海底兩萬里 第203期 第15章 一封邀請信(5)

Without trying to reconcile the contradictions between Captain Nemo's professed horror of continents or islands and his invitation to go hunting in a forest,I was content to reply:

尼摩船長本來是討厭大陸和島嶼的，現在反來邀我們去林中打獵，這矛盾我不想去求得解釋，只是滿意地說。

First let's look into this Crespo Island.

我們先看看克利斯波島是個什么樣的地方。

I consulted the world map; and in latitude 32 degrees 40' north and longitude 167 degrees 50' west, I found an islet that had been discovered in 1801 by Captain Crespo, which old Spanish charts called Rocca de la Plata, in other words, Silver Rock.

我于是查平面地圖，在北緯32度40分，西經167度50分的地方，找到一個小島，它是1801年由克利斯波船長發(fā)現的，古老的西班牙地圖叫它洛加·德拉·蒲拉達，意譯過來就是銀石。

So we were about 1,800 miles from our starting point, and by a slight change of heading, the Nautilus was bringing us back toward the southeast.

所以我們現在距出發(fā)點約為一千八百海里，諾第留斯號行駛的方向有些改變了，它現在又向東南方駛去。

I showed my companions this small, stray rock in the middle of the north Pacific.

我把這個處在太平洋北部的小島指給我的同伴看。

If Captain Nemo does sometimes go ashore, I told them, at least he only picks desert islands!

我對他們說：尼摩船長即使偶然想上陸地，他一定也要選擇那些荒涼無人的地方。

Ned Land shook his head without replying; then he and Conseil left me. After supper was served me by the mute and emotionless steward, I fell asleep; but not without some anxieties.

尼德·蘭搖搖頭，不答話，一會，康塞爾和他都走開了。不動聲色的管事人給我端來晚餐,我用過晚餐以后，心里盤算著明天的事，很久才入睡。

When I woke up the next day, November 17, I sensed that the Nautilus was completely motionless. I dressed hurriedly and entered the main lounge.

第二天，11月7日，我醒來，覺得諾第留斯號不動了。我趕忙穿上衣服，走進了客廳。

Captain Nemo was there waiting for me. He stood up, bowed, and asked if it suited me to come along.

尼摩船長已經在廳里等著我了，他看見我，使站起來向我招呼，問我們跟他一同去打獵有什么不方便沒有。

Since he made no allusion to his absence the past eight days, I also refrained from mentioning it, and I simply answered that my companions and I were ready to go with him.

既然他一點不提他八天不露面的原因，我也不便打聽，所以只是干脆地回答說，我的同伴和我都很樂意跟他去打獵。

Only, sir, I added, I'll take the liberty of addressing a question to you.

不過，我又補上一句，先生，請允許我向您提一個問題。