Come in, said the old woman. As for your money, you can keep it. Humans may need money, but I dont.
You wouldnt be a witch, would you? asked the traveller, studying her ugly face.
The very same. They call me the Bony Leg. But you need not to be afraid of me. I wont do you any harm.
As for your money, you can keep it. Что до ваших денег, то можете оставить их себе; humans люди (в отличие от других существ); mayneedmoney, butIdont могут нуждаться в деньгах, но я в них не нуждаюсь; Youwouldntbeawitch, wouldyou? А ты, случаем, не ведьма?; ugly уродливый; Theverysame. Она самая; bony костлявый; костяной; do harm причинять вред
You can warm your chilly bones by the fire, and even stay for the night, but I have one condition, continued the witch.
Name it.
You must solve one of my riddles.
Deal! Ask your riddle.
How can a man go eight days without sleep?
Oh, thats very simple. I think I could do that, said the man, and went on to explain.
condition условие; Name it. Назови его; Deal! Договорились!; explain объяснять
What did he say? How can a man go eight days without sleep? Solve this rebus to find out.
28. Captured by Cannibals
This is a story about a hunter who was unfortunate enough to be captured by cannibals. The cannibals brought him to their village, and tied him to a pole. After a while, they started to make a fire. One of the cannibals approached the prisoner, and asked him his name.
capture захватить; взять в плен; hunter охотник; unfortunate незадачливый who was unfortunate enough to be captured by cannibals которому не повезло оказаться в плену у каннибалов; village деревня; tie to привязывать к; pole шест; after a while через некоторое время; approach приближаться к; prisoner пленник
What do you need my name for? asked the prisoner, hopefully. Maybe they are not going to eat me, after all? Otherwise, they wouldnt ask me my name, he thought.
His heart sank when he heard the answer.
Maybe they are not going to eat me, after all? Может быть, они всё же не станут меня есть?; otherwise иначе, в противном случае; sink (sank, sunk) опускаться; погружаться hisheartsank у него душа ушла в пятки
What did the cannibals want his name for?
29. A Strange Illness
Last night, I went to the theater, said Mr. Smith to a fellow employee. Your wife was also there. She coughed so loud that other people in the audience couldnt help staring at her. She must be very ill.
Not at all.
illness болезнь; fellow employee сослуживец; cough кашлять; other people in the audience couldnt help staring at her другие зрители не могли не смотреть на неё; not at all вовсе нет
If the woman wasnt ill, why was she coughing? What was the matter with her? This rebus may help you find the right answer.
30. The Clever Prince
Once upon a time, there lived a king who had a daughter, a beautiful princess. So beautiful she was that princes from all over the world would come to ask for her hand in marriage. The girl, however, did not like the idea of getting married, so much so that she would not allow any of the suitors to come near her. She would always say that only the one she touched would become her husband.
once upon a time, there lived жил-был некогда (зачинсказок); from all over the world со всего мира; would come ask for her hand in marriage приезжали просить её руки (модальныйwouldуказываетздесьнато, чтодействиепроисходиломногократно); however однако; so much so настолько (ей не нравилась эта идея, что); allow позволять; suitor поклонник; she would always say она постоянно твердила; touch прикасаться only the one she touched только тот, до которого она дотронется