英国语文第三册 第69期:帆布船(上)

 Lesson 58 The canvas boat 第五十八课 帆布船

I.More than two hundred years ago, seven English sailors were captured by pirates,  (一)两百多年前，7名英国海员被海盗抓住，
and carried off to Algiers, on the coast of Africa. 他们在这里度过了5年悲惨的时光，并带到了非洲沿岸的阿尔及尔，
Here they spent five miserable 1 years, during which they were treated not only as prisoners, but as slaves. 过着犯人和奴隶的生活。
At length, they could bear their hard fate no longer.  最后，他们忍受不了这艰苦的命运。
They had no hope either of being set free by their masters, or of being rescued by their friends.  他们对主人归还他们自由不抱希望，也对朋友将会营救他们也不抱希望了。
They therefore resolved to make their escape. 因此他们决心开始逃跑。
They were watched so closely, and kept so hard at work, that this was very difficult indeed.  他们被看管的很紧，并且一直辛苦地工作，事实上逃跑是很困难的。
But any fate would be better than bondage 2; and the difficulties they met with only made them more determined 3 to succeed. 但是任何命运都会比奴役要好。他们遭遇的困难使他们下定决心要成功逃脱。
Their plan was, to make a boat in separate parts; and to carry these to the coast, and join them together there.  计划就是，用不同的部件造一条船，把这些部件带到海岸上，在那里组装起来。
By good luck it happened that one of them had got the use of a cellar,  其中一个人运气很好，有权使用地窖，
in which to store the goods that he sold for his master's benefit.  那里储存了一些为主人谋利的售卖物品。
Here the captives met, as often as they could, to talk over their plans;  俘虏们尽可能频繁的在这里见面讨论他们的计划，
and here, in their stolen half hours, they made their preparations. 在偷懒的半个小时里，他们着手准备。
First, they made a keel, in two parts; then they made the ribs 4.  首先，他们做了一个龙骨，分成了两部分，然后又做了肋材。
They were afraid that if they covered these with boards, the noise of their hammering would let out their secret.  他们害怕如果用木板覆盖这些东西，这个捶打的声音将会泄露他们的秘密。
So they got as much stout 5 canvas as would make a double covering for their little skiff;  所以他们找到了尽可能多的粗糙的帆布双层覆盖着他们的小划艇。
and, in order to make it watertight, they first soaked it in tallow, and then covered it with pitch. 为了让它不漏水，他们先把它浸泡在油脂里，然后又涂了一层沥青。
As they could work very little at their boat each day,  因为他们每天可以花费在船上的时间很少，
and often whole days passed without their being able to touch it, it was a very long time before it was finished.  常常一整天过去了他们都没有碰过船，所以过了很长的时间才完成这艘船。
At last everything was ready, and they were in high spirits.  最后所有事情准备好的时候，他们情绪很高亢。
When they had found a piece of cloth that would make a sail, they thought themselves the luckiest fellows in the world. 他们找到一块布做了船帆，他们觉得自己是世界上最幸运的人。
Secretly, and in the dark, they carried their boat, piece by piece, to a quiet valley about half a mile from the sea.  晚上，他们带上船的每一块部件，静悄悄的来到了，距离海岸半英里的山谷，
Here they put the pieces together, and bore their boat in triumph to the shore.  把船组装在一起。并且成功的把船推到了海岸线上。
On launching it, what was their dismay to find that their tiny craft would carry at most only five of their number! 当船下水时，让人吃惊的是他们发现他们的小游艇最多只能装载他们中的5个人。
They cast lots to settle who were to be left behind; and, after a sad leave-taking,  他们抽签决定谁将会被留下来，经过伤心的告别之后，
the little crew set sail, promising 6, if they ever reached home, to make the case of their comrades known.  这个小团队起航了，并且许诺，如果回到家，将会把他们的事情告诉他们的伙伴。
The only provisions they were able to take with them were two leather bottles of fresh water, and a little bread. 他们携带的仅有的供给物是两个皮革瓶装的水和小块面包。