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Robinson Crusoe Written Anew for Children by Daniel Defoe. Adapted by James Baldwin., CHAPTER 34. I MAKE A SURPRISING DISCOVERY

CHAPTER 34. I MAKE A SURPRISING DISCOVERY

ONCE every week I went into the woods to see the flock of goats that I had hidden there.

I always carried my gun, but since my last great fright I did not dare to fire it off. I was afraid even to drive a nail or chop a stick of wood, lest some savages might be near enough to hear the sound.

I was afraid to build a fire at my castle, lest the smoke should be seen.

At last I carried some of my pots and kettles to my hidden field in the woods. I could do my cooking there much more safely than at my castle.

Hardly had I put things in order there when I found something that made me very glad. What do you suppose it was?

It was a cave—a real cave. The door into it was through a little hollow place at the bottom of a great rock. It was so well hidden that no one could have found it even by looking for it.

Shall I tell you how I came upon it?

I was afraid to make a smoke near my house, and yet I could not live without cooking meat. I tried all kinds of dry wood, and yet there was always some smoke. Then I thought I would try charcoal. But I must first make the charcoal.

I found a place in the darkest part of the woods where the smoke would hardly rise to the tops of the trees. There I built my charcoal pit.

This was done in the following way:—

First, I cleared off a round space about ten feet in diameter. Here I dug out the earth till I made a pit about a foot deep. Then I cut a cord or more of wood and piled it up in this space. I piled it up until it was almost as high as my shoulders. I covered it a foot deep with earth and turf, leaving a small open place at the bottom.

When this was done, I set fire to the wood through the hole in the bottom. It burned slowly. The wood became charcoal.

One day, while cutting wood for my charcoal pit, I happened to see a hollow place in the rock close by a tree I was chopping.

It was half covered with brush. I pushed this aside and looked in. I saw a little cave just large enough for me to creep into on my hands and knees.

But, a little farther in, it was larger. It was so high that I could stand upright, and it was so wide that two men could have walked in it side by side.

It was a very dark place, and I stood still a moment till my eyes should become a little used to it.

All at once I saw something in the darkness that made me scramble out of that place much faster than I had come into it.

What do you think it was? Two big shining eyes that glowed like coals in the darkness. Whether they were the eyes of a man or of some fierce beast, I did not stop to see.

I stood a little while by the mouth of the cave and then I began to get over my fright.

What could there be in this cave that would do me harm? No man could live there in the darkness. As for any animal, I knew there was nothing fiercer on the island than one of my cats.

So, with a blazing stick for a torch, I crept back into the cave. But I had not gone three steps before I was frightened almost as much as before.

I heard a loud sigh, like that of a man in trouble. Then there were low moans, and sounds as of some one trying to speak.

I stopped short. Cold chills ran down my back. My hair seemed to stand on end. But I would not allow myself to run out again.

I pushed my little torch forward into the darkness, as far as I could. The blaze lit up the cave. And what do you suppose I saw then?

Why, nothing but a shaggy old goat that I had missed from my flock for nearly a week past.

He was stretched on the floor of the cave, and too weak to rise up. He was a very old fellow, and perhaps had gone in there to die.

I gave him some food and water, and made him as comfortable as I could. But he was too far gone to live long.

I found that, although I could stand up in the cave, it was very small. It was only a hole in the rocks, and was neither round nor square.

But at the end of this little chamber there seemed to be a passage that led farther in. This passage was very narrow and dark, and as my torch had burned out, I did not try to follow it.

I went back to my wood chopping.

CHAPTER 34. I MAKE A SURPRISING DISCOVERY KAPITEL 34. ICH MACHE EINE ÜBERRASCHENDE ENTDECKUNG CAPÍTULO 34. HAGO UN DESCUBRIMIENTO SORPRENDENTE 第34章.私は驚くべき発見をする CAPÍTULO 34. FAÇO UMA DESCOBERTA SURPREENDENTE ГЛАВА 34. Я ДЕЛАЮ УДИВИТЕЛЬНОЕ ОТКРЫТИЕ РОЗДІЛ 34. Я РОБЛЮ ДИВОВИЖНЕ ВІДКРИТТЯ 第34章:我有了一个惊人的发现

ONCE every week I went into the woods to see the flock of goats that I had hidden there. Uma vez por semana, ia ao bosque ver o rebanho de cabras que lá tinha escondido. ОДИН раз на тиждень я ходив до лісу, щоб побачити стадо кіз, яких я там сховав.

I always carried my gun, but since my last great fright I did not dare to fire it off. Andava sempre com a minha arma, mas desde o meu último grande susto que não me atrevia a dispará-la. Я завжди носив із собою пістолет, але після останнього великого переляку не наважувався стріляти. I was afraid even to drive a nail or chop a stick of wood, lest some savages might be near enough to hear the sound. Tinha medo até de pregar um prego ou cortar um pau de madeira, para que alguns selvagens não estivessem suficientemente perto para ouvir o som. Я боялся даже забить гвоздь или расколоть деревянную палку, чтобы какие-нибудь дикари не могли оказаться достаточно близко, чтобы услышать звук. Я боявся навіть забити цвях або порубати палицю, щоб дикуни не опинилися досить близько і не почули цей звук.

