名著·八十天环绕地球 - 第33节


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  约翰·班斯比请旅客们进舱房去;但是在那样一间几乎连空气也没有的小客舱里,再加上海浪的颠簸,这种禁闭的滋味不舒服极了。因此,不论是福克先生,艾娥达夫人甚至连费克斯都算上,谁也不愿离开甲板。

   The storm of rain and wind descended upon them towards eight o'clock. With but its bit of sail, the Tankadere was lifted like a feather by a wind, an idea of whose violence can scarcely be given. To compare her speed to four times that of a locomotive going on full steam would be below the truth.

  将近八点钟,暴风骤雨开始向小船袭来。唐卡德尔号仅有的那块小布帆已被暴风吹得象一根飘忽不定的鹅毛。小船在暴风雨的狂啸中经历的惊险情景简直是无法描述。它前进的速度即使说比开足马力的火车头还要快四倍的话,这种形容也还是保守的。

   The boat scudded thus northward during the whole day, borne on by monstrous waves, preserving always, fortunately, a speed equal to theirs. Twenty times she seemed almost to be submerged by these mountains of water which rose behind her; but the adroit management of the pilot saved her. The passengers were often bathed in spray, but they submitted to it philosophically. Fix cursed it, no doubt; but Aouda, with her eyes fastened upon her protector, whose coolness amazed her, showed herself worthy of him, and bravely weathered the storm. As for Phileas Fogg, it seemed just as if the typhoon were a part of his programme.

  唐卡德尔号一整天都是这样被那凶猛的海浪簇拥着前进,它不由自主地保持着和飞滚而来的波涛同样惊人的速度向北疾驰。排山倒海的巨浪无数次地从后面打上小船的甲板;但是,只要船主老练地转动一下船舵,马上就会转危为安,翻腾的浪花有时象倾盆大雨把船上的旅客粗暴地冲洗一番,但是旅客们却象哲学家似的逆来顺受,丝毫不动声色。费克斯,毫无疑问,他是会怨天尤人的,但是勇敢的艾娥达这时却正目不转睛地注视着她的旅伴福克。她完全被福克这种非凡的镇静给吸住了。为了要在她的旅伴面前表现得毫无愧色,她慨然承受着暴风雨的折磨。至于斐利亚·福克,这场台风好象早就在他意料之中,毫不惊奇。

   Up to this time the Tankadere had always held her course to the north; but towards evening the wind, veering three quarters, bore down from the north-west. The boat, now lying in the trough of the waves, shook and rolled terribly; the sea struck her with fearful violence. At night the tempest increased in violence. John Bunsby saw the approach of darkness and the rising of the storm with dark misgivings. He thought awhile, and then asked his crew if it was not time to slacken speed. After a consultation he approached Mr. Fogg, and said, "I think, your honour, that we should do well to make for one of the ports on the coast."

  直到目前为止唐卡德尔号一直是向北飞驰,但是快到傍晚的时候,正如他们担心的那样,风向整整侧转了二百七十度,南风变成了西北风。小船的侧翼受着海浪的冲击,船身拼命地摇晃,如果不了解这条船的各个部分结合得有多么坚固的话,看到它遭受这样凶猛的海浪冲击,一定会吓得失魂落魄。暴风雨随着黑夜的降临更加猖狂起来。天黑下来了,天愈黑,航行也就愈加困难。约翰·班斯比感到非常忧虑,他考虑现在是否应该找个港口停一会,这时他便去和他的船员们商量。商量好之后,约翰·班斯比就走近福克先生,他对福克先生说:“先生,我想我们最好还是在沿岸找个港口停一会吧。”

   "I think so too."

  “我也这么想。”斐利亚·福克回答说。

  “好,”船主说,“可是在哪个港口停呢?”

   "I know of but one," returned Mr. Fogg tranquilly.

  “我只知道一个港口,”福克先生安静地说。

   "And that is--"

  “是哪个……”

   "Shanghai."

