The colonists, warned by the engineer, left their work and gazed in silence at the summit of Mount Franklin.
，工程师警告后，殖民者放下工作，静静地望着富兰克林山的顶峰。

The volcano had awoke, and the vapor had penetrated the mineral layer heaped at the bottom of the crater. —
这座火山醒了过来，蒸汽渗透到火山口底部堆积的矿物层中。 —

But would the subterranean fires provoke any violent eruption? —
但是地下火山是否会引发剧烈爆发？ —

This was an event which could not be foreseen. —
这是一个无法预料的事件。 —

However, even while admitting the possibility of an eruption, it was not probable that the whole of Lincoln Island would suffer from it. —
然而，即使承认可能会爆发，整个林肯岛也不太可能受到影响。 —

The flow of volcanic matter is not always disastrous, and the island had already undergone this trial, as was shown by the streams of lava hardened on the northern slopes of the mountain. —
火山物质的流动并不总是灾难性的，而且岛屿已经经历过这一考验，北坡上已结硬化的熔岩流就是证明。 —

Besides, from the shape of the crater–the opening broken in the upper edge–the matter would be thrown to the side opposite the fertile regions of the island.
此外，从火山口的形状来看–顶部破裂的开口–物质将被抛向岛屿肥沃地区相反的一侧。

However, the past did not necessarily answer for the future. —
然而，过去并不能必然代表未来。 —

Often, at the summit of volcanoes, the old craters close and new ones open. —
经常在火山顶上，旧火山口会关闭，新的会打开。 —

This had occurred in the two hemispheres–at Etna, Popocatepetl, at Orizabaand on the eve of an eruption there is everything to be feared. —
这种情况在两个半球都发生过–埃特纳，波波卡特佩特尔，奥里扎巴德在火山爆发前夕会有一切要担心的。 —

In fact, an earthquake–a phenomenon which often accompanies volcanic eruption–is enough to change the interior arrangement of a mountain, and to open new outlets for the burning lava.
事实上，地震–火山爆发经常伴随的现象–足以改变山体的内部结构，为炙热熔岩打开新的出口。

Cyrus Harding explained these things to his companions, and, without exaggerating the state of things, he told them all the pros and cons. —
塞勒斯·哈定向他的伙伴们解释了这些事情，并没有夸大状况，把利弊都告诉了他们。 —

After all, they could not prevent it. It did not appear likely that Granite House would be threatened unless the ground was shaken by an earthquake. —
毕竟他们无法阻止，看不出来格兰特之家会受到威胁，除非大地被地震震动。 —

But the corral would be in great danger should a new crater open in the southern side of Mount Franklin.
但是如果富兰克林山南侧开辟新的火山口，围栏将处于巨大危险之中。

From that day the smoke never disappeared from the top of the mountain, and it could even be perceived that it increased in height and thickness, without any flame mingling in its heavy volumes. —
从那天起，烟雾从山顶上再未消失过，甚至可以看到它的高度和浓度在增加，没有任何火焰融入其中的沉重体积。 —

The phenomenon was still concentrated in the lower part of the central crater.
这种现象仍然集中在中央火山口的下部。

However, with the fine days work had been continued. —
然而，随着天气好转，工作继续进行。 —

The building of the vessel was hastened as much as possible, and, by means of the waterfall on the shore, Cyrus Harding managed to establish an hydraulic sawmill, which rapidly cut up the trunks of trees into planks and joists. —
船只的建造尽可能加快，通过岸边的瀑布，赛勒斯·哈丁设法建立了一个液压锯木厂，迅速将树干切成木板和椽子。 —

The mechanism of this apparatus was as simple as those used in the rustic sawmills of Norway. —
这台设备的机制就像挪威乡村锯木厂中使用的那样简单。 —

A first horizontal movement to move the piece of wood, a second vertical movement to move the saw–this was all that was wanted; —
第一个水平运动移动木块，第二个垂直运动移动锯子–这就是所需的一切； —

and the engineer succeeded by means of a wheel, two cylinders, and pulleys properly arranged. —
工程师通过一个正确布置的轮子、两个圆筒和滑轮成功地达到了这个目的。 —

Towards the end of the month of September the skeleton of the vessel, which was to be rigged as a schooner, lay in the dockyard. —
在九月底的时候，这艘将要被装配成一艘帆船的船只的骨架在船坞里。 —

The ribs were almost entirely completed, and, all the timbers having been sustained by a provisional band, the shape of the vessel could already be seen. —
肋骨几乎完全完成，而且所有横木都被临时固定在一起，船只的形状已经可以看出来了。 —

The schooner, sharp in the bows, very slender in the after-part, would evidently be suitable for a long voyage, if wanted; —
这艘帆船，前部尖锐，后部非常纤瘦，显然非常适合远航，如果需要的话； —

but laying the planking would still take a considerable time. —
但是安装甲板仍然需要很长时间。 —

