Three years had passed away since the escape of the prisoners from Richmond, and how often during those three years had they spoken of their country, always present in their thoughts!
三年过去了，自从那些囚犯从里士满逃走，多少次他们在这三年里谈论起自己的国家，它始终在他们的思想中！

They had no doubt that the civil war was at an end, and to them it appeared impossible that the just cause of the North had not triumphed. —
他们毫不怀疑内战已经结束，在他们看来，北方的正义事业不可能没有取得胜利。 —

But what had been the incidents of this terrible war? How much blood had it not cost? —
但这场可怕的战争经历了多少事件？它不要付出多少人的鲜血？ —

How many of their friends must have fallen in the struggle? —
他们的多少朋友在这场斗争中倒下了？ —

They often spoke of these things, without as yet being able to foresee the day when they would be permitted once more to see their country. —
他们经常谈论这些事情，然而他们还无法预见到何时他们将被允许再次看到自己的国家。 —

To return thither, were it but for a few days, to renew the social link with the inhabited world, to establish a communication between their native land and their island, then to pass the longest, perhaps the best, portion of their existence in this colony, founded by them, and which would then be dependent on their country, was this a dream impossible to realize?
能返回那里，哪怕只是几天，重新建立与人类世界的社交联系，在他们建立的殖民地和他们的祖国之间建立一种沟通，然后度过他们最长久、或许是最好的生活的一段时光，这是一个不可能实现的梦想吗？

There were only two ways of accomplishing it–either a ship must appear off Lincoln Island, or the colonists must themselves build a vessel strong enough to sail to the nearest land.
只有两种方法可以实现–要么一艘船出现在琳肯岛外，要么殖民者们必须自己建造一艘足够强大的船只去航向最近的陆地。

“Unless,” said Pencroft, “our good genius, himself provides us with the means of returning to our country.”
“除非，”彭克罗夫说，“我们的好天使亲自为我们提供回国的手段。”

And, really, had any one told Pencroft and Neb that a ship of 300 tons was waiting for them in Shark Gulf or at Port Balloon, they would not even have made a gesture of surprise. —
真的，如果有人告诉彭克罗夫和尼布特，300吨的船只正在鲨鱼海湾或者空气港等着他们，他们甚至不会感到惊讶。 —

In their state of mind nothing appeared improbable.
在他们的心态下，没有什么是不可能的。

But Cyrus Harding, less confident, advised them to confine themselves to fact, and more especially so with regard to the building of a vessel–a really urgent work, since it was for the purpose of depositing, as soon as possible, at Tabor Island a document indicating Ayrton’s new residence.
但是辛克莱德·哈丁少有信心，劝告他们要把重点放在事实上，尤其是在建造一艘船只的工作上–这是一项迫在眉睫的工作，因为他们需要尽快在塔伯岛上存放一份指示艾尔顿新住址的文件。

As the “Bonadventure” no longer existed, six months at least would be required for the construction of a new vessel. —
由于“邦纳梵查”已经不存在，至少需要六个月来建造一艘新船。 —

Now winter was approaching, and the voyage would not be made before the following spring.
现在冬天即将来临，这次航行将不会在明年春天之前进行。

“We have time to get everything ready for the fine season,” remarked the engineer, who was consulting with Pencroft about these matters. —
“我们有时间为美好的季节做好一切准备，”正在与彭克罗夫商议这些事宜的工程师说。 —

“I think, therefore, my friend, that since we have to rebuild our vessel it will be best to give her larger dimensions. —
“因此，我想，我的朋友，既然我们必须重建我们的船只，最好给她更大的尺寸。” —

The arrival of the Scotch yacht at Tabor Island is very uncertain. —
苏格兰游艇抵达塔伯岛的时间非常不确定。 —

It may even be that, having arrived several months ago, she has again sailed after having vainly searched for some trace of Ayrton. —
甚至可能是，她几个月前抵达过，然后又启航，徒劳地寻找艾尔顿的踪迹。 —

