At break of day the colonists regained in silence the entrance of the cavern, to which they gave the name of “Dakkar Grotto,” in memory of Captain Nemo. It was now low-water, and they passed without difficulty under the arcade, washed on the right by the sea.
天刚破晓，殖民者默默地回到了洞穴的入口，他们将这个地方命名为“达卡洞穴”，以纪念涅摩船长。此时正值涨潮，他们在右边被海水冲刷的拱门下毫无困难地通过。

The canoe was left here, carefully protected from the waves. —
独木舟就留在这里，小心地保护着免受海浪侵袭。 —

As additional precaution, Pencroft, Neb, and Ayrton drew it up on a little beach which bordered one of the sides of the grotto, in a spot where it could run no risk of harm.
作为额外的预防措施，彭克罗夫特、尼布和艾尔顿把它拉到了洞穴一侧的一个小海滩上，这样它就不会有任何危险。

The storm had ceased during the night. The last low mutterings of the thunder died away in the west. —
夜间风暴已经停止。雷声的最后低沉吼叫声在西边消失了。 —

Rain fell no longer, but the sky was yet obscured by clouds. —
雨不再下，但天空仍然被云层遮蔽。 —

On the whole, this month of October, the first of the southern spring, was not ushered in by satisfactory tokens, and the wind had a tendency to shift from one point of the compass to another, which rendered it impossible to count upon settled weather.
总的来说，这个十月份，南半球春天的第一个月，没有出现令人满意的象征，风向有倾向从一个方向变到另一个方向，这种情况使得很难预料到天气会变得稳定。

Cyrus Harding and his companions, on leaving Dakkar Grotto, had taken the road to the corral. —
塞勒斯·哈丁和他的伙伴离开达卡洞穴，走向牛栏。 —

On their way Neb and Herbert were careful to preserve the wire which had been laid down by the captain between the corral and the grotto, and which might at a future time be of service.
在路上，尼布和赫伯特小心保护着船长在牛栏和洞穴之间铺设的电线，这条电线在将来可能会有用。

The colonists spoke but little on the road. —
殖民者们在路上几乎没有交谈。 —

The various incidents of the night of October 15th had left a profound impression on their minds. —
十月十五日晚的各种事件深深地影响了他们的心灵。 —

The unknown being whose influence had so effectually protected them, the man whom their imagination had endowed with supernatural powers, Captain Nemo, was no more. —
那个无名的存在，曾如此有效地保护着他们，那个被他们的想象赋予了超自然力量的人，涅摩船长，已经不在了。 —

His “Nautilus” and he were buried in the depths of the abyss. —
他和他的“鹦鹉螺号”被埋葬在深渊的深处。 —

To each one of them their existence seemed even more isolated than before. —
对他们每个人来说，他们的存在似乎比以前更加孤立。 —

They had been accustomed to count upon the intervention of that power which existed no longer, and Gideon Spilett, and even Cyrus Harding, could not escape this impression. —
他们曾经习惯于寄望于那种力量的干预，而那种力量现在已经不复存在，吉迪恩·斯皮莱特，甚至塞勒斯·哈丁，也无法摆脱这种印象。 —

Thus they maintained a profound silence during their journey to the corral.
因此，他们在前往牛栏的旅途中保持着深深的沉默。

Towards nine in the morning the colonists arrived at Granite House.
早晨九点左右，殖民者们来到花岗岩屋。

It had been agreed that the construction of the vessel should be actively pushed forward, and Cyrus Harding more than ever devoted his time and labor to this object. —
已经商定，应该积极推进船只的建造工作，赛勒斯·哈丁更加全身心地致力于这个目标。 —

It was impossible to divine what future lay before them. —
他们不可能预知未来将会出现什么情况。 —

Evidently the advantage to the colonists would be great of having at their disposal a substantial vessel, capable of keeping the sea even in heavy weather, and large enough to attempt, in case of need, a voyage of some duration. —
显然，如果殖民者们能拥有一艘坚固的船只，能够在恶劣天气中保持在海上航行，并且足够大，在必要时，能够尝试进行一段长途航行，对他们将会有很大的好处。 —

Even if, when their vessel should be completed, the colonists should not resolve to leave Lincoln Island as yet, in order to gain either one of the Polynesian Archipelagoes of the Pacific or the shores of New Zealand, they might at least, sooner or later, proceed to Tabor Island, to leave there the notice relating to Ayrton. —
即使在他们的船只完工后，殖民者们并不打算立即离开林肯岛，前往南太平洋的波利尼西亚群岛之一或新西兰的海岸，他们至少迟早会前往塔波岛，以留下有关埃尔顿的通知。 —

This was a precaution rendered indispensable by the possibility of the Scotch yacht reappearing in those seas, and it was of the highest importance that nothing should be neglected on this point.
这是一项必要的预防措施，因为苏格兰游艇有可能再次出现在这些海域，非常重要的是在这一点上不要忽视任何事情。

The works were then resumed. Cyrus Harding, Pencroft, and Ayrton, assisted by Neb, Gideon Spilett, and Herbert, except when unavoidably called off by other necessary occupations, worked without cessation. —
于是工作继续进行。赛勒斯·哈丁、潘克罗夫和埃尔顿，在尼布、吉迪恩·斯皮莱特和赫伯特的帮助下，除非不可避免地受到其他必要工作的干扰，他们一直不停地工作。 —

It was important that the new vessel should be ready in five months–that is to say, by the beginning of March–if they wished to visit Tabor Island before the equinoctial gales rendered the voyage impracticable. —
如果他们希望在秋风骤暖风来临之前去拜访塔波岛，那么这艘新船只需要在五个月内准备好–也就是说，到三月初。 —

