AT THIS SHOUT the entire crew rushed toward the harpooner2-- commander, officers, mates,
sailors, cabin boys, down to engineers leaving their machinery3 and stokers neglecting their furnaces. The order was given to stop, and the frigate4 merely coasted.
By then the darkness was profound, and as good as the Canadian's eyes were, I still wondered how he could see--and what he had seen. My heart was pounding fit to burst.
But Ned Land was not mistaken, and we all spotted6 the object his hand was indicating.
Two cable lengths off the Abraham Lincoln's starboard quarter, the sea seemed to be lit up from underneath7. This was no mere5 phosphorescent phenomenon, that much was unmistakable. Submerged some fathoms8 below the surface of the water, the monster gave off that very intense but inexplicable10 glow that several captains had mentioned in their reports. This magnificent radiance had to come from some force with a great illuminating11 capacity. The edge of its light swept over the sea in an immense, highly elongated12 oval, condensing at the center into a blazing core whose unbearable13 glow diminished by degrees outward.
"It's only a cluster of phosphorescent particles!" exclaimed one of the officers.
"No, sir," I answered with conviction. "Not even angel-wing clams14 or salps have ever given off such a powerful light. That glow is basically electric in nature. Besides . . . look, look! It's shifting! It's moving back and forth15! It's darting16 at us!"
A universal shout went up from the frigate.
"Quiet!" Commander Farragut said. "Helm hard to leeward17! Reverse engines!"
Sailors rushed to the helm, engineers to their machinery. Under reverse steam immediately, the Abraham Lincoln beat to port, sweeping18 in a semicircle.
"Right your helm! Engines forward!" Commander Farragut called.
These orders were executed, and the frigate swiftly retreated from this core of light.
My mistake. It wanted to retreat, but the unearthly animal came at us with a speed double our own.
We gasped19. More stunned20 than afraid, we stood mute and motionless. The animal caught up with us, played with us. It made a full circle around the frigate--then doing fourteen knots--and wrapped us in sheets of electricity that were like luminous21 dust. Then it retreated two or three miles, leaving a phosphorescent trail comparable to those swirls22 of steam that shoot behind the locomotive of an express train. Suddenly, all the way from the dark horizon where it had gone to gather momentum23, the monster abruptly24 dashed toward the Abraham Lincoln with frightening speed, stopped sharply twenty feet from our side plates, and died out-- not by diving under the water, since its glow did not recede25 gradually-- but all at once, as if the source of this brilliant emanation had suddenly dried up. Then it reappeared on the other side of the ship, either by circling around us or by gliding26 under our hull27. At any instant a collision could have occurred that would have been fatal to us.
Meanwhile I was astonished at the frigate's maneuvers28. It was fleeing, not fighting. Built to pursue, it was being pursued, and I commented on this to Commander Farragut. His face, ordinarily so emotionless, was stamped with indescribable astonishment29.
"Professor Aronnax," he answered me, "I don't know what kind of fearsome creature I'm up against, and I don't want my frigate running foolish risks in all this darkness. Besides, how should we attack this unknown creature, how should we defend ourselves against it? Let's wait for daylight, and then we'll play a different role."
"You've no further doubts, commander, as to the nature of this animal?"
"No, sir, it's apparently30 a gigantic narwhale, and an electric one to boot."
"Maybe," I added, "it's no more approachable than an electric eel31 or an electric ray!"
"Right," the commander replied. "And if it has their power to electrocute, it's surely the most dreadful animal ever conceived by our Creator. That's why I'll keep on my guard, sir."
The whole crew stayed on their feet all night long. No one even thought of sleeping. Unable to compete with the monster's speed, the Abraham Lincoln slowed down and stayed at half steam. For its part, the narwhale mimicked32 the frigate, simply rode with the waves, and seemed determined33 not to forsake34 the field of battle.
