The next day, the 17th of April, the sailor’s first words were addressed to Gideon Spilett.
第二天是4月17日，水手的第一句话是对吉迪恩·斯皮莱特说的。

“Well, sir,” he asked, “what shall we do to-day?”
“嗯，先生，”他问道，”今天我们应该做些什么呢？”

“What the captain pleases,” replied the reporter.
“取决于船长的意愿，”记者回答道。

Till then the engineer’s companions had been brickmakers and potters, now they were to become metallurgists.
此前，工程师的伙伴是制砖工和陶工，现在他们将成为冶金学家。

The day before, after breakfast, they had explored as far as the point of Mandible Cape, seven miles distant from the Chimneys. —
前一天，在早餐后，他们探索了距离烟囱七英里远的Mandible角。 —

There, the long series of downs ended, and the soil had a volcanic appearance. —
在那里，漫长的丘陵尽头，土地呈现火山的样子。 —

There were no longer high cliffs as at Prospect Heights, but a strange and capricious border which surrounded the narrow gulf between the two capes, formed of mineral matter, thrown up by the volcano. —
不再有像展望高地那样高的悬崖，而是由火山喷发的矿石构成的奇特而反复无常的边界环绕在两个角之间的狭窄海湾。 —

Arrived at this point the settlers retraced their steps, and at nightfall entered the Chimneys; —
抵达这一点后，定居者折返，黄昏时分进入了烟囱； —

but they did not sleep before the question of knowing whether they could think of leaving Lincoln Island or not was definitely settled.
但他们在确定是否能考虑离开林肯岛之前不会入睡。

The twelve hundred miles which separated the island from the Pomoutous Island was a considerable distance. —
岛屿与Pomoutous岛之间隔着一千二百英里的距离。 —

A boat could not cross it, especially at the approach of the bad season. —
一艘船无法穿越，尤其是在恶劣季节来临时。 —

Pencroft had expressly declared this. Now, to construct a simple boat even with the necessary tools, was a difficult work, and the colonists not having tools they must begin by making hammers, axes, adzes, saws, augers, planes, etc. —
潘克罗夫明确表示了这一点。现在，即使有必要的工具，构建出一艘简单的船也是一项困难的工作，而殖民者们没有工具，他们必须先制作锤子、斧头、凿子、锯子、钻头、刨子等工具。 —

, which would take some time. It was decided, therefore, that they would winter at Lincoln Island, and that they would look for a more comfortable dwelling than the Chimneys, in which to pass the winter months.
这需要一些时间。因此，他们决定在林肯岛过冬，并且要寻找一个比烟囱更舒适的住所来度过寒冷的冬天。

Before anything else could be done it was necessary to make the iron ore, of which the engineer had observed some traces in the northwest part of the island, fit for use by converting it either into iron or into steel.
在做任何其他事情之前，需要将工程师在岛屿西北部观察到的一些铁矿石变成铁或钢，使之适用。

Metals are not generally found in the ground in a pure state. —
金属一般不会在地下以纯净的状态存在。 —

For the most part they are combined with oxygen or sulphur. —
在大部分情形下，它们与氧气或硫结合在一起。 —

Such was the case with the two specimens which Cyrus Harding had brought back, one of magnetic iron, not carbonated, the other a pyrite, also called sulphuret of iron. —
这正是赛勒斯·哈丁带回来的两个样本的情况，一个是磁铁矿，没有碳酸化，另一个是黄铁矿，也称为硫化铁。 —

It was, therefore the first, the oxide of iron, which they must reduce with coal, that is to say, get rid of the oxygen, to obtain it in a pure state. —
因此，他们必须通过与煤一起还原它，也就是去除氧气，以获得它的纯净状态。 —

