During the nights of the 13th and 14th of March, the Nautilus returned to its southerly course. I fancied that, when on a level with Cape1 Horn, he would turn the helm westward2, in order to beat the Pacific seas, and so complete the tour of the world. He did nothing of the kind, but continued on his way to the southern regions. Where was he going to? To the pole? It was madness! I began to think that the Captain's temerity3 justified4 Ned Land's fears. For some time past the Canadian had not spoken to me of his projects of flight; he was less communicative, almost silent. I could see that this lengthened6 imprisonment7 was weighing upon him, and I felt that rage was burning within him. When he met the Captain, his eyes lit up with suppressed anger; and I feared that his natural violence would lead him into some extreme. That day, the 14th of March, Conseil and he came to me in my room. I inquired the cause of their visit. "A simple question to ask you, sir," replied the Canadian. "Speak, Ned." "How many men are there on board the Nautilus, do you think?" "I cannot tell, my friend." "I should say that its working does not require a large crew." "Certainly, under existing conditions, ten men, at the most, ought to be enough." "Well, why should there be any more?" "Why?" I replied, looking fixedly8 at Ned Land, whose meaning was easy to guess. "Because," I added, "if my surmises9 are correct, and if I have well understood the Captain's existence, the Nautilus is not only a vessel10: it is also a place of refuge for those who, like its commander, have broken every tie upon earth." "Perhaps so," said Conseil; "but, in any case, the Nautilus can only contain a certain number of men. Could not you, sir, estimate their maximum?" "How, Conseil?" "By calculation; given the size of the vessel, which you know, sir, and consequently the quantity of air it contains, knowing also how much each man expends11 at a breath, and comparing these results with the fact that the Nautilus is obliged to go to the surface every twenty-four
hours." Conseil had not finished the sentence before I saw what he was driving at. "I understand," said I; "but that calculation, though simple enough, can give but a very uncertain result." "Never mind," said Ned Land urgently. "Here it is, then," said I. "In one hour each man consumes the oxygen contained in twenty gallons of air; and in twenty-four, that contained in 480 gallons. We must, therefore find how many times 480 gallons of air the Nautilus contains." "Just so," said Conseil. "Or," I continued, "the size of the Nautilus being 1,500 tons; and one ton holding 200 gallons, it contains 300,000 gallons of air, which, divided by 480, gives a quotient of 625. Which means to say, strictly13 speaking, that the air contained in the Nautilus would suffice for 625 men for twenty-four hours." "Six hundred and twenty-five!" repeated Ned. "But remember that all of us, passengers, sailors, and officers included, would not form a tenth part of that number." "Still too many for three men," murmured Conseil. The Canadian shook his head, passed his hand across his forehead, and left the room without answering. "Will you allow me to make one observation, sir?" said Conseil. "Poor Ned is longing14 for everything that he can not have. His past life is always present to him; everything that we are forbidden he regrets. His head is full of old recollections. And we must understand him. What has he to do here? Nothing; he is not learned like you, sir; and has not the same taste for the beauties of the sea that we have. He would risk everything to be able to go once more into a tavern15 in his own country." Certainly the monotony on board must seem intolerable to the Canadian, accustomed as he was to a life of liberty and activity. Events were rare which could rouse him to any show of spirit; but that day an event did happen which recalled the bright days of the harpooner16. About eleven in the morning, being on the surface of the ocean, the Nautilus fell in with a troop of whales--an encounter which did not astonish me, knowing t
hat these creatures, hunted to death, had taken refuge in high latitudes18.