Very fortunately, the iron work of the pirate brig had been saved after the explosion. —
非常幸运的是，海盗小船的铁件在爆炸后被保存了下来。 —

From the planks and injured ribs Pencroft and Ayrton had extracted the bolts and a large quantity of copper nails. —
彭克罗夫特和艾尔顿从木板和受损的肋骨中拆出了螺栓和大量的铜钉。 —

It was so much work saved for the smiths, but the carpenters had much to do.
这对锻造工节省了很多工作，但木匠们还有很多事要做。

Shipbuilding was interrupted for a week for the harvest, the haymaking, and the gathering in of the different crops on the plateau. —
造船中断了一周，进行了收割、制草和在高原上收割不同的庄稼。 —

This work finished, every moment was devoted to finishing the schooner. —
完成这项工作后，每一刻都被用来完成这艘帆船。 —

When night came the workmen were really quite exhausted. —
当夜幕降临时，工人们确实感到筋疲力尽。 —

So as not to lose any time they had changed the hours for their meals; —
为了不浪费任何时间，他们改变了用餐时间； —

they dined at twelve o’clock, and only had their supper when daylight failed them. —
他们在中午用晚餐，只有在天黑时才吃晚餐。 —

They then ascended to Granite House, when they were always ready to go to bed.
然后他们回到花岗岩屋，准备上床睡觉。

Sometimes, however, when the conversation bore on some interesting subject the hour for sleep was delayed for a time. —
有时，当谈话涉及某个有趣的话题时，睡觉时间会延迟一会儿。 —

The colonists then spoke of the future, and talked willingly of the changes which a voyage in the schooner to inhabited lands would make in their situation. —
殖民者们会谈论未来，并乐意讨论乘坐 schooner 前往有人居住的土地将对他们的处境产生的变化。 —

But always, in the midst of these plans, prevailed the thought of a subsequent return to Lincoln Island. —
但在这些计划中，总是流露出后续返回林肯岛的想法。 —

Never would they abandon this colony, founded with so much labor and with such success, and to which a communication with America would afford a fresh impetus. —
他们永远不会放弃这个经过如此大力气建立并取得如此成功的殖民地，与美洲的交流将为其注入新的活力。 —

Pencroft and Neb especially hoped to end their days there.
Pencroft 和 Neb 特别希望在那里度过余生。

“Herbert,” said the sailor, “you will never abandon Lincoln Island?”
“Herbert，”水手说，“你永远不会放弃林肯岛吧？”

“Never, Pencroft, and especially if you make up your mind to stay there.”
“永远不会，Pencroft，特别是如果你决定留在那里的话。”

“That was made up long ago, my boy,” answered Pencroft. “I shall expect you. —
“我很久以前就下定决心了，我的孩子。”Pencroft 回答说。“我会等着你的。 —

You will bring me your wife and children, and I shall make jolly chaps of your youngsters!”
你会带着你的妻子和孩子，我会疼爱你的小家伙们！”

“That’s agreed,” replied Herbert, laughing and blushing at the same time.
“那就商量好了，”Herbert 笑着脸红着回答道。

“And you, Captain Harding,” resumed Pencroft enthusiastically, “you will be still the governor of the island! —
“而你，Harding 船长，”Pencroft 热情地继续说，“你仍将是这座岛的总督！ —

Ah, how many inhabitants could it support? —
啊,它能容纳多少居民呢？ —

Ten thousand at least!”
至少一万人！”

They talked in this way, allowing Pencroft to run on, and at last the reporter actually started a newspaper–the New Lincoln Herald!
他们这样聊着，任由潘克罗夫继续，结果记者实际上开始创办了一份报纸–《新林肯先驱报》！

So is man’s heart. The desire to perform a work which will endure, which will survive him, is the origin of his superiority over all other living creatures here below. —
人的心也是如此。渴望完成一个能够持久、能够流传下去的工作，这就是他高于下面所有其他生物的起源。 —

It is this which has established his dominion, and this it is which justifies it, over all the world.
正是这个建立了他的统治，也正是这个证明了这种统治，遍布全世界。

After that, who knows if Jup and Top had not themselves their little dream of the future.
之后，谁知道朱普和托普是否也有着自己未来的小梦想。

Ayrton silently said to himself that he would like to see Lord Glenarvan again and show himself to all restored.
艾尔顿心里默默地想，他很想再见到格伦纳万勋爵，向所有人展示他的恢复。

One evening, on the 15th of October, the conversation was prolonged later than usual. —
一个晚上，十月十五日，交谈的时间延长到比往常更晚。 —

It was nine o’clock. Already, long badly concealed yawns gave warning of the hour of rest, and Pencroft was proceeding towards his bed, when the electric bell, placed in the dining-room, suddenly rang.
已经是九点。疲乏的呵欠掩饰不住，提醒着休息的时刻，潘克罗夫正走向床铺，突然电铃响起。