This reduction is made by subjecting the ore with coal to a high temperature, either by the rapid and easy Catalan method, which has the advantage of transforming the ore into iron in a single operation, or by the blast furnace, which first smelts the ore, then changes it into iron, by carrying away the three to four per cent. —
这种还原是通过将矿石与煤在高温下进行处理来实现的，可以通过迅速简便的加泰罗尼亚法，也就是在一个操作中将矿石转化为铁的方法，或者通过高炉，先将矿石熔化，然后将其转化为铁，带走三到四个百分比的与其结合的煤。 —

of coal, which is combined with it.
这里提到的是含有矿石和煤的还原。

Now Cyrus Harding wanted iron, and he wished to obtain it as soon as possible. —
现在赛勒斯·哈丁想要铁，他希望尽快获得它。 —

The ore which he had picked up was in itself very pure and rich. —
他捡到的矿石本身非常纯净丰富。 —

It was the oxydulous iron, which is found in confused masses of a deep gray color; —
它是氧化亚铁，这种深灰色的混乱块状物； —

it gives a black dust, crystallized in the form of the regular octahedron. —
它产生黑色粉末，结晶成正八面体的形式。 —

Native lodestones consist of this ore, and iron of the first quality is made in Europe from that with which Sweden and Norway are so abundantly supplied. —
原生磁石由这种矿石组成，欧洲生产的第一品质铁就是由瑞典和挪威丰富供应的矿石制成的。 —

Not far from this vein was the vein of coal already made use of by the settlers. —
不远处是已经被定居者利用的煤矿。 —

The ingredients for the manufacture being close together would greatly facilitate the treatment of the ore. —
制造的原料相距很近，将极大地促进矿石的处理。 —

This is the cause of the wealth of the mines in Great Britain, where the coal aids the manufacture of the metal extracted from the same soil at the same time as itself.
这就是英国矿山富庶的原因，那里的煤矿促进了从同一土壤中同时提取金属的制造过程。

“Then, captain,” said Pencroft, “we are going to work iron ore?”
“那么，船长”，潘克罗夫说，“我们要开采铁矿吗？”

“Yes, my friend,” replied the engineer, “and for that–something which will please you–we must begin by having a seal hunt on the islet.”
“是的，我的朋友”，工程师回答，“为此——你会喜欢的——我们必须先在小岛上进行海豹猎捕。”

“A seal hunt!” cried the sailor, turning towards Gideon Spilett. “Are seals needed to make iron?”
“海豹猎捕！”水手朝着吉迪恩·斯派莱特转过身去。“需要海豹来产生铁吗？”

“Since Cyrus has said so!” replied the reporter.
“自从赛勒斯说了！”记者回答。

But the engineer had already left the Chimneys, and Pencroft prepared for the seal hunt, without having received any other explanation.
但是工程师已经离开烟囱，潘克罗夫准备好进行海豹猎捕，却没有得到其他解释。

Cyrus Harding, Herbert, Gideon Spilett, Neb, and the sailor were soon collected on the shore, at a place where the channel left a ford passable at low tide. —
赛勒斯·哈丁、赫伯特、吉迪恩·斯派莱特、内布和水手很快聚集在离潮汐低时可通行的浅滩处。 —

The hunters could therefore traverse it without getting wet higher than the knee.
猎人们因此能够在不湿到膝盖的情况下穿过。

Harding then put his foot on the islet for the first, and his companions for the second time.
哈丁当时第一次踏上小岛，而他的同伴则是第二次。

On their landing some hundreds of penguins looked fearlessly at them. —
他们登陆时，数百只企鹅无畏地看着他们。 —

The hunters, armed with sticks, could have killed them easily, but they were not guilty of such useless massacre, as it was important not to frighten the seals, who were lying on the sand several cable lengths off. —
那些拿着棍子的猎人们本可以轻松地杀死它们，但他们并没有犯下那样毫无意义的屠杀罪行，因为重要的是不要吓到那些躺在离海滩几个缆位远的海豹。 —

