), with the fear of death upon them (с боязнью смерти «на них»), and each singing louder than the other, to avoid remark (и каждый пел громче, чем другой, чтобы избежать замечания). For in these fits (так как в этих припадках) he was the most overriding companion ever known (он был наиболее важным = грозным собеседником, чем когда-либо /известный/;
overriding — важнейший, доминирующий); he would slap his hand on the table for silence all round (ударял рукой по столу для тишины вокруг); he would fly up in a passion of anger at a question (приходил в ярость при вопросе = когда его спрашивали;
to fly up — взлететь, спорхнуть), or sometimes because none was put (или иногда потому, что никакой /вопрос/ не был задан), and so he judged the company was not following his story (поэтому он решал, /что/ компания не следовала его истории = невнимательно слушала). Nor would he allow anyone to leave the inn (также не позволял он кому-либо уйти из трактира;
to leave — покидать, оставлять) till he had drunk himself sleepy and reeled off to bed (пока не напивался до дремотного состояния и ковылял к кровати;
sleepy — сонный, вялый; to reel off — сматывать, разматывать /трос/).
terrified [`terIfaId] wicked [`wIkId] bear [beq] neighbour [`neIbq] overriding [quvq`raIdIN]
1. But though I was so terrified by the idea of the seafaring man with one leg, I was far less afraid of the captain himself than anybody else who knew him. There were nights when he took a deal more rum and water than his head would carry; and then he would sometimes sit and sing his wicked, old, wild sea-songs, minding nobody; but sometimes he would call for glasses round, and force all the trembling company to listen to his stories or bear a chorus to his singing. Often I have heard the house shaking with 'Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum; all the neighbours joining in for dear life, with the fear of death upon them, and each singing louder than the other, to avoid remark. For in these fits he was the most overriding companion ever known; he would slap his hand on the table for silence all round; he would fly up in a passion of anger at a question, or sometimes because none was put, and so he judged the company was not following his story. Nor would he allow anyone to leave the inn till he had drunk himself sleepy and reeled off to bed.
1. His stories were what frightened people worst of all (его истории были /тем/, что пугало людей больше всего). Dreadful stories they were (ужасными историями они были); about hanging (о повешении), and walking the plank (и хождении по доске /в открытое море/ —