英语听书《海底两万里》第502期 第31章 章鱼(10)

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Our fishermen frequently see specimens¹ over 1.8 meters long.  我们现在的渔夫也经常看到一些长超过1.8米的枪乌贼。

The museums in Trieste and Montpellier have preserved some devilfish carcasses measuring two meters.  特里艾斯特和蒙特普利的博物馆，里就收藏着一些长2米的章鱼骨胳。

Besides, according to the calculations of naturalists², one of these animpas only six feet long would have tentacles³ as long as twenty-seven. 此外，按博物学家的推算，一只这样的动物，长只有6英尺，它的触须就可能长达27英尺。

Which is enough to make a fearsome monster." 这就足以让它成为可怕的怪物。”

Does anybody fish for 'em nowadays? the Canadian asked. “现在有人捕捉过吗？”加拿大人问。

If they don't fish for them, sailors at least sight them.  “即使没人捕捉过，水手至少也会看过。

A friend of mine, Captain Paul Bos of Le Havre, 我的一个朋友，哈夫尔港的保罗·保斯船长，

has often sworn to me that he encountered one of these monsters of colossal⁴ size in the seas of the East Indies. 他经常向我肯定说他在印度海里碰到一只身体巨大的怪物。

But the most astonishing event, which proves that these gigantic animals undeniably exist, took place a few years ago in 1861. 但最令人吃惊、最让人不能否认这种怪物存在的事实，是发生在几年前1861年。”

What event was that? Ned Land asked. “什么事实？”尼德·兰问。

Just this. In 1861, to the northeast of Tenerife and fairly near the latitude⁵ where we are right now,  “是这样。1861年，在特内里夫岛东北方，与我们现在所处差不多的纬度上，

the crew of the gunboat Alecto spotted⁶ a monstrous⁷ squid swimming in their waters. 护卫舰‘阿利敦号’船上的一个船员看到了一只巨大的枪乌贼在海水中游动，

Commander Bouguer approached the animal and attacked it with blows from harpoons⁸ and blasts from rifles,  他用鱼叉和枪去打它，

but without much success because bullets and harpoons crossed its soft flesh as if it were semiliquid jelly. 但没什么大用，因为鱼叉和子弹穿进它软绵绵的肉里，就像穿进松软的果冻中一样。After several fruitless attempts, the crew managed to slip a noose⁹ around the mollusk's body.  好几次无果的尝试之后，船员终于用绳结扣在这只软体动物的身上。

This noose slid as far as the caudal fins¹⁰ and came to a halt. 这个绳结一直滑到尾鳍就停了下来。

Then they tried to haul the monster on board, 于是人们尝试着把这只怪物拉到船上，

but its weight was so considerable that when they tugged¹¹ on the rope, the animal parted company with its tail; 但它重得吓人，以致于在绳子的拉力下，把尾巴揪断了，

and deprived of this adornment¹², it disappeared beneath the waters." 它就拉着没尾巴的身体消失在水中。”

"Finally, an actual event," Ned Land said. “这总算是个事实。”尼德·兰说。

"An indisputable event, my gallant¹³ Ned. “一个无可争议的事实，我老实的尼德。

Accordingly, people have proposed naming this devilfish Bouguer's Squid." 因此人们建议把章鱼名做‘布格尔的枪乌贼’。” 

"And how long was it?" the Canadian asked. “那它有多长？”加拿大人问。

"Didn't it measure about six meters?" said Conseil, who was stationed at the window and examining anew the crevices¹⁴ in the cliff. “它不是长约6米吗？”康塞尔靠到玻璃窗上说，重新审视着那凹凸不平的悬崖。

"Precisely¹⁵," I replied. “准确无误，”我回答。

"Wasn't its head," Conseil went on, "crowned by eight tentacles that quivered in the water like a nest of snakes?" "Precisely." “它的头，”康塞尔回答说，“上面不是长着八根在水中犹如蛇群般的触须吗？”“准确无误。”

"Weren't its eyes prominently placed and considerably¹⁶ enlarged?" "Yes, Conseil." “它的眼睛长在花丛般的脑袋上，而巨眼睛很大，是吗？”“是的，康塞尔。”

"And wasn't its mouth a real parrot's beak¹⁷ but of fearsome size?" "Correct, Conseil." “它的嘴巴，不是真的一只鹦鹉嘴，而是大得吓人，是吗？”“确实如此，康塞尔。” 

"Well, with all due respect to master," Conseil replied serenely¹⁸, "if this isn't Bouguer's Squid, it's at least one of his close relatives!" “那好！请先生原谅，”康塞尔平静地回答说，“如果这不是‘布格尔的枪乌贼’，那至少是它的兄弟。”

I stared at Conseil. Ned Land rushed to the window. 我看了看康塞尔。尼德·兰急忙跑到玻璃前。

"What an awful animal!" he exclaimed. “吓人的怪物！”他喊道。

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