Will it not then he best to build a ship which, if necessary, could take us either to the Polynesian Archipelago or to New Zealand? —
那么，建造一艘船是否会更好呢？这艘船如果必要的话可以带我们前往波利尼西亚群岛或新西兰？ —

What do you think?”
你觉得呢？

“I think, captain,” answered the sailor; “I think that you are as capable of building a large vessel as a small one. —
“我认为，船长，”水手回答道，“我认为您建造大船和小船一样有能力。 —

Neither the wood nor the tools are wanting. —
既不缺少木材也不缺少工具。 —

It is only a question of time.”
这只是一个时间问题。”

“And how many months would be required to build a vessel of from 250 to 300 tons?” asked Harding.
“那建造一艘250到300吨的船需要多少个月？”哈丁问道。

“Seven or eight months at least,” replied Pencroft. —
“至少需要七八个月，”潘克罗夫回答道。 —

“But it must not be forgotten that winter is drawing near, and that in severe frost wood is difficult to work. —
“但必须记住冬天即将来临，在严寒的冬季木材很难加工。 —

We must calculate on several weeks delay, and if our vessel is ready by next November we may think ourselves very lucky.”
我们必须计算好几个星期的延迟，并且如果我们的船能在明年11月之前准备好，那我们就算非常走运。”

“Well,” replied Cyrus Harding, “that will be exactly the most favorable time for undertaking a voyage of any importance, either to Tabor Island or to a more distant land.”
“好吧，”赛勒斯·哈丁回答道，“那将是进行任何重要航行的最有利时机，无论是前往塔伯岛还是更远的地方。”

“So it will, captain,” answered the sailor. “Make out your plans then; —
“是的，船长，”水手回答道，“制定您的计划吧； —

the workmen are ready, and I imagine that Ayrton can lend us a good helping hand.”
工人们已经准备好了，我觉得艾尔顿也能帮我们很多。”

The colonists, having been consulted, approved the engineer’s plan, and it was, indeed, the best thing to be done. —
殖民者们经过商议，同意了工程师的计划，而这确实是最好的选择。 —

It is true that the construction of a ship of from two to three hundred tons would be great labor, but the colonists had confidence in themselves, justified by their previous success.
造一艘两至三百吨的船的确是一项巨大的工程，但殖民者对自己有信心，这种信心是他们之前成功的最好证明。

Cyrus Harding then busied himself in drawing the plan of the vessel and making the model. —
屈伦随后忙着绘制船舶的计划并制作模型。 —

During this time his companions employed themselves in felling and carting trees to furnish the ribs, timbers, and planks. —
此时，他的伙伴们忙于砍伐和拉运树木，以提供船身、椽子和木板。 —

The forest of the Far West supplied the best oaks and elms. —
远西的森林提供了最好的橡树和榆树。 —

They took advantage of the opening already made on their last excursion to form a practicable road, which they named the Far West Road, and the trees were carried to the Chimneys, where the dockyard was established. —
他们趁着上次远足时已经开辟了的道路，修筑了一条被称为远西之路的便道，然后把树木运到了烟囱所在的船坞。 —

As to the road in question, the choice of trees had rendered its direction somewhat capricious, but at the same time it facilitated the access to a large part of the Serpentine Peninsula.
至于这条道路，树木的选择使其方向有些随意，但同时也方便了通往蛇形半岛大部分地区的路径。

It was important that the trees should be quickly felled and cut up, for they could not be used while yet green, and some time was necessary to allow them to get seasoned. —
重要的是树木应该被迅速砍伐和锯开，因为它们在翠绿状态下是不能使用的，需要一些时间让它们干透。 —

The carpenters, therefore, worked vigorously during the month of April, which was troubled only by a few equinoctial gales of some violence. —
因此，木匠们在四月份努力工作，唯一麻烦的是几场相当猛烈的春分风暴。 —

