Английский с Джеком Лондоном. Золотой каньон. Рассказы / Jack London. All Gold Canyon. Stories

Nightfall found him by the edge of the stream, his eyes wrestling with the gathering darkness over the washing of a five-dollar pan.

“Wisht I had an electric light to go on working,” he said.

He found sleep difficult that night. Many times he composed himself and closed his eyes for slumber to overtake him; but his blood pounded with too strong desire, and as many times his eyes opened and he murmured wearily, “Wisht it was sun-up.”

Sleep came to him in the end (сон пришел к нему наконец), but his eyes were open with the first paling of the stars (но его глаза открылись с первыми побледневшими звездами: «с первым побледнением звезд»; to pale – бледнеть, терять яркость), and the gray of dawn caught him with breakfast finished (и сумрак рассвета застал его покончившим с завтраком) and climbing the hillside in the direction of the secret abiding-place of Mr. Pocket (и взбирающимся на склон в направлении таинственного местонахождения мистера Кармана; to abide – обитать, проживать).

The first cross-cut the man made (первый поперечный ряд, который он сделал), there was space for only three holes (в нем было место только для трех ям), so narrow had become the pay-streak (таким узким стал золотой след) and so close was he to the fountainhead of the golden stream he had been following for four days (и так близко был он к истоку золотого ручья/потока, который он преследовал четыре дня; fountain-head – источник, ключ).

Sleep came to him in the end, but his eyes were open with the first paling of the stars, and the gray of dawn caught him with breakfast finished and climbing the hillside in the direction of the secret abiding-place of Mr. Pocket.

The first cross-cut the man made, there was space for only three holes, so narrow had become the pay-streak and so close was he to the fountainhead of the golden stream he had been following for four days.

“Be ca’m, Bill; be ca’m (будь спокоен, Билл, будь спокоен; ca’m = calm),” he admonished himself (увещевал он себя), as he broke ground for the final hole where the sides of the “V” had at last come together in a point (начав копать землю для последней ямы, где стороны «V», наконец, сошлись в одной точке; to break – ломать; вскапывать).

“I’ve got the almighty cinch on you, Mr. Pocket (вы мне попались, мистер Карман; to have a cinch on smb. – держать кого-либо в узде; almighty – сильный, всемогущий), an’ you can’t lose me (и вы никуда не денетесь; to lose – отделываться, освобождаться),” he said many times as he sank the hole deeper and deeper (сказал он много раз, выкапывая: «опуская» яму /все/ глубже и глубже).

Four feet (четыре фута), five feet (пять футов), six feet (шесть футов), he dug his way down into the earth (выкапывал он свой путь вниз; to dig – копать). The digging grew harder (копать становилось труднее). His pick grated on broken rock (его кирка скрипнула, /натолкнувшись/ на раздробленную /горную/ породу; rock – скала; горная порода). He examined the rock (он осмотрел породу).

“Be ca’m, Bill; be ca’m,” he admonished himself, as he broke ground for the final hole where the sides of the “V” had at last come together in a point.

“I’ve got the almighty cinch on you, Mr. Pocket, an’ you can’t lose me,” he said many times as he sank the hole deeper and deeper.

Four feet, five feet, six feet, he dug his way down into the earth. The digging grew harder. His pick grated on broken rock. He examined the rock.

“Rotten quartz (рыхлый кварц; rotten – гнилой, прогнивший; мягкий, податливый, рыхлый /о почве и. т. п./; to rot – гнить),” was his conclusion as, with the shovel, he cleared the bottom of the hole of loose dirt (был его вывод, когда лопатой он очистил дно ямы от обвалившейся земли; loose – свободный, неприкрепленный). He attacked the crumbling quartz with the pick (он набросился на крошащийся кварц с киркой; to crumble – крошиться), bursting the disintegrating rock asunder with every stroke (разламывая распадающуюся породу на части с каждым ударом; to disintegrate – раздроблять, размельчать; asunder – на куски, на части). He thrust his shovel into the loose mass (он вонзил лопату в рыхлую массу). His eye caught a gleam of yellow (его глаза уловили проблеск желтого). He dropped the shovel and squatted suddenly on his heels (он уронил лопату и внезапно сел на корточки; to squat – садиться на корточки; heel – пятка). As a farmer rubs the clinging earth from fresh-dug potatoes (как фермер счищает налипшую землю со свежевырытой картошки), so the man (так и человек), a piece of rotten quartz held in both hands (держа в обоих руках кусок рыхлого кварца), rubbed the dirt away (счищал грязь/землю).