Therefore the carpenters lost not a moment. —
因此，木匠们不得不抓紧时间。 —

Moreover, it was unnecessary to manufacture rigging, that of the “Speedy” having been saved entire, so that the hull only of the vessel needed to be constructed.
而且，不需要制造绳索，因为“斯皮迪”号的绳索已经全部保存了下来，所以只需要建造船体。

The end of the year 1868 found them occupied by these important labors, to the exclusion of almost all others. —
1868年的年底，他们几乎全部投入到这些重要的工作之中。 —

At the expiration of two months and a half the ribs had been set up and the first planks adjusted. —
两个半月后，肋骨已经立起，第一块木板也安装好了。 —

It was already evident that the plans made by Cyrus Harding were admirable, and that the vessel would behave well at sea.
很明显，赛勒斯·哈丁制定的计划非常出色，这艘船在海上表现得会非常好。

Pencroft brought to the task a devouring energy, and would even grumble when one or the other abandoned the carpenter’s axe for the gun of the hunter. —
潘克罗夫带来了难以消耗的能量，当他们中的一个人放下木匠的斧头去猎人的枪时，他甚至会抱怨。 —

It was nevertheless necessary to keep up the stores of Granite House, in view of the approaching winter. —
尽管如此，为了应对即将到来的冬天，仍然需要充实花岗岩屋的储备。 —

But this did not satisfy Pencroft. The brave, honest sailor was not content when the workmen were not at the dockyard. —
但这并没有让潘克罗夫满意。这位勇敢、诚实的水手当工人们没在船厂时并不满足。 —

when this happened he grumbled vigorously, and, by way of venting his feelings, did the work of six men.
当发生这种情况时，他会愤怒地抱怨，并且为了释放情绪，完成了六个人的工作。

The weather was very unfavorable during the whole of the summer season. —
整个夏季的天气非常不利。 —

For some days the heat was overpowering, and the atmosphere, saturated with electricity, was only cleared by violent storms. —
几天来，酷热难耐，大气中充满电荷，只有暴风雨才能将其清除。 —

It was rarely that the distant growling of the thunder could not be heard, like a low but incessant murmur, such as is produced in the equatorial regions of the globe.
几乎总是能听到雷声的远处低沉但连续的咆哮声，就像是在地球赤道地区产生的那种。

The 1st of January, 1869, was signalized by a storm of extreme violence, and the thunder burst several times over the island. —
1869年1月1日，一场极端猛烈的暴风雨标志着这一天，雷声几次在岛上响起。 —

Large trees were struck by the electric fluid and shattered, and among others one of those gigantic nettle-trees which had shaded the poultry-yard at the southern extremity of the lake. —
大树被电流击中并破裂，包括位于湖泊南端的鸡舍旁那棵巨大的荨麻树在内。 —

Had this meteor any relation to the phenomena going on in the bowels of the earth? —
这种流星与地球内部正在发生的现象有关吗？ —

Was there any connection between the commotion of the atmosphere and that of the interior of the earth? —
大气动荡与地球内部的动荡是否有关联？ —

Cyrus Harding was inclined to think that such was the case, for the development of these storms was attended by the renewal of volcanic symptoms.
赛勒斯·哈丁倾向于认为是这样，因为这些风暴的发展伴随着火山症状的复发。

It was on the 3rd of January that Herbert, having ascended at daybreak to the plateau of Prospect Heights to harness one of the onagers, perceived an enormous hat-shaped cloud rolling from the summit of the volcano.
1月3日，赫伯特一大早登上展望高地的高原，要给一头野驴套上马鞍时，发现有一个巨大的形状像帽子的云从火山顶滚滚而下。

Herbert immediately apprised the colonists, who at once joined him in watching the summit of Mount Franklin.
赫伯特立刻通知殖民者们，他们立刻加入他一起观察富兰克林山的山顶。

“Ah!” exclaimed Pencroft, “those are not vapors this time! —
“啊！”潘克罗夫叫道，“这次不是水蒸气了！” —

It seems to me that the giant is not content with breathing; he must smoke!”
对这个船员使用的比喻来说，确切地表达了火山口发生的变化。

This figure of speech employed by the sailor exactly expressed the changes going on at the mouth of the volcano. —
这个比喻正好描述了火山口的变化。 —

Already for three months had the crater emitted vapors more or less dense, but which were as yet produced only by an internal ebullition of mineral substances. —
火山口已经排放出或稠或淡的蒸汽三个月了，但这些蒸汽目前仍然只是由矿物质内部汽化产生的。 —

But now the vapors were replaced by a thick smoke, rising in the form of a grayish column, more than three hundred feet in width at its base, and which spread like an immense mushroom to a height of from seven to eight hundred feet above the summit of the mountain.
但现在，这些蒸汽被一股浓烟所取代，呈灰色柱状上升，基部宽达三百英尺以上，像一朵巨大的蘑菇一样向高达七到八百英尺的山顶蔓延。

“The fire is in the chimney,” observed Gideon Spilett.
“火在烟囱里，”吉迪恩·斯普莱特观察到。

“And we can’t put it out!” replied Herbert.
“我们无法把它扑灭！”赫伯特回答道。

“The volcano ought to be swept,” observed Neb, who spoke as if perfectly serious.
“火山口应该被清扫，”尼布说，听起来非常认真。

“Well said, Neb!” cried Pencroft, with a shout of laughter; —
“说得好，尼布！”彭克罗夫大笑着说； —

“and you’ll undertake the job, no doubt?”
“那么你准备接手这项工作，是吧？”

Cyrus Harding attentively observed the dense smoke emitted by Mount Franklin, and even listened, as if expecting to hear some distant muttering. —
赛勒斯·哈定专注地观察着富兰克林山喷发出的浓烟，甚至侧耳倾听，仿佛在等待远处的隆隆声。 —