However, near midnight it disappeared, or to use a more appropriate expression, "it went out," like a huge glowworm. Had it fled from us? We were duty bound to fear so rather than hope so. But at 12:53 in the morning, a deafening35 hiss36 became audible, resembling the sound made by a waterspout expelled with tremendous intensity37.
By then Commander Farragut, Ned Land, and I were on the afterdeck, peering eagerly into the profound gloom.
"Ned Land," the commander asked, "you've often heard whales bellowing38?"
"Often, sir, but never a whale like this, whose sighting earned me $2,000.00."
"Correct, the prize is rightfully yours. But tell me, isn't that the noise cetaceans make when they spurt39 water from their blowholes?"
"The very noise, sir, but this one's way louder. So there can be no mistake. There's definitely a whale lurking40 in our waters. With your permission, sir," the harpooner added, "tomorrow at daybreak we'll have words with it."
"If it's in a mood to listen to you, Mr. Land," I replied in a tone far from convinced.
"Let me get within four harpoon1 lengths of it," the Canadian shot back, "and it had better listen!"
"But to get near it," the commander went on, "I'd have to put a whaleboat at your disposal?"
"Certainly, sir."
"That would be gambling41 with the lives of my men."
"And with my own!" the harpooner replied simply.
Near two o'clock in the morning, the core of light reappeared, no less intense, five miles to windward of the Abraham Lincoln. Despite the distance, despite the noise of wind and sea, we could distinctly hear the fearsome thrashings of the animal's tail, and even its panting breath. Seemingly, the moment this enormous narwhale came up to breathe at the surface of the ocean, air was sucked into its lungs like steam into the huge cylinders42 of a 2,000-horsepower engine.
"Hmm!" I said to myself. "A cetacean as powerful as a whole cavalry43 regiment--now that's a whale of a whale!"
We stayed on the alert until daylight, getting ready for action. Whaling gear was set up along the railings. Our chief officer loaded the blunderbusses, which can launch harpoons44 as far as a mile, and long duck guns with exploding bullets that can mortally wound even the most powerful animals. Ned Land was content to sharpen his harpoon, a dreadful weapon in his hands.
At six o'clock day began to break, and with the dawn's early light, the narwhale's electric glow disappeared. At seven o'clock the day was well along, but a very dense45 morning mist shrank the horizon, and our best spyglasses were unable to pierce it. The outcome: disappointment and anger.
I hoisted46 myself up to the crosstrees of the mizzen sail. Some officers were already perched on the mastheads.
At eight o'clock the mist rolled ponderously48 over the waves, and its huge curls were lifting little by little. The horizon grew wider and clearer all at once.
Suddenly, just as on the previous evening, Ned Land's voice was audible.
"There's the thing in question, astern to port!" the harpooner shouted.
Every eye looked toward the point indicated.
There, a mile and a half from the frigate, a long blackish body emerged a meter above the waves. Quivering violently, its tail was creating a considerable eddy49. Never had caudal equipment thrashed the sea with such power. An immense wake of glowing whiteness marked the animal's track, sweeping in a long curve.
Our frigate drew nearer to the cetacean. I examined it with a completely open mind. Those reports from the Shannon and the Helvetia had slightly exaggerated its dimensions, and I put its length at only 250 feet. Its girth was more difficult to judge, but all in all, the animal seemed to be wonderfully proportioned in all three dimensions.
While I was observing this phenomenal creature, two jets of steam and water sprang from its blowholes and rose to an altitude of forty meters, which settled for me its mode of breathing. From this I finally concluded that it belonged to the branch Vertebrata, class Mammalia, subclass Monodelphia, group Pisciforma, order Cetacea, family . . . but here I couldn't make up my mind. The order Cetacea consists of three families, baleen50 whales, sperm51 whales, dolphins, and it's in this last group that narwhales are placed. Each of these families is divided into several genera, each genus into species, each species into varieties. So I was still missing variety, species, genus, and family, but no doubt I would complete my classifying with the aid of Heaven and Commander Farragut.