Master Jup aided them dexterously, either by climbing to the top of a tree to fasten the ropes or by lending his stout shoulders to carry the lopped trunks.
猩猩大师灵巧地帮助他们，要么爬到树顶系绳索，要么用自己强健的肩膀搬运砍伐的树干。

All this timber was piled up under a large shed, built near the Chimneys, and there awaited the time for use.
所有这些树木都被堆放在烟囱附近的一座大棚下，等待着使用的时机。

The month of April was tolerably fine, as October often is in the northern zone. —
四月份的天气还算不错，就像北半球的十月一样经常会有。 —

At the same time other work was actively continued, and soon all trace of devastation disappeared from the plateau of Prospect Heights. —
与此同时，其他工程也在积极进行，不久，展望高地的荒废痕迹都消失了。 —

The mill was rebuilt, and new buildings rose in the poultry-yard. —
磨坊得以重建，家禽园里新的建筑物也拔地而起。 —

It had appeared necessary to enlarge their dimensions, for the feathered population had increased considerably. —
他们发现有必要扩大建筑的规模，因为家禽的数量大大增加。 —

The stable now contained five onagers, four of which were well broken, and allowed themselves to be either driven or ridden, and a little colt. —
马厩现在有五匹野驴，其中四匹已经驯良，并允许被驱赶或骑乘，另外还有一匹小驹马。 —

The colony now possessed a plow, to which the onagers were yoked like regular Yorkshire or Kentucky oxen. —
殖民地现在拥有了一把犁，驯骆驼被套上像普通的约克郡或肯塔基耕牛一样。 —

The colonists divided their work, and their arms never tired. —
殖民者分工合作，他们的手臂从未觉得疲惫。 —

Then who could have enjoyed better health than these workers, and what good humor enlivened the evenings in Granite House as they formed a thousand plans for the future!
那么谁会比这些工作者享有更好的健康，哪件事比他们在花岗岩屋里为未来制定千奇百怪的计划更让人振奋呢！

As a matter of course Ayrton shared the common lot in every respect, and there was no longer any talk of his going to live at the corral. —
艾顿在每个方面都分享着普通人的命运，不再有他搬到畜栏居住的说法。 —

Nevertheless he was still sad and reserved, and joined more in the work than in the pleasures of his companions. —
然而他仍然悲伤而内向，更多地参与工作而不是伙伴们的乐趣。 —

But he was a valuable workman at need–strong, skilful, ingenious, intelligent. —
然而在需要时，他是一个宝贵的工人-强壮、熟练、有才干、智慧。 —

He was esteemed and loved by all, and he could not be ignorant of it.
他受到所有人的尊敬和爱戴，他不可能不知道这一点。

In the meanwhile the corral was not abandoned. —
在此期间畜栏并没有被放弃。 —

Every other day one of the settlers, driving the cart or mounted on an onager, went to look after the flock of musmons and goats and bring back the supply of milk required by Neb. These excursions at the same time afforded opportunities for hunting. —
每隔一天，一个殖民者驾驭着马车或骑着骆驼去看守羊群和山羊群，并带回尼布所需的牛奶。这些远足同时提供了狩猎的机会。 —

Therefore Herbert and Gideon Spilett, with Top in front, traversed more often than their companions the road to the corral, and with the capital guns which they carried, capybaras, agouties, kangaroos, and wild pigs for large game, ducks, grouse, jacamars, and snipe for small game, were never wanting in the house. —
因此，赫伯特和吉迪恩·斯派莱特，前面是托普，比他们的伙伴更经常地穿越往返畜栏的道路，并通过他们携带的优质枪支，在家里从不缺少大型猎物像豪猪、无尾熊和袋鼠以及小型猎物像鸭子、松鸡、琵鹭和鹬。 —