They also respected certain innocent-looking birds, whose wings were reduced to the state of stumps, spread out like fins, ornamented with feathers of a scaly appearance. —
他们还尊重某些看起来无辜的鸟类，它们的翅膀已经变成了翅膀状态的残骸，张开像鳍一样的衔羽。 —

The settlers, therefore, prudently advanced towards the north point, walking over ground riddled with little holes, which formed nests for the sea-birds. —
因此，定居者们谨慎地朝着北点前进，走过布满小洞的土地，这些洞为海鸟提供了筑巢的地方。 —

Towards the extremity of the islet appeared great black heads floating just above the water, having exactly the appearance of rocks in motion.
在小岛的尽头，出现了在水面上方漂浮的巨大黑色头部，看起来正是在移动的岩石。

These were the seals which were to be captured. —
这些就是将要被捕获的海豹。 —

It was necessary, however, first to allow them to land, for with their close, short hair, and their fusiform conformation, being excellent swimmers, it is difficult to catch them in the sea, while on land their short, webbed feet prevent their having more than a slow, waddling movement.
然而，首先需要让它们登陆，因为它们的短而密的毛发和长圆形的身体结构使它们成为出色的游泳者，在海中很难抓住它们，而在陆地上，它们短矮的、有蹼的脚防止它们有更快的移动速度。

Pencroft knew the habits of these creatures, and he advised waiting till they were stretched on the sand, when the sun, before long, would send them to sleep. —
彭克罗夫了解这些动物的习性，他建议等待它们躺在沙滩上，然后用太阳不久会让它们入睡。 —

They must then manage to cut off their retreat and knock them on the head.
他们必须设法切断它们的撤退路线并给它们致命一击。

The hunters, having concealed themselves behind the rocks, waited silently.
猎人们把自己藏在岩石后面，默默等待。

An hour passed before the seals came to play on the sand. They could count half a dozen. —
一个小时过去了，海豹才来到沙滩上玩耍。它们足有半打。 —

Pencroft and Herbert then went round the point of the islet, so as to take them in the rear, and cut off their retreat. —
彭克罗夫和赫伯特绕过小岛的尖端，准备从后面出击，切断它们的撤退路线。 —

During this time Cyrus Harding, Spilett, and Neb, crawling behind the rocks, glided towards the future scene of combat.
与此同时，赛勒斯·哈定、斯皮莱特和尼布躲在岩石后面，悄无声息地朝着未来的战斗场面滑去。

All at once the tall figure of the sailor appeared. Pencroft shouted. —
突然，水手高大的身影出现了。彭克罗夫大喊。 —

The engineer and his two companions threw themselves between the sea and the seals. —
工程师和他的两位同伴投身在海豹和海之间。 —

Two of the animals soon lay dead on the sand, but the rest regained the sea in safety.
两只动物很快就倒在沙滩上，但其余的安全地重返了海洋。

“Here are the seals required, captain!” said the sailor, advancing towards the engineer.
“船长，这是需要的海豹皮！”水手走向工程师说道。

“Capital,” replied Harding. “We will make bellows of them!”
“太好了，”哈丁回答道。“我们将用它们做风箱！”

“Bellows!” cried Pencroft. “Well! these are lucky seals!”
“风箱！”彭克罗夫喊道。“那简直是幸运的海豹！”

It was, in fact, a blowing-machine, necessary for the treatment of the ore that the engineer wished to manufacture with the skins of the amphibious creatures. —
事实上，这是一台吹风机，工程师打算用两栖动物的皮制造矿石处理设备所需。 —

They were of a medium size, for their length did not exceed six feet. —
它们是中等大小的，因为它们的长度不超过六英尺。 —

They resembled a dog about the head.
它们在头部有点像狗。

As it was useless to burden themselves with the weight of both the animals, Neb and Pencroft resolved to skin them on the spot, while Cyrus Harding and the reporter continued to explore the islet.
既然没有必要携带两只动物的重量，内布和彭克罗夫决定当场剥皮，而赛勒斯·哈丁和记者继续探索小岛。