We were seated on the platform, with a quiet sea. The month of October in those latitudes gave us some lovely autumnal days. It was the Canadian-he could not be mistaken--who signalled a whale on the eastern horizon. Looking attentively19, one might see its black back rise and fall with the waves five miles from the Nautilus. "Ah!" exclaimed Ned Land, "if I was on board a whaler, now such a meeting would give me pleasure. It is one of large size. See with what strength its blow-holes throw up columns of air an steam! Confound it, why am I bound to these steel plates?" "What, Ned," said I, "you have not forgotten your old ideas of fishing?" "Can a whale-fisher ever forget his old trade, sir? Can he ever tire of the emotions caused by such a chase?" "You have never fished in these seas, Ned?" "Never, sir; in the northern only, and as much in Behring as in Davis Straits." "Then the southern whale is still unknown to you. It is the Greenland whale you have hunted up to this time, and that would not risk passing through the warm waters of the equator. Whales are localised, according to their kinds, in certain seas which they never leave. And if one of these creatures went from Behring to Davis Straits, it must be simply because there is a passage from one sea to the other, either on the American or the Asiatic side." "In that case, as I have never fished in these seas, I do not know the kind of whale frequenting them!" "I have told you, Ned." "A greater reason for making their acquaintance," said Conseil. "Look! look!" exclaimed the Canadian, "they approach: they aggravate20 me; they know that I cannot get at them!" Ned stamped his feet. His hand trembled, as he grasped an imaginary harpoon17. "Are these cetaceans as large as those of the northern seas?" asked he. "Very nearly, Ned." "Because I have seen large whales, sir, whales measuring a hundred feet. I have even been told that those of Hullamoch and Umgallick, of the Aleutian Islands, are sometimes a hundred and fifty feet long." "That seems to me exaggeration.
These creatures are generally much smaller than the Greenland whale." {this paragraph has been edited} "Ah!" exclaimed the Canadian, whose eyes had never left the ocean, "they are coming nearer; they are in the same water as the Nautilus." Then, returning to the conversation, he said: "You spoke5 of the cachalot as a small creature. I have heard of gigantic ones. They are intelligent cetacea. It is said of some that they cover themselves with seaweed and fucus, and then are taken for islands. People encamp upon them, and settle there; lights a fire----" "And build houses," said Conseil. "Yes, joker," said Ned Land. "And one fine day the creature plunges21, carrying with it all the inhabitants to the bottom of the sea." "Something like the travels of Sinbad the Sailor," I replied, laughing. "Ah!" suddenly exclaimed Ned Land, "it is not one whale; there are ten--there are twenty--it is a whole troop! And I not able to do anything! hands and feet tied!" "But, friend Ned," said Conseil, "why do you not ask Captain Nemo's permission to chase them?" Conseil had not finished his sentence when Ned Land had lowered himself through the panel to seek the Captain. A few minutes afterwards the two appeared together on the platform. Captain Nemo watched the troop of cetacea playing on the waters about a mile from the Nautilus. "They are southern whales," said he; "there goes the fortune of a whole fleet of whalers." "Well, sir," asked the Canadian, "can I not chase them, if only to remind me of my old trade of harpooner?" "And to what purpose?" replied Captain Nemo; "only to destroy! We have nothing to do with the whale-oil on board." "But, sir," continued the Canadian, "in the Red Sea you allowed us to follow the dugong." "Then it was to procure22 fresh meat for my crew. Here it would be killing23 for killing's sake. I know that is a privilege reserved for man, but I do not approve of such murderous pastime. In destroying the southern whale (like the Greenland whale, an inoffensive creature), your traders do a culpable24 action
, Master Land. They have already depopulated the whole of Baffin's Bay, and are annihilating25 a class of useful animals. Leave the unfortunate cetacea alone. They have plenty of natural enemies--cachalots, swordfish, and sawfish-without you troubling them." The Captain was right. The barbarous and inconsiderate greed of these fishermen will one day cause the disappearance26 of the last whale in the ocean. Ned Land whistled "Yankee-doodle" between his teeth, thrust his hands into his pockets, and turned his back upon us. But Captain Nemo watched the troop of cetacea, and, addressing me, said: "I was right in saying that whales had natural enemies enough, without counting man. These will have plenty to do before long. Do you see, M. Aronnax, about eight miles to leeward27, those blackish moving points?" "Yes, Captain," I replied. "Those are cachalots--terrible animals, which I have met in troops of two or three hundred. As to those, they