Then, turning towards his companions, from whom he had gone somewhat apart, he said,–
然后，他转向稍微远离他的同伴，说道，

“The truth is, my friends, we must not conceal from ourselves that an important change is going forward. —
“事实上，朋友们，我们不应掩盖一个重要的变化正在发生。 —

The volcanic substances are no longer in a state of ebullition, they have caught fire, and we are undoubtedly menaced by an approaching eruption.”
火山物质不再处于汽化状态，而是燃烧起来了，我们无疑受到即将发生的喷发的威胁。”

“Well, captain,” said Pencroft, “we shall witness the eruption; —
“好吧，船长，”彭克罗夫说，“我们将目睹喷发； —

and if it is a good one, we’ll applaud it. —
如果是个好的喷发，我们将为它鼓掌。 —

I don’t see that we need concern ourselves further about the matter.”
我认为我们不需要进一步担心这件事。”

“It may be so,” replied Cyrus Harding, “for the ancient track of the lava is still open; —
“也许是这样，”赛勒斯·哈定回答，“因为熔岩的古老通道仍然敞开着； —

and thanks to this, the crater has hitherto overflowed towards the north. And yet–”
由于这一现象，火山口至今一直朝北溢出。然而–”

“And yet, as we can derive no advantage from an eruption, it might be better it should not take place,” said the reporter.
“然而，既然我们无法从喷发中获益，那它最好不要发生，”记者说道。

“Who knows?” answered the sailor. “Perhaps there may be some valuable substance in this volcano, which it will spout forth, and which we may turn to good account!”
“谁知道呢？”水手回答道。”也许在这座火山里有一些有价值的物质，它将喷发而出，我们可以好好利用！”

Cyrus Harding shook his head with the air of a man who augured no good from the phenomenon whose development had been so sudden. —
赛勒斯·哈丁摇了摇头，表现出他对这突然发生的现象没有好感。 —

He did not regard so lightly as Pencroft the results of an eruption. —
他并未像潘克罗夫特那样漫不经心地对待一个喷发的后果。 —

If the lava, in consequence of the position of the crater, did not directly menace the wooded and cultivated parts of the island, other complications might present themselves. —
如果由于火山口的位置，岩浆没有直接威胁到岛上的树木和耕地，那么可能会出现其他复杂情况。 —

In fact, eruptions are not unfrequently accompanied by earthquakes; —
实际上，喷发往往伴随着地震； —

and an island of the nature of Lincoln Island, formed of substances so varied, basalt on one side, granite on the other, lava on the north, rich soil on the south, substances which consequently could not be firmly attached to each other, would be exposed to the risk of disintegration. —
而且，由于林肯岛的性质是由不同的物质组成的，一侧是玄武岩，一侧是花岗岩，北边是岩浆，南边是富饶的土壤，这些物质因此无法牢固地结合在一起，将面临解体的风险。 —

Although, therefore, the spreading of the volcanic matter might not constitute a serious danger, any movement of the terrestrial structure which should shake the island might entail the gravest consequences.
因此，即使火山物质的扩散可能不构成严重威胁，但任何动摇岛屿的地壳结构的运动可能带来最严重的后果。

“It seems to me,” said Ayrton, who had reclined so as to place his ear to the ground, “it seems to me that I can hear a dull, rumbling sound, like that of a wagon loaded with bars of iron.”
“我觉得,“埃尔顿侧身把耳朵贴在地面上说, “我能听到一种低沉的隆隆声，就像装满铁条的马车一样。”

The colonists listened with the greatest attention, and were convinced that Ayrton was not mistaken. —
殖民者们非常认真地倾听，确信埃尔顿没有弄错。 —

The rumbling was mingled with a subterranean roar, which formed a sort of rinforzando, and died slowly away, as if some violent storm had passed through the profundities of the globe. —
隆隆声与地下鸣响交织在一起，形成了一种强化，然后慢慢消失，就好像有一阵猛烈的风暴穿过地球的深处。 —

But no explosion properly so termed, could be heard. —
但没有爆炸的声音。 —

It might therefore be concluded that the vapors and smoke found a free passage through the central shaft; —
因此可以得出结论，蒸汽和烟气可以自由通过中央通道； —

and that the safety-valve being sufficiently large, no convulsion would be produced, no explosion was to be apprehended.
而且，由于安全阀足够大，不会发生动荡，不会有爆炸的危险。

“Well, then!” said Pencroft, “are we not going back to work? —
“好了，那么！”彭克罗夫特说道，“我们不是要回去干活吗？ —

Let Mount Franklin smoke, groan, bellow, or spout forth fire and flame as much as it pleases, that is no reason why we should be idle! —
让富兰克林火山冒烟、咆哮、喷发火焰，这并不是我们懒惰的理由！ —

Come, Ayrton, Neb, Herbert, Captain Harding, Mr. Spilett, every one of us must turn to at our work to-day! —
走吧，艾尔顿，内布，赫伯特，哈丁船长，斯皮莱特先生，我们每个人今天都必须投入到工作中去！ —

We are going to place the keelson, and a dozen pair of hands would not be too many. —
我们要安装龙骨，再多一打人手也不为过。 —

Before two months I want our new ‘Bonadventure’– for we shall keep the old name, shall we not? —
“两个月之前，我希望我们的新‘波纳德维’号——因为我们会保留旧名字，对吧？ —

–to float on the waters of Port Balloon! —
——漂浮在巴龙港的水面上！ —

Therefore there is not an hour to lose!”
因此，我们不容有失！”

