Английский язык с Э. Р. Берроузом. Принцесса Марса / Edgar Rice Burroughs: A Princess of Mars

Our earlier plans had been so sadly upset that we now found ourselves without food or drink, and I alone was armed. We therefore urged our beasts to a speed that must tell on them sorely before we could hope to sight the ending of the first stage of our journey.

We rode all night and all the following day with only a few short rests. On the second night both we and our animals were completely fagged, and so we lay down upon the moss and slept for some five or six hours, taking up the journey once more before daylight. All the following day we rode, and when, late in the afternoon, we had sighted no distant trees, the mark of the great waterways throughout all Barsoom, the terrible truth flashed upon us — we were lost.

Evidently we had circled (очевидно, мы кружили), but which way it was difficult to say (но в каком направлении — было трудно сказать; way — сторона, направление), nor did it seem possible with the sun to guide us by day and the moons and stars by night (кроме того, было невозможно, чтобы солнце служило нам ориентиром днем, а луны и звезды — ночью). At any rate no waterway was in sight (во всяком случае, никакого водного пути не было видно), and the entire party was almost ready to drop from hunger, thirst and fatigue (и весь наш отряд был почти готов свалиться от голода, жажды и усталости). Far ahead of us and a trifle to the right (далеко впереди нас и немного направо) we could distinguish the outlines of low mountains (мы могли различить очертания невысоких гор). These we decided to attempt to reach (к ним мы решили попытаться добраться) in the hope that from some ridge we might discern the missing waterway (в надежде, что с какого-то гребня мы сможем разглядеть не найденный нами канал; to miss — промахнуться; пропустить, пройти мимо). Night fell upon us before we reached our goal (ночь опустилась на нас прежде, чем мы добрались до цели), and, almost fainting from weariness and weakness (и, почти теряя сознание от усталости и слабости), we lay down and slept (мы легли и уснули).

fatigue [fq'ti: g], distinguish [dIs'tINgwIS], weariness ['wIqrInIs]

Evidently we had circled, but which way it was difficult to say, nor did it seem possible with the sun to guide us by day and the moons and stars by night. At any rate no waterway was in sight, and the entire party was almost ready to drop from hunger, thirst and fatigue. Far ahead of us and a trifle to the right we could distinguish the outlines of low mountains. These we decided to attempt to reach in the hope that from some ridge we might discern the missing waterway. Night fell upon us before we reached our goal, and, almost fainting from weariness and weakness, we lay down and slept.