海底二萬里

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

   第一部 第六章

   CHAPTER 6

   開足馬力

   At Full Steam

   一聽到這喊聲,全體船員,從艦長、軍官、水手長一直到水手、練習生,甚至工程師也丟下機器,火夫也離開鍋爐,大家都向魚叉手這邊跑來。停船的命令發出了,船隻憑本身餘下的動力走着。

   AT THIS SHOUT the entire crew rushed toward the harpooner-- commander, officers, mates, sailors, cabin boys, down to engineers leaving their machinery and stokers neglecting their furnaces. The order was given to stop, and the frigate merely coasted.

   那時天色非常黑暗,不管這位加拿大人的眼力怎麼好,我也要想想他怎能看見和他能夠看見什麼。我的心跳得非常厲害,簡直要炸了。

   By then the darkness was profound, and as good as the Canadian's eyes were, I still wondered how he could see--and what he had seen. My heart was pounding fit to burst.

   可是尼德-蘭並沒有弄錯,我們大家都看到了他的手所指的那個東西。

   But Ned Land was not mistaken, and we all spotted the object his hand was indicating.

   離林肯號右舷約三百七十米左右,海面好像是被水底發出的光照亮了。這光並不是一般的磷光,這誰也不會弄錯。這個怪物潛在水面下幾米深,放出十分強烈而神秘的光,就像有些船長的報告中所指出的那樣。這種特別燦爛的光芒必定是從什麼巨大的發光動力發出來的。發光的部分在海面上形成一個巨大的橢圓形,拉得很長,橢圓形中心是白熱的焦點,射出不可逼視的光度,這光度漸遠漸淡,至于熄滅。

   Two cable lengths off the Abraham Lincoln's starboard quarter, the sea seemed to be lit up from underneath. This was no mere phosphorescent phenomenon, that much was unmistakable. Submerged some fathoms below the surface of the water, the monster gave off that very intense but inexplicable glow that several captains had mentioned in their reports. This magnificent radiance had to come from some force with a great illuminating capacity. The edge of its light swept over the sea in an immense, highly elongated oval, condensing at the center into a blazing core whose unbearable glow diminished by degrees outward.

   “那不過是無數磷分子的集合體。”一位軍官說。

   "It's only a cluster of phosphorescent particles!" exclaimed one of the officers.

   “不,”我很有把握地答,“富拉得或沙爾已①之類的動 物決不能發出這麼強的光度。這種光只能是電力的光…看!看!它動了!它向前動,又向後移!它向我們沖采了!”

   "No, sir," I answered with conviction. "Not even angel-wing clams or salps have ever given off such a powerful light. That glow is basically electric in nature. Besides . . . look, look! It's shifting! It's moving back and forth! It's darting at us!"

   戰艦上處處發出喊聲。

   A universal shout went up from the frigate.

   “不要作聲,”法拉古艦長說,“把穩舵,船迎着鳳:開倒車!”

   "Quiet!" Commander Farragut said. "Helm hard to leeward! Reverse engines!"

   水手們跑到舵旁邊,工程師們跑到機器旁邊。汽門立刻關掉了,林肯號從左舷轉了一百八十度。

   Sailors rushed to the helm, engineers to their machinery. Under reverse steam immediately, the Abraham Lincoln beat to port, sweeping in a semicircle.

   法拉古艦長喊:“舵向右,向前開!”

   "Right your helm! Engines forward!" Commander Farragut called.

   以上命令執行了,戰艦很快離開了發光的中心。

   These orders were executed, and the frigate swiftly retreated from this core of light.

   我弄錯了。我們船要走開,但那神秘的動物卻以加借的速度逼近來。

   My mistake. It wanted to retreat, but the unearthly animal came at us with a speed double our own.

   我們氣都喘不過來。當時,驚獃更甚于恐懼,弄得我們靜默不動。這個動物好像開玩笑似的在海面上向我們衝來。它繞着戰艦(這時船以每小時十四海里的速度走動),並且把船罩在像光塵一樣的電光網中。然後它走出兩三海里遠,後面拖着一條磷光的尾巴,好像快車的機車留在後面的一團團煙霧般的氣體。忽然間,這個怪物從天邊的盡頭。以驚人的速度突然向林肯號衝來,在離船身二十英呎的海而上又突然停住,光全滅了——不是潛入水中,因為它的光不是慢慢地消散,而是猝然地,像光的來源陡然斷了一般!不久它又在戰艦的另一邊出現了,可能是繞過來的,也可能是從船底下潛水過來的。時時刻刻,都有可能給我們致命的打擊。