All the colonists, their services thus requisitioned by Pencroft, descended to the dockyard, and proceeded to place the keelson, a thick mass of wood which forms the lower portion of a ship and unites firmly the timbers of the hull. —
彭克罗夫特这样召集了所有的殖民者，他们下到造船厂，开始安装龙骨，这是船的下部厚实的木料，将船身的木料紧密结合在一起。 —

It was an arduous undertaking, in which all took part.
这是一项艰巨的任务，每个人都参与了进去。

They continued their labors during the whole of this day, the 3rd of January, without thinking further of the volcano, which could not, besides, be seen from the shore of Granite House. But once or twice, large shadows, veiling the sun, which described its diurnal arc through an extremely clear sky, indicated that a thick cloud of smoke passed between its disc and the island. —
他们全天都在进行这项工作，一月三日这一天，毫不考虑那座位于格兰岩屋岛岸边无法看见的火山。但有一两次，大片的阴影笼罩阳光，穿过极为干净的天空，表明一大团浓烟掠过太阳的盘面和岛屿之间。 —

The wind, blowing on the shore, carried all these vapors to the westward. —
吹向岸边的风将所有这些蒸汽带向西方。 —

Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett remarked these somber appearances, and from time to time discussed the evident progress of the volcanic phenomena, but their work went on without interruption. —
赛勒斯·哈定和吉迪恩·斯皮莱特注意到了这些阴郁的景象，不时讨论着火山现象的明显进展，但他们的工作并没有中断。 —

It was, besides, of the first importance from every point of view, that the vessel should be finished with the least possible delay. —
此外，非常重要的是，船应该尽量快地完工。 —

In presence of the eventualities which might arise, the safety of the colonists would be to a great extent secured by their ship. —
考虑到可能发生的事件，殖民者的安全将在很大程度上通过他们的船来保障。 —

Who could tell that it might not prove some day their only refuge?
谁能保证它将来不会成为他们唯一的避难所？”

In the evening, after supper, Cyrus Harding, Gideon Spilett, and Herbert again ascended the plateau of Prospect Heights. —
在晚饭过后，西勒斯·哈丁、吉迪恩·斯波莱特和赫伯特再次登上了展望高地的高台。 —

It was already dark, and the obscurity would permit them to ascertain if flames or incandescent matter thrown up by the volcano were mingled with the vapor and smoke accumulated at the mouth of the crater.
天色已经很暗，这种昏暗可以让他们确定火山口积聚的蒸汽和烟雾中是否掺杂了火焰或炽热物质。

“The crater is on fire!” said Herbert, who, more active than his companion, first reached the plateau.
“火山口在燃烧！”比赛伯特率先到达高台，说道。

Mount Franklin, distant about six miles, now appeared like a gigantic torch, around the summit of which turned fuliginous flames. —
距离约六英里的富兰克林山现在看起来像一支巨大的火炬，绕着其顶部旋转着浓烟般的火焰。 —

So much smoke, and possibly scoriae and cinders were mingled with them, that their light gleamed but faintly amid the gloom of the night. —
很多烟雾，可能掺杂着火山灰和炭块，使得它们的光线在夜晚的黑暗中显得微弱。 —

But a kind of lurid brilliancy spread over the island, against which stood out confusedly the wooded masses of the heights. —
“但是一种烟暗魅辉遍布整个岛屿，对比着高地上混乱的树木群体。 —

Immense whirlwinds of vapor obscured the sky, through which glimmered a few stars.
巨大的蒸汽漩涡遮蔽了天空，星星间隐隐约约地闪烁着。

“The change is rapid!” said the engineer.
“变化很快！”工程师说。

“That is not surprising,” answered the reporter. —
“这并不奇怪，”记者回答道。 —

“The reawakening of the volcano already dates back some time. —
“火山的再次爆发其实已经有一段时间了。 —

You may remember, Cyrus, that the first vapors appeared about the time we searched the sides of the mountain to discover Captain Nemo’s retreat. —
你可以回忆起，西勒斯，最初的蒸汽是在我们搜查山腰寻找尼莫船长藏身之处的时候出现的。 —

It was, if I mistake not, about the 15th of October.”
如果我没记错的话，大约是在10月15日。”

“Yes,” replied Herbert, “two months and a half ago!”
“是的，”赫伯特回答，“两个半月前！”

“The subterranean fires have therefore been smoldering for ten weeks,” resumed Gideon Spilett, “and it is not to be wondered at that they now break out with such violence!”
吉迪恩·斯波莱特继续说道，“地下火山已经在潜伏十周了，所以现在它们以如此激烈的方式爆发并不奇怪！”

“Do not you feel a certain vibration of the soil?” asked Cyrus Harding.
“你们感觉到土地的某种振动吗？”西勒斯·哈丁问道。

“Yes,” replied Gideon Spilett, “but there is a great difference between that and an earthquake.”
“是的，”吉迪恩·斯皮莱特答道，“但地震和这种现象之间有很大区别。”

“I do not affirm that we are menaced with an earthquake,” answered Cyrus Harding, “may God preserve us from that! —
“我不认为我们受到地震的威胁，”赛勒斯·哈丁回答道，”愿上帝保佑我们远离那种灾祸！ —

No; these vibrations are due to the effervescence of the central fire. —
不；这些震动是由中央火源的起泡引起的。 —

The crust of the earth is simply the shell of a boiler, and you know that such a shell, under the pressure of steam, vibrates like a sonorous plate. —
地球的地壳只是一种锅炉的壳，你知道这样的壳在蒸汽的压力下会像一个共鸣板一样振动。 —

it is this effect which is being produced at this moment.”
就是这种效应正在发生。”

“What magnificent flames!” exclaimed Herbert.
“多么壮丽的火焰！”赫伯特惊叹道。

At this instant a kind of bouquet of flames shot forth from the crater, the brilliancy of which was visible even through the vapors. —
就在这一刻，一束火焰的花束从火山口中喷射而出，即使透过蒸汽，其光辉也可见。 —

