海底二萬里

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

   第一部 第二十三章

   CHAPTER 23

   強逼睡眠

   "Aegri Somnia"

   第二天,1月10日,諾第留斯號又在水中航行了,它盼速度我可以估計,不會少於每小時三十五海里。它的機輪推動得那麼快,我簡直不能看出它在運轉,也不能加以計算。

   THE FOLLOWING DAY, January 10, the Nautilus resumed its travels in midwater but at a remarkable speed that I estimated to be at least thirty-five miles per hour. The propeller was going so fast I could neither follow nor count its revolutions.

   我想到這神奇的電,除了給諾第留斯號以動力、熱力、光明之外,又能保護它不受外界的攻擊,使它變為神聖不可侵犯的船,想來侵犯的人決不能不受到電擊的,我對它的讚美實在是沒有止境,我的讚美立時又從這船轉到製造這船的工程師。

   I thought about how this marvelous electric force not only gave motion, heat, and light to the Nautilus but even protected it against outside attack, transforming it into a sacred ark no profane hand could touch without being blasted; my wonderment was boundless, and it went from the submersible itself to the engineer who had created it.

   我們一直往西開行,1月11日,我們走過了韋塞爾角,角在東經135度和南緯10度,是卡彭塔里亞海灣的東尖端。海中的礁石仍然很多,但較為零散,在地圖上記載得很明確。諾第留斯號很容易躲開在它左舷的摩宜礁石,和右舷的維多利亞暗礁,它們同在東經130度和南緯10度,這時船正沿著這緯度行駛。

   We were traveling due west and on January 11 we doubled Cape Wessel, located in longitude 135 degrees and latitude 10 degrees north, the western tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria. Reefs were still numerous but more widely scattered and were fixed on the chart with the greatest accuracy. The Nautilus easily avoided the Money breakers to port and the Victoria reefs to starboard, positioned at longitude 130 degrees on the tenth parallel, which we went along rigorously.

   1月13日,尼摩船長到了帝位海,在東經122度望見了跟海同名的帝文島①。這島面積為1,625平方裡,由稱為,‘拉夜,,的王公們統治。這些王公們自稱為鱷魚的子孫,就是說,他們的祖先是人類可能想到的最古的來源。所以。 他們的帶鱗甲的祖宗在島上河流中大量繁殖,是人們特殊尊敬的對象。島人保護它們,嬌養它們,奉承它們,給它們食物,把青年女子作它們的食料,如果有外來客人,敢把手去動這些神聖的晰蝎類,那他就將惹下大禍了。

   On January 13, arriving in the Timor Sea, Captain Nemo raised the island of that name at longitude 122 degrees. This island, whose surface area measures 1,625 square leagues, is governed by rajahs. These aristocrats deem themselves the sons of crocodiles, in other words, descendants with the most exalted origins to which a human being can lay claim. Accordingly, their scaly ancestors infest the island's rivers and are the subjects of special veneration. They are sheltered, nurtured, flattered, pampered, and offered a ritual diet of nubile maidens; and woe to the foreigner who lifts a finger against these sacred saurians.

   但諾第留斯號跟這些怪難看的動物並沒有什麼交道可打。帝位島也只是在中午,船副記錄方位的時候,出現了一下。同樣,我也只望到了屬於這群島嶼的羅地小島,這島上砌女人在馬來亞市場③上被公認為有名的美人。

   But the Nautilus wanted nothing to do with these nasty animals. Timor Island was visible for barely an instant at noon while the chief officer determined his position. I also caught only a glimpse of little Roti Island, part of this same group, whose women have a well-established reputation for beauty in the Malaysian marketplace.

