“Pray my brother,” said the King, “to kill me. I am dying by inches here.”
“The duke does not desire your death, sire – yet,” sneered Detchard; “when he does behold your path to heaven!”
The King answered:
“So be it! And now, if your orders allow it, pray leave me.”
“May you dream of paradise!” said the ruffian.
The light disappeared. I heard the bolts of the door run home. And then I heard the sobs of the King. He was alone, as he thought. Who dares mock at him?
I did not venture to speak to him (я побоялся: «не решился» заговорить с ним). The risk of some exclamation escaping him in surprise was too great (риск, что у него от удивления вырвется какой-нибудь возглас, был слишком велик). I dared do nothing that night (я не посмел ничего /больше/ предпринять той ночью); and my task now was to get myself away in safety (моей задачей теперь было самому убраться /оттуда/ невредимым;
“Hullo, Max!” I heard shouted (эй, Макс! – я услышал, как крикнул /чей-то голос/).
I hailed Sapt in a low tone (я тихонько окликнул Сэпта). The rope came down (спустилась веревка). I tied it round the corpse, and then went up it myself (я обвязал ее вокруг трупа, потом поднялся по ней сам).
“Whistle you too,” I whispered, “for our men, and haul in the line (вы тоже свистите, – прошептал я, – нашим людям и тащите веревку). No talk now (все разговоры потом: «никаких разговоров сейчас»).”
I did not venture to speak to him. The risk of some exclamation escaping him in surprise was too great. I dared do nothing that night; and my task now was to get myself away in safety, and to carry off the carcass of the dead man. To leave him there would tell too much. Casting loose the boat, I got in. The wind was blowing a gale now, and there was little danger of oars being heard. I rowed swiftly round to where my friends waited. I had just reached the spot, when a loud whistle sounded over the moat behind me.
“Hullo, Max!” I heard shouted.
I hailed Sapt in a low tone. The rope came down. I tied it round the corpse, and then went up it myself.
“Whistle you too,” I whispered, “for our men, and haul in the line. No talk now.”
They hauled up the body (они /стали/ поднимать тело;
“The devil, but it’s dark!” cried a ringing voice (дьявол, но как /же/ темно! – воскликнул звонкий голос).
It was young Rupert (это был юный Руперт). A moment later, shots rang out (мгновеньем позже раздались выстрелы;
“Thrust, thrust!” cried Rupert again (коли, коли! – закричал снова Руперт), and a loud groan following told that he himself was not behind-hand (и последовавший за этим громкий стон доказал, что сам он не /стоит/ сложа руки: «с руками позади»).
“I’m done, Rupert!” cried a voice (мне конец, Руперт! – крикнул голос). “They’re three to one (их втрое больше: «их три к одному»). Save yourself (спасайся)!”