   We gasped. More stunned than afraid, we stood mute and motionless. The animal caught up with us, played with us. It made a full circle around the frigate--then doing fourteen knots--and wrapped us in sheets of electricity that were like luminous dust. Then it retreated two or three miles, leaving a phosphorescent trail comparable to those swirls of steam that shoot behind the locomotive of an express train. Suddenly, all the way from the dark horizon where it had gone to gather momentum, the monster abruptly dashed toward the Abraham Lincoln with frightening speed, stopped sharply twenty feet from our side plates, and died out-- not by diving under the water, since its glow did not recede gradually-- but all at once, as if the source of this brilliant emanation had suddenly dried up. Then it reappeared on the other side of the ship, either by circling around us or by gliding under our hull. At any instant a collision could have occurred that would have been fatal to us.

   可是我們的戰艦的行動使我莫名其妙。它在逃,並不去攻擊。它本應該追逐怪物的,現在反而被追逐了,我於是向法拉古艦長提出意見。法拉古艦長的面孔,通常是很冷靜的,現在卻顯得萬分慌張。

   Meanwhile I was astonished at the frigate's maneuvers. It was fleeing, not fighting. Built to pursue, it was being pursued, and I commented on this to Commander Farragut. His face, ordinarily so emotionless, was stamped with indescribable astonishment.

   “阿龍納斯先生,”他回答我,“我沒摸清楚我所要對付的這怪物到底厲害到什麼程度,我不願意在這麼一片黑暗中,隨便讓戰艦去冒險。再說,怎樣來攻擊這個神秘東西呢,又怎樣來防禦這東西呢?我們等到天亮,情況便不同了。”

   "Professor Aronnax," he answered me, "I don't know what kind of fearsome creature I'm up against, and I don't want my frigate running foolish risks in all this darkness. Besides, how should we attack this unknown creature, how should we defend ourselves against it? Let's wait for daylight, and then we'll play a different role."

   “艦長,您現在對於這個動物的性質沒有什麼疑惑了嗎?”

   "You've no further doubts, commander, as to the nature of this animal?"

   “沒有疑惑了,先生,明明白白,這是一條巨大的獨角鯨,同時又是一條帶電的獨角鯨。”

   "No, sir, it's apparently a gigantic narwhale, and an electric one to boot."

   “也許,”我又說,“我們不能接近它,就像不能接近一條電鰻,或一個水雷那樣!”

   "Maybe," I added, "it's no more approachable than an electric eel or an electric ray!"

   “的確,”艦長答,“它身上有雷電般的力量,它一定是造物者造出來的最可怕的動物了。就是因為這個理由,先生,我才不得不十分小心在意。”

   "Right," the commander replied. "And if it has their power to electrocute, it's surely the most dreadful animal ever conceived by our Creator. That's why I'll keep on my guard, sir."

   全體船員在夜間都站着守望,沒有一個人想到睡眠。林肯號在速度上敵不過這個怪物,只好保持着低速度慢慢行駛。而獨角鯨也模仿戰艦,在波濤上隨意擺動者,好象還不打算離開這個比武場。

   The whole crew stayed on their feet all night long. No one even thought of sleeping. Unable to compete with the monster's speed, the Abraham Lincoln slowed down and stayed at half steam. For its part, the narwhale mimicked the frigate, simply rode with the waves, and seemed determined not to forsake the field of battle.

   不過,快到半夜的時候,它不見了,或用一句更準確的話說,它像一隻大螢火蟲一樣不發光了。它逃了嗎?我介就怕它逃,我們不希望它逃。但到早晨零點五十三分的時候傳來一種震耳欲聾的嘯聲,好橡被極強的壓力擠出的水柱所發的嘯聲那樣。

   However, near midnight it disappeared, or to use a more appropriate expression, "it went out," like a huge glowworm. Had it fled from us? We were duty bound to fear so rather than hope so. But at 12:53 in the morning, a deafening hiss became audible, resembling the sound made by a waterspout expelled with tremendous intensity.

   法拉古艦長、尼德-蘭和我當時都在尾樓上,聚精會神地凝視着深沉的黑暗。

   By then Commander Farragut, Ned Land, and I were on the afterdeck, peering eagerly into the profound gloom.