   從這裡起,諾第留斯號的方向,在緯度線上彎下來;向西南駛去。船頭是向着印度洋。尼摩船長打算帶我們到什麼地方去呢?他又上溯回到亞洲侮岸去嗎?他要走近歐洲海岸嗎?他是要躲避有人居住的陸地吧,但從航行方向看,這也是不可能的。那麼他要往南去嗎?他要先過好望角,然後再過合恩角,向南極走去嗎?最後,他又要回到太平洋中來,他的諾第留斯號在太平洋中航行方便自由嗎?那只有將來才能使我知道。

   After our position fix, the Nautilus's latitude bearings were modulated to the southwest. Our prow pointed to the Indian Ocean. Where would Captain Nemo's fancies take us? Would he head up to the shores of Asia? Would he pull nearer to the beaches of Europe? Unlikely choices for a man who avoided populated areas! So would he go down south? Would he double the Cape of Good Hope, then Cape Horn, and push on to the Antarctic pole? Finally, would he return to the seas of the Pacific, where his Nautilus could navigate freely and easily? Time would tell.

   既經走過了嘉地埃、依比尼亞、西林加巴當、斯各脫暗礁群,這是在海水中浮出的最後礁石了,1月14日我們看不見陸地了。諾第留斯號的速度特別緩慢,好像非常任性,有時在水中走,有時又浮出水面來。

   After cruising along the Cartier, Hibernia, Seringapatam, and Scott reefs, the solid element's last exertions against the liquid element, we were beyond all sight of shore by January 14. The Nautilus slowed down in an odd manner, and very unpredictable in its ways, it sometimes swam in the midst of the waters, sometimes drifted on their surface.

   在這次航行當中,尼摩船長對於海中不同水層的各種溫度,做了些很有興味的實驗。在一般情況下,這些溫度的記錄是利用相當複雜的器械來進行,但不論是使用溫度表來探測(因玻璃管時常被水的壓力壓碎),或是使用通過電流的金屬製成的儀器來探測,所得的結果總還是不很可靠小因為這樣取得的結果無法校正。但尼摩船長就不同了,他自己親身到海底下去探測各水層的溫度,他的溫度表跟各水層相接觸,馬上很準確地將得到的度數告訴他。

   During this phase of our voyage, Captain Nemo conducted interesting experiments on the different temperatures in various strata of the sea. Under ordinary conditions, such readings are obtained using some pretty complicated instruments whose findings are dubious to say the least, whether they're thermometric sounding lines, whose glass often shatters under the water's pressure, or those devices based on the varying resistance of metals to electric currents. The results so obtained can't be adequately double-checked. By contrast, Captain Nemo would seek the sea's temperature by going himself into its depths, and when he placed his thermometer in contact with the various layers of liquid, he found the sought-for degree immediately and with certainty.

   是這憚的:諾第留斯號或者是把所有的儲水池裝得特別滿,或用縱斜機板斜斜下降,就可以陸續達到三千、四千、五千、七千、九千、一萬米的深度。這些實驗最後肯定的結果是,不論任何緯度下的海水,在一千米下的深度,溫度總是四度半,永遠不變。

   And so, by loading up its ballast tanks, or by sinking obliquely with its slanting fins, the Nautilus successively reached depths of 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, 7,000, 9,000, and 10,000 meters, and the ultimate conclusion from these experiments was that, in all latitudes, the sea had a permanent temperature of 4.5 degrees centigrade at a depth of 1,000 meters.

   我興趣很濃厚地看他做這種實驗。尼摩船長對這種實驗有一種真正的熱情。我心中時常想,他做這些觀察有什-麼目的呢?是為人類的利益嗎?這很不可能;因為,總有一天,他的工作要跟他一齊在沒人知道的海中消滅!除非是他打算把他的實驗結果交給我。這就是預先要肯定我的奇怪遊歷將有結束的期限,可是,這期限,我還沒有看到。

   I watched these experiments with the most intense fascination. Captain Nemo brought a real passion to them. I often wondered why he took these observations. Were they for the benefit of his fellow man? It was unlikely, because sooner or later his work would perish with him in some unknown sea! Unless he intended the results of his experiments for me. But that meant this strange voyage of mine would come to an end, and no such end was in sight.

