美國語文第五冊 第273期：英吉利海峽追逐戰(zhàn)（03）
for they could not conceal from themselves that each moment lessened their velocity through the water,
因為敵方炮火猛烈，瘋狂肆虐的輪番進(jìn)攻，傾瀉不斷的炮火，接二連三地炸斷防衛(wèi)艦甲板桅桿，
as the shot of the enemy stripped the canvas from the yards, or dashed aside the lighter spars in their terrible progress.
造成多處桅桿毀損嚴(yán)重，船長和領(lǐng)航員清醒地意識到，乘風(fēng)破浪中的防衛(wèi)艦速度愈來愈慢。
“We find our equal here,” said Griffith to the stranger.
“我們遇到對手了，”格里菲斯船長對新來的領(lǐng)航員說，
The ninety is heaving up again like a mountain; and if we continue to shorten sail at this rate, she will soon be down upon us!
九十根桅桿重新拉好了，風(fēng)帆立起像座山；如果我們?nèi)砸阅壳八俾食掷m(xù)減速，英國戰(zhàn)艦會嘲笑我們的！
“You say true, sir,” returned the Pilot, musing, “the man shows judgment as well as spirit; but—”
“說得不錯，先生，”領(lǐng)航員回答，內(nèi)心暗自思忖，“船長眼光敏銳，猶如神助，但是——”
He was interrupted by Merry, who rushed from the forward part of the vessel,
領(lǐng)航員思緒突然被打斷，原來，水手梅里從船的前舷飛跑過來，
his whole face betokening the eagerness of his spirit and the importance of his intelligence.
滿臉焦急萬分，像有重大事情要報。
“The breakers!” he CRIed, when nigh enough to be heard amid the din;
“船，就要擱淺了！”他高聲喊叫著，即使在兩艦對決的炮火紛飛中，梅里的話依然清晰真切地在空中炸響，
we are running dead on a ripple, and the sea is white not two hundred yards ahead.
我們身陷絕境，前方不到兩百碼已見大片灘涂。
The Pilot jumped on a gun, and, bending to catch a glimpse through the smoke,
領(lǐng)航員迅速爬上炮管，透過濃密的炮火硝煙，躬身往前仔細(xì)察看，不過迅速瞥看一眼，
he shouted, in those clear, piercing tones, that could be even heard among the roaring of the cannon,
他隨即高喊起來，如此尖利刺耳的聲音，在炮聲轟鳴中愈發(fā)瘆人。
Port, port your helm! we are on the Devil’s Grip! Pass up the trumpet, sir;
快，左滿舵！左滿舵！我們馬上就要玩完了。船長先生，請把喇叭遞給我，伙計，
port your helm, fellow; give it to them, boys—give it to the proud English dogs!
勞駕，左滿舵！快點！讓英國佬撞上去，讓那些英國豬去死吧！
Griffith unhesitatingly relinquished the symbol of his rank, fastening his own firm look on the calm but quick eye of the Pilot,
格里菲斯船長毫不猶豫地將他權(quán)力象征的喇叭遞給領(lǐng)航員，一個目光堅毅，一個冷靜急切，雙方剎那間眼神在對視交流，
and gathering assurance from the high confidence he read in the countenance of the stranger.
格里菲斯覺得內(nèi)心力量的聚集，從那個陌生的面容上，他清楚地看到力挽狂瀾以拯救全船危難的堅定信心。
