Chapter Sixteen The Exodus From London 1 страница

(Исход из Лондона; exodus — исход евреев из Египта /библ./; массовый отъезд)

So you understand the roaring wave of fear (итак, вы представляете ту бушующую волну страха; to roar — реветь, орать; шуметь) that swept through the greatest city in the world (что пронеслась по величайшему городу мира; to sweep — мести, подметать; мчаться, проноситься) just as Monday was dawning (с первыми лучами солнца в понедельник /утром/; to dawn — рассветать) — the stream of flight rising swiftly to a torrent (тот ручей беженцев: «бегства», быстро превращающийся: «вырастающий» в стремительный поток), lashing in a foaming tumult round the railway stations (бурно пенящийся водоворотами вокруг железнодорожных вокзалов; to lash — хлестать; нестись, мчаться; tumult — суматоха), banked up into a horrible struggle about the shipping in the Thames (запрудивший в отчаянном усилии пристани на Темзе; to bank — делать насыпь; запруживать; horrible — страшный, ужасный; struggle — борьба; напряжение, усилие; shipping — суда, флот), and hurrying by every available channel northward and eastward (и спешащий всеми доступными путями на север и восток; channel — канал; путь). By ten o’clock the police organization (к десяти часам органы полиции), and by midday even the railway organizations (а к полудню и железнодорожники), were losing coherency, losing shape and efficiency (/уже/ теряли /между собой/ связь, теряли контроль и эффективность; shape — форма; порядок), guttering, softening, running at last (размягчаясь, оплывая, как свеча, и, в конце концов, вливаясь; to gutter — делать желобки, канавки; оплывать /о свече/; to run — бежать; литься, течь) in that swift liquefaction of the social body (в это стремительное разжижение социального организма).

roar [rO: ], world [wq: ld], coherency [kqu'hI(q)rqnsI]

So you understand the roaring wave of fear that swept through the greatest city in the world just as Monday was dawning — the stream of flight rising swiftly to a torrent, lashing in a foaming tumult round the railway stations, banked up into a horrible struggle about the shipping in the Thames, and hurrying by every available channel northward and eastward. By ten o’clock the police organization, and by midday even the railway organizations, were losing coherency, losing shape and efficiency, guttering, softening, running at last in that swift liquefaction of the social body.

All the railway lines north of the Thames (все железнодорожные линии к северу от Темзы) and the South-Eastern people at Cannon Street (и жители юго-восточной /части/ на вокзале Кэннон-Стрит; Cannon Street — железнодорожный вокзал и станция метро в Сити) had been warned by midnight on Sunday (были предупреждены /еще/ в полночь в воскресенье), and trains were being filled (и поезда переполнялись). People were fighting savagely for standing-room in the carriages even at two o’clock (люди отчаянно сражались за стоячие места в вагонах /еще/ даже в два часа). By three, people were being trampled and crushed even in Bishopsgate Street (к трем люди топтали и давили /друг друга/ уже и на Бишопсгейт-Стрит), a couple of hundred yards or more from Liverpool Street station (в паре сотен ярдов от вокзала Ливерпуль-Стрит); revolvers were fired, people stabbed (стреляли из револьверов, резались ножами; to stab — колоть, ранить ножом), and the policemen who had been sent to direct the traffic exhausted and infuriated (а полисмены, посланные регулировать движение, измученные и разъяренные; to direct — направлять, управлять), were breaking the heads of the people they were called out to protect (разбивали головы людям, которых были призваны защищать).

railway ['reIlweI], Liverpool ['lIvqpu: l], infuriate [In'fjuqrIeIt]

All the railway lines north of the Thames and the South-Eastern people at Cannon Street had been warned by midnight on Sunday, and trains were being filled. People were fighting savagely for standing-room in the carriages even at two o’clock. By three, people were being trampled and crushed even in Bishopsgate Street, a couple of hundred yards or more from Liverpool Street station; revolvers were fired, people stabbed, and the policemen who had been sent to direct the traffic, exhausted and infuriated, were breaking the heads of the people they were called out to protect.

