英语听书《海底两万里》第533期 第33章 北纬47.24度, 西经17.28度(8)

 Its sheaves of conducting wire were insulated within a gutta-percha covering, 它的绝缘导线束裹在马来树胶皮中，

which was protected by a padding of textile material enclosed in a metal sheath.  由一条套在金属套管的纤维带保护起来。

The Great Eastern put back to sea on July 13, 1866. 1866年7月13日，“大东方号”船只又一次启航。

The operation proceeded apace. 操作进行得很顺利。

Yet there was one hitch¹. 然而，这时意外发生了。

As they gradually unrolled this third cable, the electricians observed on several occasions that someone had recently driven nails into it,  好几次，铺开电缆的时候，电工发现电缆上被新钉进几颗钉子：

trying to damage its core.  有人蓄意破坏电缆的心线。

Captain Anderson, his officers, and the engineers put their heads together, “大东方号” 的安德森船长、船上人员和工程师们聚集在一起讨论了这件事，

then posted a warning that if the culprit were detected, he would be thrown overboard without a trial. 最后决定贴出布告说，如果在船上抓到了罪犯，那他就会被不经审判投入海中喂鱼。

After that, these villainous attempts were not repeated. 从那以后，这样的犯罪行为再也没发生过。

By July 23 the Great Eastern was lying no farther than 800 kilometers from Newfoundland. 7月23日，“大东方号”船只距离纽芬兰岛只有800公里。

when it received telegraphed news from Ireland of an armistice² signed between Prussia and Austria after the Battle of Sadova. 这时，有人从爱尔兰向船上致电说，萨多瓦战役后，普鲁士和奥地利达成了停战协议。

Through the mists on the 27th, it sighted the port of Heart's Content. 27日，船出现在赫尔斯堪敦港的大雾中。

The undertaking³ had ended happily, and in its first dispatch, young America addressed old Europe with these wise words so rarely understood: 工程顺利地完成了，年轻的美洲用第一份电报向古老的欧洲致来了几句圣明但令人费解的贺词：

"Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to men of good will." “荣誉属于天上的上帝，和平属于地上善良的人们。”

1 hitch   

v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉

参考例句：

• They had an eighty-mile journey and decided to hitch hike.他们要走80英里的路程，最后决定搭便车。
• All the candidates are able to answer the questions without any hitch.所有报考者都能对答如流。

2 armistice   

n.休战，停战协定

参考例句：

• The two nations signed an armistice.两国签署了停火协议。
• The Italian armistice is nothing but a clumsy trap.意大利的停战不过是一个笨拙的陷阱。

3 undertaking   

n.保证，许诺，事业

参考例句：

• He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。
• He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小，不敢从事任何事业。