   “尼德-蘭,”艦長問,“您聽到鯨魚叫過嗎?”

   "Ned Land," the commander asked, "you've often heard whales bellowing?"

   “時常聽到,先生,但我從沒有聽過像現在這條使我獲得二千美元獎金的鯨魚那樣的叫聲。”

   "Often, sir, but never a whale like this, whose sighting earned me $2,000.00."

   “不錯,您應獲得這筆獎金。不過,請您告訴我,這聲音是不是那鯨魚類動物鼻孔吐水時所發出來的聲音呢?”

   "Correct, the prize is rightfully yours. But tell me, isn't that the noise cetaceans make when they spurt water from their blowholes?"

   “正是那聲音,先生,不過現在這聲音不知要大多少倍。所以誰也不會弄錯。我們面前海裡的東西無疑是一條鯨魚類動物。”這位魚叉手又說,“請您容許我,先生,明天天亮時,我們對它說幾句話。”

   "The very noise, sir, but this one's way louder. So there can be no mistake. There's definitely a whale lurking in our waters. With your permission, sir," the harpooner added, "tomorrow at daybreak we'll have words with it."

   “恐怕它不會有那樣的耐心聽您的話,尼德-蘭師傅。汐我用半信半疑的聲調回答。

   "If it's in a mood to listen to you, Mr. Land," I replied in a tone far from convinced.

   “假使我離它只有四魚叉那麼遠,”這位加拿大人答,“那時候它非聽我的話不可!”

   "Let me get within four harpoon lengths of it," the Canadian shot back, "and it had better listen!"

   “不過你去挨近它的時候,”艦長說,“我得給一隻捕鯨艇供您使用吧?”

   "But to get near it," the commander went on, "I'd have to put a whaleboat at your disposal?"

   “當然要有一隻,先生。”

   "Certainly, sir."

   “坐小船豈不是拿我的人員的生命去冒險?”

   "That would be gambling with the lives of my men."

   “我的命不算命嗎?“這位魚叉手乾脆地回答。

   "And with my own!" the harpooner replied simply.

   到早晨兩點左右,這發光的焦點,在跟林肯號前面相距五海里遠的海面,又發出同樣強烈的光。雖然距離大,雖然有風聲和浪聲,我們還是清楚地聽到這動物尾巴的攪水聲。並且聽到它的喘息聲。這只巨大的獨角鯨到洋面上來呼吸的時候,空氣吸人它肺中,就像水蒸氣送到兩千馬力機器的大圓筒裡面去那樣。

   Near two o'clock in the morning, the core of light reappeared, no less intense, five miles to windward of the Abraham Lincoln. Despite the distance, despite the noise of wind and sea, we could distinctly hear the fearsome thrashings of the animal's tail, and even its panting breath. Seemingly, the moment this enormous narwhale came up to breathe at the surface of the ocean, air was sucked into its lungs like steam into the huge cylinders of a 2,000-horsepower engine.

   “晤!”我想,“這強大得像一隊騎兵的鯨魚,一定是一條了不得的鯨魚!”

   "Hmm!" I said to myself. "A cetacean as powerful as a whole cavalry regiment--now that's a whale of a whale!"

   大家一直警戒到天亮,每個人都在準備戰鬥。各種打魚的器械都擺在船欄杆邊。二副裝好了大口徑短鉸,這短銑能把魚叉射出一英里遠,又裝好了打開花彈的長滄,一擊中就是致命傷,哪怕最強大的動物也不能例外。尼德-蘭本人只是在那裡磨他的魚叉,魚叉在他的手裡就是件可怕的武器。

   We stayed on the alert until daylight, getting ready for action. Whaling gear was set up along the railings. Our chief officer loaded the blunderbusses, which can launch harpoons as far as a mile, and long duck guns with exploding bullets that can mortally wound even the most powerful animals. Ned Land was content to sharpen his harpoon, a dreadful weapon in his hands.

   六點,天亮起來了,晨曦的微光把獨角鯨的電光俺沒了。七點,天大亮了,但濃厚的朝霧縮小了視野,最好的望遠鏡也不濟事,因此大家又產生了失望和懊惱的情緒。

   At six o'clock day began to break, and with the dawn's early light, the narwhale's electric glow disappeared. At seven o'clock the day was well along, but a very dense morning mist shrank the horizon, and our best spyglasses were unable to pierce it. The outcome: disappointment and anger.

