26 大头鲸和长须鲸(20)

Equipped with picks, some ten men climbed onto the Nautilus's sides and cracked loose the ice around the ship's lower plating, which was soon set free.

十来个船员走到诺第留斯号两旁,他们拿着尖镐,凿开船身周围的冰,船身不久就松开。

This operation was swiftly executed because the fresh ice was still thin.We all reentered the interior.

这种工作很迅速地做好,因为新结的冰还是相当的保我们全体回到船中。

The main ballast tanks were filled with the water that hadn't yet congealed at our line of flotation.

通常使用的储水池装满了浮标线周围的自由海水。

The Nautilus submerged without delay.

诺第留斯号不久就潜下去。

I took a seat in the lounge with Conseil.

我跟康塞尔到客厅坐下。

Through the open window we stared at the lower strata of this southernmost ocean.

通过打开的玻璃,我们可以看到南冰洋中的下层。

The thermometer rose again.

温度表上升。

The needle on the pressure gauge swerved over its dial.

压力表的针在表盘上移动。

About 300 meters down, just as Captain Nemo had predicted, we cruised beneath the undulating surface of the Ice Bank.

到了三百米左右,像尼摩船长所说过的一样,我们就浮在冰山下层的波纹水面上了。

But the Nautilus sank deeper still.

但诺第留斯号再往下沉,

It reached a depth of 800 meters.

它直到深八百米的水层。

At the surface this water gave a temperature of -12 degrees centigrade, but now it gave no more than -10 degrees.

水的温度,刚才在上面是十二度,现在不超过十一度,

Two degrees had already been gained.

那就是说我们已经争取了两度。

Thanks to its heating equipment, the Nautilus's temperature, needless to say, stayed at a much higher degree.

不用说,诺第留斯号的温度因为有它的热气机管,保持着很高的温度。

Every maneuver was accomplished with extraordinary precision.

船的这些动作都特别准确地完成。

With all due respect to master, Conseil told me, we'll pass it by.

请先生原谅我说一句,康塞尔对我说,我们一定可以过去。

I fully expect to! I replied in a tone of deep conviction.

我也是这样想!我带着深信不疑的语气回答。

Now in open water, the Nautilus took a direct course to the pole without veering from the 52nd meridian.

在这自由通行的海底下,诺第留斯号不离开西经52度,沿着向南极的路线一直驶去。

From 67 degrees 30'to 90 degrees, twenty-two and a half degrees of latitude were left to cross, in other words, slightly more than 500 leagues.

从67度30分到90度,还要走过22度半的纬度,就是说,还要走五百多里。