海底兩萬里 第92期 第7章 一種從未見過的魚(15)

Just then, as if to take my side in the argument, a bubbling began astern of this strange submersible

這時候，好像是為了要證明我的論據(jù)是對的，這個奇異東西的后面沸騰起來，

whose drive mechanism was obviously a propeller-and the boat started to move.

它現(xiàn)在開行了，推動它的分明是那推進(jìn)器。

We barely had time to hang on to its topside, which emerged about eighty centimeters above water.

我們趕快緊緊把住它那浮出水面約八十厘米的上層。

Fortunately its speed was not excessive.

還算運(yùn)氣，它的速度并不十分快。

So long as it navigates horizontally, Ned Land muttered, I've no complaints.

它如果就這樣在水平面上行駛，我倒一點(diǎn)不在乎，尼德·蘭低聲說，

But if it gets the urge to dive, I wouldn't give 2.00 for my hide!

但是，如果它忽然異想天開沉到水底下去，那我的性命就靠不住了!

The Canadian might have quoted a much lower price.

加拿大人說得一點(diǎn)不錯。

So it was imperative to make contact with whatever beings were confined inside the plating of this machine.

所以，最要緊的是趕快想辦法跟里面的人取得聯(lián)系。

I searched its surface for an opening or a hatch, a manhole,

我想在它上層找到一個開口，一塊蓋板，用專門術(shù)語來說，找到一個人孔;

to use the official term; but the lines of rivets had been firmly driven into the sheet-iron joins and were straight and uniform.

但一行行的螺絲釘很清楚、很均勻，把鋼板銜接得十分結(jié)實，無縫可尋。