   我一直攀上尾桅,有些軍官早就在桅上面站着。

   I hoisted myself up to the crosstrees of the mizzen sail. Some officers were already perched on the mastheads.

   八點,濃霧沉重地在海面上滾動,它那巨大的氣團漸漸地散開了。天際也漸漸擴大,漸漸明朗了。

   At eight o'clock the mist rolled ponderously over the waves, and its huge curls were lifting little by little. The horizon grew wider and clearer all at once.

   突然,像昨晚那樣,尼德-蘭叫起來了。

   Suddenly, just as on the previous evening, Ned Land's voice was audible.

   “我們找的那個東西,在船左舷後面!”魚又手喊着。

   "There's the thing in question, astern to port!" the harpooner shouted.

   大家的眼光都轉向他手指的地方。

   Every eye looked toward the point indicated.

   在那邊,距戰艦一海里半左右,一個長長的黑色軀體浮出水上一未來。它的尾巴,激動着水,攪成很大的一個漩渦。任何東西的尾巴都不能這樣有力地擊打海水。這個動物走過,尾後留下一行巨大、雪白耀眼的水紋,並且描成一條長長的曲綫。

   There, a mile and a half from the frigate, a long blackish body emerged a meter above the waves. Quivering violently, its tail was creating a considerable eddy. Never had caudal equipment thrashed the sea with such power. An immense wake of glowing whiteness marked the animal's track, sweeping in a long curve.

   我們的戰艦埃近了這個鯨魚類動物。我隨便地觀察了一下。山農號和海爾維地亞號兩船的報告對它的體積有些誇張,我估計一下,它不過二百五十英呎長。至于寬,我很難估量;總之,這個動物在我看來:長寬高三方面的比例都十分勻稱。

   Our frigate drew nearer to the cetacean. I examined it with a completely open mind. Those reports from the Shannon and the Helvetia had slightly exaggerated its dimensions, and I put its length at only 250 feet. Its girth was more difficult to judge, but all in all, the animal seemed to be wonderfully proportioned in all three dimensions.

   當我觀察這只奇怪動物的時候,兩道水和汽從它的鼻孔吐出來,直噴到叫十米的高度,這一點使我肯定了它呼吸的方式。我最後斷定這動物是屬於脊推動物門,哺侞綱,唯一豚魚亞綱,魚類,鯨魚目,……屬。到這裡我便不能往下說了。鯨魚目有三科:長鬚鯨,大頭鯨和海豚,獨角鯨是歸在最後一科。每一科分為好些屬,屬分為種,種分為變種。變種、種、屬、科,我還不知道,但我不懷疑,借上帝和法拉古艦長的幫助,我可以完成對於這動物的分類。

   While I was observing this phenomenal creature, two jets of steam and water sprang from its blowholes and rose to an altitude of forty meters, which settled for me its mode of breathing. From this I finally concluded that it belonged to the branch Vertebrata, class Mammalia, subclass Monodelphia, group Pisciforma, order Cetacea, family . . . but here I couldn't make up my mind. The order Cetacea consists of three families, baleen whales, sperm whales, dolphins, and it's in this last group that narwhales are placed. Each of these families is divided into several genera, each genus into species, each species into varieties. So I was still missing variety, species, genus, and family, but no doubt I would complete my classifying with the aid of Heaven and Commander Farragut.

   船上人員等他們首長的命令等得不耐煩了。艦長注意地觀察了這個動物後,叫來了工程師。工程師跑來了。艦長問:

   The crew were waiting impatiently for orders from their leader. The latter, after carefully observing the animal, called for his engineer. The engineer raced over.

   “先生,氣壓足了嗎?”

   "Sir," the commander said, "are you up to pressure?"

   “足了,先生。”工程師答。

   "Aye, sir," the engineer replied.

   “好,增大火力,全力駛去!”

   "Fine. Stoke your furnaces and clap on full steam!"

   大家歡呼三聲來迎接這道命令。戰斗的號角響了。過了一些時候,戰艦上兩個煙囪吐出一道一道的黑煙,甲板在汽鍋的震動下震動起來。

   Three cheers greeted this order. The hour of battle had sounded. A few moments later, the frigate's two funnels vomited torrents of black smoke, and its deck quaked from the trembling of its boilers.