Thousands of luminous sheets and barbed tongues of fire were cast in various directions. —
无数明亮的火焰薄片和带刺的火舌被投射到各个方向。 —

Some, extending beyond the dome of smoke, dissipated it, leaving behind an incandescent powder. —
有些延伸超越烟囱的圆顶， 扩散了它，留下一层白炽的粉末。 —

This was accompanied by successive explosions, resembling the discharge of a battery of machine-guns.
这伴随着连续的爆炸声，似乎是一台机枪的连续射击声。

Cyrus Harding, the reporter, and Herbert, after spending an hour on the plateau of Prospect Heights, again descended to the beach, and returned to Granite House. The engineer was thoughtful and preoccupied, so much so, indeed, that Gideon Spilett inquired if he apprehended any immediate danger, of which the eruption might directly or indirectly be the cause.
赛勒斯·哈丁、记者和赫伯特在观望高地上呆了一个小时后，再次下到海滩，返回花岗岩屋。工程师沉思着，思虑重重，以至于吉迪恩·斯皮莱特询问他是否担心任何直接或间接与喷发有关的立即危险。

“Yes, and no,” answered Cyrus Harding.
“是的，也不是，”赛勒斯·哈丁回答道。

“Nevertheless,” continued the reporter, “would not the greatest misfortune which could happen to us be an earthquake which would overturn the island? —
“尽管如此，”记者继续说道，“我们最大的不幸难道不是地震会使岛屿翻转吗？ —

Now, I do not suppose that this is to be feared, since the vapors and lava have found a free outlet.”
现在，我不认为这是有必要担心的事情，因为蒸汽和熔岩已经找到了自由通道。”

“True,” replied Cyrus Harding, “and I do not fear an earthquake in the sense in which the term is commonly applied to convulsions of the soil provoked by the expansion of subterranean gases. —
“确实，”赛勒斯·哈丁回答道，“我不担心地震，就人们通常所理解的由地下气体膨胀引起的土壤震动的意义而言。” —

But other causes may produce great disasters.”
但其他原因也可能造成严重灾难。”

“How so, my dear Cyrus?’
“怎么了，我亲爱的赛勒斯？”

“I am not certain. I must consider. I must visit the mountain. —
“我不确定。我必须考虑一下。我必须去山上看看。” —

In a few days I shall learn more on this point.”
“几天后我应该会在这一点上了解更多。”

Gideon Spilett said no more, and soon, in spite of the explosions of the volcano, whose intensity increased, and which were repeated by the echoes of the island, the inhabitants of Granite House were sleeping soundly.
吉迪恩·斯普利特什么也没说，很快，尽管火山的爆发越来越剧烈，岛上的居民还是睡得很香。

Three days passed by–the 4th, 5th, and 6th of January. —
三天过去了–1月4日、5日和6日。 —

The construction of the vessel was diligently continued, and without offering further explanations the engineer pushed forward the work with all his energy. —
船只的建造继续努力进行，工程师没有再提供更多解释，全力推动工作。 —

Mount Franklin was now hooded by a somber cloud of sinister aspect, and, amid the flames, vomiting forth incandescent rocks, some of which fell back into the crater itself. —
富兰克林山头现在被一朵长得阴森可怖的云所笼罩，火山在喷发，喷出炽热的岩石，其中一些掉回到火山口。 —

This caused Pencroft, who would only look at the matter in the light of a joke, to exclaim,–
这让潘克洛夫把事情看成了一个玩笑，并大喊，“啊！巨人在玩杯子和球；他是个魔术师。”

“Ah! the giant is playing at cup and ball; he is a conjurer.”
事实上，喷出的物质又掉回到了深渊中，看来即使内部压力增加，熔岩也还没涨到火山口。

In fact, the substances thrown up fell back again in to the abyss, and it did not seem that the lava, though swollen by the internal pressure, had yet risen to the orifice of the crater. —
无论如何，虽然船只建造迫在眉睫，其他职责也要求殖民者出现在岛上的各个地方。 —

At any rate, the opening on the northeast, which was partly visible, poured out no torrent upon the northern slope of the mountain.
在任何情况下，在东北方向可见的口向火山口倾泻出没有向山的北坡上发出熔岩的暴流。

Nevertheless, however pressing was the construction of the vessel, other duties demanded the presence of the colonists on various portions of the island. —
然而，船只的建造再怎么紧迫，其他职责也要求殖民者前往岛上的各个地方。 —

Before everything it was necessary to go to the corral, where the flocks of musmons and goats were enclosed, and replenish the provision of forage for those animals. —
首先需要去畜栏，那里是被困在里面的羊驼和山羊的圈，为这些动物重新补充饲料。 —

It was accordingly arranged that Ayrton should proceed thither the next day, the 7th of January; —
因此，安排埃尔顿第二天去，即1月7日； —

and as he was sufficient for the task, to which he was accustomed, Pencroft and the rest were somewhat surprised on hearing the engineer say to Ayrton–
由于他足以胜任自己习惯的任务，彭克罗夫和其他人听到工程师对艾尔顿说“你明天去牲畜栏，我会陪你去。”时都感到有些惊讶。

“As you are going to-morrow to the corral I will accompany you.”
“但是，哈丁船长，”水手大声说，“我们的工作日并不多，如果你也去，我们将少了两双手！”

“But, Captain Harding,” exclaimed the sailor, “our working days will not be many, and if you go also we shall be two pair of hands short!”
“我们明天就会回来，”赛勒斯·哈丁回答道，“但我需要去牲畜栏。

