This intense cold lasted till the 15th of August, without, however, passing the degree of Fahrenheit already mentioned. —
这种强烈的寒冷一直持续到8月15日，然而，并没有达到已经提到的华氏度。 —

When the atmosphere was calm, the low temperature was easily borne, but when the wind blew, the poor settlers, insufficiently clothed, felt it severely. —
当大气平静时，低温很容易忍受，但当风吹时，衣着不足的可怜的居民感觉到严重。 —

Pencroft regretted that Lincoln Island was not the home of a few families of bears rather than of so many foxes and seals.
彭克罗夫后悔林肯岛不是几个家庭的家园，而是如此多的狐狸和海豹。

“Bears,” said he, “are generally very well dressed, and I ask no more than to borrow for the winter the warm cloaks which they have on their backs.”
“熊一般穿着很好，我只要借用他们背上的暖和斗篷度过冬天。”

“But,” replied Neb, laughing, “perhaps the bears would not consent to give you their cloaks, Pencroft. —
“但是，”尼布笑着回答道，“也许熊不会同意给你他们的斗篷，彭克罗夫。 —

These beasts are not St. Martins.”
这些野兽不是圣马丁。”

“We would make them do it, Neb, we would make them,” replied Pencroft, in quite an authoritative tone.
“我们会让他们同意的，尼布，我们会让他们同意的。” 彭克罗夫以相当有权威的口气回答道。

But these formidable carnivora did not exist in the island, or at any rate they had not yet shown themselves.
但是这些可怕的食肉动物并不存在于这个岛上，或者至少它们还没有露面。

In the meanwhile, Herbert, Pencroft, and the reporter occupied themselves with making traps on Prospect Heights and at the border of the forest.
与此同时，赫伯特、彭克罗夫和记者忙于在前景山和森林边缘设置陷阱。

According to the sailor, any animal, whatever it was, would be a lawful prize, and the rodents or carnivora which might get into the new snares would be well received at Granite House.
根据水手的说法，无论是什么动物，都将是合法的猎物，进入新陷阱的啮齿动物或食肉动物将在花岗岩屋受到欢迎。

The traps were besides extremely simple; being pits dug in the ground, a platform of branches and grass above, which concealed the opening, and at the bottom some bait, the scent of which would attract animals. —
陷阱另外极为简单；是地面上挖的坑，上面是由树枝和草构成的平台，遮盖了洞口，底部放有一些能吸引动物气味的诱饵。 —

It must be mentioned also, that they had not been dug at random, but at certain places where numerous footprints showed that quadrupeds frequented the ground. —
还必须提到的是，它们不是随意挖的，而是在那些大量脚印显示出四足动物经常出没的地方。 —

They were visited every day, and at three different times, during the first days, specimens of those Antarctic foxes which they had already seen on the right bank of the Mercy were found in them.
每天都会去检查它们，最初几天里，在那些已经在麦尔西河右岸见过的南极狐狸中，三次都在陷阱里找到了样本。

“Why, there are nothing but foxes in this country!” —
“为什么这个国家只有狐狸呢！” —

cried Pencroft, when for the third time he drew one of the animals out of the pit. —
彭克罗夫在第三次把其中一只动物从坑里拉出来时喊道。 —

Looking at it in great disgust, he added, “beasts which are good for nothing!”
他厌恶地看着它，补充道，“这群毫无用处的畜生！”

“Yes,” said Gideon Spilett, “they are good for something!”
“是的，”吉迪恩·斯彼雷特说道，“它们还是有点用处的！”

“And what is that?”
“那是什么？”

“To make bait to attract other creatures!”
“用来引诱其他动物的诱饵！”

The reporter was right, and the traps were henceforward baited with the foxes carcasses.
记者说得没错，陷阱从那时起就用狐狸尸体作为诱饵。

The sailor had also made snares from the long tough fibers of a certain plant, and they were even more successful than the traps. —
水手还用某种植物的坚韧纤维制作了套索，它们比陷阱更成功。 —

Rarely a day passed without some rabbits from the warren being caught. —
每天都会有些兔子从兔坑里被捕捉。 —

It was always rabbit, but Neb knew how to vary his sauces and the settlers did not think of complaining.
虽然一直都是兔肉，但尼布知道如何改变调味，殖民者们也没有抱怨的想法。

However, once or twice in the second week of August, the traps supplied the hunters with other animals more useful than foxes, namely, several of those small wild boars which had already been seen to the north of the lake. —
然而，八月第二周中的一两天，陷阱为猎人们提供了除了狐狸以外更有用的动物，即，那些已经在湖的北部见到的几只小野猪。 —

Pencroft had no need to ask if these beasts were eatable. —
潘克罗夫没有必要问这些野兽是否可食用。 —

He could see that by their resemblance to the pig of America and Europe.
他可以通过它们与美洲和欧洲的猪的相似性看出来。