The produce of the warren, of the oyster-bed, several turtles which were taken, excellent salmon which came up the Mercy, vegetables from the plateau, wild fruit from the forest, were riches upon riches, and Neb, the head cook, could scarcely by himself store them away.
兔战场和牡蛎床的产物，几只被捉住的海龟，河河带来的优质三文鱼，高原上的蔬菜，森林里的野果，是层层财富，而厨师长内布几乎仅靠自己将它们存储好。

The telegraphic wire between the corral and Granite House had of course been repaired, and it was worked whenever one or other of the settlers was at the corral and found it necessary to spend the night there. —
畜栏和花岗岩屋之间的电报线当然已经修复，每当一个或另一个殖民者在畜栏时发现有必要在那里过夜时便启用。 —

Besides, the island was safe now and no attacks were to be feared, at any rate from men.
此外，目前的这座小岛已经是安全的，不必担心任何攻击，至少不是来自人类的。

However, that which had happened might happen again. —
然而，曾经发生的事情可能会再次发生。 —

A descent of pirates, or even of escaped convicts, was always to be feared. —
海盗的下降，甚至逃犯的脱逃，永远是一个可能被害怕的。 —

It was possible that companions or accomplices of Bob Harvey had been in the secret of his plans, and might be tempted to imitate him. —
精心策划了这个计划的鲍勃·哈维的同伴或同谋可能知道他的计划，并可能被诱惑效仿他。 —

The colonists, therefore, were careful to observe the sea around the island, and every day their telescope covered the horizon enclosed by Union and Washington Bays. when they went to the corral they examined the sea to the west with no less attention, and by climbing the spur their gaze extended over a large section of the western horizon.
因此，殖民者们小心观察小岛周围的海域，他们的望远镜每天都盯着联合湾和华盛顿湾围起来的地平线。当他们去牲口栏时，也同样仔细检查西部的海域，并且通过爬坡，他们的视线延伸到西方地平线的一大部分。

Nothing suspicious was discerned, but still it was necessary for them to be on their guard.
没有发现可疑的情况，但他们仍需要保持警惕。

The engineer one evening imparted to his friends a plan which he had conceived for fortifying the corral. —
工程师在一个晚上向他的朋友们提出了一个策划中的计划，他构思了为牲口栏筑成防御工事的计划。 —

It appeared prudent to him to heighten the palisade and to flank it with a sort of blockhouse, which, if necessary, the settlers could hold against the enemy. —
他认为有必要加高围栏，并在旁边建造一种类似碉堡的建筑，如有必要，殖民者可以据守并抵抗敌人。 —

Granite House might, by its very position, be considered impregnable; —
花岩室地理位置十分卓越，可能被视为牢不可破； —

therefore the corral with its buildings, its stores, and the animals it contained, would always be the object of pirates, whoever they were, who might land on the island, and should the colonists be obliged to shut themselves up there they ought also to be able to defend themselves without any disadvantage. —
因此，牲口栏及其建筑、储藏品和内含的动物将一直是海盗的目标，无论他们是谁，只要他们登陆小岛，如果殖民者被迫退守在这里，他们也应该能够无任何不利防守自己。 —

This was a project which might be left for consideration, and they were, besides, obliged to put off its execution until the next spring.
这是一个可以考虑留到明年春天再实施的计划。

About the 15th of May the keel of the new vessel lay along the dockyard, and soon the stem and stern-post, mortised at each of its extremities, rose almost perpendicularly. —
大约在5月15日，新船的龙骨沿着船坞铺设，很快船首和船尾柱子，各在其两端卯榫固定，几乎垂直竖立起来。 —

The keel, of good oak, measured 110 feet in length, this allowing a width of five-and-twenty feet to the midship beam. —
这是材质良好的橡木龙骨，长度为110尺，这给中心横梁留下了宽度为二十五尺的空间。 —

But this was all the carpenters could do before the arrival of the frosts and bad weather. —
但这就是大工程师们在霜冻和恶劣天气到来前能做的全部。 —

