Дети капитана Гранта / The Children of Captain Grant

Жанр: Классика приключенческой литературы / Зарубежная классика / Книги о путешествиях

Автор

Страниц

Год

2019

Величественная яхта "Дункан", основанная и возглавляемая благородным лордом Гленарваном, совершает удивительное открытие во время своего путешествия. На обрывке бумаги, найденном внутри старинной бутылки, написаны некоторые координаты, свидетельствующие о страшном бедствии, случившемся с кораблем "Британия", и упоминании о трех отважных членах экипажа, которые успешно пережили крушение. Океаны нашей планеты так огромны, что найти этих выживших становится настоящей загадкой. Тем, кто изучает английский язык на уровне Intermediate (средний уровень 3), предназначается данное уникальное повествование. Дополнительная информация от автора: Лорд Гленарван, известный своей страстью к мореплаванию и исследованиям, собрал вокруг себя лучших специалистов искусства навигации, чтобы отправиться на поиски и спасти несчастных мореходов. Что они найдут? Какие секреты еще скрывает далекий мировой океан? Все это узнаете, продолжая свое путешествие в изучении английского языка на уровне 3 - Intermediate.

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Адаптация текста, упражнения, словарь и комментарии С.А. Матвеева

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], and the owner was Lord Glenarvan[2], 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], and one of his cousins, Major McNabbs[4].

The Duncan was newly built, and had been making a trial trip. It was returning to Glasgow[5], 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], 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], 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],” said John Mangles.

“Very well, set to work, then[9],” 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] in length, and weighed more than six hundred pounds[11].

The huge brute was soon ripped up in a very unceremonious fashion[12]. 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], the mate[14] of the Duncan. “Don’t you see the animal is a drunkard and has not only drunk the wine, but swallowed the bottle?”

“What!” said Lord Glenarvan. “Do you mean to say it is a bottle that the shark has got in his stomach?”

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