   不管怎樣,船長同樣又讓我知道他所獲得的各種數字。 這些數字是關於地球上主要海洋海水密度的報告。從他給我的這個通知,我取得了不是關於科學的、而是關於個人的知識。

   Be that as it may, Captain Nemo also introduced me to the different data he had obtained on the relative densities of the water in our globe's chief seas. From this news I derived some personal enlightenment having nothing to do with science.

   這是1月15日的早上,船長跟我一起在平台上散步,他問我是否知道各處海水的不同密度。我回答不知道,同、時又說,科學對於這個問題還沒有做過精確的觀察。

   It happened the morning of January 15. The captain, with whom I was strolling on the platform, asked me if I knew how salt water differs in density from sea to sea. I said no, adding that there was a lack of rigorous scientific observations on this subject.

   “這些觀察我做過了,”他對我說,“而且我可以肯定它們的準確性。”

   "I've taken such observations," he told me, "and I can vouch for their reliability."

   “很好,”我答,“不過諾第留斯號是另一個世界,這個性界的學者的‘秘密’不能傳到陸地上。”

   "Fine," I replied, "but the Nautilus lives in a separate world, and the secrets of its scientists don't make their way ashore."

   “您說得對,教授,”他靜默一刻後對我說,“它是另一個世界,它跟陸地不相干,就像陪着地球環繞太陽的各個行星對於地球上一樣,從來也沒有人知道土星和木墾中的學者們所做的工作。但是,既然偶然的機會把我們二人拉在一起,我可以把我觀察所得的結果告訴您。”

   "You're right, professor," he told me after a few moments of silence. "This is a separate world. It's as alien to the earth as the planets accompanying our globe around the sun, and we'll never become familiar with the work of scientists on Saturn or Jupiter. But since fate has linked our two lives, I can reveal the results of my observations to you."

   “我靜聽您的指教,船長。”

   "I'm all attention, captain."

   “教授,您知道海水比淡水的密度大,但海水的密度並不是各處完全一律。比方,我拿‘一’作為淡水的密度,那太平洋海水的密度是一又千分之二十八,地中海的海水,一又千分之三十……”

   "You're aware, professor, that salt water is denser than fresh water, but this density isn't uniform. In essence, if I represent the density of fresh water by 1.000, then I find 1.028 for the waters of the Atlantic, 1.026 for the waters of the Pacific, 1.030 for the waters of the Mediterranean--"

   啊:”我想,“他也冒險到地中海去嗎?”

   Aha, I thought, so he ventures into the Mediterranean?

   “愛奧尼亞海水是一又千分之十八,亞德里亞①海水是一又千分之二十九。”

   "--1.018 for the waters of the Ionian Sea, and 1.029 for the waters of the Adriatic."

   很顯然,諾第留斯號並不逃避多人往來的歐洲海面,我因此可以說——或者不久——它要把我們帶到比較文明的陸地海中去。我想尼德-蘭聽到這個特別消息,一定非常滿意。

   Assuredly, the Nautilus didn't avoid the heavily traveled seas of Europe, and from this insight I concluded that the ship would take us back--perhaps very soon--to more civilized shores. I expected Ned Land to greet this news with unfeigned satisfaction.

   在好幾天內,我們長時間都在做各種各樣的實驗,研究不同深度水層的鹽分含量,海水的感電作用,海水的染色作用,海水的透明傳光作用。在所有這些情況中,尼摩船長處處顯示出他的奇特才能,也處處都顯示出他對我的好感。 以後,在幾天內,我看不見他了,我在他船上又像孤獨的人一樣了。

   For several days our work hours were spent in all sorts of experiments, on the degree of salinity in waters of different depths, or on their electric properties, coloration, and transparency, and in every instance Captain Nemo displayed an ingenuity equaled only by his graciousness toward me. Then I saw no more of him for some days and again lived on board in seclusion.

   l月16日,諾第留斯號好像昏睡在海面下僅僅幾米深的地方。船上的電力機械不走,機輪停着不動,讓船隨着海水游來游去。我心中想,船上船員恐怕正在作內部修理工作,由於機件的機械運動很激烈,修理是必要的。

   On January 16 the Nautilus seemed to have fallen asleep just a few meters beneath the surface of the water. Its electric equipment had been turned off, and the motionless propeller let it ride with the waves. I assumed that the crew were busy with interior repairs, required by the engine's strenuous mechanical action.