“Sufferin’ Sardanopolis (черт возьми, Сарданапал; suffering – страдающий; suffering cat/s/ – черт! вот ведь!)!” he cried (крикнул он). “Lumps an’ chunks of it! Lumps an’ chunks of it (куски и кусища его; lump, chunk – крупный кусок)!”

“Rotten quartz,” was his conclusion as, with the shovel, he cleared the bottom of the hole of loose dirt. He attacked the crumbling quartz with the pick, bursting the disintegrating rock asunder with every stroke. He thrust his shovel into the loose mass. His eye caught a gleam of yellow. He dropped the shovel and squatted suddenly on his heels. As a farmer rubs the clinging earth from fresh-dug potatoes, so the man, a piece of rotten quartz held in both hands, rubbed the dirt away.

“Sufferin’ Sardanopolis!” he cried. “Lumps an’ chunks of it! Lumps an’ chunks of it!”

It was only half rock he held in his hand (это был только наполовину камень, /то/, что он держал в руке). The other half was virgin gold (остальная половина была самородное золото; virgin – девственный; самородный /о металле/). He dropped it into his pan and examined another piece (он бросил его в лоток и обследовал другой обломок; to drop – капать; ронять; бросать). Little yellow was to be seen (немного желтого показалось), but with his strong fingers he crumbled the rotten quartz away (но своими сильными пальцами он крошил рыхлый кварц) till both hands were filled with glowing yellow (пока обе руки не были наполнены сверкающим золотом; yellow – желтый; предмет желтого цвета; to glow – светиться, сверкать; быть ярким, светлым /о красках, цвете/). He rubbed the dirt away from fragment after fragment (он счищал грязь с куска за куском), tossing them into the gold-pan (швыряя их в лоток). It was a treasure-hole (это была сокровищница; treasure – сокровище; hole – дыра; нора). So much had the quartz rotted away (так сильно распался кварц; to rot away – гнить, портиться) that there was less of it than there was of gold (что его было меньше, чем золота). Now and again he found a piece to which no rock clung (время от времени он находил кусок, в котором не содержалось породы; to cling – крепко держаться, прилипать) – a piece that was all gold (кусок, который был весь золотым). A chunk, where the pick had laid open the heart of the gold (кусок, где кирка обнажила золотое сердце), glittered like a handful of yellow jewels (сверкал, как горсть желтых драгоценных камней), and he cocked his head at it and slowly turned it around and over to observe the rich play of the light upon it (и он приподнял свою голову над ним и медленно поворачивал его из стороны в сторону, чтобы рассмотреть роскошную игру света на нем; to cock – поднимать кверху).

It was only half rock he held in his hand. The other half was virgin gold. He dropped it into his pan and examined another piece. Little yellow was to be seen, but with his strong fingers he crumbled the rotten quartz away till both hands were filled with glowing yellow. He rubbed the dirt away from fragment after fragment, tossing them into the gold-pan. It was a treasure-hole. So much had the quartz rotted away that there was less of it than there was of gold. Now and again he found a piece to which no rock clung – a piece that was all gold. A chunk, where the pick had laid open the heart of the gold, glittered like a handful of yellow jewels, and he cocked his head at it and slowly turned it around and over to observe the rich play of the light upon it.