During the following week they fixed the first of the stern timbers, but were then obliged to suspend work.
在随后的一周里，他们安装了第一根船尾柱子，但随后被迫停工。

During the last days of the month the weather was extremely bad. —
在当月的最后几天，天气极其恶劣。 —

The wind blew from the east, sometimes with the violence of a tempest. —
风从东方刮来，有时犹如暴风般猛烈。 —

The engineer was somewhat uneasy on account of the dockyard shed–which besides, he could not have established in any other place near to Granite House–for the islet only imperfectly sheltered the shore from the fury of the open sea, and in great storms the waves beat against the very foot of the granite cliff.
工程师对船坞棚感到有些不安–此外，他无法把它建在花岩室附近的其他任何地方–因为小岛只能不完全遮蔽住岸边免受大海狂风的侵袭，在大风暴中，海浪冲击着花岩悬崖的脚。

But, very fortunately, these fears were not realized. —
但非常幸运的是，这些恐惧并没有成真。 —

The wind shifted to the southeast, and there the beach of Granite House was completely covered by Flotsam Point.
风向转变为东南，Granite House海滩完全被漂浮物点覆盖。

Pencroft and Ayrton, the most zealous workmen at the new vessel, pursued their labor as long as they could. —
新船上最热心的工人潘克罗夫特和艾尔顿，尽可能地继续他们的工作。 —

They were not men to mind the wind tearing at their hair, nor the rain wetting them to the skin, and a blow from a hammer is worth just as much in bad as in fine weather. —
他们并不在乎风吹乱他们的头发，也不在乎雨淋湿他们的皮肤，而锤子的一击在恶劣天气和晴朗天气下的价值是相同的。 —

But when a severe frost succeeded this wet period, the wood, its fibers acquiring the hardness of iron, became extremely difficult to work, and about the 10th of June shipbuilding was obliged to be entirely discontinued.
但当这段潮湿时期之后是一段严寒期，木材纤维变得坚硬如铁，极为难以加工，到了六月十日左右，造船工作被完全中止。

Cyrus Harding and his companions had not omitted to observe how severe was the temperature during the winters of Lincoln Island. —
赛勒斯·哈丁和他的同伴们没有忽视林肯岛冬季的严寒。 —

The cold was comparable to that experienced in the States of New England, situated at almost the same distance from the equator. —
寒冷程度堪比在赤道附近几乎相同距离的新英格兰州。 —

In the northern hemisphere, or at any rate in the part occupied by British America and the north of the United States, this phenomenon is explained by the flat conformation of the territories bordering on the pole, and on which there is no intumescence of the soil to oppose any obstacle to the north winds; —
在北半球，或者说在被英国美洲和美国北部占据的地区，这种现象可以通过边界在极地附近的领土的平坦形态来解释，而这些领土不会在北风中形成任何阻碍； —

here, in Lincoln Island, this explanation would not suffice.
但是在林肯岛，这种解释是行不通的。

“It has even been observed,” remarked Harding one day to his companions, “that in equal latitudes the islands and coast regions are less tried by the cold than inland countries. —
“甚至有人观察到，”哈丁曾经对他的同伴们说，“在相同的纬度下，岛屿和海岸地区比内陆国家更少受到寒冷的考验。 —

I have often heard it asserted that the winters of Lombardy, for example, are not less rigorous than those of Scotland, which results from the sea restoring during the winter the heat which it received during the summer. —
例如，据说伦巴第地区的冬天并不比苏格兰的冬天严格，其中一个原因就是海洋在冬季还原了夏季获取的热量。 —

Islands are, therefore, in a better situation for benefiting by this restitution.”
所以，岛屿处于更有利利于享受这种热量有效释放的位置。”

“But then, Captain Harding,” asked Herbert, “why does Lincoln Island appear to escape the common law?”
“但是，哈丁船长，”赫伯特问道，“为什么林肯岛似乎逃脱了普遍规律？”

