英国语文第三册 第70期:帆布船(下)

 II.They soon found that their boat leaked very much, and that it needed constant labour to bale it.  （二）他们很快发现船漏的很厉害，不断地需要劳动力把裂缝捆起来。

Before they had been three days afloat, their stock of bread was spoiled by the salt water;  他们在海上漂了还不到三天，储存的面包就已经被海水毁掉了，
and the fresh water had become stale, and hardly fit for drinking. 水也有霉味了，不能再喝了。
There was scarcely any wind to help them; and the labour of rowing with rude oars 2, under a broiling 3 sun,  几乎没有风帮助他们，在酷热的太阳下，用粗糙的桨划船的劳力
soon began to tell upon the strongest arms and the stoutest 4 hearts amongst them. 很快开始显示出他们之中最强的臂力和坚强的心。
The island of Minorca was the place to which they had tried to steer 5 their course,  他们试图登上米诺卡岛，
by the help of a pocket-compass during the day, and of the stars by night. 依靠白天袖珍罗盘和晚上星星的帮助。
Five days had gone, nor were there any signs of land.  五天过去了，没有任何关于这个岛的迹象。
On every side the glittering waters stretched away as far as they could see. Famine stared them in the face. 四面八方的闪亮的水向看不见尽头的远方延伸。他们的脸上尽显饥饿。
It is no wonder that hope died out in their hearts. They threw down their oars in despair.  毫无疑问他们内心已没有希望。他们绝望的扔下了船桨。
They crouched 6 down in the bottom of the boat, their ghastly faces showing that the end was not far off. 在船的底层蹲了下来。惨白的脸上显示出结局已经不远了。
Will Adams, their leader, was the last to give in.  Will Adams他们的首领，是最后一个放弃的人，
His hand still nervously 7 grasped the tiller, and his eye was bent 8 eagerly towards the horizon. 他的手始终紧张的抓着舵柄，眼睛热切的盯着地平线。
Suddenly he called out, "Cheer up, lads! we have one chance more.  突然他大叫道，“小伙子们，快起来，我们的机会来了。
Do you see that dark speck 9 in the shining waters ahead? I am much mistaken if it is not a turtle." 你们看到前面闪闪发光的水面上的黑点了吗？我没猜错的话那是一只海龟。
Silently every man seized his oar 1, and settled to his work. They rowed very quietly towards the creature,  每个人都安静的拿起了船桨，开始工作，他们悄悄地向海龟划去，
and seized it before it was aware of their approach.  在它意识到他们靠近之前抓住了它。
At once they cut off its head, fed upon its flesh, and drank its blood. 然后立刻砍掉了它的头，吃了它的肉，喝了它的血。
Hope revived in their hearts, as they found their strength returning. They plied 10 their oars with all their might;  他们内心又充满了希望，浑身恢复了力量。他们用尽全力的划动着船桨，
and ere many hours had passed, the eagle eye of Adams descried 11 a thin gray line stretching along between sea and sky. 当很多小时过去之后，Adams如鹰一般锐利的双眼看到了在海天之间出现了一条细细的灰色的线。
Before night, they felt sure that it was land;  在夜幕来临前，他们确定了那是陆地，
and morning showed them the rugged 12 mountains of Minorca distinctly against the sky.  早上又确定靠近天际的是米诺卡山脉。
By ten o'clock that night they had landed; and "gave thanks unto Him who had brought them unto the haven 13 where they would be." 那天晚上十点他们登陆了，然后他们感谢上帝把他们带到这个避风港。
The Spaniards supplied them with food, and treated them with the greatest kindness.  西班牙人提供给他们吃的，热情的招待他们。
In due time they were sent to England in one of the King's ships.  在合适的时候用一艘国王的船把他们送到了英国。
The canvas boat was placed as a memorial in the great church in Minorca,  那艘帆布船作为纪念陈列在米诺卡岛的教堂里，
where its ribs 14 and skeleton were seen by a traveller more than one hundred years afterwards. 它的骨架在一百多年以后被一位旅客看到过。