And as the day advanced and the engine drivers and stokers refused to return to London (в продолжение дня машинисты и кочегары отказывались возвращаться в Лондон), the pressure of the flight drove the people in an ever-thickening multitude away from the stations (под давлением паники люди постоянно растущими толпами бросились от вокзалов; flight — бегство; to thicken — утолщать; уплотняться, расти) and along the northward-running roads (к ведущим на север /шоссейным/ дорогам). By midday a Martian had been seen at Barnes (в полдень марсианина видели в Барнсе), and a cloud of slowly sinking black vapour (и облако медленно оседающего черного газа) drove along the Thames and across the flats of Lambeth (проплыло вдоль Темзы и через равнины Ламбета), cutting off all escape over the bridges in its sluggish advance (своим ленивым движением отрезая дорогу через мосты; escape — бегство; выход). Another bank drove over Ealing (другое облако двигалось через Илинг), and surrounded a little island of survivors on Castle Hill (окружив небольшую кучку: «островок» уцелевших на Касл-Хилле), alive, but unable to escape (живых, но не способных выбраться: «бежать» /оттуда/).

stoker ['stqukq], pressure ['preSq], island ['aIlqnd]

And as the day advanced and the engine drivers and stokers refused to return to London, the pressure of the flight drove the people in an ever-thickening multitude away from the stations and along the northward-running roads. By midday a Martian had been seen at Barnes, and a cloud of slowly sinking black vapour drove along the Thames and across the flats of Lambeth, cutting off all escape over the bridges in its sluggish advance. Another bank drove over Ealing, and surrounded a little island of survivors on Castle Hill, alive, but unable to escape.

After a fruitless struggle to get aboard a North-Western train at Chalk Farm (после тщетной борьбы за место в северо-западном поезде в Чок-Фарме; fruitless — бесплодный; тщетный, безрезультатный; to get aboard — сесть /на пароход, поезд/) — the engines of the trains that had loaded in the goods yard there ploughed through shrieking people (локомотивы поездов, загруженных еще на товарном дворе, “прокладывали борозды” среди орущих людей; engine — машина, двигатель; мотор; локомотив, паровоз), and a dozen stalwart men fought (и дюжина крепких парней боролась /с толпой/; stalwart — здоровый, крепкий, сильный /о человеке, животном/) to keep the crowd from crushing the driver against his furnace (удерживая ее от /попыток/ раздавить машиниста о его топку) — my brother emerged upon the Chalk Farm Road (мой брат вышел на Чок-Фарм-Роуд; to emerge — показаться, появиться; выйти, выбраться), dodged across through a hurrying swarm of vehicles (/пересек ее/ петляя среди мчавшегося потока экипажей; swarm — рой, туча), and had the luck to be foremost in the sack of a cycle shop (и имел счастье оказаться среди первых при разграблении велосипедного магазина; foremost — передний, передовой; первый). The front tire of the machine he got (передняя шина велосипеда, который он захватил) was punctured in dragging it through the window (прокололась, /когда он/ вытаскивал его через окно), but he got up and off, notwithstanding (но, тем не менее, он сел и уехал; to get up — вставать, подниматься; влезать, садиться /на лошадь/), with no further injury than a cut wrist (без «дополнительных» повреждений, не считая порезанного запястья; further — более отдаленный, дальний; добавочный, дополнительный). The steep foot of Haverstock Hill was impassable (проехать по крутому /склону/ подножия Хаверсток-Хилла было невозможно; impassable — непроходимый, непреодолимый) owing to several overturned horses (из-за нескольких перевернутых экипажей; horse — лошадь; кό злы), and my brother struck into Belsize Road (и брат повернул на Белсайз-Роуд; to strike — ударять/ся/; направляться).

fruitless ['fru: tlIs], stalwart ['stO: lwqt], injury ['IndZqrI]

After a fruitless struggle to get aboard a North-Western train at Chalk Farm — the engines of the trains that had loaded in the goods yard there ploughed through shrieking people, and a dozen stalwart men fought to keep the crowd from crushing the driver against his furnace — my brother emerged upon the Chalk Farm Road, dodged across through a hurrying swarm of vehicles, and had the luck to be foremost in the sack of a cycle shop. The front tire of the machine he got was punctured in dragging it through the window, but he got up and off, notwithstanding, with no further injury than a cut wrist. The steep foot of Haverstock Hill was impassable owing to several overturned horses, and my brother struck into Belsize Road.