“That is difficult to explain,” answered the engineer. —
“这很难解释，”工程师回答道。 —

“However, I should be disposed to conjecture that this peculiarity results from the situation of the island in the Southern Hemisphere, which, as you know, my boy, is colder than the Northern Hemisphere.”
“但是，我倾向于猜测，这种特殊性可能是由于该岛位于南半球，如你所知，南半球比北半球更冷。”

“Yes,” said Herbert, “and icebergs are met with in lower latitudes in the south than in the north of the Pacific.”
“是的，”赫伯特说，“在南半球与北半球相比，在更低的纬度上会遇到冰山。”

“That is true,” remarked Pencroft, “and when I have been serving on board whalers I have seen icebergs off Cape Horn.”
“没错，”彭克罗夫说，“当我在座捕鲸船时，我曾在好望角外看到过冰山。”

“The severe cold experienced in Lincoln Island,” said Gideon Spilett, “may then perhaps be explained by the presence of floes or icebergs comparatively near to Lincoln Island.”
“林肯岛经历的严寒可能是因为冰块或冰山相对接近林肯岛，”盖迪恩·斯皮莱特说。

“Your opinion is very admissible indeed, my dear Spilett,” answered Cyrus Harding, “and it is evidently to the proximity of icebergs that we owe our rigorous winters. —
“你的看法确实很有道理，我亲爱的斯皮莱特，”西勒斯·哈丁回答说，“显然我们的严寒冬季要归功于冰山的接近。” —

I would draw your attention also to an entirely physical cause, which renders the Southern colder than the Northern Hemisphere. —
我还要提醒你一个完全物理的原因，南半球比北半球更冷. —

In fact, since the sun is nearer to this hemisphere during the summer, it is necessarily more distant during the winter. —
事实上,由于太阳在夏季更接近这个半球,因此在冬季必然更远. —

This explains then the excess of temperature in the two seasons, for, if we find the winters very cold in Lincoln Island, we must not forget that the summers here, on the contrary, are very hot.”
这就解释了两个季节的温度差异,因为我们发现林肯岛的冬季非常寒冷，我们也不应忘记这里的夏天则非常炎热.”

“But why, if you please, captain,” asked Pencroft, knitting his brows, “why should our hemisphere, as you say, be so badly divided? —
“但是,请问,船长,“彭克罗夫皱着眉头问道,“为什么我们的半球，如你所说，划分如此不公? —

It isn’t just, that!”
这不公平!”

“Friend Pencroft,” answered the engineer, laughing, “whether just or not, we must submit to it, and here lies the reason for this peculiarity. —
工程师笑着回答说: “朋友彭克罗夫，无论是否公平，我们必须接受它，这就是这种特殊性的原因. —

The earth does not describe a circle around the sun, but an ellipse, as it must by the laws of rational mechanics. —
地球绕太阳的轨迹不是一个圆，而是一个椭圆，必须按合理的力学定律做出调整 —

Now, the earth occupies one of the foci of the ellipse, and so at one point in its course is at its apogee, that is, at its farthest from the sun, and at another point it is at its perigee, or nearest to the sun. —
现在,地球占据椭圆的一个焦点,所以在其轨道的一个点处于远日点，即离太阳最远时，另一点则处于近日点，即离太阳最近时. —

Now it happens that it is during the winter of the southern countries that it is at its most distant point from the sun, and consequently, in a situation for those regions to feel the greatest cold. —
在南半球的冬季，地球恰好处于最远离太阳的点，因此，这些地区会感受到最严寒. —

Nothing can be done to prevent that, and men, Pencroft, however learned they may be, can never change anything of the cosmographical order established by God Himself.”
不可避免，无论人类有多么博学，都无法改变上帝本人所建立的宇宙秩序.