“Talk about yer Too Much Gold diggin’s (говорите, что у вас слишком много золотых приисков)!” the man snorted contemptuously (человек хмыкнул презрительно; contempt – презрение). “Why, this diggin’ ’d make it look like thirty cents (в сравнении с этим прииском им цена тридцать центов: «этот прииск заставил бы это выглядеть как тридцать центов»). This diggin’ is All Gold (этот прииск – сплошное золото). An’ right here an’ now I name this yere canyon ‘All Gold Canyon,’ b’ gosh (и здесь и сейчас я назову этот каньон «Золотой каньон», черт возьми; b’ gosh = by gosh)!”

Still squatting on his heels (все еще сидя на корточках), he continued examining the fragments and tossing them into the pan (он продолжал рассматривать кусок за куском и бросать их в лоток). Suddenly there came to him a premonition of danger (внезапно к нему пришло предчувствие опасности; premonition – предупреждение; предчувствие). It seemed a shadow had fallen upon him (показалось, тень упала на него). But there was no shadow (но тени не было). His heart had given a great jump up into his throat and was choking him (его сердце подскочило к горлу и стало душить: «было душившим» его; to choke – душить, сдавливать). Then his blood slowly chilled (его кровь медленно похолодела) and he felt the sweat of his shirt cold against his flesh (и он почувствовал, как холодеет от пота рубашка на его теле).

“Talk about yer Too Much Gold diggin’s!” the man snorted contemptuously. “Why, this diggin’ ’d make it look like thirty cents. This diggin’ is All Gold. An’ right here an’ now I name this yere canyon 'All Gold Canyon,' b’ gosh!”

Still squatting on his heels, he continued examining the fragments and tossing them into the pan. Suddenly there came to him a premonition of danger. It seemed a shadow had fallen upon him. But there was no shadow. His heart had given a great jump up into his throat and was choking him. Then his blood slowly chilled and he felt the sweat of his shirt cold against his flesh.

He did not spring up nor look around (он не выпрямился и не оглянулся вокруг). He did not move (он не шелохнулся: «не двинулся»). He was considering the nature of the premonition he had received (он обдумывал/рассматривал природу предостережения, которое он получил), trying to locate the source of the mysterious force that had warned him (пытаясь определить источник таинственной силы, которая предупредила его), striving to sense the imperative presence of the unseen thing that threatened him (пытаясь осознать настоятельное присутствие невидимого предмета, который угрожал ему). There is an aura of things hostile (у вещей, которые враждебны нам, есть аура), made manifest by messengers too refined for the senses to know (делающаяся явной через посланцев, слишком тонких для восприятия); and this aura he felt (и эту ауру он чувствовал), but knew not how he felt it (но не знал, как он ее чувствовал). His was the feeling as when a cloud passes over the sun (его ощущение было подобным тому, как когда облако набегает на солнце). It seemed that between him and life had passed something dark (казалось, что между ним и жизнью пронеслось что-то темное) and smothering (и удушливое; to smother – душить, вызвать приступ удушья) and menacing (и зловещее; to menace – грозить, запугивать, пугать, угрожать); a gloom, as it were, that swallowed up life and made for death (мрак, так сказать, который поглотил жизнь и направлялся к смерти; to make for – направляться) – his death (его смерти).

He did not spring up nor look around. He did not move. He was considering the nature of the premonition he had received, trying to locate the source of the mysterious force that had warned him, striving to sense the imperative presence of the unseen thing that threatened him. There is an aura of things hostile, made manifest by messengers too refined for the senses to know; and this aura he felt, but knew not how he felt it. His was the feeling as when a cloud passes over the sun. It seemed that between him and life had passed something dark and smothering and menacing; a gloom, as it were, that swallowed up life and made for death – his death.