“We shall return to-morrow,” replied Cyrus Harding, “but it is necessary that I should go to the corral. —
我必须了解火山爆发的情况。” —

I must learn how the eruption is progressing.”
“火山爆发！总是火山爆发！”彭克罗夫不满地回答道。

“The eruption! always the eruption!” answered Pencroft, with an air of discontent. —
“这火山爆发真是一件重要的事情！ —

“An important thing, truly, this eruption! —
我对此并不怎么在意。” —

I trouble myself very little about it.”
尽管水手持有不同看法，但工程师计划的远足在第二天得以实施。

Whatever might be the sailor’s opinion, the expedition projected by the engineer was settled for the next day. —
赫伯特想跟赛勒斯·哈丁一起去，但他不想因为自己的缺席而惹恼彭克罗夫。 —

Herbert wished to accompany Cyrus Harding, but he would not vex Pencroft by his absence.
第二天清晨，赛勒斯·哈丁和艾尔顿驾驶着由两匹野驴拉动的马车上路去牲畜栏，并飞奔而去。

The next day, at dawn, Cyrus Harding and Ayrton, mounting the cart drawn by two onagers, took the road to the corral and set off at a round trot.
大片云朵在林间飘过，富兰克林火山口不断喷发出乌烟瘴气。

Above the forest were passing large clouds, to which the crater of Mount Franklin incessantly added fuliginous matter. —
这些沉重在空中滚动的云层明显由异质物质组成。 —

These clouds, which rolled heavily in the air, were evidently composed of heterogeneous substances. —
云层中悬浮着的不仅仅来自火山的烟尘使得它们异常浑浊和沉重。 —

It was not alone from the volcano that they derived their strange opacity and weight. —
火山灰以粉碎的浮石粉末的形式和灰色的灰烬微小到像最细小的粉尘一样，被悬浮在它们浓厚的褶皱中。 —

Scoriae, in a state of dust, like powdered pumice-stone, and grayish ashes as small as the finest feculae, were held in suspension in the midst of their thick folds. —
这云层显然由多种物质构成。 —

These ashes are so fine that they have been observed in the air for whole months. —
这些灰烬非常细，以至于它们被观察到在空中飘浮了整整几个月。 —

After the eruption of 1783 in Iceland for upwards of a year the atmosphere was thus charged with volcanic dust through which the rays of the sun were only with difficulty discernible.
在1783年冰岛火山喷发之后，大约有一年时间大气层中充满了火山灰，阳光穿透其中变得异常困难。

But more often this pulverized matter falls, and this happened on the present occasion. —
但更常见的是这种被粉碎的物质落下，就像这次发生的情况一样。 —

Cyrus Harding and Ayrton had scarcely reached the corral when a sort of black snow like fine gunpowder fell, and instantly changed the appearance of the soil. —
赛勒斯·哈丁和艾尔顿刚到达畜栏时，类似细黑火药的粉雪落下，瞬间改变了土壤的外观。 —

Trees, meadows, all disappeared beneath a covering several inches in depth. —
树木、草地，全都被数英寸深的覆盖物所掩盖。 —

But, very fortunately, the wind blew from the northeast, and the greater part of the cloud dissolved itself over the sea.
但非常幸运的是，风是从东北方吹来的，大部分的云都在海上消散了。

“This is very singular, Captain Harding,” said Ayrton.
“这非常奇怪，哈丁船长，”艾尔顿说。

“It is very serious,” replied the engineer. —
“这非常严重，”工程师回答说。 —

“This powdered pumice-stone, all this mineral dust, proves how grave is the convulsion going forward in the lower depths of the volcano.”
“这些碎成粉末的浮石，所有这些矿物尘埃，证明了火山地底的震荡有多严重。”

“But can nothing be done?”
“但除了记录这一现象的进展外，还能做什么呢？”

“Nothing, except to note the progress of the phenomenon. —
“没有，除了监视这一现象的进展。” —

Do you, therefore, Ayrton, occupy yourself with the necessary work at the corral. —
“那么，艾尔顿，你就在畜栏忙你的工作吧。” —

In the meantime I will ascend just beyond the source of Red Creek and examine the condition of the mountain upon its northern aspect. Then–”
“与此同时，我会沿着红溪的源头稍微攀登一点，检查山的北侧情况。接着——”

“Well, Captain Harding?”
“好的，哈丁船长？”

“Then we will pay a visit to Dakkar Grotto. I wish to inspect it. —
“然后我们会去达卡尔洞穴看看。我想要检查一下。” —

At any rate I will come back for you in two hours.”
无论如何，我会在两个小时后回来接你。

Ayrton then proceeded to enter the corral, and, while awaiting the engineer’s return, busied himself with the musmons and goats which seemed to feel a certain uneasiness in presence of these first signs of an eruption.
然后，艾尔顿进入了畜栏，等待工程师的回来，他忙着照顾这些羊羔和山羊，它们似乎感到某种不安，因为这些火山喷发的第一个迹象出现了。

Meanwhile Cyrus Harding ascended the crest of the eastern spur, passed Red Creek, and arrived at the spot where he and his companions had discovered a sulphurous spring at the time of their first exploration.
与此同时，赛勒斯·哈丁登上东部支脉的山顶，经过了红溪，到达了他和同伴们在首次探险时发现一处硫磺泉的地方。

How changed was everything! Instead of a single column of smoke he counted thirteen, forced through the soil as if violently propelled by some piston. —
一切都变了！他数到不再只有一根烟柱，而是十三根，好像被某种柱塞猛烈推动而从地下迫出。 —

It was evident that the crust of the earth was subjected in this part of the globe to a frightful pressure. —
显然，这个地球的这部分地区承受着可怕的压力。 —