So he got out of the fury of the panic (так он выбрался из эпицентра паники; fury — ярость, бешенство), and, skirting the Edgware Road, reached Edgware about seven (и, оставив в стороне Эджуэр-Роуд, достиг Эджуэра около семи; to skirt — окружать, окаймлять; обходить стороной), fasting and wearied, but well ahead of the crowd (голодный и усталый, намного обогнав толпу; to fast — поститься; голодать; to be ahead — опережать, быть впереди). Along the road people were standing in the roadway, curious, wondering (вдоль дороги стояли люди, любопытные и удивленные). He was passed by a number of cyclists (мимо него проехало несколько велосипедистов), some horsemen, and two motor cars (несколько всадников и два автомобиля). A mile from Edgware the rim of the wheel broke (за милю до Эджуэра треснул обод колеса), and the machine became unridable (и велосипед стал непригоден для езды; ridable — годный для езды). He left it by the roadside and trudged through the village (он оставил его у обочины и устало пошел через деревню; to trudge — идти с трудом, тащиться). There were shops half opened in the main street of the place (на главной улице деревни были открыты несколько магазинов; to half open — приоткрывать), and people crowded on the pavement and in the doorways and windows (жители толпились на тротуаре, /стояли/ в дверях и у окон), staring astonished at this extraordinary procession of fugitives (с изумлением наблюдая за столь странным шествием беженцев; extraordinary — выдающийся; необычный, странный) that was beginning (которое /только/ начиналось). He succeeded in getting some food at an inn (ему удалось немного поесть: «получить немного еды» в гостинице).

fury ['fjuqrI], trudge [trAdZ], pavement ['peIvmqnt]

So he got out of the fury of the panic, and, skirting the Edgware Road, reached Edgware about seven, fasting and wearied, but well ahead of the crowd. Along the road people were standing in the roadway, curious, wondering. He was passed by a number of cyclists, some horsemen, and two motor cars. A mile from Edgware the rim of the wheel broke, and the machine became unridable. He left it by the roadside and trudged through the village. There were shops half opened in the main street of the place, and people crowded on the pavement and in the doorways and windows, staring astonished at this extraordinary procession of fugitives that was beginning. He succeeded in getting some food at an inn.

For a time he remained in Edgware (некоторое время он оставался Эджуэре) not knowing what next to do (не зная, что делать дальше). The flying people increased in number (количество бегущих /из Лондона/ людей значительно возросло; in number — в большом количестве). Many of them, like my brother (многие из них, как и мой брат), seemed inclined to loiter in the place (казалось, были расположены задержаться в деревеньке). There was no fresh news of the invaders from Mars (о пришельцах с Марса свежих вестей не было).

At that time the road was crowded (к этому времени дорога была полна людей), but as yet far from congested (но, однако же, еще не переполнена = пока еще по ней можно было пройти). Most of the fugitives at that hour were mounted on cycles (большинство беженцев в тот момент было на велосипедах; to mount — взбираться, восходить; садиться /на лошадь, на велосипед, в экипаж/), but there were soon motor cars, hansom cabs, and carriages hurrying along (но вскоре по ней /уже/ мчались автомобили, кебы и экипажи), and the dust hung in heavy clouds along the road to St. Albans (и пыль тяжелыми облаками висела вдоль дороги до самого Сент-Олбанса).

incline [In'klaIn], loiter ['lOItq], hansom ['hxnsqm]

For a time he remained in Edgware not knowing what next to do. The flying people increased in number. Many of them, like my brother, seemed inclined to loiter in the place. There was no fresh news of the invaders from Mars.

At that time the road was crowded, but as yet far from congested. Most of the fugitives at that hour were mounted on cycles, but there were soon motor cars, hansom cabs, and carriages hurrying along, and the dust hung in heavy clouds along the road to St. Albans.

It was perhaps a vague idea of making his way to Chelmsford (возможно, /у него/ была какая-то смутная мысль направиться в Челмсфорд), where some friends of his lived (где жили его друзья), that at last induced my brother to strike into a quiet lane running eastward (которая побудила брата свернуть на тихую улочку, ведущую на восток). Presently he came upon a stile, and, crossing it (чуть позже он подошел к ограждению и, перебравшись через него; stile — ступеньки для перехода через забор; to cross — пересекать, переходить), followed a footpath northeastward (пошел по тропинке на северо-восток). He passed near several farmhouses and some little places (он миновал несколько ферм и маленьких деревушек) whose names he did not learn (названия которых он не узнал = не стал узнавать/не смог узнать). He saw few fugitives until, in a grass lane towards High Barnet (он почти не встречал беженцев, пока на поросшей травой тропе /ведущей/ к Хай-Барнету; few — мало, немного), he happened upon two ladies (ему не случилось встретить двух дам; to happen upon — случайно натолкнуться, встретиться) who became his fellow travellers (которые стали его спутницами: «товарищами по путешествию»). He came upon them just in time to save them (он наткнулся на них как раз вовремя, чтобы их спасти = оказать им помощь).