“But these are not pigs,” said Herbert to him, “I warn you of that, Pencroft.”
“但这些不是猪，”赫伯特对他说，“我警告过你了，潘克罗夫。”

“My boy,” replied the sailor, bending over the trap and drawing out one of these representatives of the family of sus by the little appendage which served it as a tail. —
“老实说，”水手弯下腰，用作尾巴的小附属物将这些猪科代表之一从陷阱中拽了出来。 —

“Let me believe that these are pigs.”
“让我相信这些是猪。”

“Why?”
“为什么？”

“Because that pleases me!”
“因为那让我高兴！”

“Are you very fond of pig then, Pencroft?”
“你很喜欢猪吗，潘克罗夫？”

“I am very fond of pig,” replied the sailor, “particularly of its feet, and if it had eight instead of four, I should like it twice as much!”
“我非常喜欢猪，”水手回答道，“特别是它们的脚，如果它们有八只脚而不是四只，我会喜欢它们两倍！”

As to the animals in question, they were peccaries belonging to one of the four species which are included in the family, and they were also of the species of Tajacu, recognizable by their deep color and the absence of those long teeth with which the mouths of their congeners are armed. —
至于这些动物，它们是貘猪，属于家族中的四个物种之一，它们也属于塔亚库物种，因其深色和嘴巴上那些长长的牙齿的缺失而可识别。 —

These peccaries generally live in herds, and it was probable that they abounded in the woody parts of the island.
这些貘猪通常成群结队生活，很可能在岛上的树木茂密的地方有很多。

At any rate, they were eatable from head to foot, and Pencroft did not ask more from them.
总之，从头到脚都可以吃，潘克罗夫对它们不再要求更多。

Towards the 15th of August, the state of the atmosphere was suddenly moderated by the wind shifting to the northwest. —
到了八月十五日左右，大气的状态突然被从西北方向转来的风所调和。 —

The temperature rose some degrees, and the accumulated vapor in the air was not long in resolving into snow. —
气温上升了几度，空气中积聚的水汽不久便凝结成了雪。 —

All the island was covered with a sheet of white, and showed itself to its inhabitants under a new aspect. —
整个岛屿被一层白雪覆盖，以全新的面貌呈现给它的居民。 —

The snow fell abundantly for several days, and it soon reached a thickness of two feet.
雪持续下了几天，很快积厚达两英尺。

The wind also blew with great violence, and at the height of Granite House the sea could be heard thundering against the reefs. —
风也刮得很猛烈，在格兰特别墅的高处，可以听到大海在礁石上奔涌的声音。 —

In some places, the wind, eddying round the corners, formed the snow into tall whirling columns, resembling those waterspouts which turn round on their base, and which vessels attack with a shot from a gun. —
在一些地方，风绕着拐角的时候，把雪堆成了高高的旋转柱，类似于那些围绕自身旋转的漩涡，船只用大炮攻击它们。 —

However, the storm, coming from the northwest, blew across the island, and the position of Granite House preserved it from a direct attack.
然而，来自西北方向的风吹过岛屿，格兰特别墅的位置使其免受直接的攻击。

But in the midst of this snow-storm, as terrible as if it had been produced in some polar country, neither Cyrus Harding nor his companions could, notwithstanding their wish for it, venture forth, and they remained shut up for five days, from the 20th to the 25th of August. —
但就在这场雪暴中，就像是在某个极地国家制造的一样可怕，尽管赫丁和他的同伴们渴望出门，他们却无法冒险出去，从八月二十日到二十五日闭门不出。 —

They could hear the tempest raging in Jacamar Wood, which would surely suffer from it. —
他们可以听到暴风雨在雅卡玛尔森林肆虐，那里肯定会受到严重影响。 —

Many of the trees would no doubt be torn up by the roots, but Pencroft consoled himself by thinking that he would not have the trouble of cutting them down.
很多树木很可能会被连根拔起，但潘克洛夫安慰自己，想到他不用费劲砍倒它们。

“The wind is turning woodman, let it alone,” he repeated.
“风已经变了，伐木工，别管它了，”他一再重复道。

Besides, there was no way of stopping it, if they had wished to do so.
况且，即使他们希望停下来，也没有办法。

How grateful the inhabitants of Granite House then were to Heaven for having prepared for them this solid and immovable retreat! —
当时，花岗岩屋的居民对上天准备好这个坚固而坚定的庇护所心怀感激！ —

Cyrus Harding had also his legitimate share of thanks, but after all, it was Nature who had hollowed out this vast cavern, and he had only discovered it. —
锡勒斯·哈丁也应得到他合法的感谢，但毕竟，是大自然挖掘了这个巨大的洞穴，他只是发现了它。 —

There all were in safety, and the tempest could not reach them. —
在那里，所有人都是安全的，暴风雨无法到达他们。 —

If they had constructed a house of bricks and wood on Prospect Heights, it certainly would not have resisted the fury of this storm. —
如果他们在展望山上建起砖瓦和木屋，肯定无法抵御这场风暴的狂怒。 —