The crew were waiting impatiently for orders from their leader. The latter, after carefully observing the animal, called for his engineer. The engineer raced over.
"Sir," the commander said, "are you up to pressure?"
"Aye, sir," the engineer replied.
"Fine. Stoke your furnaces and clap on full steam!"
Three cheers greeted this order. The hour of battle had sounded. A few moments later, the frigate's two funnels52 vomited53 torrents55 of black smoke, and its deck quaked from the trembling of its boilers56.
Driven forward by its powerful propeller57, the Abraham Lincoln headed straight for the animal. Unconcerned, the latter let us come within half a cable length; then, not bothering to dive, it got up a little speed, retreated, and was content to keep its distance.
This chase dragged on for about three-quarters of an hour without the frigate gaining two fathoms on the cetacean. At this rate, it was obvious that we would never catch up with it.
Infuriated, Commander Farragut kept twisting the thick tuft of hair that flourished below his chin.
"Ned Land!" he called.
The Canadian reported at once.
"Well, Mr. Land," the commander asked, "do you still advise putting my longboats to sea?"
"No, sir," Ned Land replied, "because that beast won't be caught against its will."
"Then what should we do?"
"Stoke up more steam, sir, if you can. As for me, with your permission I'll go perch47 on the bobstays under the bowsprit, and if we can get within a harpoon length, I'll harpoon the brute58."
"Go to it, Ned," Commander Farragut replied. "Engineer," he called, "keep the pressure mounting!"
Ned Land made his way to his post. The furnaces were urged into greater activity; our propeller did forty-three revolutions per minute, and steam shot from the valves. Heaving the log, we verified that the Abraham Lincoln was going at the rate of 18.5 miles per hour.
But that damned animal also did a speed of 18.5.
For the next hour our frigate kept up this pace without gaining a fathom9! This was humiliating for one of the fastest racers in the American navy. The crew were working up into a blind rage. Sailor after sailor heaved insults at the monster, which couldn't be bothered with answering back. Commander Farragut was no longer content simply to twist his goatee; he chewed on it.
The engineer was summoned once again.
"You're up to maximum pressure?" the commander asked him.
"Aye, sir," the engineer replied.
"And your valves are charged to . . . ?"
"To six and a half atmospheres."
"Charge them to ten atmospheres."
A typical American order if I ever heard one. It would have sounded just fine during some Mississippi paddle-wheeler race, to "outstrip59 the competition!"
"Conseil," I said to my gallant60 servant, now at my side, "you realize that we'll probably blow ourselves skyhigh?"
"As master wishes!" Conseil replied.
All right, I admit it: I did wish to run this risk!
The valves were charged. More coal was swallowed by the furnaces. Ventilators shot torrents of air over the braziers. The Abraham Lincoln's speed increased. Its masts trembled down to their blocks, and swirls of smoke could barely squeeze through the narrow funnels.
We heaved the log a second time.
"Well, helmsman?" Commander Farragut asked.
"19.3 miles per hour, sir."
"Keep stoking the furnaces."
The engineer did so. The pressure gauge61 marked ten atmospheres. But no doubt the cetacean itself had "warmed up," because without the least trouble, it also did 19.3.
What a chase! No, I can't describe the excitement that shook my very being. Ned Land stayed at his post, harpoon in hand. Several times the animal let us approach.
"We're overhauling62 it!" the Canadian would shout.
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. And even at our maximum speed, it took the liberty of thumbing its nose at the frigate by running a full circle around us! A howl of fury burst from every throat!
By noon we were no farther along than at eight o'clock in the morning.
Commander Farragut then decided63 to use more direct methods.
"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!"
Our forecastle cannon64 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.
"Over to somebody with better aim!" the commander shouted. "And $500.00 to the man who can pierce that infernal beast!"
Calm of eye, cool of feature, an old gray-bearded gunner-- I can see him to this day--approached the cannon, put it in position, and took aim for a good while. There was a mighty65 explosion, mingled66 with cheers from the crew.