are cruel, mischievous28 creatures; they would be right in exterminating29 them." The Canadian turned quickly at the last words. "Well, Captain," said he, "it is still time, in the interest of the whales." "It is useless to expose one's self, Professor. The Nautilus will disperse30 them. It is armed with a steel spur as good as Master Land's harpoon, I imagine." The Canadian did not put himself out enough to shrug31 his shoulders. Attack cetacea with blows of a spur! Who had ever heard of such a thing? "Wait, M. Aronnax," said Captain Nemo. "We will show you something you have never yet seen. We have no pity for these ferocious32 creatures. They are nothing but mouth and teeth." Mouth and teeth! No one could better describe the macrocephalous cachalot, which is sometimes more than seventy-five feet long. Its enormous head occupies one-third of its entire body. Better armed than the whale, whose upper jaw33 is furnished only with whalebone, it is supplied with twenty-five large tusks34, about eight inches long, cylindrical35 and conical at the top, each weighing two pounds. It is in the up
per part of this enormous head, in great cavities divided by cartilages, that is to be found from six to eight hundred pounds of that precious oil called spermaceti. The cachalot is a disagreeable creature, more tadpole36 than fish, according to Fredol's description. It is badly formed, the whole of its left side being (if we may say it), a "failure," and being only able to see with its right eye. But the formidable troop was nearing us. They had seen the whales and were preparing to attack them. One could judge beforehand that the cachalots would be victorious37, not only because they were better built for attack than their inoffensive adversaries38, but also because they could remain longer under water without coming to the surface. There was only just time to go to the help of the whales. The Nautilus went under water. Conseil, Ned Land, and I took our places before the window in the saloon, and Captain Nemo joined the pilot in his cage to work his apparatus39 as an engine of destruction. Soon I felt the beatings of the screw quicken, and our speed increased. The battle between the cachalots and the whales had already begun when the Nautilus arrived. They did not at first show any fear at the sight of this new monster joining in the conflict. But they soon had to guard against its blows. What a battle! The Nautilus was nothing but a formidable harpoon, brandished40 by the hand of its Captain. It hurled41 itself against the fleshy mass, passing through from one part to the other, leaving behind it two quivering halves of the animal. It could not feel the formidable blows from their tails upon its sides, nor the shock which it produced itself, much more. One cachalot killed, it ran at the next, tacked42 on the spot that it might not miss its prey43, going forwards and backwards44, answering to its helm, plunging45 when the cetacean dived into the deep waters, coming up with it when it returned to the surface, striking it front or sideways, cutting or tearing in all directions and at any pace, piercing it with its terrible sp
ur. What carnage! What a noise on the surface of the waves! What sharp hissing46, and what snorting peculiar47 to these enraged48 animals! In the midst of these waters, generally so peaceful, their tails made perfect billows. For one hour this wholesale49 massacre50 continued, from which the cachalots could not escape. Several times ten or twelve united tried to crush the Nautilus by their weight. From the window we could see their enormous mouths, studded with tusks, and their formidable eyes. Ned Land could not contain himself; he threatened and swore at them. We could feel them clinging to our vessel like dogs worrying a wild boar in a copse. But the Nautilus, working its screw, carried them here and there, or to the upper levels of the ocean, without caring for their enormous weight, nor the powerful strain on the vessel. At length the mass of cachalots broke up, the waves became quiet, and I felt that we were rising to the surface. The panel opened, and we hurried on to the platform. The sea was covered with mutilated bodies. A formidable explosion could not have divided and torn this fleshy mass with more violence. We were floating amid gigantic bodies, bluish on the back and white underneath51, covered with enormous protuberances. Some terrified cachalots were flying towards the horizon. The waves were dyed red for several miles, and the Nautilus floated in a sea of blood: Captain Nemo joined us. "Well, Master Land?" said he. "Well, sir," replied the Canadian, whose enthusiasm had somewhat calmed; "it is a terrible spectacle, certainly. But I am not a butcher. I am a hunter, and I call this a butchery." "It is a massacre of mischievous creatures," replied the Captain; "and the Nautilus is not a butcher's knife." "I like my harpoon better," said the Canadian. "Every one to his own," answered the Captain, looking fixedly at Ned Land.
