Артур Дойл - Английский с А. Конан Дойлем. Пиратские истории / A. Conan Doyle. Tales of Pirates

All that night and the next day the Happy Delivery ran before the easterly trades, and Stephen Craddock lay in the dark of the sail-room working patiently at his wrist-irons. One he had slipped off at the cost of a row of broken and bleeding knuckles, but, do what he would, he could not free the other, and his ankles were securely fastened.

From hour to hour he heard the swish of the water(час за часом прислушивался он к плеску воды; swish – свист /хлыста и т. п./; взмах /косы и т. п./ со свистом; всплеск ) , and knew that the barque must be driving with all set(и знал, что барк идет на всех парусах) , in front of the trade wind(подгоняемый пассатным ветром) . In that case they must be nearly back again to Jamaica by now(в таком случае они должны быть уже снова недалеко от Ямайки) . What plan could Sharkey have in his head(какой план может держать Шарки у себя в голове) , and what use did he hope to make of him(и как надеется использовать его самого: «какую пользу надеется извлечь из него»; to make – делать, изготавливать; получать ) ? Craddock set his teeth, and vowed(Крэддок стиснул зубы и поклялся) that if he had once been a villain from choice(что если однажды он стал злодеем добровольно: «по выбору») he would, at least, never be one by compulsion(то, во всяком случае, никогда не станет им по принуждению).

From hour to hour he heard the swish of the water, and knew that the barque must be driving with all set, in front of the trade wind. In that case they must be nearly back again to Jamaica by now. What plan could Sharkey have in his head, and what use did he hope to make of him? Craddock set his teeth, and vowed that if he had once been a villain from choice he would, at least, never be one by compulsion.

On the second morning Craddock became aware(на второе = на следующее утро Крэддок понял; to become aware – понимать, осознавать; aware – знающий, осведомленный, сведущий, сознающий ) that sail had been reduced in the vessel(что паруса на судне убавили; to reduce – сокращать, уменьшать ) , and that she was tacking slowly(и оно медленно ложится на другой галс) , with a light breeze on her beam(а с траверза дует легкий бриз; beam – балка, брус; траверз /направление, перпендикулярное курсу судна/ ) . The varying slope of the sail-room and the sounds from the deck(изменяющийся крен, /ощутимый/ в парусной каюте и звуки, /доносящиеся/ с палубы) told his practised senses exactly what she was doing(в точности рассказывали ему: «его опытному рассудку», какие действия выполняет судно; sense – чувство, ощущение; рассудок, сознание ) . The short reaches showed him that she was manoeuvring near shore(короткие галсы свидетельствовали о том, что оно маневрирует недалеко от берега; reach – протягивание /руки/; галс /мор./ ) , and making for some definite point(направляясь к какому-то определенному месту; to make for – направляться к ) . If so, she must have reached Jamaica(если так, то оно, должно быть, достигло Ямайки) . But what could she be doing there(но что оно может там делать = зачем оно там)?

On the second morning Craddock became aware that sail had been reduced in the vessel, and that she was tacking slowly, with a light breeze on her beam. The varying slope of the sail-room and the sounds from the deck told his practised senses exactly what she was doing. The short reaches showed him that she was manoeuvring near shore, and making for some definite point. If so, she must have reached Jamaica. But what could she be doing there?

And then suddenly there was a burst of hearty cheering from the deck(и тут вдруг с палубы донесся взрыв приветственных возгласов; hearty – сердечный; дружеский; cheering – одобрительное, приветственное восклицание ) , and then the crash of a gun above his head(а за ними – грохот пушки у него над головой) , and then the answering booming of guns from far over the water(и тут же над водой – ответный рокот орудий /откуда-то/ издалека) . Craddock sat up and strained his ears(Крэддок сел прямо и обратился в слух: «и напряг слух»; ear – ухо; способность слышать, слух ) . Was the ship in action(/неужели/ корабль вел бой; action – действие, поступок; боевые действия ) ? Only the one gun had been fired(стреляло только одно орудие) , and though many had answered there were none of the crashing(и хотя многие ему отвечали, не было /слышно/ никакого треска) which told of a shot coming home(что свидетельствовало бы о попадании выстрела в цель; to come home – попадать в цель ).

And then suddenly there was a burst of hearty cheering from the deck, and then the crash of a gun above his head, and then the answering booming of guns from far over the water. Craddock sat up and strained his ears. Was the ship in action? Only the one gun had been fired, and though many had answered there were none of the crashings which told of a shot coming home.

Then, if it was not an action, it must be a salute(значит, если это не бой, то, должно быть, салют) . But who would salute Sharkey, the pirate(но кто будет салютовать Шарки, пирату) ? It could only be another pirate ship which would do so(это мог бы сделать только другой пиратский корабль) . So Craddock lay back again with a groan(и Крэддок со стоном снова лег /на пол/; to lie back – откинуться /на спинку, подушку и т. п./ ) , and continued to work at the manacle(и продолжил возиться с кандалами) which still held his right wrist(которые все еще сковывали его правое запястье; to hold – держать; удерживать ).