這動(dòng)物有幾次讓人接近它。
We're overhauling it! the Canadian would shout.
我們追上它了!我們追上它了:加拿大人喊。
Then, just as he was about to strike, the cetacean would steal off with a swiftness I could estimate at no less than thirty miles per hour.
可是,在他準(zhǔn)備投叉的時(shí)候,這條鯨魚(yú)立即逃開(kāi)了,它行動(dòng)敏捷,照我來(lái)看,它的速度每小時(shí)至少是三十海里。
And even at our maximum speed, it took the liberty of thumbing its nose at the frigateby running a full circle around us! A howl of fury burst from every throat!
甚至在我們的船以最快速度航行的時(shí)候,它竟然能夠繞船一周,似乎跟我們開(kāi)玩笑呢!憤怒的喊聲從大家的胸膛中迸發(fā)出來(lái)!
By noon we were no farther along than at eight o'clock in the morning.
中午,我們跟早晨八點(diǎn)一樣,一點(diǎn)沒(méi)有進(jìn)展。
Commander Farragut then decided to use more direct methods.
法拉古艦長(zhǎng)決定采取更為直接的辦法。
Bah! he said. So that animal is faster than the Abraham Lincoln. All right, we'll see if it can outrun our conical shells! Mate, man the gun in the bow!
呵!他說(shuō),這東西比林肯號(hào)走得還快!好吧j我們看看它是不是能躲開(kāi)我們的錐形炮彈。水手長(zhǎng),叫炮手都到船前頭的炮邊來(lái)。
Our forecastle cannon was immediately loaded and leveled. The cannoneer fired a shot, but his shell passed some feet above the cetacean, which stayed half a mile off.
船前頭的炮立即裝上炮彈,發(fā)出去了。炮是放了,可是炮彈在距半海里之遠(yuǎn)的動(dòng)物上面掠過(guò)去,沒(méi)有打中。
Over to somebody with better aim! the commander shouted.
換一名好炮手!艦長(zhǎng)喊,