The shell reached its target; it hit the animal, but not in the usual fashion--it bounced off that rounded surface and vanished into the sea two miles out.
"Oh drat!" said the old gunner in his anger. "That rascal67 must be covered with six-inch armor plate!"
"Curse the beast!" Commander Farragut shouted.
The hunt was on again, and Commander Farragut leaned over to me, saying:
"I'll chase that animal till my frigate explodes!"
"Yes," I replied, "and nobody would blame you!"
We could still hope that the animal would tire out and not be as insensitive to exhaustion68 as our steam engines. But no such luck. Hour after hour went by without it showing the least sign of weariness.
However, to the Abraham Lincoln's credit, it must be said that we struggled on with tireless persistence69. I estimate that we covered a distance of at least 500 kilometers during this ill-fated day of November 6. But night fell and wrapped the surging ocean in its shadows.
By then I thought our expedition had come to an end, that we would never see this fantastic animal again. I was mistaken.
At 10:50 in the evening, that electric light reappeared three miles to windward of the frigate, just as clear and intense as the night before.
The narwhale seemed motionless. Was it asleep perhaps, weary from its workday, just riding with the waves? This was our chance, and Commander Farragut was determined to take full advantage of it.
He gave his orders. The Abraham Lincoln stayed at half steam, advancing cautiously so as not to awaken70 its adversary71. In midocean it's not unusual to encounter whales so sound asleep they can successfully be attacked, and Ned Land had harpooned72 more than one in its slumber73. The Canadian went to resume his post on the bobstays under the bowsprit.
The frigate approached without making a sound, stopped two cable lengths from the animal and coasted. Not a soul breathed on board. A profound silence reigned74 over the deck. We were not 100 feet from the blazing core of light, whose glow grew stronger and dazzled the eyes.
Just then, leaning over the forecastle railing, I saw Ned Land below me, one hand grasping the martingale, the other brandishing75 his dreadful harpoon. Barely twenty feet separated him from the motionless animal.
All at once his arm shot forward and the harpoon was launched. I heard the weapon collide resonantly76, as if it had hit some hard substance.
The electric light suddenly went out, and two enormous waterspouts crashed onto the deck of the frigate, racing77 like a torrent54 from stem to stern, toppling crewmen, breaking spare masts and yardarms from their lashings.