Every force of his being impelled him to spring up and confront the unseen danger (все силы его существа побуждали его подняться и встретить лицом к лицу невидимую опасность; to impel to – побуждать, подталкивать к чему-либо), but his soul dominated the panic (но его душа возобладала над паникой), and he remained squatting on his heels (и он остался сидеть на корточках), in his hands a chunk of gold (с куском золота в руках). He did not dare to look around (он не посмел оглянуться), but he knew by now that there was something behind him and above him (но он знал к тому моменту, что было нечто позади него и над ним). He made believe to be interested in the gold in his hand (он притворился, что увлечен золотом в своей руке; to make believe – притворяться: «заставить верить»). He examined it critically (он осматривал его критично = оценивающе), turned it over and over (поворачивал его снова и снова), and rubbed the dirt from it (и стирал с него грязь). And all the time he knew that something behind him was looking at the gold over his shoulder (и все это время он знал, что нечто позади него смотрело на золото из-за его плеча).

Every force of his being impelled him to spring up and confront the unseen danger, but his soul dominated the panic, and he remained squatting on his heels, in his hands a chunk of gold. He did not dare to look around, but he knew by now that there was something behind him and above him. He made believe to be interested in the gold in his hand. He examined it critically, turned it over and over, and rubbed the dirt from it. And all the time he knew that something behind him was looking at the gold over his shoulder.

Still feigning interest in the chunk of gold in his hand (все еще делая вид, что заинтересован куском золота в своей руке; to feign – притворяться, делать вид), he listened intently and he heard the breathing of the thing behind him (он слушал внимательно и услышал дыхание того, что находилось позади него). His eyes searched the ground in front of him for a weapon (его глаза искали на земле перед ним /какое-нибудь/ оружие), but they saw only the uprooted gold (но они видели только вывороченное золото; to uproot – вырывать с корнем; root – корень), worthless to him now in his extremity (бесполезное для него сейчас в опасной ситуации; extremity – крайняя опасность, нужда). There was his pick (там была его кирка), a handy weapon on occasion (сподручное оружие при случае); but this was not such an occasion (но это не было тем случаем). The man realized his predicament (человек осознал затруднительность своего положения; predicament – затруднительное положение; затруднение). He was in a narrow hole that was seven feet deep (он находился в узкой яме, которая была семь футов глубиной). His head did not come to the surface of the ground (его голова не достигала поверхности земли; to come to – достигать, равняться). He was in a trap (он был в ловушке).

Still feigning interest in the chunk of gold in his hand, he listened intently and he heard the breathing of the thing behind him. His eyes searched the ground in front of him for a weapon, but they saw only the uprooted gold, worthless to him now in his extremity. There was his pick, a handy weapon on occasion; but this was not such an occasion. The man realized his predicament. He was in a narrow hole that was seven feet deep. His head did not come to the surface of the ground. He was in a trap.

He remained squatting on his heels (он оставался сидеть на корточках). He was quite cool and collected (он был совершенно спокоен и хладнокровен: «/внутренне/ собран»); but his mind (но его сознание), considering every factor (взвешивая каждый фактор), showed him only his helplessness (показывало ему лишь его беспомощность). He continued rubbing the dirt from the quartz fragments (он продолжал стирать грязь с кусков кварца) and throwing the gold into the pan (и кидать золото в лоток). There was nothing else for him to do (больше ему ничего не оставалось). Yet he knew that he would have to rise up (тем не менее, он знал, что ему придется встать), sooner or later (раньше или позже), and face the danger that breathed at his back (и встретиться лицом к лицу с опасностью, которая дышала ему в спину). The minutes passed (минуты шли), and with the passage of each minute he knew (и с прошествием каждой минуты он знал) that by so much he was nearer the time when he must stand up (что настолько близко = тем ближе он был к минуте, когда он должен будет подняться), or else (или же) – and his wet shirt went cold against his flesh again at the thought (и его мокрая рубашка холодно прилипла к его телу при /этой/ мысли) – or else he might receive death as he stooped there over his treasure (или же он может принять смерть, согнувшись над своим сокровищем; to stoop – нагибаться, склоняться).