As to the Chimneys, it must have been absolutely uninhabitable, for the sea, passing over the islet, would beat furiously against it. —
至于烟囱，它肯定是绝对无法居住的，因为海水会在小岛上扑打。 —

But here, in Granite House, in the middle of a solid mass, over which neither the sea nor air had any influence, there was nothing to fear.
但是在花岗岩屋内，在一团不受海洋和空气影响的坚固物质中，没有什么可担心的。

During these days of seclusion the settlers did not remain inactive.
在这段隔离期间，居民们并没有闲着。

There was no want of wood, cut up into planks, in the storeroom, and little by little they completed their furnishing; —
储藏室里没有木料的问题，他们逐渐完成了家具建造； —

constructing the most solid of tables and chairs, for material was not spared. —
制作出最结实的桌子和椅子，因为他们并没有吝啬材料。 —

Neb and Pencroft were very proud of this rather heavy furniture, which they would not have changed on any account.
尼布和潘克洛夫对这些相当厚重的家具感到非常自豪，他们绝对不会为任何事物改变它们。

Then the carpenters became basket-makers, and they did not succeed badly in this new manufacture. —
然后，木匠们成为了编篮者，在这个新的制造行业中，他们做得并不差。 —

At the point of the lake which projected to the north, they had discovered an osier-bed in which grew a large number of purple osiers. —
在湖泊向北突出的一点，他们发现了一个生长大量紫色柳条的柳林。 —

Before the rainy season, Pencroft and Herbert had cut down these useful shrubs, and their branches, well prepared, could now be effectively employed. —
在雨季来临之前，潘克罗夫和赫伯特砍下了这些有用的灌木，他们事先精心准备好的树枝现在可以得到有效地利用。 —

The first attempts were somewhat crude, but in consequence of the cleverness and intelligence of the workmen, by consulting, and recalling the models which they had seen, and by emulating each other, the possessions of the colony were soon increased by several baskets of different sizes. —
最初的尝试有些粗糙，但由于工人们的聪明才智，通过咨询和回忆他们所见到的样品，并互相模仿，殖民地的财产很快就增加了几个不同尺寸的篮子。 —

The storeroom was provided with them, and in special baskets Neb placed his collection of rhizomes, stone-pine almonds, etc.
储藏室里备有这些篮子，内布将他收集的根茎，松子仁等特别放在其中。

During the last week of the month of August the weather moderated again. —
在八月的最后一周，天气再次变暖。 —

The temperature fell a little, and the tempest abated. The colonists sallied out directly. —
气温稍微下降，暴风雨减弱了。殖民者们直接出发了。 —

There was certainly two feet of snow on the shore, but they were able to walk without much difficulty on the hardened surface. —
海滩上当然积了足足两英尺的雪，但他们在这坚硬的表面上走起来并不困难。 —

Cyrus Harding and his companions climbed Prospect Heights.
赛勒斯·哈丁和他的伙伴们登上了前景山。

What a change! The woods, which they had left green, especially in the part at which the firs predominated, had disappeared under a uniform color. —
多么大的变化！他们离开时郁郁葱葱的树林，特别是以冷杉为主导的部分，已经消失在一种统一的颜色下。 —

All was white, from the summit of Mount Franklin to the shore, the forests, the plains, the lake, the river. —
一切都是白色的，从富兰克林山的山顶到海岸，森林，平原，湖泊，河流。 —

The waters of the Mercy flowed under a roof of ice, which, at each rising and ebbing of the tide, broke up with loud crashes. —
梅西河的水在冰层下流动，每次涨潮和落潮时都会发出巨大的砰砰声。 —

Numerous birds fluttered over the frozen surface of the lake. —
大量的鸟儿在冰冻的湖面上翩翩起舞。 —

Ducks and snipe, teal and guillemots were assembled in thousands. —
鸭子，鹬，水鸭和海雀聚集成千上万。 —

The rocks among which the cascade flowed were bristling with icicles. —
瀑布流过的岩石上挂满了冰柱。 —

One might have said that the water escaped by a monstrous gargoyle, shaped with all the imagination of an artist of the Renaissance. —
可以说，像流出一个由文艺复兴时期艺术家创作的怪兽水槽一样。 —

As to the damage caused by the storm in the forest, that could not as yet be ascertained; they would have to wait till the snowy covering was dissipated.
至于风暴在森林中造成的损害，目前还不能确定；他们必须等到积雪覆盖物散去之后。

Gideon Spilett, Pencroft, and Herbert did not miss this opportunity of going to visit their traps. —
吉迪恩·斯普利特、彭克罗夫特和赫伯特不错过这个机会去检查他们的陷阱。 —

They did not find them easily, under the snow with which they were covered. —
他们很难找到那些被覆盖在雪下的陷阱。 —