All were there, Cyrus Harding, Gideon Spilett, Herbert, Ayrton, Pencroft, Neb. Therefore none of the colonists were at the corral.
所有人都在，赛勒斯·哈丁，吉迪恩·斯皮莱特，赫伯特，艾尔顿，潘克罗夫，尼布。因此没有一个殖民者在牛栏。

Cyrus Harding rose. His companions stared at each other, scarcely believing their ears.
赛勒斯·哈丁站起来。他的同伴们相互凝视，几乎不敢相信自己的耳朵。

“What does that mean?” cried Neb. “Was it the devil who rang it?”
“这是什么意思？” 尼布喊道。“是魔鬼按的吗？”

No one answered.
没人回答。

“The weather is stormy,” observed Herbert. “Might not its influence of electricity–”
“天气风起云涌，”赫伯特说。“可能有电影响–”

Herbert did not finish his phrase. The engineer, towards whom all eyes were turned, shook his head negatively.
赫伯特没把话说完。在所有人的目光聚集的工程师摇头否定。

“We must wait,” said Gideon Spilett. “If it is a signal, whoever it may be who has made it, he will renew it.”
“我们必须等待，”吉迪恩·斯皮莱特说道。“如果这是一个信号，不管是谁发出的，他都会重复。”

“But who do you think it is?” cried Neb.
“但你认为是谁？”尼布喊道。

“Who?” answered Pencroft, “but he–”
“谁？”潘克罗夫回答道，“除了他–”

The sailor’s sentence was cut short by a new tinkle of the bell.
水手的话被另一声铃声打断了。

Harding went to the apparatus, and sent this question to the corral:–
哈定走到装置那里，向畜栏发出这个问题：–

“What do you want?”
“你们想要什么？”

A few moments later the needle, moving on the alphabetic dial, gave this reply to the tenants of Granite House:–
几分钟后，指针在字母盘上移动，给了Granite House的居民这个回答：–

“Come to the corral immediately.”
“立刻来畜栏。”

“At last!” exclaimed Harding.
“终于！”哈定惊叹道。

Yes! At last! The mystery was about to be unveiled. —
是的！终于！谜团即将揭晓。 —

The colonists’ fatigue had disappeared before the tremendous interest which was about to urge them to the corral, and all wish for rest had ceased. —
殖民者们的疲惫在即将促使他们前往畜栏的巨大兴趣面前消失了，他们已经不再希望休息。 —

Without having uttered a word, in a few moments they had left Granite House, and were standing on the beach. —
没说一句话，几分钟内他们已经离开了Granite House，站在了海滩上。 —

Jup and Top alone were left behind. They could do without them.
只有朱普和Top被留在了后面。他们可以没有他们。

The night was black. The new moon had disappeared at the same time as the sun. —
夜晚漆黑一片。新月和太阳同时消失了。 —

As Herbert had observed, great stormy clouds formed a lowering and heavy vault, preventing any star rays. —
正如赫伯特所观察到的，巨大的暴风云云层形成了一片低垂而沉重的穹顶，阻止着星光的照射。 —

A few lightning flashes, reflections from a distant storm, illuminated the horizon.
远处的风暴闪电反射照亮了天边。

It was possible that a few hours later the thunder would roll over the island itself. —
可能几个小时后，雷声将在岛上响起。 —

The night was very threatening.
晚上充满了威胁。

But however deep the darkness was, it would not prevent them from finding the familiar road to the corral.
但无论黑暗有多深，也无法阻止他们找到通往畜栏的熟悉道路。

They ascended the left bank of the Mercy, reached the plateau, passed the bridge over Creek Glycerine, and advanced through the forest.
他们沿着梅西河左岸上坡，到达高原，穿过格利榴溪上的桥，然后深入森林。

They walked at a good pace, a prey to the liveliest emotions. —
他们以相当快的步伐前行，心情颇为激动。 —

There was no doubt but that they were now going to learn the long-searched-for answer to the enigma, the name of that mysterious being, so deeply concerned in their life, so generous in his influence, so powerful in his action! —
毫无疑问，他们现在将会得知长期寻找的谜底，那个深度介入他们生活的神秘存在的名字，他在他们生活中如此慷慨，如此强大！ —

Must not this stranger have indeed mingled with their existence, have known the smallest details, have heard all that was said in Granite House, to have been able always to act in the very nick of time?
这个陌生人一定曾与他们的生活交织，在意于细枝末节，听到一切在花岗岩屋内的谈话，才得以总是在相当时候行动！

Every one, wrapped up in his own reflections, pressed forward. —
每个人都陷入了自己的沉思中，向前走去。 —

Under the arch of trees the darkness was such that even the edge of the road could not be seen. —
在树荫之下，黑暗如此浓重，甚至道路的边缘都看不见。 —

Not a sound in the forest. Both animals and birds, influenced by the heaviness of the atmosphere, remained motionless and silent. —
森林里一片寂静。受到气氛沉闷的影响，动物和鸟类都静止不动，一言不发。 —

Not a breath disturbed the leaves. The footsteps of the colonists alone resounded on the hardened ground.
没有一丝风吹动树叶。只有殖民者的脚步声在坚硬的地面上回响。

During the first quarter of an hour the silence was only interrupted by this remark from Pencroft:–
走了头一个刻钟，除了 Pencroft 的这句话：“我们应该带个火把。”打破了沉默，还有工程师的回答：

“We ought to have brought a torch.”
“We ought to have brought a torch.”