He remained squatting on his heels. He was quite cool and collected; but his mind, considering every factor, showed him only his helplessness. He continued rubbing the dirt from the quartz fragments and throwing the gold into the pan. There was nothing else for him to do. Yet he knew that he would have to rise up, sooner or later, and face the danger that breathed at his back. The minutes passed, and with the passage of each minute he knew that by so much he was nearer the time when he must stand up, or else – and his wet shirt went cold against his flesh again at the thought – or else he might receive death as he stooped there over his treasure.

Still he squatted on his heels (он все еще сидел на корточках), rubbing dirt from gold and debating in just what manner he should rise up (стирая грязь с золота и обдумывая, каким же образом ему следует подняться; to debate – обсуждать, дискутировать; обдумывать, размышлять). He might rise up with a rush (он мог резко вскочить; rush – стремительное движение) and claw his way out of the hole to meet whatever threatened on the even footing above ground (и вырваться/прорваться из ямы, чтобы встретить какую бы то ни было угрозу на равных на поверхности: «над землей»; to claw – рвать; footing – опора для ноги; on an equal/even footing – на равных основаниях; even – ровный; равный; расположенный на одном уровне). Or he might rise up slowly and carelessly (либо он мог подняться медленно и беззаботно), and feign casually to discover the thing that breathed at his back (и притвориться, что случайно обнаружил нечто, которое дышит за его спиной). His instinct and every fighting fibre of his body favored the mad (его инстинкт и каждый бойцовский фибр его тела отдавал предпочтение неистовому), clawing rush to the surface (карабкающемуся рывку на поверхность; claw – коготь; to claw – хватать, рвать, тянуть, рыть когтями или пальцами). His intellect (его разум), and the craft thereof (и его /разума/ хитрость), favored the slow and cautious meeting with the thing that menaced (предпочитали медленную и осторожную встречу с угрожавшим объектом) and which he could not see (и который он не мог видеть). And while he debated (и пока он размышлял), a loud (громкий), crashing noise burst on his ear (грохочущий/хлопнувший шум донесся до его ушей; to burst – лопаться; разрываться; взрываться). At the same instant he received a stunning blow on the left side of the back (в тот же момент он получил страшный удар в левую сторону спины; stunning – оглушающий, ошеломляющий; to stun – оглушать ударом), and from the point of impact felt a rush of flame through his flesh (и от этой точки удара почувствовал поток огня /хлынувший/ через все тело; to rush – бросаться, мчаться, нестись, устремляться). He sprang up in the air (он подскочил: «подпрыгнул в воздух»), but halfway to his feet collapsed (но, не успев встать на ноги: «на полпути на ноги», рухнул; halfway – наполовину). His body crumpled in like a leaf withered in sudden heat (его тело съежилось, как листок, увядший от внезапного жара), and he came down (и он упал), his chest across his pan of gold (грудью на свой лоток с золотом), his face in the dirt and rock (лицом в землю и камни), his legs tangled and twisted because of the restricted space at the bottom of the hole (с запутавшимися и переплетенными ногами из-за ограниченного пространства на дне ямы; to restrict – ограничивать /в пределах чего-либо/). His legs twitched convulsively several times (его ноги судорожно дернулись несколько раз). His body was shaken as with a mighty ague (его тело встряхнуло, как в сильной лихорадке; mighty – мощный). There was a slow expansion of the lungs (медленное расширение легких), accompanied by a deep sigh (сопровождалось глубоким вздохом). Then the air was slowly (затем воздух медленно), very slowly (очень медленно), exhaled (вышел; to exhale – выдыхать), and his body as slowly flattened itself down into inertness (и его тело так же медленно распласталось /на земле/ в неподвижность = пока не стало недвижным/не затихло).