“And yet,” added Pencroft, “the world is very learned. —
“而且,”彭克罗夫补充说，“人类是非常博学的.” —

what a big book, captain, might be made with all that is known!”
“这样一个大书，船长，将会记录所有已知的信息！”

“And what a much bigger book still with all that is not known!” answered Harding.
“而有许多更大的书，记录所有未知的信息！”哈丁回答道。

At last, for one reason or another, the month of June brought the cold with its accustomed intensity, and the settlers were often confined to Granite House. Ah! —
终于，由于某种原因，六月份来了，带着它习惯的寒冷，殖民者们经常被困在花岗岩屋里。啊！ —

how wearisome this imprisonment was to them, and more particularly to Gideon Spilett.
这种囚禁对他们来说是多么烦人，特别是对吉迪恩・斯普莱特。

“Look here,” said he to Neb one day, “I would give you by notarial deed all the estates which will come to me some day, if you were a good enough fellow to go, no matter where, and subscribe to some newspaper for me! —
“听着，”他对尼布说道，“如果你足够好心，不管到哪里，代替我订阅一份报纸，我会通过公证契约将以后归我所有的产业都送给你！ —

Decidedly the thing that is most essential to my happiness is the knowing every morning what has happened the day before in other places than this!”
毋庸置疑，对我幸福至关重要的是，每天清晨都了解其他地方发生的事情！”

Neb began to laugh.
尼布开始笑了。

”‘Pon my word,” he replied, “the only thing I think about is my daily work!”
“我发誓，”他回答，“我唯一想的是我的日常工作！”

The truth was that indoors as well as out there was no want of work.
事实是，在室内和户外都不缺乏工作。

The colony of Lincoln Island was now at its highest point of prosperity, achieved by three years of continued hard work. —
林肯岛殖民地现在达到了辛勤工作三年后的繁荣顶峰。 —

The destruction of the brig had been a new source of riches. —
战船的毁灭成为了新的财富来源。 —

Without speaking of the complete rig which would serve for the vessel now on the stocks, utensils and tools of all sorts, weapons and ammunition, clothes and instruments, were now piled in the storerooms of Granite House. It had not even been necessary to resort again to the manufacture of the coarse felt materials. —
丝毫不用再制造粗毛毯料，如今的仓库里堆满了各种船具和工具、武器和弹药、衣物和仪器。甚至连精心保存着纱布。 —

Though the colonists had suffered from cold during their first winter, the bad season might now come without their having any reason to dread its severity. —
尽管殖民者们在第一个冬季受过寒冷之苦，但糟糕的季节现在来临时并没有什么可担心的。 —

Linen was plentiful also, and besides, they kept it with extreme care. —
亦有充足的亚麻，并且他们非常小心地保管着。 —

From chloride of sodium, which is nothing else than sea salt, Cyrus Harding easily extracted the soda and chlorine. —
西里哈斯・哈丁很容易从氯化钠中提取了苏打和氯气。 —

The soda, which it was easy to change into carbonate of soda, and the chlorine, of which he made chloride of lime, were employed for various domestic purposes, and especially in bleaching linen. —
这种苏打水容易转化成碳酸钠，而氯元素则制成了氯化石灰，二者被用于各种家庭用途，尤其是漂白亚麻布。 —

Besides, they did not wash more than four times a year, as was done by families in the olden times, and it may be added, that Pencroft and Gideon Spilett, while waiting for the postman to bring him his newspaper, distinguished themselves as washermen.
此外，他们每年只洗四次衣服，就像古代家庭那样，不过可以补充一点，潘克罗夫和吉迪恩·斯派莱特在等着邮递员送来报纸时，成为了优秀的洗衣工。

So passed the winter months, June, July, and August. —
冬季过去了，六月、七月和八月逝去了。 —

They were severe, and the average observations of the thermometer did not give more than eight degrees of Fahrenheit. —
那几个月非常严寒，平均气温观测值不超过华氏八度。 —