I feared he would commit some act of violence, which would end in sad consequences. But his anger was turned by the sight of a whale which the Nautilus had just come up with. The creature had not quite escaped from the cachalot's teeth. I recognised the southern whale by its flat head, which is entirely52 black. Anatomically, it is distinguished53 from the white whale and the North Cape whale by the seven cervical vertebrae, and it has two more ribs54 than its congeners. The unfortunate cetacean was lying on its side, riddled55 with holes from the bites, and quite dead. From its mutilated fin12 still hung a young whale which it could not save from the massacre. Its open mouth let the water flow in and out, murmuring like the waves breaking on the shore. Captain Nemo steered56 close to the corpse57 of the creature. Two of his men mounted its side, and I saw, not without surprise, that they were drawing from its breasts all the milk which they contained, that is to say, about two or three tons. The Captain offered me a cup of the milk, which was still warm. I could not help showing my repugnance58 to the drink; but he assured me that it was excellent, and not to be distinguished from cow's milk. I tasted it, and was of his opinion. It was a useful reserve to us, for in the shape of salt butter or cheese it would form an agreeable variety from our ordinary food. From that day I noticed with uneasiness that Ned Land's ill-will towards Captain Nemo increased, and I resolved to watch the Canadian's gestures closely.
在8月13日至14日夜间，诺第留斯号航行的方向还是往南。我想在合恩角的纬度上，它要把船头移转向西，这样就可以再到太平洋，完成它的世界周游。实际它并不这样做，仍然继续向南极地区驶去。那么，它要到哪里去呢？
到南极去吗？那真是疯了。我开始想，船长的大胆狂妄很足以证明尼德·兰的顾虑同恐惧是合理的。
几天以来，加拿大人不跟我谈他的逃走计划。他变成不爱说话，差不多完全沉默了。我看出这种无限期延长的囚禁使得他很难受。我感到他心中所累积的愤怒是怎样强烈。当他碰见船长的时候，他的眼睛燃起阴沉可怕的火光，我时常害怕他那暴烈天性可能使他走极端。8月14日这一天，康塞尔和他到我房中来找我，我问他们来看我的理由。
“先生，”加拿大人口答我，“我只有一个问题向您提出来。”
“您说吧，尼德。”
“您想，诺第留斯号船上一共有多少人？”
“我说不上来，我的朋友。”
“我觉得，"尼德·兰立即说，“这船的驾驶并不需要很多的人员。”
“是的，“我回答，”在目前的情况中，大约至多有十个人就足以驾驶了。"“那么，”加拿大人说，"为什么可能有这么多的人呢？”
“为什么？"我立即说。
我眼光盯着尼德、兰，他的意图很容易了解。
“因为，”我说，“据我所有的推想，据我所了解的船长的生活，诺第留斯号不仅仅是一只船。跟它的船长一样，它对于与陆地断绝了所有关系的人们来说，又是一个躲藏处。"“可能是这样，”康塞尔说，“不过诺第留斯号只能收容一定数目的人，先生可以估计一下它的最大数目吗？”
“康塞尔，你这话怎么说？"
。“就是用算法来估计。根据先生所知道的这船的容积。
可以知道它含有多少空气，另一方面又知道每个人的呼吸作用所消费的空气，将这些结果跟诺第留斯号每二十四小时必须浮上水面来调换空气相比较。.."康塞尔没有把话说完，但我很明白他指的是什么。