The atmosphere was saturated with gases and carbonic acid, mingled with aqueous vapors. —
大气中充满了气体和二氧化碳，掺杂着水蒸气。 —

Cyrus Harding felt the volcanic tufa with which the plain was strewn, and which was but pulverized cinders hardened into solid blocks by time, tremble beneath him, but he could discover no traces of fresh lava.
赛勒斯·哈丁摸索着遍布平原的火山凝灰岩，这些凝灰岩只是经过时间硬化成坚固的灰烬块，底下颤抖着，但他找不到新的熔岩迹象。

The engineer became more assured of this when he observed all the northern part of Mount Franklin. —
当他观察到富兰克林山的北部时，他更加确信了这一点。 —

Pillars of smoke and flame escaped from the crater; a hail of scoriae fell on the ground; —
柱状的烟与火从火山口喷发出来；一阵火山渣雨落在地面上； —

but no current of lava burst from the mouth of the volcano, which proved that the volcanic matter had not yet attained the level of the superior orifice of the central shaft.
但没有熔岩从火山口喷发出来，这表明火山物质还没有到达中央通道的上方开口的水平。

“But I would prefer that it were so,” said Cyrus Harding to himself. —
“但我更希望是这样的，”赛勒斯·哈丁自言自语道。 —

“At any rate, I should then know that the lava had followed its accustomed track. —
“无论如何，那时我会知道熔岩已经按照它习惯的轨迹流动了。 —

who can say that it may not take a new course? But the danger does not consist in that! —
谁能说它不会改变流向呢？但危险并不在于此！ —

Captain Nemo foresaw it clearly! No, the danger does not lie there!”
尼摩船长清楚地预见到了！不，危险不在于此！”

Cyrus Harding advanced towards the enormous causeway whose prolongation enclosed the narrow Shark Gulf. He could now sufficiently examine on this side the ancient channels of the lava. —
赛勒斯·哈丁朝着巨大的堤岸前进，它的延长部分包围了狭窄的鲨鱼湾。在这边，他现在能够清楚地观察到古老的熔岩通道。 —

There was no doubt in his mind that the most recent eruption had occurred at a far-distant epoch.
毫无疑问，他心中确信最近的火山喷发发生在遥远的古代。

He then returned by the same way, listening attentively to the subterranean mutterings which rolled like long-continued thunder, interrupted by deafening explosions. —
然后，他沿着同样的路返回，聚精会神地倾听着地下长时间隆隆的隆隆声，被震耳欲聋的爆炸声打断。 —

At nine in the morning he reached the corral.
早上九点他抵达了畜栏。

Ayrton awaited him.
艾尔顿在等着他。

“The animals are cared for, Captain Harding,” said Ayrton.
“动物们得到了照料，哈定船长，”艾尔顿说。

“Good, Ayrton.”
“很好，艾尔顿。”

“They seem uneasy, Captain Harding.”
“它们似乎不安，哈定船长。”

“Yes, instinct speaks through them, and instinct is never deceived.”
“是的，本能通过它们来表达，而本能决不会被欺骗。”

“Are you ready?”
“你准备好了吗？”

“Take a lamp, Ayrton,” answered the engineer; “we will start at once.”
“拿个灯笼，艾尔顿，”工程师回答道，“我们马上出发。”

Ayrton did as desired. The onagers, unharnessed, roamed in the corral. —
艾尔顿按照指示行事。野马们没有被套上马具，自由地在畜栏内漫步。 —

The gate was secured on the outside, and Cyrus Harding, preceding Ayrton, took the narrow path which led westward to the shore.
大门被从外面锁好，赛勒斯·哈定在艾尔顿前面沿着通往海岸的狭窄小道走去。

The soil they walked upon was choked with the pulverized matter fallen from the cloud. —
他们踩的土地上堆满了从云层落下的细化物质。 —

No quadruped appeared in the woods. Even the birds had fled. —
树林里没有任何四足动物出现，甚至鸟儿也已经飞走了。 —

Sometimes a passing breeze raised the covering of ashes, and the two colonists, enveloped in a whirlwind of dust, lost sight of each other. —
有时一阵微风会掀起灰烬覆盖物，两个殖民地居民被灰尘风暴吞没，彼此失去了视线。 —

They were then careful to cover their eyes and mouths with handkerchiefs, for they ran the risk of being blinded and suffocated.
然后他们小心翼翼地用手绢遮住眼睛和嘴巴，因为他们有失明和窒息的风险。

It was impossible for Cyrus Harding and Ayrton, with these impediments, to make rapid progress. —
这些障碍使得赛勒斯·哈定和艾尔顿不可能迅速前进。 —

Moreover, the atmosphere was close, as if the oxygen had been partly burned up, and had become unfit for respiration. —
而且，空气很闷，就像氧气部分被燃烧了一样，已经变得不适合呼吸。 —

At every hundred paces they were obliged to stop to take breath. —
每走一百步，他们就不得不停下来换气。 —

It was therefore past ten o’clock when the engineer and his companion reached the crest of the enormous mass of rocks of basalt and porphyry which composed the northwest coast of the island.
因此，在工程师和他的伙伴到达由玄武岩和斑岩组成的巨大岩石之上的西北岸之巅时已经过了十点钟。

Ayrton and Cyrus Harding commenced the descent of this abrupt declivity, following almost step for step the difficult path which, during that stormy night, had led them to Dakkar Grotto. —
艾尔顿和赛勒斯·哈定开始下降这个陡峭的斜坡，几乎步行遵循在那个风雨交加的夜晚，带他们去达卡尔岩洞的困难路径。 —

In open day the descent was less perilous, and, besides, the bed of ashes which covered the polished surface of the rock enabled them to make their footing more secure.
在白天，下降就不那么危险了，此外，覆盖在岩石光滑表面上的火山灰层使他们的脚踩得更加安全。