   林肯號在機輪的猛力推送下,一直向這怪物衝去,這怪物一點也不在意,戰艦離它半錨鏈①左右的時候,它還不潛入水中,僅略作逃避的樣子,不走遠,只是保持着這樣的:距離。

   Driven forward by its powerful propeller, the Abraham Lincoln headed straight for the animal. Unconcerned, the latter let us come within half a cable length; then, not bothering to dive, it got up a little speed, retreated, and was content to keep its distance.

   這樣若即若離的追逐,延長了三刻鐘左右,就是戰艦想多接近這條鯨魚四米也不可能。很明白,這樣迫下去,永遠迫不上它。

   This chase dragged on for about three-quarters of an hour without the frigate gaining two fathoms on the cetacean. At this rate, it was obvious that we would never catch up with it.

   法拉古艦長心裡很煩躁,拈着那下巴下面蓬蓬的一撮濃須。

   Infuriated, Commander Farragut kept twisting the thick tuft of hair that flourished below his chin.

   “尼德-蘭呢?”他喊。

   "Ned Land!" he called.

   加拿大人跑到前面來。

   The Canadian reported at once.

   “好,尼德-蘭師傅,”他問,“現在您看是不是還要把小船放下海去?”

   "Well, Mr. Land," the commander asked, "do you still advise putting my longboats to sea?"

   “先生,不,”尼德-蘭答,“因為這個東西是不讓人捕捉的,除非它出於自願。”

   "No, sir," Ned Land replied, "because that beast won't be caught against its will."

   “那怎麼辦呢?”

   "Then what should we do?"

   “先生,儘可能加大氣力。我自己,當然先要得到您的允許,我在船頭前桅的繩梯上守着,等我們到了魚叉投得着的距離時,我就把魚叉投出去。”

   "Stoke up more steam, sir, if you can. As for me, with your permission I'll go perch on the bobstays under the bowsprit, and if we can get within a harpoon length, I'll harpoon the brute."

   “尼德-蘭,就這樣辦吧。”艦長答。他又喊:“工程師,快加大馬力。”

   "Go to it, Ned," Commander Farragut replied. "Engineer," he called, "keep the pressure mounting!"

   尼德-蘭走上他的崗位。火力儘量加大着,機輪每分鐘轉四十三轉,蒸汽從活塞裡跑出。把測程器拋下去,測知林肯號這時的速度是每小時十八海里半。

   Ned Land made his way to his post. The furnaces were urged into greater activity; our propeller did forty-three revolutions per minute, and steam shot from the valves. Heaving the log, we verified that the Abraham Lincoln was going at the rate of 18.5 miles per hour.

   但那個可惡的動物每小時的速度也是十八海里半。

   But that damned animal also did a speed of 18.5.

   在整個一小時內,戰艦隻能保持着這樣的速度,多進二米也辦不到!這對於美國海軍中的一艘最快的戰艦來說,實在是太難堪了。船員中間遍佈着不可遏止的憤怒。水手們咒罵怪物,但是,怪物卻不理睬他們。法拉古艦長不只是拈着他的那撮濃須,而且現在開始絞起它來了。

   For the next hour our frigate kept up this pace without gaining a fathom! This was humiliating for one of the fastest racers in the American navy. The crew were working up into a blind rage. Sailor after sailor heaved insults at the monster, which couldn't be bothered with answering back. Commander Farragut was no longer content simply to twist his goatee; he chewed on it.

   他又把工程師叫過來。

   The engineer was summoned once again.

   “您已經把馬力加到最大的限度了嗎?”艦長問。

   "You're up to maximum pressure?" the commander asked him.

   “是的,艦長,馬力已加到了最大限度。”他答。

   "Aye, sir," the engineer replied.

   “活塞都上緊了嗎?…”

   "And your valves are charged to . . . ?"

   “上到六氣壓半。”

   "To six and a half atmospheres."

   “把它們上到十氣壓。”

   "Charge them to ten atmospheres."

   這純粹是美國式的命令了。恐怕在密西西比河上,跟人比賽、賭輸贏的船,也不能這樣做的了!

   A typical American order if I ever heard one. It would have sounded just fine during some Mississippi paddle-wheeler race, to "outstrip the competition!"

   “康塞爾,”我對站在我身邊的老實人說,“你看,我們的船也許就要爆炸了!”

   "Conseil," I said to my gallant servant, now at my side, "you realize that we'll probably blow ourselves skyhigh?"

   “隨您先生怎樣說都好l”康塞爾答。

   "As master wishes!" Conseil replied.

   我承認,這個機會,我倒很樂意去碰一碰。

   All right, I admit it: I did wish to run this risk!