I was afraid to build a fire at my castle, lest the smoke should be seen. Tinha medo de fazer uma fogueira no meu castelo, para que o fumo não fosse visto.

At last I carried some of my pots and kettles to my hidden field in the woods. Por fim, carreguei algumas das minhas panelas e chaleiras para o meu campo escondido na floresta. I could do my cooking there much more safely than at my castle. Podia cozinhar lá com muito mais segurança do que no meu castelo. Я міг готувати там набагато безпечніше, ніж у своєму замку.

Hardly had I put things in order there when I found something that made me very glad. Mal tinha posto as coisas em ordem, encontrei algo que me deixou muito contente. Не встиг я навести там лад, як знайшов те, що мене дуже потішило. What do you suppose it was? O que é que achas que foi?

It was a cave—a real cave. Era uma gruta - uma verdadeira gruta. Це була печера, справжня печера. The door into it was through a little hollow place at the bottom of a great rock. A porta de entrada era através de uma pequena cavidade no fundo de uma grande rocha. It was so well hidden that no one could have found it even by looking for it. Estava tão bem escondido que ninguém o poderia ter encontrado, mesmo que o procurasse.

Shall I tell you how I came upon it? Soll ich Ihnen sagen, wie ich darauf gekommen bin? Queres que te diga como é que o descobri? Сказать вам, как я к этому пришел? Розповісти, як я на нього натрапив?

I was afraid to make a smoke near my house, and yet I could not live without cooking meat. Tinha medo de fazer fumo perto da minha casa e, no entanto, não conseguia viver sem cozinhar carne. Я боявся курити біля свого будинку, але не міг жити без приготування м'яса. I tried all kinds of dry wood, and yet there was always some smoke. Experimentei todos os tipos de madeira seca e, no entanto, havia sempre algum fumo. Then I thought I would try charcoal. Depois pensei em experimentar o carvão vegetal. Тоді я вирішив спробувати деревне вугілля. But I must first make the charcoal. Mas primeiro tenho de fazer o carvão.

I found a place in the darkest part of the woods where the smoke would hardly rise to the tops of the trees. Encontrei um lugar na parte mais escura do bosque onde o fumo mal chegava ao cimo das árvores. There I built my charcoal pit. Aí construí o meu forno de carvão.

This was done in the following way:— A operação foi efectuada da seguinte forma

First, I cleared off a round space about ten feet in diameter. Primeiro, limpei um espaço redondo com cerca de três metros de diâmetro. Here I dug out the earth till I made a pit about a foot deep. Aqui escavei a terra até fazer um buraco com cerca de 30 cm de profundidade. Then I cut a cord or more of wood and piled it up in this space. Depois cortei uma corda ou mais de madeira e empilhei-a neste espaço. Потім я відрізав шнур або більше дерева і склав його в цьому просторі. I piled it up until it was almost as high as my shoulders. Empilhei-as até ficarem quase à altura dos meus ombros. Я нагромаджував його, поки він не став майже до моїх плечей. I covered it a foot deep with earth and turf, leaving a small open place at the bottom. Cobri-o com um pé de terra e relva, deixando um pequeno espaço aberto no fundo.

When this was done, I set fire to the wood through the hole in the bottom. Quando isto estava feito, deitei fogo à madeira através do buraco no fundo. It burned slowly. Ardia lentamente. The wood became charcoal. A madeira transformou-se em carvão.

One day, while cutting wood for my charcoal pit, I happened to see a hollow place in the rock close by a tree I was chopping. Um dia, enquanto cortava lenha para o meu carvão, vi por acaso um buraco na rocha perto de uma árvore que estava a cortar. Одного разу, коли я рубав дрова для моєї ями для деревного вугілля, я випадково побачив порожнисте місце в скелі поруч з деревом, яке я рубав.

It was half covered with brush. Estava meio coberto de mato. Він був наполовину покритий пензлем. I pushed this aside and looked in. Afastei-o e olhei para dentro. Я відсунула її вбік і зазирнула всередину. I saw a little cave just large enough for me to creep into on my hands and knees. Vi uma pequena gruta suficientemente grande para me poder esgueirar com as mãos e os joelhos.

But, a little farther in, it was larger. Mas, um pouco mais à frente, era maior. It was so high that I could stand upright, and it was so wide that two men could have walked in it side by side. Era tão alto que eu podia ficar de pé, e tão largo que dois homens poderiam ter entrado nele lado a lado.