“我了解你的意思，”我说，“并且这种计算也很容易做到，然而那只是一个很不确实的数字。"“那没关系。”尼德，兰坚持着又说。
“下面就是对于这问题的算法，”我回答，“每个人每小时消费一百升·空气中含有的氧，二十四小时就消费二千四百升含有的氧。这样就可以求出诺第留斯号含有多少倍的二千四百升空气来。”
“正是。”康塞尔说。
“可是，”我又说，“诺第留斯号的容积是一千五百吨，一吨的容积是一千升，诺第留斯号含有一百五十万升的空气，拿二千四百来除…"｛“我用铅笔很快地计算：“所得的商数是六百二十五。这就是说，诺第留斯号所有的空气可以供应六百二十五人在二十四小时内呼吸之用。”
“六百二十五人！尼德·兰一再说。
“您要相信，”我又说，“乘客：、水手和职员都算上，我们还不及这数字的十分之一。
“这对于三个人来说，还是过多了！”康塞尔低声说。
“可怜的尼德，所以我只能劝您忍耐了。”
“比忍耐还要进一步，”康塞尔回答，“只能听天由命了”“总起来说，”我又说、“尼摩船长也不可能老是往南走！
他总有要停止的时候，就是到了冰山面前也罢！他总要回到有人居注有文化的海中来！那时候，就可能有机会执行尼德·兰的计划了。”
加拿大人摇摇头、手摩一下前额，不回答，走了。
“请先生允许我说出我对他的看法，”康塞尔于是说，“这可怜的尼德老是想他不可能有的一切。过去生活的一切都回到他心中来。我们所不能有的一切在他觉得都很可惋惜，心中发生悔恨。他从前的回忆苦苦纠缠着他，他很伤心，很难过。我们必须了解他的情况。他在这船上有什么可做的呢？没有。他不像先生那样，是一位学者，他跟我们不同，对于海中的美丽事物没有同样的趣味。他要冒险不顾一切，只求走入他本国的一个酒店中去！”
很显然，船上生活的单调，对于习惯自由和积极生活的：加拿大人来说，是不可忍受的。海上事件可能使他高兴的是很少的。可是，这一无，一件偶然的意外使他恢复了他从前当鱼叉手时的最好日子。
早上十一点左右，诺第留斯号在大洋面上，航行在成群的鲸鱼中间一这个遭遇并不使我惊异，因为我知道这些动物受人过度的追击，都躲到两极边缘、高纬度的海水中来一鲸鱼类在海上事业方面所起的作用，对于地理上发现的影响是很重大的。鲸鱼类，首先吸引着已斯克人）、其次亚斯豆里”①人、又其次英国人和荷兰人，追随在它后面，使他们不怕大洋的危险，带领他们从地球这一极端到那一极端。
我们坐在平台上，海上风平浪静。是的，这些纬度地区正给我们带来美丽的秋天。是那个加拿大人——他不能搞错——指出东方天边有一条鲸鱼、注意地看一下，我们看见它的灰黑色的脊背在距离诺第留斯号五海里的海面上，不停地浮起来、沉下去。
“啊！，尼德·兰喊道："如果我是在一般捕鲸船上，现在慨是使我痛快的一次遭遇T！那是一条身躯巨大的鲸鱼！
请看它的鼻孔有多大的气力，喷出了混有气体的水柱！真可恨！我为什么被绑在这块钢板上呢！”
“怎么。"我回答，“尼德，您还没有打消您哪打鲸鱼的老念头吗？”
“先生，打鲸鱼的人能够忘记他从前的手艺吗？他能够厌倦这种捕捉所引起的激动吗？”
“尼德，您从没有在这一带海中打过鲸鱼吗？”
"从没有，先生。、我只在北极海中打鲸鱼，就在白令海峡和台维斯海峡一带。”
“那么，南极的鲸鱼对您来说还是陌生的。您以前捕捉”的都是平常的白鲸，它并木敢冒险通过赤道的温热海水。”
“啊！教授，您给我说什么呀？”加拿大人用相当怀疑的口气回答。
“我说的是事实哩。”
“好嘛！⑹率担≌谡舛祷暗奈遥侥臧胍郧埃诒蔽?5度，格陵兰岛附近捕获了一条鲸鱼，它身上还带着一般白令海峡的捕鲸船所刺中的鱼叉。现在我要问您，鲸鱼在美洲西边被刺中了，如果它没有绕合恩角或好望角；通过赤道，它哪能死在美洲东边呢？”
“我跟尼德朋友的想法一样，”康塞尔说，“我等着听先生的答复哩。”
“朋友们，先生的答复是这样，鲸鱼类是有地方性的，按’照种类的不同；它们定居在某处海中，并不离开。如果有一条鲸鱼从白令海峡走到台维斯侮峡，那很简单，因为这两个海洋间一定有一条相通的水路，或在美洲海岸边，或在亚洲海岸边。"“要我们相信您的话吗？”加拿大人闭着一只眼睛问：“我们要相信先生的话。”康塞尔回答。
“那么，”加拿大人立即又说"既然我没有在这一带海中打过鲸鱼，我就不认得往来这～带海中的鲸鱼类吗？”
“我刚才对您说过了，尼德
“那要认识它们就更有理由了。"康塞尔回答。
“看！看！"加拿大人喊，声音很激动，"它走过来了！它向我们冲来了！它侮辱我、玩弄我！它知道我现在不可能惩治它！”
尼德把脚乱跺，他的手挥动着一支空想的鱼叉，在那里颤抖。
“这里鲸鱼类动物是跟北极海中的一样大吗？”他问。
“差不多一样，尼德。”
“我看过的大鲸鱼，先生，是长到一百英尺的大鲸鱼！
我甚至要说，阿留申群岛的胡拉摩克岛和翁加里克岛的鲸鱼身长超过一百五十英尺 "“我觉得这有些过度夸张，”我回答，“这些东西不过是鲸科，有脊鳍的动物，大头鲸也：样。它们通常比普通白鲸小一些”“啊！”加拿大人喊道，他的眼睛不离开海洋，”它近前来了，它到诺第留斯号的水圈中来了！"鲸鱼老是向前来。尼德，兰眼睛死盯住它。他喊道：“啊！并不是＝条鲸鱼，是十条，二十条，整一群呢！一点没办法，不能动！在这里脚和手都像绑起来了一样！”
“不过，尼德朋友，”康塞尔说，“您为什么不要求尼摩船长准许您去追打呢？…"康塞尔的话还没有说完，尼德·兰已经从打开的嵌板溜进去，跑去找船长。一会儿，两人都出现在平台上。
