But that we were not removed any considerable distance from the Line, seemed obvious. For in the starriest night no sign of the extreme Polar constellations2 was visible; though often we scanned the northern and southern horizon in search of them. So far as regards the aspect of the skies near the ocean's rim3, the difference of several degrees in one's latitude4 at sea, is readily perceived by a person long accustomed to surveying the heavens.
If correct in my supposition, concerning our longitude5 at the time here alluded6 to, and allowing for what little progress we had been making in the Parki, there now remained some one hundred leagues to sail, ere the country we sought would be found. But for obvious reasons, how long precisely7 we might continue to float out of sight of land, it was impossible to say. Calms, light breezes, and currents made every thing uncertain. Nor had we any method of estimating our due westward progress, except by what is called Dead Reckoning,—the computation of the knots run hourly; allowances' being made for the supposed deviations8 from our course, by reason of the ocean streams; which at times in this quarter of the Pacific run with very great velocity9.
Now, in many respects we could not but feel safer aboard the Parki than in the Chamois. The sense of danger is less vivid, the greater the number of lives involved. He who is ready to despair in solitary10 peril11, plucks up a heart in the presence of another. In a plurality of comrades is much countenance12 and consolation13.
Still, in the brigantine there were many sources of uneasiness and anxiety unknown to me in the whale-boat. True, we had now between us and the deep, five hundred good planks14 to one lath in our buoyant little chip. But the Parki required more care and attention; especially by night, when a vigilant15 look-out was indispensable. With impunity16, in our whale-boat, we might have run close to shoal or reef; whereas, similar carelessness or temerity17 now, might prove fatal to all concerned.
Though in the joyous18 sunlight, sailing through the sparkling sea, I — was little troubled with serious misgivings19; in the hours of darkness it was quite another thing. And the apprehensions20, nay21 terrors I — felt, were much augmented22 by the remissness23 of both Jarl and Samoa, in keeping their night-watches. Several times I was seized with a deadly panic, and earnestly scanned the murky24 horizon, when rising from slumber25 I found the steersman, in whose hands for the time being were life and death, sleeping upright against the tiller, as much of a fixture27 there, as the open-mouthed dragon rudely carved on our prow28.
Were it not, that on board of other vessels29, I myself had many a time dozed30 at the helm, spite of all struggles, I would have been almost at a loss to account for this heedlessness in my comrades. But it seemed as if the mere32 sense of our situation, should have been sufficient to prevent the like conduct in all on board our craft.
Samoa's aspect, sleeping at the tiller, was almost appalling33. His large opal eyes were half open; and turned toward the light of the binnacle, gleamed between the lids like bars of flame. And added to all, was his giant stature34 and savage35 lineaments.
It was in vain, that I remonstrated36, begged, or threatened: the occasional drowsiness37 of my fellow-voyagers proved incurable38. To no purpose, I reminded my Viking that sleeping in the night-watch in a craft like ours, was far different from similar heedlessness on board the Arcturion. For there, our place upon the ocean was always known, and our distance from land; so that when by night the seamen39 were permitted to be drowsy40, it was mostly, because the captain well knew that strict watchfulness41 could be dispensed42 with.
Though in all else, the Skyeman proved a most faithful ally, in this one thing he was either perversely43 obtuse44, or infatuated. Or, perhaps, finding himself once more in a double-decked craft, which rocked him as of yore, he was lulled45 into a deceitful security.
For Samoa, his drowsiness was the drowsiness of one beat on sleep, come dreams or death. He seemed insensible to the peril we ran. Often I sent the sleepy savage below, sad, steered46 myself till morning. At last I made a point of slumbering47 much by day, the better to stand watch by night; though I made Samoa and Jarl regularly go through with their allotted48 four hours each.
It has been mentioned, that Annatoo took her turn at the helm; but it was only by day. And in justice to the lady, I must affirm, that upon the whole she acquitted49 herself well. For notwithstanding the syren face in the binnacle, which dimly allured51 her glances, Annatoo after all was tolerably heedful of her steering52. Indeed she took much pride therein; always ready for her turn; with marvelous exactitude calculating the approaching hour, as it came on in regular rotation53. Her time-piece was ours, the sun. By night it must have been her guardian54 star; for frequently she gazed up at a particular section of the heavens, like one regarding the dial in a tower.