   活塞都上好了。煤炭倒人火爐中,鳳箱把空氣送進去,煽紅了火。林肯號的速度又增加了,船桅都連根震動了由於煙囪過窄,陣陣突出的濃煙几乎都找不到出路了。

   The valves were charged. More coal was swallowed by the furnaces. Ventilators shot torrents of air over the braziers. The Abraham Lincoln's speed increased. Its masts trembled down to their blocks, and swirls of smoke could barely squeeze through the narrow funnels.

   測程器又一次拋下去。

   We heaved the log a second time.

   “現在速度多少?”法拉古艦長問。

   "Well, helmsman?" Commander Farragut asked.

   “艦長,十九點三海里。”

   "19.3 miles per hour, sir."

   “再增加人力。”

   "Keep stoking the furnaces."

   工程師照他的話做了。氣壓表正指+氣壓。但這條鯨魚也添了火力,因為它一點不困難地也以十九點三海里的速度走動。

   The engineer did so. The pressure gauge marked ten atmospheres. But no doubt the cetacean itself had "warmed up," because without the least trouble, it also did 19.3.

   多麼激烈的追逐呀!不,我真不能描寫當時使我全身激動的情緒。尼德-蘭站在他的崗位上,手拿着魚叉。這動物有幾次讓人接近它。

   What a chase! No, I can't describe the excitement that shook my very being. Ned Land stayed at his post, harpoon in hand. Several times the animal let us approach.

   “我們追上它了!我們追上它了:”加拿大人喊。

   "We're overhauling it!" the Canadian would shout.

   可是,在他準備投叉的時候,這條鯨魚立即逃開了,它行動敏捷,照我來看,它的速度每小時至少是三十海里。甚至在我們的船以最快速度航行的時候,它竟然能夠繞船一周,似乎跟我們開玩笑呢!憤怒的喊聲從大家的胸膛中迸發出來!

   Then, just as he was about to strike, the cetacean would steal off with a swiftness I could estimate at no less than thirty miles per hour. And even at our maximum speed, it took the liberty of thumbing its nose at the frigate by running a full circle around us! A howl of fury burst from every throat!

   中午,我們跟早晨八點一樣,一點沒有進展。

   By noon we were no farther along than at eight o'clock in the morning.

   法拉古艦長決定採取更為直接的辦法。

   Commander Farragut then decided to use more direct methods.

   “呵!”他說,“這東西比林肯號走得還快!好吧j我們看看它是不是能躲開我們的錐形炮彈。水手長,叫炮手都到船前頭的炮邊來。”

   "Bah!" he said. "So that animal is faster than the Abraham Lincoln. All right, we'll see if it can outrun our conical shells! Mate, man the gun in the bow!"

   船前頭的炮立即裝上炮彈,發出去了。炮是放了,可是炮彈在距半海裡之遠的動物上面掠過去,沒有打中。

   Our forecastle cannon was immediately loaded and leveled. The cannoneer fired a shot, but his shell passed some feet above the cetacean, which stayed half a mile off.

   “換一名好炮手!”艦長喊,“誰打中這惡魔,給五百美元!”

   "Over to somebody with better aim!" the commander shouted. "And $500.00 to the man who can pierce that infernal beast!"

   一位鬍子花白的老炮手——他現在仍然活現在我眼前——眼光鎮定,面容冷靜,走到大炮面前,把炮位擺好,瞄準了很久的時間。轟的一聲炮響了,這時船員們的歡呼聲混雜在一起。

   Calm of eye, cool of feature, an old gray-bearded gunner-- I can see him to this day--approached the cannon, put it in position, and took aim for a good while. There was a mighty explosion, mingled with cheers from the crew.

   炮彈打中了,正打在動物身上,但是並沒有給它致命的打擊,而是從它圓圓的身上滑過去落在二海里遠的海中。

   The shell reached its target; it hit the animal, but not in the usual fashion--it bounced off that rounded surface and vanished into the sea two miles out.

   “真怪!”老炮手暴跳如雷,說,“這混蛋的身上一定有一層六英吋厚的鐵甲!”

   "Oh drat!" said the old gunner in his anger. "That rascal must be covered with six-inch armor plate!"

   “該死的東西!”法拉古艦長喊。

   "Curse the beast!" Commander Farragut shouted.