“尼摩船长看一下这群鲸鱼类动物，它们在距诺第留斯号一海里的海面上游来游去。他说：“那是南极的鲸鱼。它们可以使一整队捕鲸船都发财妮。”
"那么，先生，”加拿大人间，“单单为了不把我从前当鱼叉手的职业忘记，我是不是可以追打它们呢？"“仅仅为消灭它们而追打，有什么好处！"尼摩船长回答，“我们船上要这么多鲸鱼油没有什么用。"“可是，先生，”加拿大人又说，“在红海中：您却准许我们追打海马！”
“那时是要给我们的船员们获得新鲜的肉，所以才那样做。现在是为杀害而杀害罢了，我知道这是人类的特权，萌便伤害生命，不过我不允许做这类残害生命的消遣。毁灭这些善良无害的南极鲸鱼，像普通白鲸一般，兰师傅，您为同行一般人是做了一件可责备的行为。他们就是这样把整个巴芬湾都弄得没有一条鲸鱼了，他们就是这样消灭了整个有用的一纲动物了。不要跟这些不幸的鲸鱼类动物为准吧。就是你们不参加进去，它们已经有不少的天然敌人。
北方，大头鲸、狗沙鱼和锯鲛之类。"
当船长谈这些大道理的时候，大家很容易想到加拿大的脸孔是什么样。拿这类的话来对打鱼人说，简直是自己尼德·兰看一下尼摩船长，很显然是不了解船长跟他说的话。可是，尼摩船长的话是对的。打鱼人的野蛮和过的屠杀总有一天要把大洋中的最后一条鲸鱼都消灭净尽尼德·兰嘴里哼着美国进行曲，两手塞进口袋里，转过脸，不睬我们。可是尼摩船长看着那一群鲸鱼类动物，对我说：“我说的是对的，就是除开人类不算，鲸鱼有不少的天然敌人。这一群鲸鱼不久就要跟强大的敌人球着了。阿龙纳斯先生，您看见在下边六海里海面上那些正在行动的灰黑点吗？”
“那是大头鲸，很可怕的动物，有时我碰到两三百成群的队伍！这种动物是残酷有害的东西，消灭它们是对的。"加拿大人听到最后一句话，急忙回过身子来。、那么，船长，"我说，现在还是时候，并且又是为鲸氢的利益起见……”“用不着去冒险，教授。诺第留斯号就足以驱散那些大头鲸了。它装有钢制的冲兔，我想，它的厉害相当于兰师傅，的鱼叉。”
。加拿大人一点不客气地耸一耸两肩。用船冲角攻打鲸鱼类动物！有谁听说过 ?“请等待一下，阿龙纳斯先生，”尼摩船长说，"我们要给您看一次您还没有看见过的追打。对于这些凶恶鲸科动物，一点也用不着怜悯。它们就是嘴和牙齿。"嘴和牙齿！人们再不能更好地来描写脑袋巨大的大头鲸了，这种东西的身躯有时超过二十五米，这种动物的巨大脑袋约占身长三分之一。它们的武装比长须鲸的强大，长须鲸的上颚只有一串鲸须，大头鲸就有二十五枚粗牙，牙长二十厘米，牙尖为圆筒形和圆锥形，每枚牙重二斤：就是在那巨大脑袋的上部和有软骨片分开的大空洞里面，藏有三四百公斤的名为“鲸鱼白”的宝贵油。
“可是，这一群怪东西老是往前来。它们看见了长须鲸，椎备攻打。我们预先就可以看出大头鲸要取得胜利，不单烟为它们比它们的驯良敌手较结实、便于攻击，而且又因为它们可以在水底下留得较久，不浮上水面来呼吸。
现在正好是去援救这些长须鲸的时候了。诺第留斯号行驶在水里面。康塞尔、尼德·兰和我，我们坐在客厅的玻璃窗户面前。尼摩船长到领航人那边去，操纵他的潜水船象一件毁灭性的机器一样。不久，我觉得推进器骤然加速转动，速度立即加快了。
当诺第留斯号驶到的时候，大头鲸和长须鲸已经开始战斗了。诺第留斯号的动作是要把这群大头怪物拦祝最初，这些怪物看见这只新奇东西参加战斗，并不激动，跟平常一样。但不久它们就不得不防备它的攻击了。
好一场恶斗！就是尼德·兰，不久也兴高采烈起来，终于大拍其掌。诺第留斯号变成为一支厉害的鱼叉，由船长的手来挥动。投向那些肉团，一直穿过去：穿过之后，留下那怪物的两半片蠕动的身躯。大头鲸厉害的尾巴扑打船的侧边，它一点也不觉得。大头鲸冲憧它，它也没有感觉。打死了一条大鲸，它又跑去打另一条，它立即转过来，不肯放走它的猎物；它向前、向后，完全听掌舵人的指挥；大头鲸沉入深的水层，它就潜下去追，大头鲸浮到水面来，它也跟着上来，或正面打，或侧面刺，或切割，或撕裂，四面八方，纵横上下，就用它那可怕的冲角乱刺乱戳。
好一场屠杀：水面上是何等的热闹！这些吓怕的动收发出的是多么尖锐的叫啸，还有它们特有的那种鼾声！近常是很为安静的水层中间，现在被它们的尾巴搅成真正汹涌的波浪了。
这种史诗大的屠杀一直延长了一小时，那些大头怪物是不可能躲开的。好几次，有十条或十二条一齐连合起来，想拿它们的工量来压扁诺第留斯号。在玻璃上，我们看到它们的排列着牙齿的大嘴，它们的可怕的眼睛。尼德·兰简直压制不住自己了，威吓它们，咒骂它们。我们觉得它们抓住了我们的船，就像在短树丛下狗咬住小猪的耳朵一般。
死也不放，、诺第留斯号催动它的推进器，战胜它们，拖拉它们，或把它们带到海水上层来，不顾它们的巨大重量，不管它们的强大压力。
最后，这一人群大头鲸四散了：海水又变为平静了。我觉得我们又浮上洋面来。嵌板打开，我们立即跑上平台去。
海上满浮着稀烂的尸体。就是一，次猛烈的爆炸恐怕也不可能更厉害地把这些巨大肉团分开、撕破、碎裂。我们是浮在许多庞然大物的躯泳中间，这些躯体是灰蓝色的脊背，灰白色的肚腹，全身都长着巨大的疙瘩。有些吓怕了的大头鲸逃到天边去了。海水在好几海里的面积上都染成红色，诺第留斯号是浮在血海的中间。尼摩船长也来到我们所在的平台上。他说：“兰师傅，怎样？"“先生，”加拿大人回答，他的热情这时安静下来了，“不错，那是厉害得怕人的景象。不过我不是屠夫，我是打鱼人，这景象不过是一次大屠杀罢了。"“这是一次对有害动物的屠杀，”船长回答，“诺第留斯号并不是一把屠刀。”
