Upon hearing her words, the second bird turned to the bird catcher.

      “You are my guest,” he said. “What can I do for you?”

      “I am cold,” the bird catcher answered.

      The bird left his nest, and soon came back with a piece of charcoal. He made a fire, and put some dry brushwood into it. The bird catcher got warm.

      “I am hungry,” he said. “Give me something to eat.”

      The bird answered:

      “We, forest creatures, eat what we can get. But you will not die of hunger. I will now enter the fire, and you can eat me. I only have one thing to ask of you: Let my wife go. If you don’t, our children will die of hunger.”

      upon hearing her words услышав её слова; turn to повернуться к; leave (left, left) покидать; nest гнездо; charcoal древесный уголь; dry сухой; brushwood хворост; forest creatures лесные твари; die of hunger умереть с голоду; enter the fire войти в огонь; Let my wife go. Отпусти мою жену.

      The man felt something like conscience stir up inside his chest.

      “No,” he said. “I will not accept this sacrifice. I will not eat you.”

      He opened the cage, and let the bird out.

      “Live long, and be happy,” he said.

      The moment he spoke these words, the thunderstorm stopped, as if by magic, and the man could finally go safely home.

      feel (felt, felt) чувствовать; something like нечто похожее на; conscience совесть; stir up шевелиться; chest грудь, грудная клетка; accept принять; sacrifice жертва; let out выпустить; thunderstorm гроза; as if by magic словно по волшебству; finally наконец; safely безопасно; sweetheart возлюбленный, возлюбленная

      What is the name of the bird that was ready to sacrifice itself for its sweetheart? Solve this rebus to find out.

      25. Sick Leave

      A member of a military band came to the surgeon.

      “I have a terrible throat ache,” he complained.

      “Let me see your throat,” said the doctor. “Oh, that’s not so bad. You’ll be all right in a day or two. I think you’d better rest a little for a week or so.” And with these words the surgeon gave the man sick leave.

      sick leave отпуск по болезни; member участник ◊ member of a military band музыкант военного оркестра; surgeon хирург, врач; terrible ужасный; throat горло; ache боль; complain жаловаться; you’d better rest a little вам лучше немного отдохнуть

      A week later, the surgeon met the bandsman in the street.

      “How’s your throat?” he asked.

      “Oh, I feel much better now,” was the reply.

      “I’m glad to hear that,” said the surgeon. “You can go back to your duty now. By the way, what instrument do you play in the band?”

      The bandsman told him.

      meet (met, met) встречать; bandsman оркестрант; You can go back to your duty now. Вы теперь можете вернуться к своим обязанностям; by the way кстати, к слову, между прочим

      What instrument did he play in the band?

      26. The Traveller and the Witch

      One cold winter day, a man was walking through a thick forest.  Soon, night fell, and it became very dark. Suddenly, the traveller saw a hut. He knocked, and an old woman answered the door.

      “Let me spend the night at your house, Granny,” said the man. “I’m chilled to the bone. I will pay you as much as you say.”

      traveller здесь: путник; witch ведьма; thick forest дремучий лес; hut хижина; knock стучать; answer the door открыть деверь (в ответ на стук); let me spend the night позволь мне провести ночь; I’m chilled to the bone. Я продрог до костей.

      “Come in,” said the old woman. “As for your money, you can keep it. Humans may need money, but I don’t.”

      “You wouldn’t 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 won’t 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); may need money, but I don’t могут нуждаться в деньгах, но я в них не нуждаюсь; You wouldn’t be a witch, would you? А ты, случаем, не ведьма?; ugly уродливый; The very same. 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

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