   追逐又開始了,法拉古艦長彎身對我說道:

   The hunt was on again, and Commander Farragut leaned over to me, saying:

   “我要一直追到我們的船爆炸為止!”

   "I'll chase that animal till my frigate explodes!"

   “對,您對!”我答。

   "Yes," I replied, "and nobody would blame you!"

   人們只指望這動物筋疲力盡,它總不能跟蒸汽機一樣,永遠不感到疲倦。然而它一點也不疲倦。這麼多時間過去了,它並沒有顯出一點疲勞的樣子。

   We could still hope that the animal would tire out and not be as insensitive to exhaustion as our steam engines. But no such luck. Hour after hour went by without it showing the least sign of weariness.

   再說,我們是應該表揚林肯號的,它用不屈不撓的精神進行了這次惡鬥。我估計,在11月6日這倒媚的一天裡,它所跑的路程不下五百公里!黑夜降臨了,陰影籠罩了波濤洶湧的海洋……

   However, to the Abraham Lincoln's credit, it must be said that we struggled on with tireless persistence. I estimate that we covered a distance of at least 500 kilometers during this ill-fated day of November 6. But night fell and wrapped the surging ocean in its shadows.

   這時候,我以為我們的遠征結束了,我們永遠不能再見到這個古怪的動物了。可是我錯了。

   By then I thought our expedition had come to an end, that we would never see this fantastic animal again. I was mistaken.

   晚上十點五十分,電光又在戰艦前面三海里的海面上亮起來,還是跟昨天夜裡一樣輝煌,一樣強烈。

   At 10:50 in the evening, that electric light reappeared three miles to windward of the frigate, just as clear and intense as the night before.

   那條獨角鯨好像是停着不動。也許白天跑得累了。它睡着了,它隨着海水蕩漾。這是一個好機會,法拉古艦長決定利用這次機會。

   The narwhale seemed motionless. Was it asleep perhaps, weary from its workday, just riding with the waves? This was our chance, and Commander Farragut was determined to take full advantage of it.

   他發出命令。為了不至把敵方驚醒,林肯號減低速度,小心謹慎地前進。在大海中碰到睡着了的鯨魚,因而勝利地攻擊它們,這並不是希奇的事情,尼德-蘭也不止一次在鯨魚昏睡的時候叉中了它們。加拿大人又到了船頭斜桅下,走上了他原來的崗位。

   He gave his orders. The Abraham Lincoln stayed at half steam, advancing cautiously so as not to awaken its adversary. In midocean it's not unusual to encounter whales so sound asleep they can successfully be attacked, and Ned Land had harpooned more than one in its slumber. The Canadian went to resume his post on the bobstays under the bowsprit.

   戰艦慢慢地前進着,一點聲息也沒有,離這動物三百七十米左右的時候關了氣門,船現在只憑本身餘下的氣力走動。船上連呼吸聲也聽不到。甲板上絶對沉寂。人們距白熱的焦點不到一百英呎了,光度更強起來,照得我們的眼睛發昏。

   The frigate approached without making a sound, stopped two cable lengths from the animal and coasted. Not a soul breathed on board. A profound silence reigned over the deck. We were not 100 feet from the blazing core of light, whose glow grew stronger and dazzled the eyes.

   這時候,我伏在船頭前面的欄杆上,看見尼德。蘭在我下面,一手拉著帆索,一手揮動他鋒利的魚叉。就和這睡着的動物距離不過二十英呎了。

   Just then, leaning over the forecastle railing, I saw Ned Land below me, one hand grasping the martingale, the other brandishing his dreadful harpoon. Barely twenty feet separated him from the motionless animal.

   忽然,他的胳膊使勁地一伸,魚叉投了出去。我聽到魚叉發出響亮的聲音,像是碰上了堅硬的軀殼。

   All at once his arm shot forward and the harpoon was launched. I heard the weapon collide resonantly, as if it had hit some hard substance.

   對面的電光突然熄滅,兩團巨大的水猛撲到戰艦甲板上來,像急流一般從船頭衝至船尾,衝倒船上的人,打斷了護牆桅的繩索。

   The electric light suddenly went out, and two enormous waterspouts crashed onto the deck of the frigate, racing like a torrent from stem to stern, toppling crewmen, breaking spare masts and yardarms from their lashings.

   接着船被狠狠撞了一下,我沒來得及站穩,從船欄杆被拋擲到海中去了。

   A hideous collision occurred, and thrown over the rail with no time to catch hold of it, I was hurled into the sea.