And by this reply from the engineer:–
那句话。

“We shall find one at the corral.”
“我们将在马圈找到一个人。”

Harding and his companions had left Granite House at twelve minutes past nine. —
“哈丁和他的同伴于九点十二分离开了花岗岩屋。” —

At forty-seven minutes past nine they had traversed three out of the five miles which separated the mouth of the Mercy from the corral.
“到了九点四十七分，他们已经走过五英里中的三英里，这是海洋入口和马圈之间的距离。”

At that moment sheets of lightning spread over the island and illumined the dark trees. —
“此刻，闪电在岛上肆虐，照亮了黑暗的树木。” —

The flashes dazzled and almost blinded them. —
“闪电耀眼，几乎让他们眼花缭乱。” —

Evidently the storm would not be long in bursting forth.
“显然，暴风雨即将爆发。”

The flashes gradually became brighter and more rapid. —
“闪电逐渐变得更明亮、更频繁。” —

Distant thunder growled in the sky. The atmosphere was stifling.
“远处的雷声在天空中隆隆作响。空气异常闷热。”

The colonists proceeded as if they were urged onwards by some irresistible force.
“殖民者们前进的速度似乎被某种无法抗拒的力量推动着。”

At ten o’clock a vivid flash showed them the palisade, and as they reached the gate the storm burst forth with tremendous fury.
“十点时，一道明亮的闪电显示出他们所看到的栅栏，当他们走到大门口时，暴风雨以极其猛烈的力量爆发了。”

In a minute the corral was crossed, and Harding stood before the hut.
“一分钟后，他们穿过了马圈，哈丁站在小屋前。”

Probably the house was occupied by the stranger, since it was from thence that the telegram had been sent. —
“也许这所房子是被陌生人占据的，因为从那里发出了电报。” —

However, no light shone through the window.
“然而，窗户里没有透出任何光亮。”

The engineer knocked at the door.
“工程师敲了敲门。”

No answer.
“没有回应。”

Cyrus Harding opened the door, and the settlers entered the room, which was perfectly dark. —
赛勒斯·哈丁打开了门，移民们走进了这个完全黑暗的房间。 —

A light was struck by Neb, and in a few moments the lantern was lighted and the light thrown into every corner of the room.
尼布点燃了一盏灯，几分钟后灯笼点亮了，照亮了房间的每一个角落。

There was no one there. Everything was in the state in which it had been left.
那里没有任何人。一切都和他们离开时一样。

“Have we been deceived by an illusion?” murmured Cyrus Harding.
“我们是不是被骗了？”赛勒斯·哈丁低声说。

No! that was not possible! The telegram had clearly said,–
不! 这是不可能的! 电报里清楚地写着，–

“Come to the corral immediately.”
“立刻来牲口栏。”

They approached the table specially devoted to the use of the wire. —
他们走近专门用来连线的桌子。 —

Everything was in order–the pile on the box containing it, as well as all the apparatus.
一切都井然有序——箱子上的堆，还有所有的设备。

“Who came here the last time?” asked the engineer.
“上次来过这里的是谁？”工程师问道。

“I did, captain,” answered Ayrton.
“是我，队长，”艾尔顿回答道。

“And that was–”
“那是–”

“Four days ago.”
“四天前。”

“Ah! a note!” cried Herbert, pointing to a paper lying on the table.
“啊！有张便条！”赫伯特指着桌子上的一张纸说。

On this paper were written these words in English:–
在这张纸上用英语写着这些字:–

“Follow the new wire.”
“跟着新的电线。”

“Forward!” cried Harding, who understood that the despatch had not been sent from the corral, but from the mysterious retreat, communicating directly with Granite House by means of a supplementary wire joined to the old one.
“前进！”哈丁大喊着，他明白这封信并不是从牛栏发出的，而是从神秘的藏身之处发出的，通过一根补充的电线直接连接到花岗岩屋。

Neb took the lighted lantern, and all left the corral. —
尼布拿起点着的灯笼，大家都离开了牛栏。 —

The storm then burst forth with tremendous violence. —
风暴随之爆发，声势惊人。 —

The interval between each lightning- flash and each thunder-clap diminished rapidly. —
每一道闪电和雷声之间的时间间隔迅速缩短。 —

The summit of the volcano, with its plume of vapor, could be seen by occasional flashes.
火山的顶端，与一缕蒸汽，能够在偶尔的闪电中被看到。

