел, когда глаза мои привыкли к изменчивому свету), a pannikin and a half-full bottle of spirits standing in the corner (кружку и наполовину полную бутылку вина, стоящие в углу; spirits — алкогольный напиток). In the middle of the hut (в середине хижины) a flat stone served the purpose of a table (/располагался/ плоский камень, служивший в качестве стола), and upon this stood a small cloth bundle (а на нем стоял маленький узелок из сукна) — the same, no doubt (без сомнения, тот), which I had seen through the telescope upon the shoulder of the boy (который я видел в телескоп на плече у мальчишки). It contained a loaf of bread (в нем была: «он содержал» буханку хлеба), a tinned tongue (консервированный /говяжий/ язык), and two tins of preserved peaches (и две банки консервированных персиков). As I set it down again (когда я поставил это назад), after having examined it (после того как осмотрел), my heart leaped to see (мое сердце подпрыгнуло, /когда я/ заметил) that beneath it there lay a sheet of paper with writing upon it (что под этим лежал листок бумаги с /какой-то/ надписью на нем). I raised it, and this was what I read (я поднял его, и вот, что я прочел), roughly scrawled in pencil (небрежно и неразборчиво написанное карандашом; roughly — грубо; небрежно; to scrawl — писать неразборчиво):—

"Dr. Watson has gone to Coombe Tracey (доктор Ватсон поехал в Кум-Трэйси)."

slumber ['slmb], accustom ['kstm], tongue [t]

But there were ample signs that I had not come upon a false scent. This was certainly where the man lived. Some blankets rolled in a waterproof lay upon that very stone slab upon which neolithic man had once slumbered. The ashes of a fire were heaped in a rude grate. Beside it lay some cooking utensils and a bucket half-full of water. A litter of empty tins showed that the place had been occupied for some time, and I saw, as my eyes became accustomed to the chequered light, a pannikin and a half-full bottle of spirits standing in the corner. In the middle of the hut a flat stone served the purpose of a table, and upon this stood a small cloth bundle — the same, no doubt, which I had seen through the telescope upon the shoulder of the boy. It contained a loaf of bread, a tinned tongue, and two tins of preserved peaches. As I set it down again, after having examined it, my heart leaped to see that beneath it there lay a sheet of paper with writing upon it. I raised it, and this was what I read, roughly scrawled in pencil:—

"Dr. Watson has gone to Coombe Tracey."

For a minute I stood there with the paper in my hands (с минуту я стоял там с запиской в руках) thinking out the meaning of this curt message (разгадывая смысл этого короткого послания; to think out — продумать до конца; разгадать). It was I, then, and not Sir Henry (значит меня, а не сэра Генри), who was being dogged by this secret man (выслеживал этот таинственный человек). He had not followed me himself (он сам не следил за мной), but he had set an agent (но он послал шпиона) — the boy, perhaps (возможно, этого мальчишку) — upon my track (по моим следам), and this was his report (а это был его отчет). Possibly I had taken no step (возможно, я не сделал ни одного шага) since I had been upon the moor (с тех пор как нахожусь на болотах) which had not been observed and repeated (который не был замечен и повторен /передан/). Always there was this feeling of an unseen force (всегда было это ощущение /присутствия/ невидимой силы), a fine net drawn round us (тонкой сети, растянутой вокруг нас) with infinite skill and delicacy (с большой ловкостью и мастерством; delicacy — утонченность, тонкость), holding us so lightly (удерживающей нас так легко) that it was only at some supreme moment that one realized (что только в какой-то критический момент осознаешь) that one was indeed entangled in its meshes (что действительно запутался в ее ячейках).

curt [k:t], observe [b'z:v], entangle [n'tael]

For a minute I stood there with the paper in my hands thinking out the meaning of this curt message. It was I, then, and not Sir Henry, who was being dogged by this secret man. He had not followed me himself, but he had set an agent — the boy, perhaps — upon my track, and this was his report. Possibly I had taken no step since I had been upon the moor which had not been observed and repeated. Always there was this feeling of an unseen force, a fine net drawn round us with infinite skill and delicacy, holding us so lightly that it was only at some supreme moment that one realized that one was indeed entangled in its meshes.

If there was one report there might be others (если был один отчет, там могли быть и другие), so I looked round the hut in search of them (поэтому я осмотрел хижину в поисках их). There was no trace, however, of anything of the kind (однако там не было и следа чего-то похожего), nor could I discover any sign (не смог я /также/ обнаружить никаких признаков) which might indicate the character or intentions of the man (которые могли указать на характер или намерения человека) who lived in this singular place (который жил в этом необычном месте), save that he must be of Spartan habits (кроме того, что он имел привычки спартанца), and cared little for the comforts of life (и мало заботился о жизненных благах: «удобствах»). When I thought of the heavy rains (когда я подумал о проливных дождях) and looked at the gaping roof (и взглянул на зияющие дыры в крыше; to gape — зевать; зиять) I understood how strong and immutable must be the purpose (я понял, какой значительной и непреложной должна быть его цель) which had kept him in that inhospitable abode (удерживавшая его в таком негостеприимном жилище; abode — жилище; дом, жилье, обиталище). Was he our malignant enemy (был он нашим злейшим врагом), or was he by chance our guardian angel (или, по /счастливой/ случайности, нашим ангелом-хранителем)? I swore that I would not leave the hut (я поклялся, что не покину хижину) until I knew (пока не узнаю).

other ['d], sign [san], immutable ['mju:tbl]

If there was one report there might be others, so I looked round the hut in search of them. There was no trace, however, of anything of the kind, nor could I discover any sign which might indicate the character or intentions of the man who lived in this singular place, save that he must be of Spartan habits, and cared little for the comforts of life. When I thought of the heavy rains and looked at the gaping roof I understood how strong and immutable must be the purpose which had kept him in that inhospitable abode. Was he our malignant enemy, or was he by chance our guardian angel? I swore that I would not leave the hut until I knew.

Outside the sun was sinking low (снаружи солнце уже садилось; to sink low — глубоко погрузиться) and the west was blazing with scarlet and gold (и запад = небо на западе ярко горело пурпуром и золотом). Its reflection was shot back in ruddy patches by the distant pools (его отражение алыми пятнами отбрасывалось назад далекими озерцами) which lay amid the Great Grimpen Mire (лежащими посреди Большой Гримпенской трясины). There were the two towers of Baskerville Hall (/вдали виднелись/ две башни Баскервиль-холла), and there a distant blur of smoke (и далекое пятно дыма) which marked the village of Grimpen (обозначавшее деревню Гримпен). Between the two, behind the hill (между ними, за холмом), was the house of the Stapletons (находился дом Стэплтонов). All was sweet and mellow and peaceful (все /вокруг/ было приятным, спокойным и мирным) in the golden evening light (в золотистом вечернем свете), and yet as I looked at them (и все же когда я смотрел на это) my soul shared none of the peace of Nature (моя душа не разделяла спокойствия природы), but quivered at the vagueness and the terror of that interview (а трепетала от неясности и страха /перед/ встречей) which every instant was bringing nearer (которая с каждым мгновением приближалась; to bring nearer — приближать). With tingling nerves, but a fixed purpose (с натянутыми: «дрожащими» нервами, но с твердыми намерениями), I sat in the dark recess of the hut (я сидел в темном углу хижины; in the recess — в глубине) and waited with sombre patience for the coming of its tenant (и ждал с угрюмой настойчивостью ее обитателя).