They had also to be careful not to fall into one or other of them, which would have been both dangerous and humiliating; —
他们还必须小心，不要掉进其中一个陷阱，那既危险又难堪； —

to be taken in their own snares! But happily they avoided this unpleasantness, and found their traps perfectly intact. —
被自己的陷阱捕获！但幸运的是他们避免了这种令人不愉快的情况，并发现他们的陷阱完好无损。 —

No animal had fallen into them, and yet the footprints in the neighborhood were very numerous, among others, certain very clear marks of claws. —
没有动物掉进陷阱里，尽管周围有许多脚印，其中有清晰的爪印。 —

Herbert did not hesitate to affirm that some animal of the feline species had passed there, which justified the engineer’s opinion that dangerous beasts existed in Lincoln Island. —
赫伯特毫不犹豫地断言，一些猫科动物曾经经过那里，这也证实了工程师认为林肯岛上存在危险的野兽的看法。 —

These animals doubtless generally lived in the forests of the Far West, but pressed by hunger, they had ventured as far as Prospect Heights. —
这些动物无疑通常生活在远西的森林中，但受饥饿的驱使，它们冒险来到了展望高地。 —

Perhaps they had smelled out the inhabitants of Granite House. “Now, what are these feline creatures?” —
也许它们闻到了花岗岩屋的居民。 “那么，这些猫科动物是什么？” —

asked Pencroft. “They are tigers,” replied Herbert. —
彭克罗夫特问道。 “它们是老虎，”赫伯特回答。 —

“I thought those beasts were only found in hot countries?”
“我以为那些野兽只在热带国家找得到？”

“On the new continent,” replied the lad, “they are found from Mexico to the Pampas of Buenos Aires. Now, as Lincoln Island is nearly under the same latitude as the provinces of La Plata, it is not surprising that tigers are to be met with in it.”
“在新大陆，”男孩回答说，”它们从墨西哥一直延伸到布宜诺斯艾利斯的潘帕斯地区。现在，由于林肯岛几乎与布宜诺斯艾利斯省的纬度相同，发现老虎并不奇怪。”

“Well, we must look out for them,” replied Pencroft.
“好吧，我们必须注意它们，”彭克罗夫特回答说。

However, the snow soon disappeared, quickly dissolving under the influence of the rising temperature. Rain fell, and the sheet of white soon vanished. —
然而，很快雪消失了，迅速在升温的影响下融化。雨下了，白色的一片很快消失了。 —

Notwithstanding the bad weather, the settlers renewed their stores of different things, stone-pine almonds, rhizomes, syrup from the maple-tree, for the vegetable part; —
尽管天气不好，居民们重新储备了不同的食物，松仁、塔皮草块、枫树浆，蔬菜部分； —

rabbits from the warren, agouties, and kangaroos for the animal part. —
野兔、藪兔、袋鼠、为动物部分。 —

This necessitated several excursions into the forest, and they found that a great number of trees had been blown down by the last hurricane. —
这促使他们多次踏入森林，他们发现许多树被上次飓风刮倒。 —

Pencroft and Neb also pushed with the cart as far as the vein of coal, and brought back several tons of fuel. —
Pencroft和尼布特还推着货车去煤矿，带回了几吨燃料。 —

They saw in passing that the pottery kiln had been severely damaged by the wind, at least six feet of it having been blown off.
他们路过时看到陶器窑被风严重损坏，至少有六英尺的部分被吹掉。

At the same time as the coal, the store of wood was renewed at Granite House, and they profited by the current of the Mercy having again become free, to float down several rafts. —
与煤矿同时，花岗岩屋的木材储备也得到更新，利用着泥辙再次畅通，他们漂下了几批筏。 —

They could see that the cold period was not ended.
他们看到寒冷期还没有结束。

A visit was also paid to the Chimneys, and the settlers could not but congratulate themselves on not having been living there during the hurricane. —
他们还去了一次烟囱，庆幸自己没有在飓风期间住在那里。 —

The sea had left unquestionable traces of its ravages. —
海洋留下了不容置疑的破坏痕迹。 —

Sweeping over the islet, it had furiously assailed the passages, half filling them with sand, while thick beds of seaweed covered the rocks. —
席卷小岛，猛烈攻击通道，将其中一半填满沙土，而厚厚的海藻覆盖了岩石。 —

While Neb, Herbert, and Pencroft hunted or collected wood, Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett busied themselves in putting the Chimneys to rights, and they found the forge and the bellows almost unhurt, protected as they had been from the first by the heaps of sand.
尼布、赫伯特和彭克洛夫打猎或采集木材，西里斯·哈丁和吉迪恩·斯皮莱特则忙着整修烟囱，他们发现铁匠铺和风箱几乎未受损，一开始就被沙堆所保护。

The store of fuel had not been made uselessly. The settlers had not done with the rigorous cold. —
木柴储备并没有被浪费。居民们还没有度过严寒时期。 —

It is known that, in the Northern Hemisphere, the month of February is principally distinguished by rapid fallings of the temperature. —
众所周知，在北半球，二月主要以温度急剧下降为特点。 —

