英语听书《海底两万里》第208期 第15章 一封邀请信(10)

 That doesn't necessarily follow.

这不能算作一个理由。

There are certain Fulton-style guns perfected by the Englishmen Philippe-Coles and Burley, the Frenchman Furcy, and the Italian Landi; they're equipped with a special system of airtight fastenings and can fire in underwater conditions.

现在有一种枪，是按照富尔顿①的设计，由英国人菲力哥尔和布列、法国人傅尔西、意大利人兰帝加以改进的，它装有特殊的开关，可以在海水中射击。

But I repeat: having no gunpowder¹, I've replaced it with air at high pressure, which is abundantly supplied me by the Nautilus's pumps.

但是我要再一次告诉您，我没有火药，只能用压缩空气代替，这种空气是诺第留斯号的打气机可以大量供应的。

But this air must be swiftly depleted².

可是这空气很快就会用完的。

Well, in a pinch can't my Rouquayrol tank supply me with more? All I have to do is draw it from an ad hoc spigot.

不错，但我带有卢格罗尔瓶，不是能按需要随时供应空气吗? 只要按需要装上一个开关龙头就够了。

Besides, Professor Aronnax, you'll see for yourself that during these underwater hunting trips, we make no great expenditure³ of either air or bullets.

此外， 阿龙纳斯先生、您自己就将亲身看到，水底打猎并不费大量的空气和很多的子弹。

But it seems to me that in this semidarkness, amid this liquid that's so dense⁴ in comparison to the atmosphere, a gunshot couldn't carry far and would prove fatal only with difficulty!

但是，在这种看不太清楚的地方，在这个比空气重得多的海水中间，我觉得发出的枪弹不能打得很远，并且也很难命中吧？

On the contrary, sir, with this rifle every shot is fatal; and as soon as the animal is hit, no matter how lightly, it falls as if struck by lightning.Why?

先生，用这种枪，每一发都是可以致命的，并且，动物一被打中，不管伤得怎样轻微，它必然像被雷击一般，立即倒下来。为什么呢?

Because this rifle doesn't shoot ordinary bullets but little glass capsules invented by the Austrian chemist Leniebroek, and I have a considerable supply of them.

因为这枪发出的子弹并不是普通的子弹，这是奥地利化学家列妮布洛克发明的一种小波璃球，我船上储备了许多。

These glass capsules are covered with a strip of steel and weighted with a lead base; they're genuine little Leyden jars charged with high-voltage electricity.

这种小玻璃球装有钢的套子,下面又加了铅底,象真正的来顿瓶一样，里面具有很高的电压。

They go off at the slightest impact, and the animal, no matter how strong, drops dead.

就是最轻微的冲击，也要炸开，被打中的动物，不管怎样强大有力，也得倒下来死去。

I might add that these capsules are no bigger than number 4 shot, and the chamber⁵ of any ordinary rifle could hold ten of them.

我要告诉您，它不比四号子弹大，普通猎枪的弹盒可以装上十个。

I'll quit debating, I replied, getting up from the table. And all that's left is for me to shoulder my rifle. So where you go, I'll go.

我再不争论了，我从桌旁站起来说，我只有拿起我的枪来就是了。您去哪里，我就跟您去哪里。

Captain Nemo led me to the Nautilus's stern, and passing by Ned and Conseil's cabin, I summoned my two companions, who instantly followed us.

船长领我到诺第留斯号的后部，走过尼德·兰和康塞尔的舱房门前，我叫了我的两个同伴，他们立即跟着我们出来。

Then we arrived at a cell located within easy access of the engine room; in this cell we were to get dressed for our stroll.

一会儿，我们到了前面，靠近机器房的一个小房子里，我们要在这个小房子中穿起我们的海底打猎衣服来。

1 gunpowder   

n.火药

参考例句：

• Gunpowder was introduced into Europe during the first half of the 14th century.在14世纪上半叶，火药传入欧洲。
• This statement has a strong smell of gunpowder.这是一篇充满火药味的声明。

2 depleted   

adj. 枯竭的, 废弃的 动词deplete的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• Food supplies were severely depleted. 食物供应已严重不足。
• Both teams were severely depleted by injuries. 两个队都因队员受伤而实力大减。

3 expenditure   

n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗

参考例句：

• The entry of all expenditure is necessary.有必要把一切开支入账。
• The monthly expenditure of our family is four hundred dollars altogether.我们一家的开销每月共计四百元。

4 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

5 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。