It was a very dark place, and I stood still a moment till my eyes should become a little used to it. Era um sítio muito escuro e fiquei parado um momento até os meus olhos se habituarem um pouco.

All at once I saw something in the darkness that made me scramble out of that place much faster than I had come into it. De repente, vi algo na escuridão que me fez sair daquele lugar muito mais depressa do que tinha entrado nele.

What do you think it was? Two big shining eyes that glowed like coals in the darkness. Dois grandes olhos brilhantes que brilhavam como brasas na escuridão. Два великих блискучих ока, які світилися в темряві, як вугілля. Whether they were the eyes of a man or of some fierce beast, I did not stop to see. Se eram os olhos de um homem ou de um animal feroz, não parei para ver. Я не останавливался, чтобы посмотреть, были ли это глаза человека или какого-то свирепого зверя. Чи то були очі людини, чи якогось лютого звіра, я не зупинився, щоб подивитися.

I stood a little while by the mouth of the cave and then I began to get over my fright. Fiquei um pouco junto à boca da gruta e depois comecei a recuperar do meu medo. Я трохи постояв біля гирла печери, а потім почав приходити до тями від страху.

What could there be in this cave that would do me harm? O que é que pode haver nesta caverna que me possa fazer mal? Що може бути в цій печері, що може мені зашкодити? No man could live there in the darkness. As for any animal, I knew there was nothing fiercer on the island than one of my cats. Quanto a qualquer animal, eu sabia que não havia nada mais feroz na ilha do que um dos meus gatos.

So, with a blazing stick for a torch, I crept back into the cave. Então, com um pau a arder como tocha, voltei a entrar na gruta. Тож, з палаючою палицею замість факела, я поповз назад до печери. But I had not gone three steps before I was frightened almost as much as before. Mas ainda não tinha dado três passos e já estava quase tão assustado como antes. Але я не пройшов і трьох кроків, як злякався майже так само сильно, як і раніше.

I heard a loud sigh, like that of a man in trouble. Ouvi um suspiro alto, como o de um homem em apuros. Я почув гучне зітхання, як у людини, що потрапила в біду. Then there were low moans, and sounds as of some one trying to speak. Depois ouviram-se gemidos baixos e sons como se alguém estivesse a tentar falar. Потім почулися тихі стогони і звуки, ніби хтось намагався говорити.

I stopped short. Parei de repente. Я зупинився. Cold chills ran down my back. Arrepios frios percorreram-me as costas. Холодний озноб пробіг по спині. My hair seemed to stand on end. Os meus cabelos pareciam estar em pé. But I would not allow myself to run out again. Mas não me permitiria voltar a ficar sem nada.

I pushed my little torch forward into the darkness, as far as I could. Empurrei a minha pequena lanterna para a escuridão, o mais longe que pude. The blaze lit up the cave. O fogo iluminou a caverna. Пламя осветило пещеру. Полум'я освітило печеру. And what do you suppose I saw then? E o que é que acham que eu vi nessa altura?

Why, nothing but a shaggy old goat that I had missed from my flock for nearly a week past. Ora, nada mais do que uma cabra velha e desgrenhada que eu tinha perdido do meu rebanho há quase uma semana. Нічого, окрім кудлатої старої кози, якої мені не вистачало в моїй отарі вже майже тиждень.

He was stretched on the floor of the cave, and too weak to rise up. Estava estendido no chão da gruta e demasiado fraco para se levantar. Він лежав розтягнутий на підлозі печери і був надто слабкий, щоб піднятися. He was a very old fellow, and perhaps had gone in there to die. Era um homem muito velho, e talvez tivesse entrado ali para morrer.

I gave him some food and water, and made him as comfortable as I could. Dei-lhe comida e água e deixei-o o mais confortável possível. But he was too far gone to live long. Mas ele estava demasiado longe para viver muito tempo. Але він був надто далеко, щоб жити довго.

I found that, although I could stand up in the cave, it was very small. Descobri que, embora pudesse ficar de pé na gruta, esta era muito pequena. Я виявив, що, хоча я міг стояти в печері, вона була дуже маленькою. It was only a hole in the rocks, and was neither round nor square. Era apenas um buraco nas rochas e não era nem redondo nem quadrado. Це був лише отвір у скелях, і він не був ні круглим, ні квадратним.

But at the end of this little chamber there seemed to be a passage that led farther in. Mas no fim desta pequena câmara parecia haver uma passagem que levava mais para dentro. Але в кінці цієї маленької кімнати, здавалося, був прохід, який вів далі. This passage was very narrow and dark, and as my torch had burned out, I did not try to follow it. Esta passagem era muito estreita e escura e, como a minha lanterna se tinha queimado, não tentei segui-la. Цей прохід був дуже вузьким і темним, і оскільки мій ліхтар догорів, я не намагався йти ним.

I went back to my wood chopping. Voltei ao meu trabalho de cortar lenha. Я повернувся до рубання дров.