By some odd reasoning or other, she had cajoled herself into the notion, that whoever steered the brigantine, for that period was captain. Wherefore, she gave herself mighty55 airs at the tiller; with extravagant56 gestures issuing unintelligible57 orders about trimming the sails, or pitching overboard something to see how fast we were going. All this much diverted my Viking, who several times was delivered of a laugh; a loud and healthy one to boot: a phenomenon worthy58 the chronicling.
And thus much for Annatoo, preliminary to what is further to be said. Seeing the drowsiness of Jarl and Samoa, which so often kept me from my hammock at night, forcing me to repose59 by day, when I far preferred being broad awake, I decided60 to let Annatoo take her turn at the night watches; which several times she had solicited61 me to do; railing at the sleepiness of her spouse62; though abstaining63 from all reflections upon Jarl, toward whom she had of late grown exceedingly friendly.
Now the Calmuc stood her first night watch to admiration64; if any thing, was altogether too wakeful. The mere steering of the craft employed not sufficiently65 her active mind. Ever and anon she must needs rush from the tiller to take a parenthetical pull at the fore- brace66, the end of which led down to the bulwarks67 near by; then refreshing68 herself with a draught69 or two of water and a biscuit, she would continue to steer26 away, full of the importance of her office. At any unusual flapping of the sails, a violent stamping on deck announced the fact to the startled crew. Finding her thus indefatigable70, I readily induced her to stand two watches to Jarl's and Samoa's one; and when she was at the helm, I permitted myself to doze31 on a pile of old sails, spread every evening on the quarter-deck.
It was the Skyeman, who often admonished71 me to "heave the ship to" every night, thus stopping her headway till morning; a plan which, under other circumstances, might have perhaps warranted the slumbers72 of all. But as it was, such a course would have been highly imprudent. For while making no onward73 progress through the water, the rapid currents we encountered would continually be drifting us eastward74; since, contrary to our previous experience, they seemed latterly to have reversed their flow, a phenomenon by no means unusual in the vicinity of the Line in the Pacific. And this it was that so prolonged our passage to the westward. Even in a moderate breeze, I sometimes fancied, that the impulse of the wind little more than counteracted75 the glide76 of the currents; so that with much show of sailing, we were in reality almost a fixture on the sea.
The equatorial currents of the South Seas may be regarded as among the most mysterious of the mysteries of the deep. Whence they come, whither go, who knows? Tell us, what hidden law regulates their flow. Regardless of the theory which ascribes to them a nearly uniform course from east to west, induced by the eastwardly77 winds of the Line, and the collateral78 action of the Polar streams; these currents are forever shifting. Nor can the period of their revolutions be at all relied upon or predicted.
But however difficult it may be to assign a specific cause for the ocean streams, in any part of the world, one of the wholesome79 effects thereby80 produced would seem obvious enough. And though the circumstance here alluded to is perhaps known to every body, it may be questioned, whether it is generally invested with the importance it deserves. Reference is here made to the constant commingling81 and purification of the sea-water by reason of the currents.
For, that the ocean, according to the popular theory, possesses a special purifying agent in its salts, is somewhat to be doubted. Nor can it be explicitly82 denied, that those very salts might corrupt83 it, were it not for the brisk circulation of its particles consequent upon the flow of the streams. It is well known to seamen, that a bucket of sea-water, left standing50 in a tropical climate, very soon becomes highly offensive; which is not the case with rainwater.
But I build no theories. And by way of obstructing84 the one, which might possibly be evolved from the statement above, let me add, that the offensiveness of sea-water left standing, may arise in no small degree from the presence of decomposed85 animal matter.
