英语听书《海底两万里》第211期 第16章 在海底平原散步(2)

 One of the Nautilus's men presented me with a streamlined rifle whose butt¹ was boilerplate steel, hollow inside, and of fairly large dimensions.

诺第留斯号船上的一个船员拿一支很简单的枪给我看。枪托是钢片制的，中空，体积相当大。

This served as a tank for the compressed air, which a trigger-operated valve could release into the metal chamber².

是储藏压缩空气的容器，上面有活塞，转动机件，便可以使空气流入枪筒。

In a groove³ where the butt was heaviest, a cartridge⁴ clip held some twenty electric bullets that, by means of a spring, automatically took their places in the barrel of the rifle.

枪托里面装了一盒子弹， 盒中有二十粒电气弹，利用弹簧子弹可以自动跳人枪膛中。

As soon as one shot had been fired, another was ready to go off.

一粒子弹发出之后，另一粒立即填补，可以连续发射。

Captain Nemo, I said, this is an ideal, easy-to-use weapon. I ask only to put it to the test. But how will we reach the bottom of the sea?

尼摩船长，我说，这支枪十分好，并且便于使用。我现在真想试试它。不过我们怎样到海底下去呢？

Right now, professor, the Nautilus is aground in ten meters of water, and we've only to depart.

教授，此刻诺第留斯号搁浅在海底下十米深处，我们、只待动身出发了。

But how will we set out?

我们怎样出去呢？

You'll see.

您不久就知道。

Captain Nemo inserted his cranium into its spherical⁵ headgear. Conseil and I did the same, but not without hearing the Canadian toss us a sarcastic⁶ happy hunting.

尼摩船长把自己的脑袋钻进圆球帽子里面去。康塞尔和我照着他的动作，各自戴上圆球帽。我们又听到加拿大人讽刺地对我们说了一声好好地打猎去吧。

On top, the suit ended in a collar of threaded copper⁷ onto which the metal helmet was screwed.

我们潜水衣·的上部是一个有螺丝钉的铜领子，铜帽就钉在领子上。

Three holes, protected by heavy glass, allowed us to see in any direction with simply a turn of the head inside the sphere.

圆球上有三个孔，用很厚的玻璃防护，只要人头在圆球内部转动，就可以看见四面八方的东西。

Placed on our backs, the Rouquayrol device went into operation as soon as it was in position, and for my part, I could breathe with ease.

当脑袋钻进圆球中的时候，放在我们背上的卢格罗尔呼吸器，立即起了作用；就我个人来说，我呼吸很顺利，没有困难。

1 butt   

n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶

参考例句：

• The water butt catches the overflow from this pipe.大水桶盛接管子里流出的东西。
• He was the butt of their jokes.他是他们的笑柄。

2 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。

3 groove   

n.沟，槽；凹线，（刻出的）线条，习惯

参考例句：

• They're happy to stay in the same old groove.他们乐于墨守成规。
• The cupboard door slides open along the groove.食橱门沿槽移开。

4 cartridge   

n.弹壳，弹药筒；(装磁带等的)盒子

参考例句：

• Unfortunately the 2G cartridge design is very difficult to set accurately.不幸地2G弹药筒设计非常难正确地设定。
• This rifle only holds one cartridge.这支来复枪只能装一发子弹。

5 spherical   

adj.球形的；球面的

参考例句：

• The Earth is a nearly spherical planet.地球是一个近似球体的行星。
• Many engineers shy away from spherical projection methods.许多工程师对球面投影法有畏难情绪。

6 sarcastic   

adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的

参考例句：

• I squashed him with a sarcastic remark.我说了一句讽刺的话把他给镇住了。
• She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.她冷嘲热讽地拿别人的缺点开玩笑。

7 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。