   我的同伴和我,在這時親眼看到一種很新奇的景象。客廳的嵌板敞開,由於諾第留斯號的探照燈沒有點着,水中充滿模模糊糊的陰暗。蚤動的和遮滿密雲的天空照在海洋上部水層中的,是一種迷糊不足的光線。

   My companions and I then witnessed an unusual sight. The panels in the lounge were open, and since the Nautilus's beacon was off, a hazy darkness reigned in the midst of the waters. Covered with heavy clouds, the stormy sky gave only the faintest light to the ocean's upper strata.

   我在這種條件下觀察海中的情形,最粗大的魚看來也就像模糊不清的陰影一樣,這個時候,諾第留斯號忽然轉入完全光明中了。我初時以為是探照燈亮起來,把電力的光輝照在海水中。其實我弄錯了,經過很快的觀察,我認識到我的看法的錯誤。

   I was observing the state of the sea under these conditions, and even the largest fish were nothing more than ill-defined shadows, when the Nautilus was suddenly transferred into broad daylight. At first I thought the beacon had gone back on and was casting its electric light into the liquid mass. I was mistaken, and after a hasty examination I discovered my error.

   諾第留斯號浮游在一層磷光裡面,在海水陰暗中,磷火也變得光輝奪目了。這光由無數的發光微生動物所產生,因為它們在金屬板的船身上溜過,閃光就更加增強。這時,我在陣陣光明的水層中間,突然看到了這些閃光,好像熔在大火爐中的鉛鐵流一樣,或跟燒到白熱的金屬塊一樣;由於對立作用,在這火紅光下有些明亮的部分也變成陰影了。 在這環境中間所有陰影好像都不應當存在。不!這不是我們通常的燃燒發光體的輻射光!在這光中有一種不平常的精力和運動!這光,人們感到它是生動的!活潑的!

   The Nautilus had drifted into the midst of some phosphorescent strata, which, in this darkness, came off as positively dazzling. This effect was caused by myriads of tiny, luminous animals whose brightness increased when they glided over the metal hull of our submersible. In the midst of these luminous sheets of water, I then glimpsed flashes of light, like those seen inside a blazing furnace from streams of molten lead or from masses of metal brought to a white heat--flashes so intense that certain areas of the light became shadows by comparison, in a fiery setting from which every shadow should seemingly have been banished. No, this was no longer the calm emission of our usual lighting! This light throbbed with unprecedented vigor and activity! You sensed that it was alive!

   是的,這是海中點滴微蟲和粟粒夜光蟲無窮無盡的集體的結合,是有細微觸鬚的真正透明小膠球,在三十立方厘的水中,它們的數目可以有二萬五千。又因為有水母、海盤、章魚、海棗以及其他發光植蟲動物(滿浸被海水分解了的有機物體的泡沫,或滿浸魚類所分泌的粘液)特別產生的微光,它們的光更加增強。

   In essence, it was a cluster of countless open-sea infusoria, of noctiluca an eighth of an inch wide, actual globules of transparent jelly equipped with a threadlike tentacle, up to 25,000 of which have been counted in thirty cubic centimeters of water. And the power of their light was increased by those glimmers unique to medusas, starfish, common jellyfish, angel-wing clams, and other phosphorescent zoophytes, which were saturated with grease from organic matter decomposed by the sea, and perhaps with mucus secreted by fish.