The sailor and the Negro cleverly performed the operation, and three hours afterwards Cyrus Harding had at his disposal two seals’ skins, which he intended to use in this state, without subjecting them to any tanning process.
水手和黑人巧妙地执行了这个操作，三个小时后，赛勒斯·哈丁手头有两块海豹皮，他打算在未经任何鞣制过程的情况下使用。

The settlers waited till the tide was again low, and crossing the channel they entered the Chimneys.
定居者们等待潮水再次退去，穿过海峡进入烟囱。

The skins had then to be stretched on a frame of wood and sewn by means of fibers so as to preserve the air without allowing too much to escape. —
然后这些皮必须拉在木架上，用纤维缝合，这样才能保留空气而不过多泄露。 —

Cyrus Harding had nothing but the two steel blades from Top’s collar, and yet he was so clever, and his companions aided him with so much intelligence, that three days afterwards the little colony’s stock of tools was augmented by a blowing-machine, destined to inject the air into the midst of the ore when it should be subjected to heat–an indispensable condition to the success of the operation.
赛勒斯·哈丁只有Top项圈上的两片钢刀，但他如此熟练，他的同伴们又如此聪明，以至于三天后小殖民地的工具库里增加了一台吹风机，旨在在矿石受热时将空气注入其中——这是操作成功的必要条件。

On the morning of the 20th of April began the “metallic period,” as the reporter called it in his notes. —
4月20日早上开始了”金属时期”，正如记者在他的笔记中所称的那样。 —

The engineer had decided, as has been said, to operate near the veins both of coal and ore. —
工程师已经决定，正如他所说的，要在煤矿和矿石的矿脉附近操作。 —

Now, according to his observations, these veins were situated at the foot of the northeast spurs of Mount Franklin, that is to say, a distance of six miles from their home. —
根据他的观察，这些矿脉位于富兰克林山东北山脉的脚下，也就是说，离他们的家有六英里的距离。 —

It was impossible, therefore, to return every day to the Chimneys, and it was agreed that the little colony should camp under a hut of branches, so that the important operation could be followed night and day.
因此每天返回烟囱是不可能的，因此他们决定小殖民地应该在树枝棚下安营扎寨，这样可以白天黑夜地进行这个重要操作。

This settled, they set out in the morning. Neb and Pencroft dragged the bellows on a hurdle; —
定下计划后，他们在早晨出发了。宁巴和潘克洛夫用推车拖着熟风炉。 —

also a quantity of vegetables and animals, which they besides could renew on the way.
还有一些蔬菜和动物，他们还可以在路上补充。

The road led through Jacamar Wood, which they traversed obliquely from southeast to northwest, and in the thickest part. —
这条路经过了亚马木，他们在最浓密的地方斜穿，从东南到西北。 —

It was necessary to beat a path, which would in the future form the most direct road to Prospect Heights and Mount Franklin. —
他们需要打通一条道路，以后成为通往前景高地和富兰克林山最直接的道路。 —

The trees, belonging to the species already discovered, were magnificent. —
那些树，属于已发现的物种，非常宏伟。 —

Herbert found some new ones, among others some which Pencroft called “sham leeks”; —
赫伯特发现了一些新的物种，其中包括潘克洛夫称之为“假韭葱”的植物； —

for, in spite of their size, they were of the same liliaceous family as the onion, chive, shallot, or asparagus. —
因为尽管它们体型庞大，却和洋葱、韭葱、青葱或芦笋属于百合科。 —

These trees produce ligneous roots which, when cooked, are excellent; —
这些树产生木质根，烹煮后味道极佳； —

from them, by fermentation, a very agreeable liquor is made. —
通过发酵，可以制作出一种非常愉悦的酒精饮料。 —