A hideous78 collision occurred, and thrown over the rail with no time to catch hold of it, I was hurled79 into the sea.
一听到这喊声，全体船员，从舰长、军官、水手长一直到水手、练习生，甚至工程师也丢下机器，火夫也离开锅炉，大家都向鱼叉手这边跑来。停船的命令发出了，船只凭本身余下的动力走着。那时天色非常黑暗，不管这位加拿大人的眼力怎么好，我也要想想他怎能看见和他能够看见什么。我的心跳得非常厉害，简直要炸了。可是尼德·兰并没有弄错，我们大家都看到了他的手所指的那个东西。离林肯号右舷约三百七十米左右，海面好像是被水底发出的光照亮了。这光并不是一般的磷光，这谁也不会弄错。这个怪物潜在水面下几米深，放出十分强烈而神秘的光，就像有些船长的报告中所指出的那样。这种特别灿烂的光芒必定是从什么巨大的发光动力发出来的。发光的部分在海面上形成一个巨大的椭圆形，拉得很长，椭圆形中心是白热的焦点，射出不可逼视的光度，这光度渐远渐淡，至于熄灭。“那不过是无数磷分子的集合体。”一位军官说。“不，”我很有把握地答，“富拉得或沙尔已①之类的动物决不能发出这么强的光度。这种光只能是电力的光…看！看！它动了!它向前动，又向后移！它向我们冲采了！”战舰上处处发出喊声。“不要作声，”法拉古舰长说，“把稳舵，船迎着凤：开倒车！”水手们跑到舵旁边，工程师们跑到机器旁边。汽门立刻关掉了，林肯号从左舷转了一百八十度。法拉古舰长喊：“舵向右，向前开!"以上命令执行了，战舰很快离开了发光的中心。我弄错了。我们船要走开，但那神秘的动物却以加借的速度逼近来。我们气都喘不过来。当时，惊呆更甚于恐惧，弄得我们静默不动。这个动物好像开玩笑似的在海面上向我们冲来。它绕着战舰（这时船以每小时十四海里的速度走动），并且把船罩在像光尘一样的电光网中。然后它走出两三海里远，后面拖着一条磷光的尾巴，好像快车的机车留在后面的一团团烟雾般的气体。忽然间，这个怪物从天边的尽头。以惊人的速度突然向林肯号冲来，在离船身二十英尺的海而上又突然停住，光全灭了——不是潜入水中，因为它的光不是慢慢地消散，而是猝然地，像光的来源陡然断了一般！不久它又在战舰的另一边出现了，可能是绕过来的，也可能是从船底下潜水过来的。时时刻刻，都有可能给我们致命的打击.可是我们的战舰的行动使我莫名其妙。它在逃，并不去攻击。它本应该追逐怪物的，现在反而被追逐了，我于是向法拉古舰长提出意见。法拉古舰长的面孔，通常是很冷静的，现在却显得万分慌张。“阿龙纳斯先生，”他回答我，“我没摸清楚我所要对付的这怪物到底厉害到什么程度，我不愿意在这么一片黑暗中，随便让战舰去冒险。再说，怎样来攻击这个神秘东西呢，又怎样来防御这东西呢？我们等到天亮，情况便不同了."“舰长，您现在对于这个动物的性质没有什么疑惑了吗？”“没有疑惑了，先生，明明白白，这是一条巨大的独角鲸，同时又是一条带电的独角鲸。，，“也许，”我又说，“我们不能接近它，就像不能接近一条电鳗，或一个水雷那样!”“的确，”舰长答，“它身上有雷电般的力量，它一定是造物者造出来的最可怕的动物了。就是因为这个理由，先生，我才不得不十分小心在意。”全体船员在夜间都站着守望，没有一个人想到睡眠。林肯号在速度上敌不过这个怪物，只好保持着低速度慢慢行驶。而独角鲸也模仿战舰，在波涛上随意摆动者，好象还不打算离开这个比武场。不过，快到半夜的时候，它不见了，或用一句更准确的话说，它像一只大萤火虫一样不发光了。它逃了吗？我介就怕它逃，我们不希望它逃。但到早晨零点五十三分的时候传来一种震耳欲聋的啸声，好橡被极强的压力挤出的水柱所发的啸声那样。法拉古舰长、尼德·兰和我当时都在尾楼上，聚精会神地凝视着深沉的黑暗。“尼德·兰，”舰长问，“您听到鲸鱼叫过吗？”“时常听到，先生，但我从没有听过像现在这条使我获得二千美元奖金的鲸鱼那样的叫声。”“不错，您应获得这笔奖金。不过，请您告诉我，这声音是不是那鲸鱼类动物鼻孔吐水时所发出来的声音呢?"“正是那声音，先生，不过现在这声音不知要大多少倍。所以谁也不会弄错.我们面前海里的东西无疑是一条鲸鱼类动物。”这位鱼叉手又说，“请您容许我，先生，明天天亮时，我们对它说几句话。”“恐怕它不会有那样的耐心听您的话，尼德·兰师傅。汐我用半信半疑的声调回答。“假使我离它只有四鱼叉那么远，”这位加拿大人答，“那时候它非听我的话不可！”“不过你去挨近它的时候，”舰长说，“我得给一只捕鲸艇供您使用吧?"“当然要有一只，先生."“坐小船岂不是拿我的人员的生命去冒险？”“我的命不算命吗?“这位鱼叉手干脆地回答。到早晨两点左右，这发光的焦点，在跟林肯号前面相距五海里远的海面，又发出同样强烈的光。虽然距离大，虽然有风声和浪声，我们还是清楚地听到这动物尾巴的搅水声。并且听到它的喘息声。这只巨大的独角鲸到洋面上来呼吸的时候，空气吸人它肺中，就像水蒸气送到两千马力机器的大圆筒里面去那样。“晤！”我想，“这强大得像一队骑兵的鲸鱼，一定是一条了不得的鲸鱼!"大家一直警戒到天亮，每个人都在准备战斗。各种打鱼的器械都摆在船栏杆边。二副装好了大口径短铰，这短铣能把鱼叉射出一英里远，又装好了打开花弹的长沧，一击中就是致命伤，哪怕最强大的动物也不能例外。尼德·兰本人只是在那里磨他的鱼叉，鱼叉在他的手里就是件可怕的武器。六点，天亮起来了，晨曦的微光把独角鲸的电光俺没了。七点，天大亮了，但浓厚的朝雾缩小了视野，最好的望远镜也不济事，因此大家又产生了失望和懊恼的情绪。我一直攀上尾桅，有些军官早就在桅上面站着。八点，浓雾沉重地在海面上滚动，它那巨大的气团渐渐地散开了。天际也渐渐扩大，渐渐明朗了。突然，像昨晚那样，尼德·兰叫起来了。“我们找的那个东西，在船左舷后面！”鱼又手喊着。大家的眼光都转向他手指的地方。在那边，距战舰一海里半左右，一个长长的黑色躯体浮出水上一未来。它的尾巴，激动着水，搅成很大的一个漩涡。任何东西的尾巴都不能这样有力地击打海水。这个动物走过，尾后留下一行巨大、雪白耀眼的水纹，并且描成一条长长的曲线。