There was no telegraphic communication in any part of the corral between the house and the palisade; —
在牛栏任何地方没能通讯的电报联络； —

but the engineer, running straight to the first post, saw by the light of a flash a new wire hanging from the isolator to the ground.
但工程师跑到第一个柱子，看到在一道闪电的光下一个新的电线从绝缘子上垂下到地面。

“There it is!” said he.
“在那里！”他说。

This wire lay along the ground, and was surrounded with an isolating substance like a submarine cable, so as to assure the free transmission of the current. —
这条电线沿地面铺设，周围包裹着像潜水电缆一样的绝缘物质，以确保电流的自由传输。 —

It appeared to pass through the wood and the southern spurs of the mountain, and consequently it ran towards the west.
它似乎穿过树林和山脚的南部支脉，所以它朝西边延伸。

“Follow it!” said Cyrus Harding.
“跟着它走！”赛勒斯·哈定说。

And the settlers immediately pressed forward, guided by the wire.
定居者立即跟随这根电线前进。

The thunder continued to roar with such violence that not a word could be heard. —
雷声继续轰鸣，声势之大使人无法听到任何话语。 —

However, there was no occasion for speaking, but to get forward as fast as possible.
然而，这并不需要说话，只需要尽快前进。

Cyrus Harding and his companions then climbed the spur rising between the corral valley and that of Falls River, which they crossed at its narrowest part. —
赛勒斯·哈定和他的同伴们随后爬上了在牛栏谷和瀑布河谷之间升起的支脉，穿过其最狭窄的部分。 —

The wire, sometimes stretched over the lower branches of the trees, sometimes lying on the ground, guided them surely. —
有时绳子被拉到树下的低枝之间，有时躺在地上，确保他们的方向。 —

The engineer had supposed that the wire would perhaps stop at the bottom of the valley, and that the stranger’s retreat would be there.
工程师本以为绳子可能会在山谷底部停止，陌生人可能会在那里躲藏。

Nothing of the sort. They were obliged to ascend the south-western spur, and re-descend on that arid plateau terminated by the strangely-wild basalt cliff. —
但事实并非如此。他们被迫登上西南的山脊，再降到那个干旱高原，终点是一片奇异而荒凉的玄武岩悬崖。 —

From time to time one of the colonists stooped down and felt for the wire with his hands; —
有时，殖民者之一弯下腰，用手去摸索绳索； —

but there was now no doubt that the wire was running directly towards the sea. —
但现在毫无疑问，绳子直接通往大海。 —

There, to a certainty, in the depths of those rocks, was the dwelling so long sought for in vain.
在那里，肯定会在那些岩石的深处找到被苦苦寻觅的住所。

The sky was literally on fire. Flash succeeded flash. —
天空实际上像是在燃烧。闪电不断交替。 —

Several struck the summit of the volcano in the midst of the thick smoke. —
有几道打在火山顶部的浓烟中。 —

It appeared there as if the mountain was vomiting flame. —
那里看起来像是火山在喷发火焰。 —

At a few minutes to eleven the colonists arrived on the high cliff overlooking the ocean to the west. —
在十一点前几分钟，殖民者抵达了俯瞰西面大海的高崖。 —

The wind had risen. The surf roared 500 feet below.
风势越来越大。海浪在500英尺下呼啸。

Harding calculated that they had gone a mile and a half from the corral.
哈丁估计他们已经离养殖场走了一英里半。

At this point the wire entered among the rocks, following the steep side of a narrow ravine. —
在这点，绳子穿入石缝之间，顺着一个狭窄的峡谷陡峭的一侧。 —

The settlers followed it at the risk of occasioning a fall of the slightly-balanced rocks, and being dashed into the sea. —
殖民者们顺着那条绳子前行，冒着把稍微平衡的岩石撞倒，被冲入海中的危险。 —

The descent was extremely perilous, but they did not think of the danger; —
下山极为危险，但他们没有考虑危险； —

they were no longer masters of themselves, and an irresistible attraction drew them towards this mysterious place as the magnet draws iron.
他们已不再掌控自己，一股无法抗拒的吸引力将他们吸向这神秘之地，就像磁铁吸引铁一样。

Thus they almost unconsciously descended this ravine, which even in broad daylight would have been considered impracticable.
因此，他们几乎下意识地沿着这条峡谷下去，即使在白天也会被认为是难以通行的。

The stones rolled and sparkled like fiery balls when they crossed through the gleams of light. —
当他们穿过光线时，石头滚动闪耀着火球般的光芒。 —

Harding was first–Ayrton last. On they went, step by step. —
哈丁走在最前面，艾尔顿走在最后。他们一步一步地前行。 —

Now they slid over the slippery rock; then they struggled to their feet and scrambled on.
现在他们在滑溜的岩石上滑行，然后挣扎着站起来并继续攀爬。

At last the wire touched the rocks on the beach. —
最终，电线碰到了海滩上的岩石。 —

The colonists had reached the bottom of the basalt cliff.
殖民者们到达了玄武岩悬崖的底部。

There appeared a narrow ridge, running horizontally and parallel with the sea. —
一条狭窄的横向于海平面平行的岩脊出现了。 —