They therefore made a good store of the roots.
因此他们存了一些树根。

The journey through the wood was long; it lasted the whole day, and so allowed plenty of time for examining the flora and fauna. —
通过树林的旅行很长；整天都在进行，因此有充足的时间来检查植物群和动物群。 —

Top, who took special charge of the fauna, ran through the grass and brushwood, putting up all sorts of game. —
布兹负责特别关注动物，奔跑在草丛和灌木丛中，惊起各种野禽。 —

Herbert and Gideon Spilett killed two kangaroos with bows and arrows, and also an animal which strongly resembled both a hedgehog and an ant-eater. —
赫伯特和吉迪恩·斯皮莱特用弓箭打死了两只袋狸，还有一只动物看起来非常像刺猬和食蚁兽。 —

It was like the first because it rolled itself into a ball, and bristled with spines, and the second because it had sharp claws, a long slender snout which terminated in a bird’s beak, and an extendible tongue, covered with little thorns which served to hold the insects.
它像刺猬因为能卷成一个球，长满刺；像食蚁兽因为有锋利的爪子、长而纤细的喙，喙末端像鸟喙那样，还有可以伸缩的舌头，覆盖着小刺，用来抓住昆虫。

“And when it is in the pot,” asked Pencroft naturally, “what will it be like?”
“那它煮熟后会是什么样子？” 当然，潘克洛夫问道。

“An excellent piece of beef,” replied Herbert.
“一个优秀的肉块，”赫伯特回答道。

“We will not ask more from it,” replied the sailor,
“我们不会再要求更多了，”水手回答道。

During this excursion they saw several wild boars, which however, did not offer to attack the little band, and it appeared as if they would not meet with any dangerous beasts; —
在这次远足中，他们看到了几只野猪，不过，它们并没有袭击这支小队，看起来他们不会遇到任何危险的野兽； —

when, in a thick part of the wood, the reporter thought he saw, some paces from him, among the lower branches of a tree, an animal which he took for a bear, and which he very tranquilly began to draw. —
当在树林的茂密地带，记者认为他看见离他几步远的地方，树下的低枝间有一只动物，他认为是一只熊，开始很平静地画起来。 —

Happily for Gideon Spilett, the animal in question did not belong to the redoubtable family of the plantigrades. —
幸运的是，对于吉迪恩·斯皮莱特来说，所说的动物并不属于可怕的灰色动物家族。 —

It was only a koala, better known under the name of the sloth, being about the size of a large dog, and having stiff hair of a dirty color, the paws armed with strong claws, which enabled it to climb trees and feed on the leaves. —
它只是一只考拉，人们更熟知它叫树懒，大小约相当于一只大狗，长着颜色脏脏的僵硬毛发，爪子上生有尖利的爪子，使它能够攀爬树并吃树叶。 —

Having identified the animal, which they did not disturb, Gideon Spilett erased “bear” from the title of his sketch, putting koala in its place, and the journey was resumed.
识别出来的动物，他们没有打扰，吉迪恩·斯皮莱特把他的速写标题中的“熊”擦掉，换成考拉，继续旅程。

At five o’clock in the evening, Cyrus Harding gave the signal to halt. —
下午五点，赛勒斯·哈丁发出了停下来的信号。 —

They were now outside the forest, at the beginning of the powerful spurs which supported Mount Franklin towards the west. —
他们现在离开了森林，在支撑富兰克林山向西的强大支脉的开始处。 —

At a distance of some hundred feet flowed the Red Creek, and consequently plenty of fresh water was within their reach.
几百英尺外流淌着红溪，因此他们可以轻易获得充足的淡水。

The camp was soon organized. In less than an hour, on the edge of the forest, among the trees, a hut of branches interlaced with creepers, and pasted over with clay, offered a tolerable shelter. —
在树木之间，在边缘处，不到一个小时的时间里，一座由树枝交织而成的小屋，爬满了藤蔓，并涂抹了粘土，提供了一个相当不错的庇护所。 —

