21 在陆地上的两天(12)

"Oh, professor!" shouted Ned Land, whose hunting fever had gone to his brain. "What excellent game, especially in a stew! What a supply for the Nautilus! Two, three, five down! And just think how we'll devour all this meat ourselves, while those numbskulls on board won't get a shred!"

“啊!教授,”尼德·兰喊,他打猎的兴致狂热起来了,“多么好吃的猎物,特别是闷煮起来!在诺第留斯号船上,这是多么难得的食物!两只!三只!五只在地上了!我想到我们要吃所有这些肉的时候,船上的那些蠢东西一点肉渣也尝不到,我真高兴!”

In his uncontrollable glee, I think the Canadian might have slaughtered the whole horde, if he hadn't been so busy talking! But he was content with a dozen of these fascinating marsupials, which make up the first order of aplacental mammals, as Conseil just had to tell us.

我想这个加拿大人,在过度欢喜中,如果他不是说了那么多的话,可能他把这整的袋鼠都屠杀了!他只打了一打左右就停止了。“这类袋鼠是乎腹哺类的第一目。”康塞尔说。

These animals were small in stature. They were a species of those "rabbit kangaroos" that usually dwell in the hollows of trees and are tremendously fast; but although of moderate dimensions, they at least furnish a meat that's highly prized.

这些袋鼠身材短小,是兔袋鼠的一种,通常居住在树洞中,跑得非常快。它们身材虽然不大,可是肉很好吃,被当做一种珍品。

We were thoroughly satisfied with the results of our hunting. A gleeful Ned proposed that we return the next day to this magic island, which he planned to depopulate of its every edible quadruped. But he was reckoning without events.

我们很满意我们打猎的结果。快乐的尼德·兰提议明夭再到这个迷人的岛上来,他要把所有可以吃的四足动物都打尽,一个不留。但他这样打算,井没有想到就要来的意外事件。 ”

By six o'clock in the evening, we were back on the beach. The skiff was aground in its usual place. The Nautilus, looking like a long reef, emerged from the waves two miles offshore.

下午六点,我们回到了海滩。我们的小艇仍然停在原来的地方。诺第留斯号好像一座很长的礁石:在离岸两海里的海面现出来。

Without further ado, Ned Land got down to the important business of dinner. He came wonderfully to terms with its entire cooking. Grilling over the coals, those cutlets from the "bari-outang" soon gave off a succulent aroma that perfumed the air.

尼德·兰一点也不耽搁,立即准备晚餐这件大事。“巴利奥唐”野猪的腰窝肉烤在红火上,不久即发出一种很香的气味,空中都充满香味了!

But I catch myself following in the Canadian's footsteps. Look at me--in ecstasy over freshly grilled pork! Please grant me a pardon as I've already granted one to Mr. Land, and on the same grounds!

我觉得我也跟加拿大人是同道了。面对着这些新鲜的烤肉,我也大乐起来!请大家原谅我,像我原谅过尼德·兰师傅一样,完全是由于同样的理由!

In short, dinner was excellent. Two ringdoves rounded out this extraordinary menu. Sago pasta, bread from the artocarpus, mangoes, half a dozen pineapples, and the fermented liquor from certain coconuts heightened our glee. I suspect that my two fine companions weren't quite as clearheaded as one could wish.

晚餐实在是好吃。加上两只山鸠,这特肆的莱单更丰富,更完美了。西米面条,面包果,一些芒果,六七个菠萝和一种椰子果酿成的饮料,我们吃得快活极了。我并且认为,,我的忠实同伴们的头脑连那必要的清醒都没有了。

"What if we don't return to the Nautilus this evening?" Conseil said.

“我们今晚不回诺第留斯号船上好吗?”康塞尔说。

"What if we never return to it?" Ned Land added.

“我们永远不回去好吗?”尼德·兰说。

Just then a stone whizzed toward us, landed at our feet, and cut short the harpooner's proposition.

就在这个时候,一块石头落在我们脚边,立刻把鱼叉手的提议打断。