The settlers followed the wire along it. —
殖民者沿着岩脊跟着电线走。 —

They had not gone a hundred paces when the ridge by a moderate incline sloped down to the level of the sea.
他们走了不到一百步，岩脊就渐渐斜向了海平面。

The engineer seized the wire and found that it disappeared beneath the waves.
工程师抓住了电线，发现它消失在海浪之下。

His companions were stupefied.
他的同伴们都惊呆了。

A cry of disappointment, almost a cry of despair, escaped them! —
他们发出一声失望的呼喊，几乎是绝望的呼喊！ —

Must they then plunge beneath the water and seek there for some submarine cavern? —
难道他们要潜入水下，在那里寻找一些水下洞穴吗？ —

In their excited state they would not have hesitated to do it.
在激动的状态下，他们会毫不犹豫地这样做。

The engineer stopped them.
工程师阻止了他们。

He led his companions to a hollow in the rocks, and there–
他带领同伴走到岩石中的一个坑洞里，然后–

“We must wait,” said he. “The tide is high. At low water the way will be open.”
“我们必须等待，”他说道。”潮水已经涨潮了。在低潮时，路就会打通了。”

“But what can make you think-” asked Pencroft.
“但是你怎么会这么认为呢–” 彭克罗夫问道。

“He would not have called us if the means had been wanting to enable us to reach him!”
“如果没有办法让我们到达他那里，他不会召唤我们过去的！”

Cyrus Harding spoke in a tone of such thorough conviction that no objection was raised. —
赛勒斯·哈丁说话的语气如此坚定，没有人提出异议。 —

His remark, besides, was logical. It was quite possible that an opening, practicable at low water, though hidden now by the high tide, opened at the foot of the cliff.
而且他的话也很有道理。很可能在低潮时，被高潮掩盖的悬崖脚下会有一处合适的入口。

There was some time to wait. The colonists remained silently crouching in a deep hollow. —
他们还需要等待一段时间。殖民者们默默地蹲在一个深深的坑洞里。 —

Rain now began to fall in torrents. The thunder was re- echoed among the rocks with a grand sonorousness.
雨开始倾盆而下。雷声在岩石间回响，声音宏亮威严。

The colonists’ emotion was great. A thousand strange and extraordinary ideas crossed their brains, and they expected some grand and superhuman apparition, which alone could come up to the notion they had formed of the mysterious genius of the island.
殖民者们兴奋万分。千奇百怪的想法涌入他们的脑海，他们期待着某种伟大而非凡的出现，只有这样的出现才能体现他们对这座岛上神秘天才的概念。

At midnight, Harding carrying the lantern, descended to the beach to reconnoiter.
半夜时分，哈丁带着手电筒下到海滩上侦察。

The engineer was not mistaken. The beginning of an immense excavation could be seen under the water. —
工程师没有错。在水下可以看到一个巨大挖掘的开端。 —

There the wire, bending at a right angle, entered the yawning gulf.
那里，电线向右拐然后进入张着大口的海洞。

Cyrus Harding returned to his companions, and said simply,–
赛勒斯·哈丁回到同伴们那里，简单地说道，–

“In an hour the opening will be practicable.”
“再过一个小时，入口就会通行了。”

“It is there, then?” said Pencroft.
“那里是这样的？”彭克罗夫特说。

“Did you doubt it?” returned Harding.
“你怀疑了吗？”哈丁回答道。

“But this cavern must be filled with water to a certain height,” observed Herbert.
“但这个洞穴必须被水填满到一定高度。”赫伯特观察到。

“Either the cavern will be completely dry,” replied Harding, “and in that case we can traverse it on foot, or it will not be dry, and some means of transport will be put at our disposal.”
“要么洞穴会完全干燥，”哈丁回答道，“在这种情况下我们可以步行过去，要么它不会干燥，届时会有一些交通工具供我们使用。”

An hour passed. All climbed down through the rain to the level of the sea. —
一个小时过去了。所有人凭着雨水爬下来到海平面。 —

There was now eight feet of the opening above the water. —
此时水面以上有八英尺的开口处。 —

It was like the arch of a bridge, under which rushed the foaming water.
就像是一座拱桥，水流湍急。

Leaning forward, the engineer saw a black object floating on the water. He drew it towards him. —
工程师俯身一看，看见一件黑色物体漂浮在水面上。他把它拉过来。 —

It was a boat, moored to some interior projection of the cave. —
这是一只停泊在洞穴内部凸出物上的船。 —

This boat was iron-plated. Two oars lay at the bottom.
这艘船镀铁。两只桨放在底部。

“Jump in!” said Harding.
“跳进去！”哈丁说。

In a moment the settlers were in the boat. —
转眼间，定居者们就坐在船上了。 —

Neb and Ayrton took the oars, Pencroft the rudder. —
内布和艾尔顿划桨，彭克罗夫特掌舵。 —

Cyrus Harding in the bows, with the lantern, lighted the way.
带着灯笼的锡尔斯·哈丁站在船首，照亮道路。