Still he squatted on his heels, rubbing dirt from gold and debating in just what manner he should rise up. He might rise up with a rush and claw his way out of the hole to meet whatever threatened on the even footing above ground. Or he might rise up slowly and carelessly, and feign casually to discover the thing that breathed at his back. His instinct and every fighting fibre of his body favored the mad, clawing rush to the surface. His intellect, and the craft thereof, favored the slow and cautious meeting with the thing that menaced and which he could not see. And while he debated, a loud, crashing noise burst on his ear. At the same instant he received a stunning blow on the left side of the back, and from the point of impact felt a rush of flame through his flesh. He sprang up in the air, but halfway to his feet collapsed. His body crumpled in like a leaf withered in sudden heat, and he came down, his chest across his pan of gold, his face in the dirt and rock, his legs tangled and twisted because of the restricted space at the bottom of the hole. His legs twitched convulsively several times. His body was shaken as with a mighty ague. There was a slow expansion of the lungs, accompanied by a deep sigh. Then the air was slowly, very slowly, exhaled, and his body as slowly flattened itself down into inertness.

Above (наверху), revolver in hand (с револьвером в руке), a man was peering down over the edge of the hole (человек пристально смотрел вниз через край ямы; to peer – вглядываться; заглянуть). He peered for a long time at the prone and motionless body beneath him (он смотрел долгое время на распростертое и недвижное тело; prone – лежащий ничком, распростертый). After a while the stranger sat down on the edge of the hole so that he could see into it (через некоторое время незнакомец/чужак присел на краю ямы так, что он мог заглянуть туда), and rested the revolver on his knee (и положил револьвер на колени; to rest – класть, прислонять). Reaching his hand into a pocket (сунув руке в карман), he drew out a wisp of brown paper (он вынул клочок коричневой бумаги). Into this he dropped a few crumbs of tobacco (в нее он насыпал немного табака; crumb – крошка, кусочек /чего-либо печеного, чаще всего хлеба/). The combination became a cigarette (комбинация стала сигаретой), brown and squat (коричневой, толстой и короткой; squat – короткий и толстый), with the ends turned in (с заправленными /внутрь/ концами; to turn in – поворачивать вовнутрь; свертываться, складываться вовнутрь). Not once did he take his eyes from the body at the bottom of the hole (ни разу не оторвал он взгляд от тела на дне ямы). He lighted the cigarette (он зажег сигарету) and drew its smoke into his lungs with a caressing intake of the breath (и втянул дым в легкие наслаждающимся вдохом; to caress – ласкать; to draw – тащить, волочить; тянуть; вбирать, вдыхать, втягивать). He smoked slowly (он курил медленно). Once the cigarette went out and he relighted it (один раз/как-то сигарета потухла, и он зажег ее снова; to go out – догореть, погаснуть). And all the while he studied the body beneath him (и все это время он рассматривал тело внизу).

Above, revolver in hand, a man was peering down over the edge of the hole. He peered for a long time at the prone and motionless body beneath him. After a while the stranger sat down on the edge of the hole so that he could see into it, and rested the revolver on his knee. Reaching his hand into a pocket, he drew out a wisp of brown paper. Into this he dropped a few crumbs of tobacco. The combination became a cigarette, brown and squat, with the ends turned in. Not once did he take his eyes from the body at the bottom of the hole. He lighted the cigarette and drew its smoke into his lungs with a caressing intake of the breath. He smoked slowly. Once the cigarette went out and he relighted it. And all the while he studied the body beneath him.

In the end he tossed the cigarette stub away and rose to his feet (наконец он отбросил окурок и поднялся на ноги; stub – пень; обломок; огрызок; остаток; окурок). He moved to the edge of the hole (он подошел к краю ямы; to move – двигаться). Spanning it (нависнув над ней; span – пядь = 9 дюймам – расстояние, примерно равное расстоянию от кончика большого пальца до кончика мизинца; to span – обхватывать, охватывать; перекрывать /об арке, крыше и т. п./; соединять берега /о мосте/), a hand resting on each edge (руками опираясь о каждый край; to rest on – опираться на), and with the revolver still in the right hand (и все еще с револьвером в правой руке), he muscled his body down into the hole (он спустил свое тело в яму; muscle – мускул, мышца; сила). While his feet were yet a yard from the bottom he released his hands and dropped down (в то время как его ноги были только в ярде от дна, он отпустил руки и спрыгнул вниз).

