34 大屠杀(9)

Once we were aboard that ship, if we couldn't ward off the blow that threatened it, at least we could do everything that circumstances permitted. Several times I thought the Nautilus was about to attack. But it was content to let its adversary approach, and then it would quickly resume its retreating ways.

一旦到了那艘船上,就算我们不能事先向它通告那威胁着它的一击,至少我们可以做情况允许我们做的一切。有好几次,我以为“鹦鹉螺号”船只准备攻击了,但它只是让它的敌手靠近,然后虚幌一招, 摆出逃亡的架势。

Part of the night passed without incident. We kept watch for an opportunity to take action. We talked little, being too keyed up. Ned Land was all for jumping overboard. I forced him to wait. As I saw it, the Nautilus would attack the double-decker on the surface of the waves, and then it would be not only possible but easy to escape.

夜晚过去了一段时间,但仍然没有出事。我们在伺机行动,因为太激动了,几乎说不出话来了,尼德·兰巴不得马上就冲到海里去,我强迫他等一等。依我看,“鹦鹉螺号”应该是在水面上攻击装甲舰的,因为如果是这样, 撞沉了装甲舰之后,它不仅能而且可以很容易地逃离现场。

At three o'clock in the morning, full of uneasiness, I climbed onto the platform. Captain Nemo hadn't left it. He stood in the bow next to his flag, which a mild breeze was unfurling above his head. His eyes never left that vessel. The extraordinary intensity of his gaze seemed to attract it, beguile it, and draw it more surely than if he had it in tow!

凌晨3点,我忧心忡忡地登上平台。尼摩船长还在那里,他站在前头, 在他的旗帜旁边。一阵微风吹过,旗帜在他的头上飘扬着。船长的眼睛一直没离开过那艘战舰,他的目光特别地闪亮,仿佛是在吸引它,诱惑它,尽可能更稳当地拖住它。

The moon then passed its zenith. Jupiter was rising in the east. In the midst of this placid natural setting, sky and ocean competed with each other in tranquility, and the sea offered the orb of night the loveliest mirror ever to reflect its image.

此时月亮已经移过了中天,木星在东边出现了。在这片宁静的自然界里,天空和海洋比赛宁静,海面成了一面永远反射着月亮的影子的最美丽的镜子。