It is the same in the Southern Hemisphere, and the end of the month of August, which is the February of North America, does not escape this climatic law.
南半球也是如此，八月底，也就是北美的二月，同样不例外。

About the 25th, after another change from snow to rain, the wind shifted to the southeast, and the cold became, suddenly, very severe. —
大约在25日，雪转为雨后，风向转变为东南，寒冷突然变得非常严峻。 —

According to the engineer’s calculation, the mercurial column of a Fahrenheit thermometer would not have marked less than eight degrees below zero, and this intense cold, rendered still more painful by a sharp gale, lasted for several days. —
根据工程师的计算，按华氏温度计，指标不会低于零下八度，这种强烈的寒冷，再加上一阵狂风，持续了几天。 —

The colonists were again shut up in Granite House, and as it was necessary to hermetically seal all the openings of the facade, only leaving a narrow passage for renewing the air, the consumption of candles was considerable. —
殖民者再次被困在花岗岩屋内，由于需要密封正面的所有开口，只留下一个狭窄通道来更新空气，蜡烛的消耗是相当大的。 —

To economize them, the cavern was often only lighted by the blazing hearths, on which fuel was not spared. —
为了节约，在洞穴里经常只点燃炉火，燃料也不会吝惜。 —

Several times, one or other of the settlers descended to the beach in the midst of ice which the waves heaped up at each tide, but they soon climbed up again to Granite House, and it was not without pain and difficulty that their hands could hold to the rounds of the ladder. —
几次，有一个或另一个的居民在潮汐时海浪堆积的冰块中下到海滩，但他们很快又爬回到花岗岩屋，他们的手不得不艰难地才能攀住梯子的横杆。 —

In consequence of the intense cold, their fingers felt as if burned when they touched the rounds. —
由于天寒地冻，他们的手指触摸横杆时感觉像被烧伤一样。 —

To occupy the leisure hours, which the tenants of Granite House now had at their disposal, Cyrus Harding undertook an operation which could be performed indoors.
为了填补现在有的闲暇时光，赛勒斯·哈丁开始了一个在室内可完成的操作。

We know that the settlers had no other sugar at their disposal than the liquid substance which they drew from the maple, by making deep incisions in the tree. —
我们知道，居民们手头没有其他的糖，只能靠从枫树上抽出的液体来。他们在树上做了深深的切口。 —

They contented themselves with collecting this liquor in jars and employing it in this state for different culinary purposes, and the more so, as on growing old, this liquid began to become white and to be of a syrupy consistence.
他们只是将此液体收集在罐子里，并在此状态下用于不同的烹饪目的，因为逐渐变老后，这种液体开始变白，并变得像糖浆一样浓稠。

But there was something better to be made of it, and one day Cyrus Harding announced that they were going to turn into refiners.
但是这种液体还可以做得更好，一天，赛勒斯·哈丁宣布他们要变身为精炼者。

“Refiners!” replied Pencroft. “That is rather a warm trade, I think.”
“精炼者！” 本克罗夫特回答道。“这种行业相当暖和，我认为。”

“Very warm,” answered the engineer.
“非常暖和，”工程师回答道。

“Then it will be seasonable!” said the sailor.
“那么现在是时候了！”海员说。

This word refining need not awake in the mind thoughts of an elaborate manufactory with apparatus and numerous workmen. —
“精炼”这个词不必唤起在头脑中出现繁复的大厂，有各种装置和很多工人的想法。 —

No! to crystallize this liquor, only an extremely easy operation is required. —
不！只需要一个极其简单的操作来结晶这种液体。 —

Placed on the fire in large earthen pots, it was simply subjected to evaporation, and soon a scum arose to its surface. —
放在大陶罐里加热，只是让它蒸发，很快会在表面形成一层浮沫。 —

As soon as this began to thicken, Neb carefully removed it with a wooden spatula; —
一旦这层开始变稠，奈布会小心地用木铲将其去除； —

this accelerated the evaporation, and at the same time prevented it from contracting an empyreumatic flavor.
这加快了蒸发，同时防止其带有焦味。

After boiling for several hours on a hot fire, which did as much good to the operators as the substance operated upon, the latter was transformed into a thick syrup. —
在火上煮数小时后，这样的做法对操作者和被操作的物质都同样有益处，后者变成了一种浓稠的糖浆。 —

This syrup was poured into clay molds, previously fabricated in the kitchen stove, and to which they had given various shapes. —
这种糖浆被倒入事先在厨房炉灶上制作的陶器模具中，并赋予了各种形状。 —

The next day this syrup had become cold, and formed cakes and tablets. —
第二天糖浆已经冷却，形成了饼干和片状。 —

This was sugar of rather a reddish color, but nearly transparent and of a delicious taste.
这是一种颜色稍微偏红但几乎透明且味道鲜美的糖。