induce [In'dju: s], footpath ['futpQ: T], traveller ['trxv(q)lq]

It was perhaps a vague idea of making his way to Chelmsford, where some friends of his lived, that at last induced my brother to strike into a quiet lane running eastward. Presently he came upon a stile, and, crossing it, followed a footpath northeastward. He passed near several farmhouses and some little places whose names he did not learn. He saw few fugitives until, in a grass lane towards High Barnet, he happened upon two ladies who became his fellow travellers. He came upon them just in time to save them.

He heard their screams, and, hurrying round the corner (он услышал их крики и, поспешив за угол), saw a couple of men struggling to drag them out of the little pony-chaise (увидел, как двое мужчин пытаются вытащить их из небольшой коляски) in which they had been driving (в которой они ехали), while a third with difficulty held the frightened pony’s head (тогда как третий с трудом удерживал за голову перепуганного пони). One of the ladies, a short woman dressed in white (одна из дам, низенькая женщина, одетая в белое), was simply screaming (просто кричала); the other, a dark, slender figure (другая, темноволосая и со стройной фигурой), slashed at the man who gripped her arm (била мужчину, схватившего ее за руку; to slash — разрезать, глубоко ранить; бить, хлестать) with a whip she held in her disengaged hand (хлыстом, который она держала в свободной руке; to disengage — освобождать).

My brother immediately grasped the situation (брат сразу же оценил: «понял» ситуацию), shouted, and hurried towards the struggle (закричал и поспешил на помощь: «по направлению к потасовке»; struggle — борьба). One of the men desisted and turned towards him (один из мужчин оставил /свое занятие/ и обернулся к нему; to desist — переставать, воздерживаться), and my brother, realizing from his antagonist’s face that a fight was unavoidable (а брат, поняв по лицу своего соперника, что драка неизбежна; to avoid — избегать, сторониться), and being an expert boxer, went into him forthwith (и будучи прекрасным боксером, тотчас двинулся к нему; expert /прил./ — опытный, искусный) and sent him down against the wheel of the chaise (и послал его в нокдаун /прямо/ о колесо коляски).

corner ['kO: nq], frighten [fraItn], antagonist [xn'txgqnIst]

He heard their screams, and, hurrying round the corner, saw a couple of men struggling to drag them out of the little pony-chaise in which they had been driving, while a third with difficulty held the frightened pony’s head. One of the ladies, a short woman dressed in white, was simply screaming; the other, a dark, slender figure, slashed at the man who gripped her arm with a whip she held in her disengaged hand.

My brother immediately grasped the situation, shouted, and hurried towards the struggle. One of the men desisted and turned towards him, and my brother, realizing from his antagonist’s face that a fight was unavoidable, and being an expert boxer, went into him forthwith and sent him down against the wheel of the chaise.

It was no time for pugilistic chivalry (тут было не до боксерской чести; pugilistic — кулачный; боксерский; chivalry — рыцарство, благородство) and my brother laid him quiet with a kick (и брат, успокоив его пинком; to lay — класть; укладывать; quiet — тихий, спокойный), and gripped the collar of the man (схватил за шиворот того мужчину) who pulled at the slender lady’s arm (который тянул стройную даму за руку). He heard the clatter of hoofs (он услышал стук копыт), the whip stung across his face (/удар/ хлыста обжег ему лицо; to sting — жалить; жечь /о крапиве/), a third antagonist struck him between the eyes (третий противник ударил его между глаз), and the man he held wrenched himself free (а тот, которого он держал, вырвался; free — свободный) and made off down the lane (и бросился бежать по тропе; to make off — удирать) in the direction from which he had come (в ту сторону, откуда прибежал мой брат; direction — направление).