The elliptical roof, under which the boat at first passed, suddenly rose; —
船最初通过的椭圆形顶部突然升起； —

but the darkness was too deep, and the light of the lantern too slight, for either the extent, length, height, or depth of the cave to be ascertained. —
但黑暗太深，灯笼的光线太微弱，无法确定洞穴的范围、长度、高度或深度。 —

Solemn silence reigned in this basaltic cavern. —
这个玄武岩洞穴沉浸在庄严的寂静之中。 —

Not a sound could penetrate into it, even the thunder peals could not pierce its thick sides.
没有任何声音能够穿透进入，即使是雷声也无法穿透厚厚的岩壁。

Such immense caves exist in various parts of the world, natural crypts dating from the geological epoch of the globe. —
世界各地存在着这样巨大的洞穴，是地球地质时代遗留下来的自然墓穴。 —

Some are filled by the sea; others contain entire lakes in their sides. —
其中一些被海水填满；其他一些在洞壁里容纳了整个湖泊。 —

Such is Fingal’s Cave, in the island of Staffa, one of the Hebrides; —
就像位于赛法岛的芬加尔洞穴，是赫布里底群岛中的一个； —

such are the caves of Morgat, in the bay of Douarnenez, in Brittany, the caves of Bonifacio, in Corsica, those of Lyse-Fjord, in Norway; —
就像位于法国布列塔尼大西洋海湾的莫尔加特洞穴、科西嘉岛的博尼法乔洞穴、挪威的丽絲峡湾洞穴； —

such are the immense Mammoth caverns in Kentucky, 500 feet in height, and more than twenty miles in length! —
还有位于肯塔基州的巨大猛犸洞穴，高达500英尺，长度超过20英里！ —

In many parts of the globe, nature has excavated these caverns, and preserved them for the admiration of man.
在地球的许多地方，自然形成了这些洞穴，并保存下来供人们欣赏。

Did the cavern which the settlers were now exploring extend to the center of the island? —
探险者们现在正在探索的这个洞穴是否延伸到了岛屿的中心？ —

For a quarter of an hour the boat had been advancing, making detours, indicated to Pencroft by the engineer in short sentences, when all at once,–
船已经前进了四分之一小时，绕着弯道前行，被工程师指示的Pencroft瞬间意识到，—

“More to the right!” he commanded.
“更靠右！”他下令。

The boat, altering its course, came up alongside the right wall. —
船改变了航向，靠近了右侧的岩壁。 —

The engineer wished to see if the wire still ran along the side.
工程师想要查看电缆是否仍然沿着岩壁延伸。

The wire was there fastened to the rock.
电缆仍然被固定在岩石上。

“Forward!” said Harding.
“前进！”哈丁说道。

And the two oars, plunging into the dark waters, urged the boat onwards.
然后，两只桨插入黑暗的水域，推动着小船前进。

On they went for another quarter of an hour, and a distance of half-a- mile must have been cleared from the mouth of the cave, when Harding’s voice was again heard.
他们又前行了一个刻钟，离洞口大约已经有半英里的距离，这时再次听到了哈丁的声音。

“Stop!” said he.
“停！”他说。

The boat stopped, and the colonists perceived a bright light illuminating the vast cavern, so deeply excavated in the bowels of the island, of which nothing had ever led them to suspect the existence.
小船停了下来，殖民者们发现一道明亮的光在照亮这个巨大的洞穴，这个洞穴深深地挖进了岛屿的腹地，他们之前从未怀疑过这里的存在。

At a height of a hundred feet rose the vaulted roof, supported on basalt shafts. —
洞穴的顶部有一百英尺高，是由玄武岩柱支撑着的拱顶。 —

Irregular arches, strange moldings, appeared on the columns erected by nature in thousands from the first epochs of the formation of the globe. —
自全球形成的最早时期以来，自然竖立着成千上万的柱子，不规则的拱门，奇怪的线条，出现在这些列支柱上。 —

The basalt pillars, fitted one into the other, measured from forty to fifty feet in height, and the water, calm in spite of the tumult outside, washed their base. —
这些玄武岩柱互相套在一起，高度从四十到五十英尺不等，尽管外面的风浪在激烈，水面依旧平静地拍打它们的基座。 —

The brilliant focus of light, pointed out by the engineer, touched every point of rocks, and flooded the walls with light.
工程师指出的明亮焦点照射到每一处岩石，把整个洞穴照耀得明亮。

By reflection the water reproduced the brilliant sparkles, so that the boat appeared to be floating between two glittering zones. —
水面通过反射再现出那些绚烂的闪光，让小船仿佛漂浮在两道闪闪发光的区域之间。 —