The cold continued to the middle of September, and the prisoners in Granite House began to find their captivity rather tedious. —
寒冷一直持续到了九月中旬，而Granite House的囚犯开始觉得囚禁有些乏味。 —

Nearly every day they attempted sorties which they could not prolong. —
他们每天几乎都试图发起突击，但无法延长时间。 —

They constantly worked at the improvement of their dwelling. They talked while working. —
他们不断努力改善住所。他们一边工作一边交谈。 —

Harding instructed his companions in many things, principally explaining to them the practical applications of science. —
Harding教导他的同伴许多事情，主要是解释科学的实际应用。 —

The colonists had no library at their disposal; —
殖民者们并没有可以使用的图书馆; —

but the engineer was a book which was always at hand, always open at the page which one wanted, a book which answered all their questions, and which they often consulted. —
但工程师是一本总是随手可得的书籍，总是打开在所需要的页面上，是一本回答他们所有问题的书，他们经常翻阅。 —

The time thus passed away pleasantly, these brave men not appearing to have any fears for the future.
这样的时光过得十分愉快，这些勇敢的人似乎并没有对未来有任何恐惧。

However, all were anxious to see, if not the fine season, at least the cessation of the insupportable cold. —
然而，所有人都渴望看到，即使不是暖和的季节，至少是这不堪忍受的寒冷的停止。 —

If only they had been clothed in a way to meet it, how many excursions they would have attempted, either to the downs or to Tadorn’s Fens! —
如果他们穿着合适，他们会尝试多少次郊游，无论是到丘陵还是到Tadorn的沼泽地！ —

Game would have been easily approached, and the chase would certainly have been most productive. —
猎物会很容易接近，狩猎肯定会非常有收获。 —

But Cyrus Harding considered it of importance that no one should injure his health, for he had need of all his hands, and his advice was followed.
但是Cyrus Harding认为没有人应该损害自己的健康，因为他需要所有人帮忙，并且大家都听从了他的建议。

But it must be said, that the one who was most impatient of this imprisonment, after Pencroft perhaps, was Top. The faithful dog found Granite House very narrow. —
但必须说，除了潘克罗夫之外，最不耐烦这种囚禁的人，也许是Top。这只忠诚的狗觉得花岩屋非常狭窄。 —

He ran backwards and forwards from one room to another, showing in his way how weary he was of being shut up. —
他来回奔跑，从一个房间到另一个房间，显示出他对被关起来感到多么厌倦。 —

Harding often remarked that when he approached the dark well which communicated with the sea, and of which the orifice opened at the back of the storeroom, Top uttered singular growlings. —
哈丁经常注意到，当他走近通向大海的暗井时，那个通道的孔道开在储藏室的后面，Top发出奇怪的低吼声。 —

He ran round and round this hole, which had been covered with a wooden lid. —
他围绕着这个被木盖盖住的洞转来转去。 —

Sometimes even he tried to put his paws under the lid, as if he wished to raise it. —
有时甚至他试图把爪子伸到盖子下面，好像想掀起来。 —

He then yelped in a peculiar way, which showed at once anger and uneasiness.
然后他发出一种特殊的嗥叫声，既显示出愤怒又显示出不安。

The engineer observed this maneuver several times.
工程师观察到这种动作好几次。

What could there be in this abyss to make such an impression on the intelligent animal? —
这个智能动物的行为里究竟有什么让他这么印象深刻的东西呢? —

The well led to the sea, that was certain. —
这口井通向大海，这是确定的。 —

Could narrow passages spread from it through the foundations of the island? —
是否有狭窄的通道从井底延伸至岛屿的基础之下呢? —

Did some marine monster come from time to time, to breathe at the bottom of this well? —
是否有某种海洋怪物时不时地从这口井底呼吸呢? —

The engineer did not know what to think, and could not refrain from dreaming of many strange improbabilities. —
工程师不知该怎么想，无法抑制自己梦想着许多奇怪的不太可能发生的事情。 —

Accustomed to go far into the regions of scientific reality, he would not allow himself to be drawn into the regions of the strange and almost of the supernatural; —
习惯了深入科学现实领域的哈丁不愿让自己陷入奇怪和几乎超自然领域; —

but yet how to explain why Top, one of those sensible dogs who never waste their time in barking at the moon, should persist in trying with scent and hearing to fathom this abyss, if there was nothing there to cause his uneasiness? —
但是如何解释Top的行为呢? Top是那种从不浪费时间对着月亮吠的明智狗之一，如果这里没有什么让他不安的东西，他为什么要坚持用嗅觉和听觉来探测这个深渊呢? —

Top’s conduct puzzled Cyrus Harding even more than he cared to acknowledge to himself.
Cyrus Harding比他愿意承认给自己的更多地被Top的行为困扰着。

At all events, the engineer only communicated his impressions to Gideon Spilett, for he thought it useless to explain to his companions the suspicions which arose from what perhaps was only Top’s fancy.
无论如何，工程师只向吉迪恩·斯普利特传达了他的印象，因为他认为向同伴解释起因于可能只是汤普的幻想的疑虑是没有意义的。

