25 地中海四十八小时(38)
From this moment on, for nineteen days from February 23 to March 12, the Nautilus stayed in the middle of the Atlantic, hustling us along at a constant speed of 100 leagues every twenty-four hours.
自此以后,从2月23日至3月12日十丸天中,诺第留斯号在大西洋中间,带着我们走的经常速度为每二十四小时,一百里。
It was obvious that Captain Nemo wanted to carry out his underwater program, and I had no doubt that he intended, after doubling Cape Horn, to return to the Pacific South Seas.
尼摩船长很显然要完成他海底周游的计划;我并不怀疑他绕过了合恩角后,打算再回到太平洋的南极海来。
So Ned Land had good reason to worry. In these wide seas empty of islands, it was no longer feasible to jump ship. Nor did we ha一ve any way to counter Captain Nemo's whims.
所以尼德·兰的惧怕是有理由的。在这些海面上,没有岛屿,逃走的企图是不用再想了。
We had no choice but to acquiesce; but if we couldn't attain our end through force or cunning, I liked to think we might achieve it through persuasion.
要反对尼摩船长的意志,更没有什么方法;唯一的办法就是服从。因为一件不可能从强力或计谋得到的事情,我喜欢想,或者是可以用说服的方法得到的。
Once this voyage was over, might not Captain Nemo consent to set us free in return for our promise never to reveal his existence?
这次旅行结束后,尼摩船长有我们发誓不一泄露他的生活秘密的保证,难道还不让我们自一由吗?
Our word of honor, which we sincerely would ha一ve kept.
这是拿名誉来担保的誓言,我们必然遵守。
However, this delicate question would ha一ve to be negotiated with the captain. But how would he receive our demands for freedom?
不过这个微妙问题需要跟船长商谈。那我去要求恢复自一由,是不是合适,受欢匹呢?
At the very outset and in no uncertain terms, hadn't he declared that the secret of his life required that we be permanently imprisoned on board the Nautilus?
他本人在当初不是已正式说过,他的生活的秘密,是需要我们永远禁闭在诺第留斯号船上来得到保证吗?
Wouldn't he see my four-month silence as a tacit acceptance of this situation?
四个月来,我对于这事的沉默,在他看来,不就是我对于自己所处地位的默认吗?