Their geological researches were put off till the next day. —
他们的地质研究被推迟到第二天。 —

Supper was prepared, a good fire blazed before the hut, the roast turned, and at eight o’clock, while one of the settlers watched to keep up the fire, in case any wild beasts should prowl in the neighborhood, the others slept soundly.
晚餐已经准备好，小屋前燃起熊熊炽火，烤肉翻转着，晚上八点，一个定居者看着保持篝火，以防野兽在附近游荡，其他人则安然入睡。

The next day, the 21st of April, Cyrus Harding accompanied by Herbert, went to look for the soil of ancient formation, on which he had already discovered a specimen of ore. —
第二天，4月21日，赛勒斯·哈丁和赫伯特一起去寻找他已经发现含矿石的古老形成的土壤。 —

They found the vein above ground, near the source of the creek, at the foot of one of the northeastern spurs. —
在溪流源头附近的地面上，他们发现矿脉，位于东北支脉之一的山脚下。 —

This ore, very rich in iron, enclosed in its fusible veinstone, was perfectly suited to the mode of reduction which the engineer intended to employ; —
这块含铁量极高的矿石，被包裹在易熔的脉石中，非常适合工程师打算采用的还原方式； —

that is, the Catalan method, but simplified, as it is used in Corsica. —
也就是卡特兰法，但简化了，在科西嘉岛上使用； —

In fact, the Catalan method, properly so called, requires the construction of kilns and crucibles, in which the ore and the coal, placed in alternate layers, are transformed and reduced, But Cyrus Harding intended to economize these constructions, and wished simply to form, with the ore and the coal, a cubic mass, to the center of which he would direct the wind from his bellows. —
实际上，真正的卡特兰法需要建造炉灶和坩埚，在其中，矿石和煤炭交替放置，被转化和还原，但赛勒斯·哈丁打算节省这些建造，只是希望用矿石和煤炭构成一个立方体块，将风从吹气机输送到其中心； —

Doubtless, it was the proceeding employed by Tubalcain, and the first metallurgists of the inhabited world. —
当然，这正是土班加的做法，以及有居住生活世界中第一批冶金师们所采用的； —

Now that which had succeeded with the grandson of Adam, and which still yielded good results in countries which in ore and fuel, could not but succeed with the settlers in Lincoln Island.
现在，在拥有足够矿石和燃料的国家，已经成功的东西不可能在林肯岛的定居者那里失败；

The coal, as well as the ore, was collected without trouble on the surface of the ground. —
煤炭以及矿石都可以在地面上轻松地收集； —

They first broke the ore into little pieces, and cleansed them with the hand from the impurities which soiled their surface. —
他们首先将矿石打碎成小块，并用手清洁其表面的杂质； —

Then coal and ore were arranged in heaps and in successive layers, as the charcoal-burner does with the wood which he wishes to carbonize. —
然后，将煤炭和矿石堆叠在一起，逐层排列，就像木炭生产者对他想炭化的木材所做的那样； —

In this way, under the influence of the air projected by the blowing-machine, the coal would be transformed into carbonic acid, then into oxide of carbon, its use being to reduce the oxide of iron, that is to say, to rid it of the oxygen.
这样，在吹气机送入的空气的影响下，煤炭将转化为二氧化碳，然后再转化为一氧化碳，其作用是减轻铁的氧化物，换句话说，将氧化物中的氧气除掉；

Thus the engineer proceeded. The bellows of sealskin, furnished at its extremity with a nozzle of clay, which had been previously fabricated in the pottery kiln, was established near the heap of ore. —
因此，工程师开始工作了，利用由海豹皮制成的吹气机，在末端配备了一个事先在陶器窑中制造的粘土喷嘴，设在矿石堆附近； —