At last the cold ceased. There had been rain, squalls mingled with snow, hailstorms, gusts of wind, but these inclemencies did not last. —
最后，寒冷停止了。曾经有过雨、风雨交加的雪、冰雹、大风，但这些恶劣的天气并没有持续。 —

The ice melted, the snow disappeared; the shore, the plateau, the banks of the Mercy, the forest, again became practicable. —
冰融化了，雪消失了；海岸、高原、梅西河的岸边、森林再次变得适合通行。 —

This return of spring delighted the tenants of Granite House, and they soon only passed it in the hours necessary for eating and sleeping.
这个春天的回归让花岗岩屋的居民感到愉快，他们很快只在必要的吃饭和睡觉时间里才会经过这里。

They hunted much in the second part of September, which led Pencroft to again entreat for the firearms, which he asserted had been promised by Cyrus Harding. —
九月的下半月他们狩猎的频率很高，这导致潘克罗夫再次请求得到辛普森·哈丁承诺给他们的枪支。 —

The latter, knowing well that without special tools it would be nearly impossible for him to manufacture a gun which would be of any use, still drew back and put off the operation to some future time, observing in his usual dry way, that Herbert and Spilett had become very skilful archers, so that many sorts of excellent animals, agouties, kangaroos, capybaras, pigeons, bustards, wild ducks, snipes, in short, game both with fur and feathers, fell victims to their arrows, and that, consequently, they could wait. —
然而，知道自己没有特殊的工具几乎无法制造出有用的枪支，哈丁仍然拖延了这一操作，以大部分时间里，赫伯特和斯普利特已经成为了非常娴熟的弓箭手，因此不少种类的优秀动物——啮齿类、袋鼠、水豚、鸽子、大鸨、野鸭、鹬鸟, 总之，毛皮和羽毛的猎物都成了他们箭下的牺牲品。 —

But the obstinate sailor would listen to nothing of this, and he would give the engineer no peace till he promised to satisfy his desire. —
但执拗的水手不肯听从，并且直到哈丁承诺满足他的愿望才罢休。 —

Gideon Spilett, however, supported Pencroft.
吉迪恩·斯普利特支持潘克罗夫。

“If, which may be doubted,” said he, “the island is inhabited by wild beasts, we must think how to fight with and exterminate them. —
“如果——这是值得怀疑的，”他说，“岛上有野兽，我们必须考虑如何与之战斗并消灭它们。这可能会成为我们的第一个责任。” —

A time may come when this will be our first duty.”
但在这个时期，哈丁关注的不是枪支的问题，而是衣物的问题。

But at this period, it was not the question of firearms which occupied Harding, but that of clothes. —
穿的这些人类在这个冬天已经使用了，但不会使用到下个冬天。 —

Those which the settlers wore had passed this winter, but they would not last until next winter. —
肉食动物的皮毛或有蹄动物的羊毛必须不惜一切代价获得, 既然有很多羊群，他们决定商量一下如何养一群以供殖民地使用。 —

Skins of carnivora or the wool of ruminants must be procured at any price, and since there were plenty of musmons, it was agreed to consult on the means of forming a flock which might be brought up for the use of the colony. —
为了这些即将落成的项目, 他们穿过林肯岛所有尚未探知的地方变得至关重要，也就是说，穿过那条从梅西河口一直延伸到蛇形半岛尽头的右岸的浓密森林, 以及整个西侧。 —

An enclosure for the domestic animals, a poultry-yard for the birds, in a word to establish a sort of farm in the island, such were the two important projects for the fine season.
在岛上建立起为家畜提供动物圈、为鸟类提供鸡园, 总之，在岛上建立起一种农场，这就是这个季节的两个重要项目。

In consequence and in view of these future establishments, it became of much importance that they should penetrate into all the yet unknown parts of Lincoln Island, that is to say, through that thick forest which extended on the right bank of the Mercy, from its mouth to the extremity of the Serpentine Peninsula, as well as on the whole of its western side. —
为了这些即将成立的设施，探索林肯岛上所有未知的部分变得至关重要，也就是说，穿过那条从梅西河口一直延伸到蛇形半岛尽头的右岸的浓密森林, 以及整个西侧。 —

But this needed settled weather, and a month must pass before this exploration could be profitably undertaken.
但这需要天气晴朗，还得再过一个月才能有利地进行这次探险。

They therefore waited with some impatience, when an incident occurred which increased the desire the settlers had to visit the whole of their domain.
因此，他们急切地等待着，直到发生一起事件，增加了他们想要参观整个领地的愿望。

It was the 24th of October. On this day, Pencroft had gone to visit his traps, which he always kept properly baited. —
那是10月24日。在这一天，潘克罗夫去检查他的捕兽夹，他总是及时补给诱饵。 —