  “上海。”

   The pilot, at first, did not seem to comprehend; he could scarcely realise so much determination and tenacity. Then he cried, "Well--yes! Your honour is right. To Shanghai!"

  这个回答,使船主一开始老半天弄不清是什么意思,不知道这句话的坚定和顽强的含义,后来他忽然明白了,就大声说:“好,先生,不错,您说的对。向上海前进!”

  唐卡德尔号坚定不移地向北航行。

   The night was really terrible; it would be a miracle if the craft did not founder. Twice it could have been all over with her if the crew had not been constantly on the watch. Aouda was exhausted, but did not utter a complaint. More than once Mr. Fogg rushed to protect her from the violence of the waves.

  夜黑得实在可怕!这只小船会不出乱子,真可说是一个奇迹。它曾有两次被风浪卷走,甲板上的船具,要不是有绳子绑牢,早就一股脑儿滚下大海了。艾娥达夫人虽然万分疲劳,但是她一声也不抱怨。福克先生不止一次跑到她跟前,保护她免于受到凶猛的海浪所造成的危险。

   Day reappeared. The tempest still raged with undiminished fury; but the wind now returned to the south-east. It was a favourable change, and the Tankadere again bounded forward on this mountainous sea, though the waves crossed each other, and imparted shocks and counter-shocks which would have crushed a craft less solidly built. From time to time the coast was visible through the broken mist, but no vessel was in sight. The Tankadere was alone upon the sea.

  东方又发白了。这时,暴风雨更象一匹脱缰的野马,凶狂到了无以复加的程度。幸亏风向又转回东南,这一转变对于航行是有利的。大海上新起的东南风带着滚滚的波涛,阻击着西北风留下的逆浪。唐卡德尔号就在这狂澜搏斗的海浪中重新走上征途。如果它不是这样坚固的一条小船的话,在这场波涛相互撞击的混战中必然早已被打得粉碎了。

   There were some signs of a calm at noon, and these became more distinct as the sun descended toward the horizon. The tempest had been as brief as terrific. The passengers, thoroughly exhausted, could now eat a little, and take some repose.

  透过浓雾的间隙,从甲板上不时可以看到大陆海岸。但是大海上却连一条船影子也没有,只有唐卡德尔号独自傲然地在海上奔驰。中午,海空上露出了暴风雨即将过去的景象,随着夕阳西下,这种景象就更加明显了。这一场暴风雨持续的时间虽然不长,但是却十分凶猛。现在,这些疲惫不堪的旅客可以吃点东西,休息一下了。

   The night was comparatively quiet. Some of the sails were again hoisted, and the speed of the boat was very good. The next morning at dawn they espied the coast, and John Bunsby was able to assert that they were not one hundred miles from Shanghai. A hundred miles, and only one day to traverse them! That very evening Mr. Fogg was due at Shanghai, if he did not wish to miss the steamer to Yokohama. Had there been no storm, during which several hours were lost, they would be at this moment within thirty miles of their destination.

  夜晚,海上相当平静。船主命令重新装起大帆,并将帆面缩到最小限度。就这样,唐卡德尔号前进的速度已经非常可观了。第二天是11月11日,当太阳出来的时候,约翰·班斯比从海岸的位置看出,小船离上海已不足一百海里了。不错,一百海里。可是距离预定的时间却只剩下今天了。今天一天必须走完这一百海里!福克先生要想赶上开往横滨的邮船,就必须在今天晚上到达上海。这场暴风雨耽搁了很多时间,不然的话,现在离上海港口至多不过三十多海里了。

  风势已大大减弱,但不幸的是推动唐卡德尔号前进的海浪也随着风势的消煞而变得软弱无力。小船上已经张满了布帆;顶帆、附加帆和外前帆都同时挂起来了,而海水却在船前漂浮的杂草和碎木片底下轻轻地泛着泡沫。中午,唐卡德尔号离上海已不足四十海里了。要在开往横滨的邮船启锚前赶到港口,时间只剩下六个钟头了。

