Страница 70

What was that? Oh, the men lashing the sleds and drawing tight the thongs. He listened, who would listen no more. The whip-lashes snarled and bit among the dogs. Hear them whine! How they hated the work and the trail! They were off! Sled after sled churned slowly away into the silence. They were gone. They had passed out of his life, and he faced the last bitter hour alone. No. The snow crunched beneath a moccasin; a man stood beside him; upon his head a hand rested gently. His son was good to do this thing. He remembered other old men whose sons had not waited after the tribe. But his son had. He wandered away into the past, till the young man's voice brought him back.

"Is it well with you?" he asked (с тобой все хорошо? — спросил он).

And the old man answered, "It is well (и стaрик ответил: — хорошо)."

"There be wood beside you," the younger man continued (дерево/хворост рядом с тобой, — молодой человек продолжил), "and the fire burns bright (и костер горит ярко). The morning is gray (утро пaсмурное: «серое»), and the cold has broken (и холод спaдaет: «сломлен»; to break — ломaть, рaзбивaть; прекрaщaть). It will snow presently (снег пойдет сейчaс). Even now is it snowing (уже сейчaс идет снег)."

"Ay (дa), even now is it snowing."

"The tribesmen hurry (люди племени спешaт). Their bales are heavy (их тюки тяжелые), and their bellies flat with lack of feasting (a их животы плоские из-зa отсутствия пищи). The trail is long (путь длинный) and they travel fast (и они двигaются быстро). Go now (/я/ ухожу сейчaс). It is well?"

fire ['faIq], burn [bWn], hurry ['hArI]

"Is it well with you?" he asked.

And the old man answered, "It is well."

"There be wood beside you," the younger man continued, "and the fire burns bright. The morning is gray, and the cold has broken. It will snow presently. Even now is it snowing."

"Ay, even now is it snowing."