In one of them he found three animals which would be very welcome for the larder. —
在其中他找到了三只对餐桌上非常受欢迎的动物。 —

They were a female peccary and her two young ones.
那是一只母野猪和她的两只幼崽。

Pencroft then returned to Granite House, enchanted with his capture, and, as usual, he made a great show of his game.
然后潘克罗夫带着他的战利品回到花岗岩屋，对此感到非常高兴，像往常一样，他炫耀着他的战利品。

“Come, we shall have a grand feast, captain!” he exclaimed. —
“来，我们将举行一场盛大的宴会，船长！”他喊道。 —

“And you too, Mr. Spilett, you will eat some!”
“你也会吃些的，斯派莱特先生！”

“I shall be very happy,” replied the reporter; “but what is it that I am going to eat?”
记者回答说：“我会非常开心，但我要吃什么呢？”

“Suckling-pig.”
“吃乳猪。”

“Oh, indeed, suckling-pig, Pencroft? To hear you, I thought that you were bringing back a young partridge stuffed with truffles!”
“哦，确实，乳猪，潘克罗夫？听你说起，我以为你带回了一只装满松露的小鹧鸪！”

“What?” cried Pencroft. “Do you mean to say that you turn up your nose at suckling-pig?’
“什么？”潘克罗夫大叫。“你是说你对乳猪挥之不去吗？”

“No,” replied Gideon Spilett, without showing any enthusiasm; “provided one doesn’t eat too much”
“不，”吉迪恩·斯派莱特回答，没有表现出任何热情。“只要别吃太多。”

“That’s right, that’s right,” returned the sailor, who was not pleased whenever he heard his chase made light of. —
“就是这样，就是这样，” 没有听到他的猎物被轻视时，水手并不高兴。 —

“You like to make objections. Seven months ago, when we landed on the island, you would have been only too glad to have met with such game!”
“你总是喜欢反对。七个月前，当我们登陆这个岛时，你肯定会很高兴遇到这样的猎物！”

“Well, well,” replied the reporter, “man is never perfect, nor contented.”
“‘哎呀，哎呀，’回答记者，‘人从来不完美，也不满足。’”

“Now,” said Pencroft, “I hope that Neb will distinguish himself. Look here! —
“‘现在，’彭克罗夫说，‘希望尼布能表现出色。瞧这儿！’” —

These two little peccaries are not more than three months old! —
“这两只小猪鼠还不到三个月大！” —

They will be as tender as quails! Come along, Neb, come! —
“它们会像鹌鹑一样嫩！来吧，尼布，来吧！” —

I will look after the cooking myself.”
“我自己来照料做饭。”

And the sailor, followed by Neb, entered the kitchen, where they were soon absorbed in their culinary labors.
“水手和尼布进入了厨房，很快就陷入了他们的厨艺工作中。”

They were allowed to do it in their own way. —
“他们被允许用自己的方式做。” —

Neb, therefore, prepared a magnificent repast–the two little peccaries, kangaroo soup, a smoked ham, stone-pine almonds, Oswego tea; —
“尼布因此准备了盛大的盛宴-两只小猪鼠、袋鼠汤、熏火腿、石松松子、奥斯威戈茶；” —

in fact, all the best that they had, but among all the dishes figured in the first rank the savory peccaries.
“事实上，他们所拥有的所有最好的食物都在其中，但在所有的菜肴中，小猪鼠是最可口的。”

At five o’clock dinner was served in the dining-room of Granite House. The kangaroo soup was smoking on the table. —
“五点钟时，在花岗岩屋的餐厅里摆上了晚餐。袋鼠汤热气腾腾地放在桌上。” —

They found it excellent.
“他们发现它很好。”

To the soup succeeded the peccaries, which Pencroft insisted on carving himself, and of which he served out monstrous portions to each of the guests.
“接着就是小猪鼠，彭克罗夫坚持自己动手切割，并且给每位客人端上了巨大的一份。”

These suckling-pigs were really delicious, and Pencroft was devouring his share with great gusto, when all at once a cry and an oath escaped him.
“这些仔猪真的很美味，彭克罗夫正津津有味地吃着自己的那份，突然叫声和诅咒脱口而出。”

“What’s the matter?” asked Cyrus Harding.
“‘怎么了？’赛勒斯·哈丁问道。”

“The matter? the matter is that I have just broken a tooth!” replied the sailor.
“‘怎么了？怎么了就是我刚刚折断了一颗牙！’水手回答说。”

“What, are there pebbles in your peccaries?” said Gideon Spilett.
“盖迪恩·斯皮莱特说：‘你的大白硬币里有小石头吗？’”

“I suppose so,” replied Pencroft, drawing from his lips the object which had cost him a grinder!–
彭克罗夫回答道：“我想是吧”，然后将这个让他掉牙的东西从嘴里取了出来！

It was not a pebble–it was a leaden bullet.
它不是一颗小石头——而是一枚铅子。