“我还是喜欢我的鱼叉。”加拿大人立即说。
“各人有各人的武器。"船长回答，同时眼盯着尼德·兰。
我很害怕尼德·兰不能克制，要发脾气，做出激烈的行动，可能产生不良的可悲的后果，但他看到了诺第留斯号这时正要靠近一条长须鲸，他的愤怒移转过去了。
这条长须鲸没有能逃避大头鲸的牙齿。我认得它是扁头的，完全是黑色的南极鲸鱼。就解剖学上来看：它跟普通白鲸和北嘉皮岛的鲸鱼不同的地方，在于它颈部的七根脊骨是接合起来，它比它的北方同类多两根肋骨。这条不幸的鲸鱼侧面躺下，肚上满是咬破的伤口，已经重伤致死了。
在它受伤的鳍尖上，挂着一条它不能救护的小炖。“J卜l”的嘴流出水来，水像回潮一般，通过它的须，潺潺作响。
尼摩船长把诺第留斯号开到这条鲸鱼的尸体旁边，船上的两个人员走到鲸鱼身上，他们把鲸鱼奶头中藏的奶部取出来，分量一共有二三吨左右，我看见，吃了一惊。
船长把一怀还带热气的鲸奶送给我。我不能不对他大示我不喜欢喝这种饮料他向我保证这奶的味道很好，跟牛奶一点也没有什么不同。
尝了这奶，我的意见跟他的一样。所以这奶对我们来说是很有用的、可以保藏的食品，因为这奶可以制成咸黄油或奶酪，在我们日常食品中是很好吃的一种
.自这一天起，我心中很不安地看出尼德。兰对于尼摩、船长的态度愈来愈坏了，我决心要密切的注视加拿大人的行动。
收听单词发音 |
1
cape
|
|
| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
westward
|
|
| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
temerity
|
|
| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
justified
|
|
| a.正当的，有理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
lengthened
|
|
| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
imprisonment
|
|
| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
fixedly
|
|
| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
surmises
|
|
| v.臆测，推断( surmise的第三人称单数 )；揣测；猜想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
expends
|
|
| v.花费( expend的第三人称单数 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
fin
|
|
| n.鳍；(飞机的)安定翼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
strictly
|
|
| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
tavern
|
|
| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
harpooner
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
harpoon
|
|
| n.鱼叉；vt.用鱼叉叉，用鱼叉捕获 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
latitudes
|
|
| 纬度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
attentively
|
|
| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
aggravate
|
|
| vt.加重(剧)，使恶化；激怒，使恼火 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
plunges
|
|
| n.跳进，投入vt.使投入，使插入，使陷入vi.投入，跳进，陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
procure
|
|
| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
killing
|
|
| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
culpable
|
|
| adj.有罪的，该受谴责的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
annihilating
|
|
| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的现在分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
disappearance
|
|
| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
leeward
|
|
| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
mischievous
|
|
| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
exterminating
|
|
| v.消灭，根绝( exterminate的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
disperse
|
|
| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
shrug
|
|
| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
ferocious
|
|
| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
jaw
|
|
| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
tusks
|
|
| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
cylindrical
|
|
| adj.圆筒形的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
tadpole
|
|
| n.[动]蝌蚪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
victorious
|
|
| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
adversaries
|
|
| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
apparatus
|
|
| n.装置，器械；器具，设备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
brandished
|
|
| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
hurled
|
|
| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
tacked
|
|
| 用平头钉钉( tack的过去式和过去分词 )； 附加，增补； 帆船抢风行驶，用粗线脚缝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
backwards
|
|
| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
plunging
|
|
| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
hissing
|
|
| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
enraged
|
|
| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
wholesale
|
|
| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
massacre
|
|
| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
underneath
|
|
| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
distinguished
|
|
| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
ribs
|
|
| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
riddled
|
|
| adj.布满的；充斥的；泛滥的v.解谜，出谜题(riddle的过去分词形式) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
steered
|
|
| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
corpse
|
|
| n.尸体，死尸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
repugnance
|
|
| n.嫌恶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |