Still ran Dingo — Yellow-Dog Dingo — hungrier and hungrier, grinning like a horse-collar, never getting nearer, never getting farther; and they came to the Wollgong River.

Now, there wasn’t any bridge, and there wasn’t any ferry-boat, and Kangaroo didn’t know how to get over; so he stood on his legs and hopped.

He had to!

 

He hopped through the Flinders (он прыгнул через реку Флиндерс[74]; flinders — куски; обломки, щепки); he hopped through the Cinders (он прыгал через шлаки лавы); he hopped through the deserts in the middle of Australia (он прыгал через пустыни посредине Австралии). He hopped like a Kangaroo (он прыгал, как Кенгуру).

First he hopped one yard (сначала он прыгал на один ярд = метр; yard — мера длины, равная 3 футам или 91,4 см); then he hopped three yards (потом он прыгал на три метра); then he hopped five yards (потом он прыгал на пять метров); his legs growing stronger (его ноги /при этом/ становились сильнее); his legs growing longer (его ноги становились длиннее). He hadn’t any time for rest or refreshment (у него не было времени отдохнуть и подкрепиться), and he wanted them very much (а он в этом: «в них — в отдыхе и подкреплении» очень нуждался; to want — хотеть; нуждаться).

 

desert ['dezqt], Australia [Os'treIljq], yard [jRd]

 

He hopped through the Flinders; he hopped through the Cinders; he hopped through the deserts in the middle of Australia. He hopped like a Kangaroo.

First he hopped one yard; then he hopped three yards; then he hopped five yards; his legs growing stronger; his legs growing longer. He hadn’t any time for rest or refreshment, and he wanted them very much.

 

Still ran Dingo (по-прежнему бежала Динго) — Yellow-Dog Dingo (Желтая-Собака Динго) — very much bewildered (очень смущенная), very much hungry (очень голодная), and wondering what in the world or out of it made Old Man Kangaroo hop (и спрашивала себя, что же на белом свете или за пределами его[75] заставило прыгать Старину Кенгуру; what in the world — что же! — восклицание, выражающее возмущение или удивление).

For he hopped like a cricket (ибо он прыгал, как мячик для крикета = теннисный мячик [76]); like a pea in a saucepan (как горошина в кастрюле); or a new rubber ball on a nursery floor (или новый резиновый мячик на полу в детской).

He had to (ему пришлось)!

He tucked up his front legs (он подобрал свои передние ноги); he hopped on his hind legs (он запрыгал на /своих/ задних ногах); he stuck out his tail for a balance-weight behind him (он вытянул свой хвост в качестве противовеса сзади); and he hopped through the Darling Downs (и запрыгал по холмам Дарлинга).

He had to (ему пришлось)!

 

bewildered [bI'wIldqd], saucepan ['sLspqn], nursery ['nWs(q)rI]

 

Still ran Dingo — Yellow-Dog Dingo — very much bewildered, very much hungry, and wondering what in the world or out of it made Old Man Kangaroo hop.

For he hopped like a cricket; like a pea in a saucepan; or a new rubber ball on a nursery floor.

He had to!

He tucked up his front legs; he hopped on his hind legs; he stuck out his tail for a balance-weight behind him; and he hopped through the Darling Downs.

He had to!

 

Still ran Dingo (по-прежнему бежала Динго) — Tired-Dog Dingo (Уставшая-Собака Динго) — hungrier and hungrier (все более голодная и голодная), very much bewildered (очень смущенная/сбитая с толку), and wondering when in the world or out of it would Old Man Kangaroo stop (и спрашивала себя, когда /же/ на белом свете или вне его[77] остановится Старина Кенгуру).

Then came Nqong from his bath in the salt-pans (тогда из своей ванны в соляных озерах вышел Нквонг), and said, ‘It’s five o’clock (и сказал: пять часов).’

Down sat Dingo (села Динго) — Poor Dog Dingo (Бедная Собака Динго) — always hungry (вечно голодная), dusty in the sunshine (пыльная на солнечном свету); hung out his tongue and howled (свесила /свой/ язык и завыла).

 

tired ['taIqd], tongue [tAN], howl [haul]

 

Still ran Dingo — Tired-Dog Dingo — hungrier and hungrier, very much bewildered, and wondering when in the world or out of it would Old Man Kangaroo stop.

Then came Nqong from his bath in the salt-pans, and said, ‘It’s five o’clock.’