Partly stunned, he found himself facing the man (отчасти оглушенный, брат обнаружил, что стоит лицом к человеку) who had held the horse’s head (который держал голову лошади), and became aware of the chaise receding from him down the lane (и понял, что коляска удалялась от него по тропе; to become aware of — ощущать, чувствовать; понимать, осознавать), swaying from side to side (качаясь из стороны в сторону), and with the women in it looking back (а женщины в ней оглядываются: «смотрят» назад). The man before him, a burly rough, tried to close (мужчина перед ним, дородный детина, попытался приблизиться; rough — неровность /местности/; хулиган, грубиян; to close — подходить близко), and he stopped him with a blow in the face (и брат остановил его ударом в лицо). Then, realizing that he was deserted (затем, поняв, что его оставили /одного/), he dodged round and made off down the lane after the chaise (он увернулся и побежал назад по тропе за коляской), with the sturdy man close behind him (здоровяк /бежал/ за ним по пятам; sturdy — сильный, здоровый), and the fugitive, who had turned now, following remotely (а тот, который сбежал: «беглец», теперь повернул обратно, следуя /за ними/ в отдалении; remote — отдаленный).

pugilistic [" pju: dZI'lIstIk], chivalry ['SIv(q)lrI], whip [wIp]

It was no time for pugilistic chivalry and my brother laid him quiet with a kick, and gripped the collar of the man who pulled at the slender lady’s arm. He heard the clatter of hoofs, the whip stung across his face, a third antagonist struck him between the eyes, and the man he held wrenched himself free and made off down the lane in the direction from which he had come.

Partly stunned, he found himself facing the man who had held the horse’s head, and became aware of the chaise receding from him down the lane, swaying from side to side, and with the women in it looking back. The man before him, a burly rough, tried to close, and he stopped him with a blow in the face. Then, realizing that he was deserted, he dodged round and made off down the lane after the chaise, with the sturdy man close behind him, and the fugitive, who had turned now, following remotely.

Suddenly he stumbled and fell (вдруг брат споткнулся и упал); his immediate pursuer went headlong (его преследователь /тоже/ полетел головой вперед; immediate — непосредственный, прямой), and he rose to his feet to find himself with a couple of antagonists again (и когда брат поднялся на ноги, обнаружил, что снова /оказался/ с двумя противниками). He would have had little chance against them (у него было бы мало шансов против них) had not the slender lady very pluckily pulled up and returned to his help (если бы стройная дама решительно не остановила коляску и не вернулась к нему на помощь; pluckily — смело, отважно; решительно; to pull up — останавливаться; сдерживать лошадь). It seems she had had a revolver all this time (оказалось, у нее все это время был револьвер), but it had been under the seat (но он находился под сиденьем) when she and her companion were attacked (когда на нее с подругой напали). She fired at six yards’ distance (она выстрелила с расстояния в шесть ярдов), narrowly missing my brother (едва не попав в моего брата; to miss — промахнуться). The less courageous of the robbers made off (менее храбрый из грабителей бросился бежать), and his companion followed him, cursing his cowardice (а его товарищ последовал за ним, проклиная его трусость; coward — трус). They both stopped in sight down the lane (оба они остановились неподалеку на тропе: «в поле зрения»), where the third man lay insensible (где третий /их товарищ/ лежал без чувств).

pursuer [pq'sju: q], couple [kApl], cowardice ['kauqdIs]

Suddenly he stumbled and fell; his immediate pursuer went headlong, and he rose to his feet to find himself with a couple of antagonists again. He would have had little chance against them had not the slender lady very pluckily pulled up and returned to his help. It seems she had had a revolver all this time, but it had been under the seat when she and her companion were attacked. She fired at six yards’ distance, narrowly missing my brother. The less courageous of the robbers made off, and his companion followed him, cursing his cowardice. They both stopped in sight down the lane, where the third man lay insensible.

“Take this! ” said the slender lady (возьмите это! — сказала стройная дама), and she gave my brother her revolver (и отдала моему брату свой револьвер).

“Go back to the chaise, ” said my brother (возвращайтесь назад к коляске, — сказал брат), wiping the blood from his split lip (вытирая кровь с разбитой губы; to split — раскалывать/ся/, расщеплять/ся/; разбивать/ся/, трескаться).

She turned without a word — they were both panting (она повернулась, /не сказав/ ни слова — оба они тяжело дышали) — and they went back to where the lady in white struggled to hold back the frightened pony (и они вернулись назад, где дама в белом с трудом сдерживала испуганного пони).

The robbers had evidently had enough of it (очевидно, грабители получили достаточно = побоялись нападать снова). When my brother looked again they were retreating (когда брат снова оглянулся, они удалялись).

“I’ll sit here, ” said my brother, “if I may (я сяду здесь, если можно)”; and he got upon the empty front seat (и он занял свободное: «пустое» переднее сиденье). The lady looked over her shoulder (дама оглянулась через плечо).