Using the mechanism which consisted of a frame, cords of fiber and counterpoise, he threw into the mass an abundance of air, which by raising the temperature also concurred with the chemical transformation to produce in time pure iron.
通过一个由框架、纤维绳和平衡块组成的机制，他向矿石堆投入大量空气，通过提高温度同时与化学变化共同作用，以时间生产纯铁；

The operation was difficult. All the patience, all the ingenuity of the settlers was needed; —
操作困难，需要定居者所有的耐心和智慧； —

but at last it succeeded, and the result was a lump of iron, reduced to a spongy state, which it was necessary to shingle and fagot, that is to say, to forge so as to expel from it the liquefied veinstone. —
但最终成功了，结果是一块变成海绵状的铁块，需要锤炼和扎把，也就是说，需要锻造以排出其中的液化脉石； —

These amateur smiths had, of course, no hammer; —
这些业余铁匠当然没有锤子； —

but they were in no worse a situation than the first metallurgist, and therefore did what, no doubt, he had to do.
但他们并不比第一位冶金师处境差，因此做了他们很可能也要做的事情。

A handle was fixed to the first lump, and was used as a hammer to forge the second on a granite anvil, and thus they obtained a coarse but useful metal. —
一个把手固定在第一个锭上，用作锤子，在花岗岩砧上锻造第二个锭，这样他们获得了粗糙但有用的金属。 —

At length, after many trials and much fatigue, on the 25th of April several bars of iron were forged, and transformed into tools, crowbars, pincers, pickaxes, spades, etc. —
最终，在许多次尝试和辛苦后，在4月25日锻造了几根铁条，并变成了工具，撬棍，钳子，镐，铁锹等。 —

, which Pencroft and Neb declared to be real jewels. —
宾克劳夫和内布宣称这些是真正的宝石。 —

But the metal was not yet in its most serviceable state, that is, of steel. —
但这金属还没有达到最实用的状态，也就是钢铁。 —

Now steel is a combination of iron and coal, which is extracted, either from the liquid ore, by taking from it the excess of coal, or from the iron by adding to it the coal which was wanting. —
现在钢是铁和煤的结合体，可以从液体矿石中提取，通过从中取出多余的煤，或者通过向铁中添加缺少的煤来获得。 —

The first, obtained by the decarburation of the metal, gives natural or puddled steel; —
第一种是通过金属的脱碳获得的，形成了天然或熔炼的钢； —

the second, produced by the carburation of the iron, gives steel of cementation.
第二种是通过对铁的碳化来获得，产生了碳化钢。

It was the last which Cyrus Harding intended to forge, as he possessed iron in a pure state. —
辛元船长打算锻造后者，因为他拥有纯度高的铁。 —

He succeeded by heating the metal with powdered coal in a crucible which had previously been manufactured from clay suitable for the purpose.
他通过在事先用于此目的的黏土制成的坩埚中加热金属和粉煤成功。

He then worked this steel, which is malleable both when hot or cold, with the hammer. —
他然后用锤子加工这种熔点低的钢，无论是在热的还是冷的状态下都是可锻的。 —

Neb and Pencroft, cleverly directed, made hatchets, which, heated red-hot, and plunged suddenly into cold water, acquired an excellent temper.
内布和宾克劳夫灵巧地操作，制作了热红的斧头，迅速浸入冷水中，获得了极好的强度。

Other instruments, of course roughly fashioned, were also manufactured; —
当然还制造了其他粗糙的工具； —

blades for planes, axes, hatchets, pieces of steel to be transformed into saws, chisels; —
刨刀，斧头，可以变成锯，凿子的钢片； —

then iron for spades, pickaxes, hammers, nails, etc. —
还有用于铲子，镐，锤子，钉子等的铁。 —

At last, on the 5th of May, the metallic period ended, the smiths returned to the Chimneys, and new work would soon authorize them to take a fresh title.
最后，在5月5日，金属时期结束了，铁匠们回到了烟囱，新的工作很快就会让他们获得新的头衔。