Дети капитана Гранта / The Children of Captain Grant

Жюль Габриэль Верн

Легко читаем по-английски

Команда яхты «Дункан», принадлежащей лорду Гленарвану, находит бутылку, содержащую полуразмытую записку о потерпевшем бедствие корабле «Британия» и о трех членах его команды, сумевших пережить кораблекрушение. На пострадавшей от воды бумаге можно разобрать только часть координат. Но ведь мировой океан огромен – где же искать выживших? Предназначается для продолжающих изучать английский язык средней ступени (уровень 3 – Intermediate).

Жюль Верн / Jules Verne

Дети капитана Гранта / The Children of Captain Grant

© Матвеев С.А., адаптация текста, коммент., упражнения и словарь, 2019

© ООО «Издательство АСТ», 2019

Chapter I. The Shark

On the 26th of July, 1864, a magnificent yacht was steaming along the North Channel at full speed. The name of the yacht was the Duncan[1 - Duncan – «Дункан» (название яхты)], and the owner was Lord Glenarvan[2 - Glenarvan – Гленарван], the most distinguished member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, famous throughout the United Kingdom. Lord Edward Glenarvan was on board with his young wife, Lady Helena[3 - Helena – Элена], and one of his cousins, Major McNabbs[4 - McNabbs – МакНабс].

The Duncan was newly built, and had been making a trial trip. It was returning to Glasgow[5 - Glasgow – Глазго], when the sailor on watch caught sight of an enormous fish sporting in the wake of the ship. Lord Edward, who was immediately apprised of the fact, came up a few minutes after with his cousin, and asked John Mangles[6 - John Mangles – Джон Манглс], the captain, what sort of an animal he thought it was.

“Well, since your Lordship asks my opinion,” said Mangles, “I think it is a shark, and a large one.”

“A shark at these shores!”

“There is nothing at all improbable in that,” returned the captain. “This fish belongs to a species that is found in all latitudes and in all seas. It is the hammer-headed shark[7 - hammer-headed shark – рыба-молот], if I am not much mistaken. But if your Lordship has no objections, we’ll soon haul up the monster and find out what it really is.”

“What do you say, McNabbs? Shall we try to catch it?” asked Lord Glenarvan.

“If you like,” was his cousin’s cool reply.

“The more of those terrible creatures that are killed the better, at all events[8 - at all events – в любом случае],” said John Mangles.

“Very well, set to work, then[9 - set to work, then – тогда приступайте],” said Glenarvan.

Lady Helena soon joined her husband on deck. The sea was splendid, and every movement of the shark was distinctly visible. In obedience to the captain’s orders, the sailors threw a strong rope over the starboard side of the yacht, with a big hook at the end of it. The bait took at once, though the shark was full fifty yards distant. This was evidently a monster.

The passengers and sailors on the yacht were watching all the animal’s movements with the liveliest interest. It soon came within reach of the bait, turned over on its back. In a few minutes more the shark was thrown on the deck. A man came forward immediately, and approaching it cautiously, with one powerful stroke cut off its tail.

The sailors knew the contents of its stomach might be worth investigation. The fish was still breathing; it measured ten feet[10 - 1 фут = около 30 сантиметров] in length, and weighed more than six hundred pounds[11 - 1 фунт = около 409 граммов].

The huge brute was soon ripped up in a very unceremonious fashion[12 - in a very unceremonious fashion – без всяких церемоний]. The hook had fixed right in the stomach, which was found to be absolutely empty, and the disappointed sailors were just going to throw the remains overboard, when the boatswain’s attention was attracted by some large object.

“What’s this?” he exclaimed.

“It’s just a rock that the shark has got in his inside and couldn’t digest,” said another of the crew.

“Hold your tongues, all of you!” said Tom Austin[13 - Tom Austin – Том Остин], the mate[14 - the mate – помощник капитана] of the Duncan. “Don’t you see the animal is a drunka