我们的战舰埃近了这个鲸鱼类动物。我随便地观察了一下。山农号和海尔维地亚号两船的报告对它的体积有些夸张，我估计一下，它不过二百五十英尺长。至于宽，我很难估量;总之，这个动物在我看来：长宽高三方面的比例都十分匀称。当我观察这只奇怪动物的时候，两道水和汽从它的鼻孔吐出来，直喷到叫十米的高度，这一点使我肯定了它呼吸的方式。我最后断定这动物是属于脊推动物门，哺乳纲，唯一豚鱼亚纲，鱼类，鲸鱼目，……属。到这里我便不能往下说了。鲸鱼目有三科：长须鲸，大头鲸和海豚，独角鲸是归在最后一科。每一科分为好些属，属分为种，种分为变种。变种、种、属、科，我还不知道，但我不怀疑，借上帝和法拉古舰长的帮助，我可以完成对于这动物的分类。船上人员等他们首长的命令等得不耐烦了。舰长注意地观察了这个动物后，叫来了工程师。工程师跑来了。舰长问:“先生，气压足了吗？”“足了，先生。”工程师答。“好，增大火力，全力驶去！”大家欢呼三声来迎接这道命令。战斗的号角响了。过了一些时候，战舰上两个烟囱吐出一道一道的黑烟，甲板在汽锅的震动下震动起来。林肯号在机轮的猛力推送下，一直向这怪物冲去，这怪物一点也不在意，战舰离它半锚链①左右的时候，它还不潜入水中，仅略作逃避的样子，不走远，只是保持着这样的：距离。这样若即若离的追逐，延长了三刻钟左右，就是战舰想多接近这条鲸鱼四米也不可能。很明白，这样迫下去，永远迫不上它。法拉古舰长心里很烦躁，拈着那下巴下面蓬蓬的一撮浓须。“尼德·兰呢？”他喊。加拿大人跑到前面来。“好，尼德·兰师傅，”他问，“现在您看是不是还要把小船放下海去？”“先生，不，”尼德·兰答，“因为这个东西是不让人捕捉的，除非它出于自愿."“那怎么办呢?"“先生，尽可能加大气力。我自己，当然先要得到您的允许，我在船头前桅的绳梯上守着，等我们到了鱼叉投得着的距离时，我就把鱼叉投出去。”“尼德·兰，就这样办吧。”舰长答。他又喊：“工程师，快加大马力。”尼德·兰走上他的岗位。火力尽量加大着，机轮每分钟转四十三转，蒸汽从活塞里跑出。把测程器抛下去，测知林肯号这时的速度是每小时十八海里半。但那个可恶的动物每小时的速度也是十八海里半。在整个一小时内，战舰只能保持着这样的速度，多进二米也办不到！这对于美国海军中的一艘最快的战舰来说，实在是太难堪了。船员中间遍布着不可遏止的愤怒。水手们咒骂怪物，但是，怪物却不理睬他们。法拉古舰长不只是拈着他的那撮浓须，而且现在开始绞起它来了。他又把工程师叫过来。“您已经把马力加到最大的限度了吗？”舰长问。“是的，舰长，马力已加到了最大限度。”他答。“活塞都上紧了吗？…"“上到六气压半。”“把它们上到十气压。”这纯粹是美国式的命令了。恐怕在密西西比河上，跟人比赛、赌输赢的船，也不能这样做的了！“康塞尔，”我对站在我身边的老实人说，“你看，我们的船也许就要爆炸了！”“随您先生怎样说都好l”康塞尔答。我承认，这个机会，我倒很乐意去碰一碰。活塞都上好了。煤炭倒人火炉中，凤箱把空气送进去，煽红了火。林肯号的速度又增加了，船桅都连根震动了由于烟囱过窄，阵阵突出的浓烟几乎都找不到出路了。测程器又一次抛下去。“现在速度多少？”法拉古舰长问。“舰长，十九点三海里。”“再增加人力。”工程师照他的话做了。气压表正指＋气压。但这条鲸鱼也添了火力，因为它一点不困难地也以十九点三海里的速度走动。多么激烈的追逐呀！不，我真不能描写当时使我全身激动的情绪。尼德·兰站在他的岗位上,手拿着鱼叉。这动物有几次让人接近它。“我们追上它了！我们追上它了：”加拿大人喊。可是，在他准备投叉的时候，这条鲸鱼立即逃开了，它行动敏捷，照我来看，它的速度每小时至少是三十海里。甚至在我们的船以最快速度航行的时候，它竟然能够绕船一周，似乎跟我们开玩笑呢！愤怒的喊声从大家的胸膛中迸发出来！中午，我们跟早晨八点一样，一点没有进展。法拉古舰长决定采取更为直接的办法。“呵！”他说，“这东西比林肯号走得还快!好吧j我们看看它是不是能躲开我们的锥形炮弹。水手长，叫炮手都到船前头的炮边来。”船前头的炮立即装上炮弹，发出去了。炮是放了，可是炮弹在距半海里之远的动物上面掠过去，没有打中。“换一名好炮手！”舰长喊，“谁打中这恶魔，给五百美元!"一位胡子花白的老炮手——他现在仍然活现在我眼前——眼光镇定，面容冷静，走到大炮面前，把炮位摆好，瞄准了很久的时间。轰的一声炮响了，这时船员们的欢呼声混杂在一起。炮弹打中了，正打在动物身上，但是并没有给它致命的打击，而是从它圆圆的身上滑过去落在二海里远的海中。“真怪！”老炮手暴跳如雷，说，“这混蛋的身上一定有一层六英寸厚的铁甲！”“该死的东西！”法拉古舰长喊。追逐又开始了，法拉古舰长弯身对我说道：“我要一直追到我们的船爆炸为止！”“对，您对！”我答。人们只指望这动物筋疲力尽，它总不能跟蒸汽机一样，永远不感到疲倦。然而它一点也不疲倦。这么多时间过去了，它并没有显出一点疲劳的样子。再说，我们是应该表扬林肯号的，它用不屈不挠的精神进行了这次恶斗。我估计，在11月6日这倒媚的一天里，它所跑的路程不下五百公里！黑夜降临了，阴影笼罩了波涛汹涌的海洋。。这时候，我以为我们的远征结束了，我们永远不能再见到这个古怪的动物了。可是我错了。晚上十点五十分，电光又在战舰前面三海里的海面上亮起来，还是跟昨天夜里一样辉煌，一样强烈。那条独角鲸好像是停着不动。也许白天跑得累了。它睡着了，它随着海水荡漾。这是一个好机会，法拉古舰长决定利用这次机会。他发出命令。为了不至把敌方惊醒，林肯号减低速度，小心谨慎地前进。在大海中碰到睡着了的鲸鱼，因而胜利地攻击它们，这并不是希奇的事情，尼德·兰也不止一次在鲸鱼昏睡的时候叉中了它们。加拿大人又到了船头斜桅下，走上了他原来的岗位。战舰慢慢地前进着，一点声息也没有，离这动物三百七十米左右的时候关了气门，船现在只凭本身余下的气力走动。船上连呼吸声也听不到。甲板上绝对沉寂。人们距白热的焦点不到一百英尺了，光度更强起来，照得我们的眼睛发昏。这时候，我伏在船头前面的栏杆上，看见尼德。兰在我下面，一手拉着帆索，一手挥动他锋利的鱼叉。就和这睡着的动物距离不过二十英尺了。忽然，他的胳膊使劲地一伸，鱼叉投了出去。我听到鱼叉发出响亮的声音，像是碰上了坚硬的躯壳。对面的电光突然熄灭，两团巨大的水猛扑到战舰甲板上来，像急流一般从船头冲至船尾，冲倒船上的人，打断了护墙桅的绳索。接着船被狠狠撞了一下，我没来得及站稳，从船栏杆被抛掷到海中去了。