It was therefore lower in temperature than the preceding winter. —
因此比前一年的冬季还要寒冷。 —

But then, what splendid fires blazed continually on the hearths of Granite House, the smoke marking the granite wall with long, zebra-like streaks! —
但是啊，在长满长满斑驳长褐色条纹的花岗岩墙壁上，却总是燃烧着美轮美奂的炉火！ —

Fuel was not spared, as it grew naturally a few steps from them. —
燃料并没有节约，因为附近自然长着几步之遥。 —

Besides, the chips of the wood destined for the construction of the ship enabled them to economize the coal, which required more trouble to transport.
而且，用于建造船只的木片让他们省下了煤炭，因为煤炭需要更多的努力来运输。

Men and animals were all well. Master Jup was a little chilly, it must be confessed. —
人和动物都很健康。可怜的弟猪有点冷，得承认。 —

This was perhaps his only weakness, and it was necessary to make him a well-padded dressing-gown. —
这也许是他唯一的软肋，需要给他穿一件厚实的浴衣。 —

But what a servant he was, clever, zealous, indefatigable, not indiscreet, not talkative, and he might have been with reason proposed as a model for all his biped brothers in the Old and New Worlds!
不过，他是多么出色的仆人，聪明、热心、不知疲倦、不多嘴，可以理所当然地被提名为新旧世界所有双足动物的楷模！

“As for that,” said Pencroft, “when one has four hands at one’s service, of course one’s work ought to be done so much the better!”
“说到那个,” 潘克罗夫说，“当有四只手为一个人服务时，当然这个人的工作就应该完成得更好！”

And indeed the intelligent creature did it well.
而聪明的家伙做得出色。

During the seven months which had passed since the last researches made round the mountain, and during the month of September, which brought back fine weather, nothing was heard of the genius of the island. —
自从山周围的最后一次调查以来七个月之久，以及九月份带来好天气的一个月中，岛上的天才始终没再传出任何消息。 —

His power was not manifested in any way. —
他的力量没有以任何方式表现出来。 —

It is true that it would have been superfluous, for no incident occurred to put the colonists to any painful trial.
很明显，对殖民者来说，任何突发事件都不会带来痛苦的考验。

Cyrus Harding even observed that if by chance the communication between the unknown and the tenants of Granite House had ever been established through the granite, and if Top’s instinct had as it were felt it, there was no further sign of it during this period. —
赛勒斯·哈丁甚至发现，如果未知者与花岗岩屋的居民之间曾通过花岗岩建立过联系，如果托普的直觉曾感觉到过，那么在这段时间内没有进一步的迹象。 —

The dog’s growling had entirely ceased, as well as the uneasiness of the orang. —
狗的嗥叫完全停止了，猩猩的不安也消失了。 —

The two friends– for they were such–no longer prowled round the opening of the inner well, nor did they bark or whine in that singular way which from the first the engineer had noticed. —
这两位朋友–因为他们是朋友–不再绕着内井口徘徊，也不再像工程师从一开始就注意到的那样狂吠或哀鸣。 —

But could he be sure that this was all that was to be said about this enigma, and that he should never arrive at a solution? —
但是他能确定这就是这个谜题的全部内容吗？他永远无法找到解决办法吗？ —

Could he be certain that some conjuncture would not occur which would bring the mysterious personage on the scene? —
他能确定不会出现什么情况，使得神秘人物出现在舞台上吗？ —

who could tell what the future might have in reserve?
谁能知道未来可能带来什么？

At last the winter was ended, but an event, the consequences of which might be serious occurred in the first days of the returning spring.
终于冬天结束了，但在初春回归的头几天发生了一件可能产生严重后果的事件。

On the 7th of September, Cyrus Harding, having observed the crater, saw smoke curling round the summit of the mountain, its first vapors rising in the air.
9月7日，赛勒斯·哈丁观察到火山口，看到烟在山顶缭绕升起，第一缕蒸汽升上空中。