   諾第留斯號在這種光輝的海波中浮游了好幾個鐘頭,我看見粗大的海中動物,像火蛇一樣在那裡游來游去,我讚美的情緒更高漲了。 我看見在那裡,在那不發熱的火光中間,有許多美觀、迅速快走的海豬,這是跑來跑去、不感到疲乏的海中丑角,有許多長三米的劍魚,它們是大風暴要來的先知者,它們的巨大劍鋒時常碰在大廳的玻璃上。然後又出現了那些比較小的魚類,各種形樣的箭魚,跳躍的鰭魚,人頭形樣的狼魚,以及成千成百的其他魚類,它們奔跑的時候,在這失明的大氣中,畫成帶子一樣的條條的花紋。

   For several hours the Nautilus drifted in this brilliant tide, and our wonderment grew when we saw huge marine animals cavorting in it, like the fire-dwelling salamanders of myth. In the midst of these flames that didn't burn, I could see swift, elegant porpoises, the tireless pranksters of the seas, and sailfish three meters long, those shrewd heralds of hurricanes, whose fearsome broadswords sometimes banged against the lounge window. Then smaller fish appeared: miscellaneous triggerfish, leather jacks, unicornfish, and a hundred others that left stripes on this luminous atmosphere in their course.

   這種光輝奪目的景象真是迷人心神的魔法!是不是空氣中的一些變化使這種現象更為加強呢?是不是海波上面發生了風暴呢?不過在水下幾米的深度,諾第留斯號並不感到風暴的怒吼,它和平地在安靜的海水中擺來擺去。

   Some magic lay behind this dazzling sight! Perhaps some atmospheric condition had intensified this phenomenon? Perhaps a storm had been unleashed on the surface of the waves? But only a few meters down, the Nautilus felt no tempest's fury, and the ship rocked peacefully in the midst of the calm waters.

   我們就是這樣行駛着,不斷為眼前偽新奇景象所陶醉。康塞爾仍在觀察,他把他的植蟲類、節肢類、軟體類、魚類等搬出來加以分類。日子過得很快,我簡直不能計算了。 尼德-蘭照他的習慣,總想法子把船上日常的事物變換一下。我們是真正的蝸牛,在我們殻中住慣了,我同時又要肯定,成為一個完全的蝸牛也並不是很難的事。

   And so it went, some new wonder constantly delighting us. Conseil observed and classified his zoophytes, articulates, mollusks, and fish. The days passed quickly, and I no longer kept track of them. Ned, as usual, kept looking for changes of pace from our standard fare. Like actual snails, we were at home in our shell, and I can vouch that it's easy to turn into a full-fledged snail.

   因此,這種生活在我們覺得是很方便,很自然,我們並不想象在地球面上還有另一種不同的生活,就在這個時候,發生了一件事情,使我們覺得我們所處地位的離奇古怪。

   So this way of living began to seem simple and natural to us, and we no longer envisioned a different lifestyle on the surface of the planet earth, when something happened to remind us of our strange circumstances.

   1月18日,諾第留斯號到了東經105度和南緯15度的地方。天氣很壞,海上險惡,多風浪。大鳳猛烈地從東方吹來。風雨表好幾天以來就下降了,預告不久將有暴風和雨——海水和空氣的惡鬥。

   On January 18 the Nautilus lay in longitude 105 degrees and latitude 15 degrees south. The weather was threatening, the sea rough and billowy. The wind was blowing a strong gust from the east. The barometer, which had been falling for some days, forecast an approaching struggle of the elements.

   我在船副來測量角度的時候,走到平台上。我等待他照平常的習慣,說每日要說的那句話。可是,那天,這句話被另一句一樣不可懂的話所替了。我立即看見尼摩船長出來,眼睛對著望遠鏡,向天邊隙望。

   I had climbed onto the platform just as the chief officer was taking his readings of hour angles. Out of habit I waited for him to pronounce his daily phrase. But that day it was replaced by a different phrase, just as incomprehensible. Almost at once I saw Captain Nemo appear, lift his spyglass, and inspect the horizon.