They could not be mistaken in the nature of the irradiation thrown from the glowing nucleus, whose clear rays were shattered by all the angles, all the projections of the cavern. —
他们不可能误解那个辉光是从那个充满白光的核心散射出来的，那些晶莹的白光被洞穴里的所有角落、所有凸出物体所折射。 —

This light proceeded from an electric source, and its white color betrayed its origin. —
这种光是来自一个电源，其白色颜色泄露了它的来源。 —

It was the sun of this cave, and it filled it entirely.
这是这个洞穴的太阳，它充满了整个空间。

At a sign from Cyrus Harding the oars again plunged into the water, causing a regular shower of gems, and the boat was urged forward towards the light, which was now not more than half a cable’s length distant.
奥赛又向水中划了几下，引起了一阵宝石般的水花，小船向着不到半个缆绳长的光源前进。

At this place the breadth of the sheet of water measured nearly 350 feet, and beyond the dazzling center could be seen an enormous basaltic wall, blocking up any issue on that side. —
在这个地方，水域的宽度近350英尺，在令人眩目的中心以外，可以看到一堵巨大的玄武岩墙，堵住了那边的出口。 —

The cavern widened here considerably, the sea forming a little lake. —
洞穴在这里显著地扩大了，海水形成了一个小湖。 —

But the roof, the side walls, the end cliff, all the prisms, all the peaks, were flooded with the electric fluid, so that the brilliancy belonged to them, and as if the light issued from them.
但是屋顶、侧壁、末端悬崖，所有棱柱、所有尖峰都被电流所淹没，所以这种明亮属于它们，仿佛光线是从它们身上散射出来的。

In the center of the lake a long cigar-shaped object floated on the surface of the water, silent, motionless. —
在湖中心，一个长得像雪茄形状的物体漂浮在水面上，静止不动。 —

The brilliancy which issued from it escaped from its sides as from two kilns heated to a white heat. This apparatus, similar in shape to an enormous whale, was about 250 feet long, and rose about ten or twelve above the water.
从这个物体的两侧逃出的亮光就像从两个加热到白炽的窑炉中散发出来一样。这个巨大的鲸鱼般的装置长约250英尺，距水面大约有十二英尺。

The boat slowly approached it, Cyrus Harding stood up in the bows. —
小船慢慢靠近它，赛勒斯·哈丁站在船头。 —

He gazed, a prey to violent excitement. Then, all at once, seizing the reporter’s arm,–
他兴奋地注视着，突然，猛地抓住记者的胳膊，

“It is he! It can only be he!” he cried, “he!–”
“就是他！只能是他了！”他喊道，”他！–”

Then, falling back on the seat, he murmured a name which Gideon Spilett alone could hear.
然后，他退回至座位上，低声 murmured 了一个只有吉迪恩·斯皮莱特听得见的名字。

The reporter evidently knew this name, for it had a wonderful effect upon him, and he answered in a hoarse voice,–
记者显然知道这个名字，因为这个名字对他产生了奇妙的影响，他用嘶哑的声音回答说，–

“He! an outlawed man!”
“他！一个被通缉的人！”

“He!” said Harding.
“他！”哈丁说。

At the engineer’s command the boat approached this singular floating apparatus. —
在工程师的命令下，小船接近这个奇特的漂浮装置。 —

The boat touched the left side, from which escaped a ray of light through a thick glass.
小船碰到了左侧，从厚厚的玻璃透出一道光线。

Harding and his companions mounted on the platform. —
哈丁和他的同伴们登上了平台。 —

An open hatchway was there. All darted down the opening.
那里有一个开放的舱口。所有人纷纷跳下开口处。

At the bottom of the ladder was a deck, lighted by electricity. —
在阶梯的底部是一个由电力照明的甲板。 —

At the end of this deck was a door, which Harding opened.
在这个甲板的末端有一扇门，哈丁打开了门。

A richly-ornamented room, quickly traversed by the colonists, was joined to a library, over which a luminous ceiling shed a flood of light.
一个富丽装饰的房间，被殖民者快速穿过，与一间有着发光天花板的图书馆相连。

At the end of the library a large door, also shut, was opened by the engineer.
在图书馆的尽头，工程师打开了一扇也紧闭的大门。

An immense saloon–a sort of museum, in which were heaped up, with all the treasures of the mineral world, works of art, marvels of industry– appeared before the eyes of the colonists, who almost thought themselves suddenly transported into a land of enchantment.
一间巨大的沙龙–一种类似博物馆的地方，在那里堆满了矿石界的宝藏，工业奇迹–让殖民者眼前一亮，他们几乎以为自己突然被传送到了一个魔幻国度。

Stretched on a rich sofa they saw a man, who did not appear to notice their presence.
他们看到躺在华丽沙发上一个人，似乎没有注意到他们的存在。

Then Harding raised his voice, and to the extreme surprise of his companions, he uttered these words,–
然后，哈丁提高了声音，对他的同伴们极为惊讶地说出了这些话，–

“Captain Nemo, you asked for us! We are here.–”
“卫斯理船长，您召集我们！我们在这里。–”