“Give me the reins, ” she said (дайте мне вожжи, — сказала она), and laid the whip along the pony’s side (и хлестнула: «положила хлыст» пони по спине). In another moment a bend in the road hid the three men from my brother’s eyes (в следующий миг поворот дороги скрыл тех троих от глаз моего брата; bend — изгиб, дуга; поворот).

So, quite unexpectedly, my brother found himself (так, совершенно неожиданно мой брат оказался), panting, with a cut mouth, a bruised jaw, and bloodstained knuckles (запыхавшийся, с разбитым ртом = губой, с ушибленной челюстью и окровавленными костяшками пальцев), driving along an unknown lane with these two women (едущим по незнакомой дороге с этими двумя женщинами).

revolver [rI'vOlvq], robber ['rObq], knuckle [nAkl]

“Take this! ” said the slender lady, and she gave my brother her revolver.

“Go back to the chaise, ” said my brother, wiping the blood from his split lip.

She turned without a word — they were both panting — and they went back to where the lady in white struggled to hold back the frightened pony.

The robbers had evidently had enough of it. When my brother looked again they were retreating.

“I’ll sit here, ” said my brother, “if I may”; and he got upon the empty front seat. The lady looked over her shoulder.

“Give me the reins, ” she said, and laid the whip along the pony’s side. In another moment a bend in the road hid the three men from my brother’s eyes.

So, quite unexpectedly, my brother found himself, panting, with a cut mouth, a bruised jaw, and bloodstained knuckles, driving along an unknown lane with these two women.

He learned they were the wife and the younger sister of a surgeon living at Stanmore (он узнал, что это были жена и младшая сестра хирурга, живущего в Стэнморе), who had come in the small hours from a dangerous case at Pinner (который рано утром ехал из Пиннера от тяжелобольного; small hours — предрассветные часы; dangerous case — опасный случай, зд. тяжелобольной), and heard at some railway station on his way of the Martian advance (и услыхал на какой-то железнодорожной станции по пути о приближении марсиан). He had hurried home, roused the women (он поспешил домой, разбудил женщин) — their servant had left them two days before (их прислуга покинула их двумя днями ранее) — packed some provisions, put his revolver under the seat — luckily for my brother (уложил кое-какую провизию, положил под сиденье револьвер, к счастью для моего брата) — and told them to drive on to Edgware (и велел им ехать в Эджуэр), with the idea of getting a train there (с той мыслью, чтобы сесть там на поезд). He stopped behind to tell the neighbours (он остался, чтобы предупредить соседей). He would overtake them, he said (он догонит их, как он сказал), at about half past four in the morning (около половины пятого утра), and now it was nearly nine and they had seen nothing of him (а теперь было почти девять, а они его еще не встретили). They could not stop in Edgware because of the growing traffic through the place (из-за растущего движения = потока беженцев в Эджуэре они остановиться не могли), and so they had come into this side lane (и потому свернули на проселочную дорогу; side — боковой; побочный, неглавный).

surgeon ['sq: dZ(q)n], servant ['sq: v(q)nt], overtake [" quvq'teIk]

He learned they were the wife and the younger sister of a surgeon living at Stanmore, who had come in the small hours from a dangerous case at Pinner, and heard at some railway station on his way of the Martian advance. He had hurried home, roused the women — their servant had left them two days before — packed some provisions, put his revolver under the seat — luckily for my brother — and told them to drive on to Edgware, with the idea of getting a train there. He stopped behind to tell the neighbours. He would overtake them, he said, at about half past four in the morning, and now it was nearly nine and they had seen nothing of him. They could not stop in Edgware because of the growing traffic through the place, and so they had come into this side lane.

That was the story they told my brother in fragments (такую вот историю они по частям рассказали моему брату) when presently they stopped again, nearer to New Barnet (когда через некоторое время: «вскоре» снова остановились неподалеку от Нью-Барнета). He promised to stay with them (он обещал оставаться с ними), at least until they could determine what to do (по крайней мере до тех пор, пока они не решат, что делать /дальше/; to determine — определять, устанавливать; принимать решение), or until the missing man arrived (или пока не прибудет = пока не встретят пропавшего доктора), and professed to be an expert shot with the revolver (и утверждал, что он отличный стрелок из револьвера; to profess — открыто признавать, заявлять; делать вид, притворяться) — a weapon strange to him (хотя оружие было незнакомо ему = он не держал оружия в руках) — in order to give them confidence (чтобы придать им уверенности).