   All on board feared that it could not be done, and every one--Phileas Fogg, no doubt, excepted--felt his heart beat with impatience. The boat must keep up an average of nine miles an hour, and the wind was becoming calmer every moment! It was a capricious breeze, coming from the coast, and after it passed the sea became smooth. Still, the Tankadere was so light, and her fine sails caught the fickle zephyrs so well, that, with the aid of the currents John Bunsby found himself at six o'clock not more than ten miles from the mouth of Shanghai River. Shanghai itself is situated at least twelve miles up the stream. At seven they were still three miles from Shanghai. The pilot swore an angry oath; the reward of two hundred pounds was evidently on the point of escaping him. He looked at Mr. Fogg. Mr. Fogg was perfectly tranquil; and yet his whole fortune was at this moment at stake.

  唐卡德尔号上的人都非常担心。他们要尽一切可能赶到上海。所有的人--斐利亚·福克当然除外--全都急得心脏直跳。按时间计算,小船必须保持每小时九海里的速度。可是风呢,却越来越小!这是一种很不固定的微风,有一阵没一阵地从大陆上吹来,它掠过了海面,立即飞向不知名的远方,海上波纹也就马上随着消失。这时唐卡德尔号显得轻盈潇洒,群帆高挂,细密的布篷亲昵地拥抱着轻佻的海风。小船靠着顺流海水的推送前进,到了下午六点钟,约翰·班斯比估计到黄浦江只有十来海里了,因为上海离吴淞口至少还有十二海里。下午七点钟,唐卡德尔号离上海还有三海里。船主对老天愤懑地骂个不停。毫无疑问这两百英镑的奖金是吹了。他两眼直瞅着福克先生。福克脸上还是毫无表情,尽管他的整个命运也系在这一发千钧的时刻上……

   At this moment, also, a long black funnel, crowned with wreaths of smoke, appeared on the edge of the waters. It was the American steamer, leaving for Yokohama at the appointed time.

  就在这时,只见一个又长又黑的烟囱,冒着滚滚的浓烟,出现在浪花翻腾的河道上。这正是那条准时从上海开出的美国邮船。

   "Confound her!" cried John Bunsby, pushing back the rudder with a desperate jerk.

  “真该死!”约翰·班斯比绝望地把舵盘一推,叫着说。

   "Signal her!" said Phileas Fogg quietly.

  “发信号!”福克简单地说。

  一架小铜炮拉到船头上来了。这座铜炮本来是在大雾里迷失方向时发信号用的。铜炮里已经装满了火药,船主拿来一块通红的火炭正要去点燃导火线,这时福克先生说:“下半旗!”

   The flag was run up at half-mast, and, this being the signal of distress, it was hoped that the American steamer, perceiving it, would change her course a little, so as to succour the pilot-boat.

  船旗下降到旗杆的中部。这是一种求救的信号。他们希望能被美国邮船看到,这样就有希望使它改变一下航线向唐卡德尔号开来。

   "Fire!" said Mr. Fogg. And the booming of the little cannon resounded in the air.

  “开炮!”福克说。小铜炮惊人的轰鸣,响彻在大海的上空。

   The Carnatic, setting sail from Hong Kong at half-past six on the 7th of November, directed her course at full steam towards Japan. She carried a large cargo and a well-filled cabin of passengers. Two state-rooms in the rear were, however, unoccupied--those which had been engaged by Phileas Fogg. 11

  月7号午后六时半,卡尔纳蒂克号邮船开出了香港,直向日本迅速前进,这条船载满了货物和旅客,但后舱却空着两间房舱。那就是斐利亚·福克先生在开船之前预定的两个房间。

   The next day a passenger with a half-stupefied eye, staggering gait, and disordered hair, was seen to emerge from the second cabin, and to totter to a seat on deck.

  第二天早上,在前甲板上的旅客们非常惊讶地看见一个奇怪的旅客:他眼神似痴若呆,走路东倒西歪、头发乱得象个草鸡窝。这位旅客从二等舱的出口爬上来,就踉踉跄跄地跑过去在一根备用桅杆上坐了下来。

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名著·八十天环绕地球 - 第33节