In the end he tossed the cigarette stub away and rose to his feet. He moved to the edge of the hole. Spanning it, a hand resting on each edge, and with the revolver still in the right hand, he muscled his body down into the hole. While his feet were yet a yard from the bottom he released his hands and dropped down.

At the instant his feet struck bottom he saw the pocket-miner’s arm leap out (в тот момент, когда его ноги коснулись дна, он увидел, как рванулась рука золотоискателя; to leap out – выскакивать), and his own legs knew a swift, jerking grip that overthrew him (и его ноги испытали стремительный, резкий захват, который опрокинул его; to know – знать; испытать, пережить; to overthrow – опрокидывать, низвергать). In the nature of the jump his revolver-hand was above his head (из-за прыжка его рука с револьвером была над его головой; in the nature of – из-за /чего-либо/). Swiftly as the grip had flashed about his legs (мгновенно, как захват охватил его ноги: «мелькнул вокруг его ног»), just as swiftly he brought the revolver down (столь же мгновенно направил он револьвер вниз). He was still in the air (он был все еще в воздухе), his fall in process of completion (его падение в процессе завершения), when he pulled the trigger (когда он спустил курок). The explosion was deafening in the confined space (выстрел был оглушительным в замкнутом пространстве; to deafen – оглушать; deaf – глухой). The smoke filled the hole so that he could see nothing (дым заполнил яму так, что он не мог ничего видеть). He struck the bottom on his back (он ударился о дно спиной: «ударился о дно на своей спине»; to strike), and like a cat’s the pocket-miner’s body was on top of him (и, подобно кошке, тело золотоискателя было на нем). Even as the miner’s body passed on top (в тот момент как тело золотоискателя оказалось сверху), the stranger crooked in his right arm to fire (незнакомец/чужак согнул правую руку, чтобы выстрелить; to crook – сгибать; crook – крюк); and even in that instant the miner (и как раз в этот момент золотоискатель), with a quick thrust of elbow (быстрым ударом: «выбросом» локтя), struck his wrist (ударил его по запястью; to strike). The muzzle was thrown up (дуло было подброшено вверх; to throw – бросать) and the bullet thudded into the dirt of the side of the hole (и пуля прошла в землю стенки ямы; to thud – ударяться с глухим стуком).

At the instant his feet struck bottom he saw the pocket-miner’s arm leap out, and his own legs knew a swift, jerking grip that overthrew him. In the nature of the jump his revolver-hand was above his head. Swiftly as the grip had flashed about his legs, just as swiftly he brought the revolver down. He was still in the air, his fall in process of completion, when he pulled the trigger. The explosion was deafening in the confined space. The smoke filled the hole so that he could see nothing. He struck the bottom on his back, and like a cat’s the pocket-miner’s body was on top of him. Even as the miner’s body passed on top, the stranger crooked in his right arm to fire; and even in that instant the miner, with a quick thrust of elbow, struck his wrist. The muzzle was thrown up and the bullet thudded into the dirt of the side of the hole.

The next instant the stranger felt the miner’s hand grip his wrist (в следующее мгновение незнакомец почувствовал, как рука золотоискателя обхватила его запястье). The struggle was now for the revolver (борьба была теперь за револьвер). Each man strove to turn it against the other’s body (каждый мужчина старался направить его на тело другого). The smoke in the hole was clearing (дым в яме рассеивался). The stranger, lying on his back (незнакомец, лежа на спине), was beginning to see dimly (начал смутно видеть; dim – тусклый, слабый). But suddenly he was blinded by a handful of dirt (но внезапно он был ослеплен горстью земли) deliberately flung into his eyes by his antagonist (умышленно брошенной ему в глаза противником; deliberate – намеренный, предумышленный). In that moment of shock his grip on the revolver was broken (в момент потрясения его хватка на револьвере ослабла: «была сломлена»). In the next moment he felt a smashing darkness descend upon his brain (в следующий момент он почувствовал, как сокрушительная темнота опустилась на его мозг; to smash – разбить, сокрушить), and in the midst of the darkness even the darkness ceased (и среди темноты даже темнота прекратилась).