   在幾分鐘內,船長站住不動,不離開他目標內的那個點。一會兒,他把鏡子放下,跟船副交換了十多句話。船副好像情緒很激動,沒有法子抑制的樣子。尼摩船長比較有主意,神氣很冷靜。

   For some minutes the captain stood motionless, rooted to the spot contained within the field of his lens. Then he lowered his spyglass and exchanged about ten words with his chief officer. The latter seemed to be in the grip of an excitement he tried in vain to control. More in command of himself, Captain Nemo remained cool.

   他好像提出了些反對的意見,船副帶著肯定明確的語氣回答他。至少,我是從他們的口氣和他們的姿勢作這樣的瞭解。

   Furthermore, he seemed to be raising certain objections that his chief officer kept answering with flat assurances. At least that's what I gathered from their differences in tone and gesture.

   至於我,也細心地注視他們所指的方向,什麼也看不見。夭和水完全清楚地相交在一條水平線上。

   As for me, I stared industriously in the direction under observation but without spotting a thing. Sky and water merged into a perfectly clean horizon line.

   但是,尼摩船長在平台的兩極端間走來走去,沒有留心我,可能沒有看見我。他的腳步很堅定,但沒有平時一樣的規律。他有時停住,兩手交叉在胸前,觀察大海。他要在這個浩瀚的空間中找些什麼呢?諾第留斯號這時距最近的邊岸也已經有好幾百海里了!

   Meanwhile Captain Nemo strolled from one end of the platform to the other, not glancing at me, perhaps not even seeing me. His step was firm but less regular than usual. Sometimes he would stop, cross his arms over his chest, and observe the sea. What could he be looking for over that immense expanse? By then the Nautilus lay hundreds of miles from the nearest coast!

   船副又拿過望遠鏡來,固執地搜索着天際,走來走去,不停地跺腳,他神經質的激動跟船長的冷靜正成一個對比。

   The chief officer kept lifting his spyglass and stubbornly examining the horizon, walking up and down, stamping his foot, in his nervous agitation a sharp contrast to his superior.

   此外,這個神秘必須弄清楚,並且要很快弄清楚,因為船上得到尼摩船長的命令,機器增加推動力,機器轉動更快了。

   But this mystery would inevitably be cleared up, and soon, because Captain Nemo gave orders to increase speed; at once the engine stepped up its drive power, setting the propeller in swifter rotation.

   這個時候,船副重新又要船長小心注意。船長停下腳步來,把望遠鏡向所指的夭邊一點瞭望。他觀察了很久。 至於我,心裡很是納悶,也想知道一些,我走下客廳,在廳中拿了我常用的望遠鏡,回到平台,扶在平台前頭的突出部分,裝設探照燈的籠間上,我就要打算望一望天際和海邊的所有情景了。

   Just then the chief officer drew the captain's attention anew. The latter interrupted his strolling and aimed his spyglass at the point indicated. He observed it a good while. As for me, deeply puzzled, I went below to the lounge and brought back an excellent long-range telescope I habitually used. Leaning my elbows on the beacon housing, which jutted from the stern of the platform, I got set to scour that whole stretch of sky and sea.

   但我的眼睛還沒有挨到鏡面上,望遠鏡就突然被人奪走了。

   But no sooner had I peered into the eyepiece than the instrument was snatched from my hands.

   我轉過身來,尼摩船長站在我面前,我簡直不認識他了,他的面容完全變了。他的眼睛閃着陰沉的火光,從緊促的睫毛中露出來。他的牙齒半露,有些可怕。他直挺的身子,緊握的拳頭,縮在兩肩腫間的腦袋,證明他有了正從他全身發出來的強烈的仇恨。他站着不動。我的望遠鏡從他的手中掉下來,滾到他腳邊。

   I spun around. Captain Nemo was standing before me, but I almost didn't recognize him. His facial features were transfigured. Gleaming with dark fire, his eyes had shrunk beneath his frowning brow. His teeth were half bared. His rigid body, clenched fists, and head drawn between his shoulders, all attested to a fierce hate breathing from every pore. He didn't move. My spyglass fell from his hand and rolled at his feet.

   是我無心引起了他的這種憤怒神氣嗎?是這個神秘不可解的人物認為我看出了諾第留斯號的客人不應當知道的某些秘密嗎?

   Had I accidentally caused these symptoms of anger? Did this incomprehensible individual think I had detected some secret forbidden to guests on the Nautilus?

   不!這仇恨的對象並不是我,因為他並不看我,因為他的眼睛仍然堅定不移地盯着夭際神秘不可知的那一點。

   No! I wasn't the subject of his hate because he wasn't even looking at me; his eyes stayed stubbornly focused on that inscrutable point of the horizon.

   後來尼摩船長又有了主意,鎮定下來。他的臉孔本來是變了樣的,現在又跟從前一樣地安靜下來。他用神秘語言對船副說了幾句活,然後轉身面向着我。

   Finally Captain Nemo regained his self-control. His facial appearance, so profoundly changed, now resumed its usual calm. He addressed a few words to his chief officer in their strange language, then he turned to me:

   “阿龍納斯先生,”他語氣相當激動地對我說,“我要您遵守您跟我約定的那一條款。”

   "Professor Aronnax," he told me in a tone of some urgency, "I ask that you now honor one of the binding agreements between us."

   “船長,是哪一條款呢?”

   "Which one, captain?"

   “您的同伴和您現在都要關起來,直到我認為可以讓你們自由的時候為止。”

   "You and your companions must be placed in confinement until I see fit to set you free."

   “您是主人,”我眼盯着他回答,“我可以向您提一個問題嗎?”

   "You're in command," I answered, gaping at him. "But may I address a question to you?"

   “不,先生。”

   "You may not, sir."

   聽了這活,我沒有可爭論的,只有服從了,因為所有的抗拒都是不可能的。

   After that, I stopped objecting and started obeying, since resistance was useless.

   我走到尼德-蘭和康塞爾所住的艙房中,告訴他們船長所作的決定。讀者可以想象加拿大人得到這消息時是怎樣情形。此外,我們也沒有時間對這事作解釋。四個船員早就等在門口,他們領我們到我們第一夜在諾第留斯號船上住過的那個房間裡。

   I went below to the cabin occupied by Ned Land and Conseil, and I informed them of the captain's decision. I'll let the reader decide how this news was received by the Canadian. In any case, there was no time for explanations. Four crewmen were waiting at the door, and they led us to the cell where we had spent our first night aboard the Nautilus.

   尼德-蘭想質問,但他一進來,門就關上了,當然也得不到回答。

   Ned Land tried to lodge a complaint, but the only answer he got was a door shut in his face.

   “先生可以給我說明這是什麼意思嗎?”康塞爾問我。

   "Will master tell me what this means?" Conseil asked me.

   我把事情的經過告訴了我的同伴。他們跟我一樣驚奇,但也一樣得不到解釋。

   I told my companions what had happened. They were as astonished as I was, but no wiser.

   同時,我作了無窮無盡的思考,尼摩船長面容上所有的那種奇異疑慮老是在我思想中糾纏着,解脫不開。我簡直不能把兩個合理的觀念結合起來,我迷在最荒謬無理的假設中,這個時候,我被尼德-蘭的下面一句話驚醒,從苦心思索中解脫出來了。他說:

   Then I sank into deep speculation, and Captain Nemo's strange facial seizure kept haunting me. I was incapable of connecting two ideas in logical order, and I had strayed into the most absurd hypotheses, when I was snapped out of my mental struggles by these words from Ned Land:

   ‘瞧!午餐端來了!”

   "Well, look here! Lunch is served!"

   可不是,飯桌上都擺好了。顯然是尼摩船長下了開飯的命令,同時他加大諾第留斯號的速度。

   Indeed, the table had been laid. Apparently Captain Nemo had given this order at the same time he commanded the Nautilus to pick up speed.

   “先生答應我說句勸告的話嗎?”康塞爾問我。

   "Will master allow me to make him a recommendation?" Conseil asked me.

   “你可以說,老好人。”我回答。

   "Yes, my boy," I replied.

   “就是請先生快用飯!這樣比較妥當些,因為我們不切道會發生些什麼事呢。”

   "Well, master needs to eat his lunch! It's prudent, because we have no idea what the future holds."

   “你說得對,康塞爾。”

   "You're right, Conseil."

   “很可惜,”尼德-蘭說,“人們只給我吃船上的菜。”

   "Unfortunately," Ned Land said, "they've only given us the standard menu."

   “尼德好朋友,”康塞爾回答,“如果午餐完全沒有,你又將怎樣呢?”

   "Ned my friend," Conseil answered, "what would you say if they'd given us no lunch at all?"

   這話把魚叉手所有的惡罵都打斷了。

   This dose of sanity cut the harpooner's complaints clean off.

   我們坐在桌前吃飯,吃飯的時候大家都不大說話。我吃得很少。康塞爾因為一向謹慎,“勉強”吃。尼德。蘭雖然不樂意,但嘴一下也沒有停。午餐吃完後,我們各自靠着各人的座位。

   We sat down at the table. Our meal proceeded pretty much in silence. I ate very little. Conseil, everlastingly prudent, "force-fed" himself; and despite the menu, Ned Land didn't waste a bite. Then, lunch over, each of us propped himself in a corner.

   這個時候,照亮這房間的光明球熄滅了,我們在漆一般的黑暗中。尼德-蘭不久就睡着了,使我驚異的是,康塞爾也昏沉沉地人睡了。我心中正想他為什麼這樣迫切需要睡眠的時候,我感覺到自己的頭腦也昏沉沉地麻痹起來了。我的兩眼,我想睜着,但不由己地閉上了。一種錯覺紊繞着我,使我感到不適。很顯然,我們吃的飯裡面雜了些安眠藥。那真是要使我們不知道尼摩船長的計劃,關起我們來不夠,又要讓我們好好安睡呢!

   Just then the luminous globe lighting our cell went out, leaving us in profound darkness. Ned Land soon dozed off, and to my astonishment, Conseil also fell into a heavy slumber. I was wondering what could have caused this urgent need for sleep, when I felt a dense torpor saturate my brain. I tried to keep my eyes open, but they closed in spite of me. I was in the grip of anguished hallucinations. Obviously some sleep-inducing substance had been laced into the food we'd just eaten! So imprisonment wasn't enough to conceal Captain Nemo's plans from us-- sleep was needed as well!

   我聽到嵌板關起來了。使入覺得微微轉動的大海波動現在也停止了。那諾第留斯號是離開了洋面嗎?它是回到了靜止不動的水底下嗎?

   Then I heard the hatches close. The sea's undulations, which had been creating a gentle rocking motion, now ceased. Had the Nautilus left the surface of the ocean? Was it reentering the motionless strata deep in the sea?

   我要抗拒睡眠,兩眼睜着。但不可能,我的呼吸逐漸細微了。我覺得一種厲害的冰冷凍住了我的沉重肢體,像癱瘓了的一樣。我的眼皮變為真正的鉛鐵蓋,蓋住我的眼睛。 我再也不能睜開了。一種病態的、滿是錯覺的昏睡侵佔了我整個的身體。不久,幻影隱沒不見,我進入了完全的沉睡中。

   I tried to fight off this drowsiness. It was impossible. My breathing grew weaker. I felt a mortal chill freeze my dull, nearly paralyzed limbs. Like little domes of lead, my lids fell over my eyes. I couldn't raise them. A morbid sleep, full of hallucinations, seized my whole being. Then the visions disappeared and left me in utter oblivion.