The ridge at the end of the shore, about forty feet in height, was soon reached. —
很快就到达了海岸尽头的这个约四十英尺高的山脊。 —

Cyrus Harding recollected that this elevation gradually sloped towards the level of the sea. —
赛勒斯·哈定记得这个高度逐渐倾斜，直到海平面。 —

Although the tide was at present low, no beach could he seen, and the waves, thickened by the volcanic dust, beat upon the basaltic rocks.
尽管现在潮水很低，但却看不到沙滩，波浪被火山灰变浓了，拍打在玄武岩上。

Cyrus Harding and Ayrton found without difficulty the entrance to Dakkar Grotto, and paused for a moment at the last rock before it.
赛勒斯·哈定和艾尔顿很容易找到达卡尔岩洞的入口，并在最后一块岩石前停了一会儿。

“The iron boat should be there,” said the engineer.
“铁船应该在那里。”工程师说道。

“It is here, Captain Harding,” replied Ayrton, drawing towards him the fragile craft, which was protected by the arch of the vault.
“在这里，哈定船长。”艾尔顿回答道，将脆弱的艇拉向他，它被拱形的拱顶保护着。

“On board, Ayrton!”
“上船，艾尔顿！”

The two colonists stepped into the boat. A slight undulation of the waves carried it farther under the low arch of the crypt, and there Ayrton, with the aid of flint and steel, lighted the lamp. —
两名殖民者登上了小船。 轻微的波浪将它带向了地窖的低拱门下，并在那里，艾尔顿用打火石点亮了灯。 —

He then took the oars, and the lamp having been placed in the bow of the boat, so that its rays fell before them, Cyrus Harding took the helm and steered through the shades of the grotto.
然后他拿起桨，灯放在船头，以便其光线在他们前方照亮，西里斯·哈丁拿起舵，穿过洞穴的阴影。

The “Nautilus” was there no longer to illuminate the cavern with its electric light. —
“鹦鹉螺号”不再在那里用它的电灯照亮洞穴。 —

Possibly it might not yet be extinguished, but no ray escaped from the depths of the abyss in which reposed all that was mortal of Captain Nemo.
可能它还没有熄灭，但却没有任何光线从深渊中逃逸，那里躺着库普塔·涅莫船长的遗体。

The light afforded by the lamp, although feeble, nevertheless enabled the engineer to advance slowly, following the wall of the cavern. —
尽管灯光微弱，但工程师还是能够缓慢前进，顺着洞穴的墙壁前行。 —

A deathlike silence reigned under the vaulted roof, or at least in the anterior portion, for soon Cyrus Harding distinctly heard the rumbling which proceeded from the bowels of the mountain.
拱形屋顶下一片死寂，或许至少在前面部分是如此，因为不久后西里斯·哈丁清楚听到来自山腹深处传来的隆隆声。

“That comes from the volcano,” he said.
“那是从火山里发出的，”他说。

Besides these sounds, the presence of chemical combinations was soon betrayed by their powerful odor, and the engineer and his companion were almost suffocated by sulphurous vapors.
除了这些声音，化学元素的存在很快就被它们强烈的气味所泄露，在两人几乎被硫磺蒸气闷死。

“This is what Captain Nemo feared,” murmured Cyrus Harding, changing countenance. —
“这正是涅莫船长所担心的，”西里斯·哈丁喃喃自语，脸色变了。 —

“We must go to the end, notwithstanding.”
“尽管如此，我们必须冲到最后。”

“Forward!” replied Ayrton, bending to his oars and directing the boat towards the head of the cavern.
“前进！”艾尔顿回到桨边，将船驶向洞穴的尽头。

Twenty-five minutes after entering the mouth of the grotto the boat reached the extreme end.
进入洞穴口后二十五分钟，船到达了尽头。

Cyrus Harding then, standing up, cast the light of the lamp upon the walls of the cavern which separated it from the central shaft of the volcano. —
西里斯·哈丁站起来，用灯光照射于将洞穴与火山中央通道隔开的墙壁上。 —

What was the thickness of this wall? It might be ten feet or a hundred feet–it was impossible to say. —
这面墙有多厚？可能是十英尺还是一百英尺 - 不可能说得准确。 —

But the subterranean sounds were too perceptible to allow of the supposition that it was of any great thickness.
但地下的声音太明显，无法假设墙体很厚。

The engineer, after having explored the wall at a certain height horizontally, fastened the lamp to the end of an oar, and again surveyed the basaltic wall at a greater elevation.
工程师在水平线高度勘察墙壁后，将灯固定在桨的一端上，再次在较高位置勘察玄武岩墙壁。

There, through scarcely visible clefts and joinings, escaped a pungent vapor, which infected the atmosphere of the cavern. —
在那里，从几乎看不见的裂缝和接缝中逸出了一股刺鼻的蒸汽，感染了洞穴的大气。 —

The wall was broken by large cracks, some of which extended to within two or three feet of the water’s edge.
墙壁上出现了大裂缝，其中一些延伸到距水边仅有两三英尺的地方。

Cyrus Harding thought for a brief space. Then he said in a low voice,–
赛勒斯·哈丁思考了一小段时间。然后他低声说道，–

“Yes! the captain was right! The danger lies there, and a terrible danger!”
“是的！船长是对的！危险就在那里，而且是一种可怕的危险！”

Ayrton said not a word, but, upon a sign from Cyrus Harding, resumed the oars, and half an hour later the engineer and he reached the entrance of Dakkar Grotto.
艾顿一言不发，但在赛勒斯·哈丁示意之后，重新拿起桨，半个小时后，工程师和他抵达了达卡尔洞穴的入口。