The next instant the stranger felt the miner’s hand grip his wrist. The struggle was now for the revolver. Each man strove to turn it against the other’s body. The smoke in the hole was clearing. The stranger, lying on his back, was beginning to see dimly. But suddenly he was blinded by a handful of dirt deliberately flung into his eyes by his antagonist. In that moment of shock his grip on the revolver was broken. In the next moment he felt a smashing darkness descend upon his brain, and in the midst of the darkness even the darkness ceased.

But the pocket-miner fired again and again (но золотоискатель стрелял снова и снова; to fire – стрелять, палить), until the revolver was empty (пока револьвер не был пуст). Then he tossed it from him (затем он отбросил его от себя) and, breathing heavily (и, тяжело дыша), sat down on the dead man’s legs (сел на ноги мертвого человека).

The miner was sobbing and struggling for breath (золотоискатель всхлипывал и задыхался: «боролся за дыхание, с усилием дышал»; to sob – рыдать, всхлипывать; to struggle – бороться; делать усилия; стараться изо всех сил). “Measly skunk (жалкий подлец; measly – коревой; зараженный корью; разг. презренный; негодный; жалкий; measles – корь; skunk – вонючка, скунс /млекопитающее семейства куньих/; разг. подлец, негодяй)!” he panted (сказал он, тяжело дыша; to pant – часто и тяжело дышать); “a-campin’ on my trail an’ lettin’ me do the work (крался по моему следу и позволил мне сделать /всю/ работу; to camp – находиться поблизости, наблюдать), an’ then shootin’ me in the back (а потом выстрелил мне в спину)!”

He was half crying from anger and exhaustion (он почти плакал от злости и изнеможения; half – наполовину; почти). He peered at the face of the dead man (он вгляделся в лицо мертвеца). It was sprinkled with loose dirt and gravel (оно было засыпано неплотной землей = усыпано кусочками земли и гравием), and it was difficult to distinguish the features (и было сложно различить черты /лица/).

But the pocket-miner fired again and again, until the revolver was empty. Then he tossed it from him and, breathing heavily, sat down on the dead man’s legs.

The miner was sobbing and struggling for breath. “Measly skunk!” he panted; “a-campin’ on my trail an’ lettin’ me do the work, an’ then shootin’ me in the back!”

He was half crying from anger and exhaustion. He peered at the face of the dead man. It was sprinkled with loose dirt and gravel, and it was difficult to distinguish the features.

“Never laid eyes on him before (никогда не видел его раньше; to lay eyes on – увидеть),” the miner concluded his scrutiny (подытожил золотоискатель свой осмотр; scrutiny – внимательный осмотр, наблюдение). “Just a common an’ ordinary thief, damn him (простой и обычный вор, черт его побери: «прокляни его»)! An’ he shot me in the back! He shot me in the back (он выстрелил мне в спину)!”

He opened his shirt and felt himself (он распахнул рубашку и ощупал себя; to feel), front and back, on his left side (спереди и сзади свой левый бок).

“Went clean through, and no harm done (прошла прямо насквозь, и никакого вреда)!” he cried jubilantly (крикнул он ликующе). “I’ll bet he aimed all right all right (держу пари, целился он правильно; to bet – держать пари, биться об заклад); but he drew the gun over when he pulled the trigger (но он дернул оружие вверх, когда нажимал на курок) – the cuss (мерзавец)! But I fixed ’m! Oh, I fixed ’m (я его сделал; to fix – устанавливать; прикреплять; приводить в порядок; расправиться)!”