收听单词发音 |
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harpoon
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| n.鱼叉；vt.用鱼叉叉，用鱼叉捕获 | |
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harpooner
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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frigate
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| n.护航舰，大型驱逐舰 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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illuminating
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| a.富于启发性的，有助阐明的 | |
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elongated
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| v.延长，加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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clams
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| n.蛤；蚌，蛤( clam的名词复数 )v.（在沙滩上）挖蛤( clam的第三人称单数 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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swirls
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| n.旋转( swirl的名词复数 )；卷状物；漩涡；尘旋v.旋转，打旋( swirl的第三人称单数 ) | |
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momentum
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| n.动力，冲力，势头；动量 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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recede
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| vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进 | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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maneuvers
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| n.策略，谋略，花招( maneuver的名词复数 ) | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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eel
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| n.鳗鲡 | |
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mimicked
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| v.（尤指为了逗乐而）模仿( mimic的过去式和过去分词 )；酷似 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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cylinders
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| n.圆筒( cylinder的名词复数 )；圆柱；汽缸；（尤指用作容器的）圆筒状物 | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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harpoons
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| n.鱼镖，鱼叉( harpoon的名词复数 )v.鱼镖，鱼叉( harpoon的第三人称单数 ) | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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hoisted
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| 把…吊起，升起( hoist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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ponderously
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eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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baleen
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| n.鲸须 | |
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sperm
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| n.精子，精液 | |
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funnels
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| 漏斗( funnel的名词复数 )； （轮船，火车等的）烟囱 | |
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vomited
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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boilers
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| 锅炉，烧水器，水壶( boiler的名词复数 ) | |
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propeller
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| n.螺旋桨，推进器 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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outstrip
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| v.超过，跑过 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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gauge
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| v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器 | |
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overhauling
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| n.大修；拆修；卸修；翻修v.彻底检查( overhaul的现在分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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persistence
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| n.坚持，持续，存留 | |
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awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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harpooned
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| v.鱼镖，鱼叉( harpoon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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brandishing
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| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
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resonantly
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| adv.共鸣地，反响地 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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