点击收听单词发音
1 westward | |
n.西方,西部;adj.西方的,向西的;adv.向西 | |
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2 constellations | |
n.星座( constellation的名词复数 );一群杰出人物;一系列(相关的想法、事物);一群(相关的人) | |
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3 rim | |
n.(圆物的)边,轮缘;边界 | |
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4 latitude | |
n.纬度,行动或言论的自由(范围),(pl.)地区 | |
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5 longitude | |
n.经线,经度 | |
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6 alluded | |
提及,暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7 precisely | |
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地 | |
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8 deviations | |
背离,偏离( deviation的名词复数 ); 离经叛道的行为 | |
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9 velocity | |
n.速度,速率 | |
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10 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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11 peril | |
n.(严重的)危险;危险的事物 | |
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12 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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13 consolation | |
n.安慰,慰问 | |
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14 planks | |
(厚)木板( plank的名词复数 ); 政纲条目,政策要点 | |
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15 vigilant | |
adj.警觉的,警戒的,警惕的 | |
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16 impunity | |
n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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17 temerity | |
n.鲁莽,冒失 | |
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18 joyous | |
adj.充满快乐的;令人高兴的 | |
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19 misgivings | |
n.疑虑,担忧,害怕;疑虑,担心,恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 );疑惧 | |
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20 apprehensions | |
疑惧 | |
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21 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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22 Augmented | |
adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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23 remissness | |
n.玩忽职守;马虎;怠慢;不小心 | |
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24 murky | |
adj.黑暗的,朦胧的;adv.阴暗地,混浊地;n.阴暗;昏暗 | |
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25 slumber | |
n.睡眠,沉睡状态 | |
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26 steer | |
vt.驾驶,为…操舵;引导;vi.驾驶 | |
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27 fixture | |
n.固定设备;预定日期;比赛时间;定期存款 | |
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28 prow | |
n.(飞机)机头,船头 | |
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29 vessels | |
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人 | |
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30 dozed | |
v.打盹儿,打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31 doze | |
v.打瞌睡;n.打盹,假寐 | |
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32 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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33 appalling | |
adj.骇人听闻的,令人震惊的,可怕的 | |
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34 stature | |
n.(高度)水平,(高度)境界,身高,身材 | |
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35 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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36 remonstrated | |
v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 );告诫 | |
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37 drowsiness | |
n.睡意;嗜睡 | |
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38 incurable | |
adj.不能医治的,不能矫正的,无救的;n.不治的病人,无救的人 | |
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39 seamen | |
n.海员 | |
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40 drowsy | |
adj.昏昏欲睡的,令人发困的 | |
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41 watchfulness | |
警惕,留心; 警觉(性) | |
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42 dispensed | |
v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 );施与;配(药) | |
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43 perversely | |
adv. 倔强地 | |
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44 obtuse | |
adj.钝的;愚钝的 | |
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45 lulled | |
vt.使镇静,使安静(lull的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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46 steered | |
v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 );操纵;控制;引导 | |
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47 slumbering | |
微睡,睡眠(slumber的现在分词形式) | |
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48 allotted | |
分配,拨给,摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49 acquitted | |
宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 ); 使(自己)作出某种表现 | |
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50 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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51 allured | |
诱引,吸引( allure的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52 steering | |
n.操舵装置 | |
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53 rotation | |
n.旋转;循环,轮流 | |
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54 guardian | |
n.监护人;守卫者,保护者 | |
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55 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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56 extravagant | |
adj.奢侈的;过分的;(言行等)放肆的 | |
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57 unintelligible | |
adj.无法了解的,难解的,莫明其妙的 | |
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58 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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59 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
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60 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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61 solicited | |
v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 );(指娼妇)拉客;索求;征求 | |
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62 spouse | |
n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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63 abstaining | |
戒(尤指酒),戒除( abstain的现在分词 ); 弃权(不投票) | |
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64 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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65 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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66 brace | |
n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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67 bulwarks | |
n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 );保障;支柱;舷墙 | |
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68 refreshing | |
adj.使精神振作的,使人清爽的,使人喜欢的 | |
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69 draught | |
n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计 | |
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70 indefatigable | |
adj.不知疲倦的,不屈不挠的 | |
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71 admonished | |
v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 );训诫;(温和地)责备;轻责 | |
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72 slumbers | |
睡眠,安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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73 onward | |
adj.向前的,前进的;adv.向前,前进,在先 | |
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74 eastward | |
adv.向东;adj.向东的;n.东方,东部 | |
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75 counteracted | |
对抗,抵消( counteract的过去式 ) | |
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76 glide | |
n./v.溜,滑行;(时间)消逝 | |
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77 eastwardly | |
向东,从东方 | |
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78 collateral | |
adj.平行的;旁系的;n.担保品 | |
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79 wholesome | |
adj.适合;卫生的;有益健康的;显示身心健康的 | |
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80 thereby | |
adv.因此,从而 | |
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81 commingling | |
v.混合,掺和,合并( commingle的现在分词 ) | |
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82 explicitly | |
ad.明确地,显然地 | |
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83 corrupt | |
v.贿赂,收买;adj.腐败的,贪污的 | |
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84 obstructing | |
阻塞( obstruct的现在分词 ); 堵塞; 阻碍; 阻止 | |
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85 decomposed | |
已分解的,已腐烂的 | |
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