选择字号:【大】【中】【小】 | 关灯
护眼
|
CHAPTER IX CURTIS EXPLAINS THE SITUATION
关注小说网官方公众号(noveltingroom),原版名著免费领。
OCTOBER 19.—Everything, then, is clear. The uneasiness of the crew, their frequent conferences, Owen's mysterious words, the constant scourings of the deck and the oppressive heat of the cabins which had been noticed even by my fellow-passengers, all are explained.
After his grave communication, Curtis remained silent. I shivered with a thrill of horror; a calamity1 the most terrible that can befall a voyager stared me in the face, and it was some seconds before I could recover sufficient composure to inquire when the fire was first discovered.
"Six days ago," replied the mate.
"Six days ago!" I exclaimed; "why, then, it was that night."
"Yes," he said, interrupting me; "it was the night you heard the disturbance2 upon deck. The men on watch noticed a slight smoke issuing from the large hatchway and immediately called Captain Huntly and myself. We found beyond all doubt, that the cargo3 was on fire, and what was worse, that there was no possibility of getting at the seat of the combustion4. What could we do? Why, we took the only precaution that was practicable under the circumstances, and resolved most carefully to exclude every breath of air from penetrating6 into the hold. For some time I hoped that we had been successful. I thought that the fire was stifled7; but during the last three days there is every reason to make us know that it has been gaining strength. Do what we will, the deck gets hotter and hotter, and unless it were kept constantly wet, it would be unbearable8 to the feet. But I am glad, Mr. Kazallon," he added; "that you have made the discovery. It is better that you should know it." I listened in silence. I was now fully5 aroused to the gravity of the situation and
点击
收听单词发音

1
calamity
![]() |
|
n.灾害,祸患,不幸事件 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2
disturbance
![]() |
|
n.动乱,骚动;打扰,干扰;(身心)失调 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3
cargo
![]() |
|
n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4
combustion
![]() |
|
n.燃烧;氧化;骚动 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5
fully
![]() |
|
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6
penetrating
![]() |
|
adj.(声音)响亮的,尖锐的adj.(气味)刺激的adj.(思想)敏锐的,有洞察力的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7
stifled
![]() |
|
(使)窒息, (使)窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 ); 镇压,遏制; 堵 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8
unbearable
![]() |
|
adj.不能容忍的;忍受不住的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9
thoroughly
![]() |
|
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10
avert
![]() |
|
v.防止,避免;转移(目光、注意力等) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11
perfectly
![]() |
|
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12
confinement
![]() |
|
n.幽禁,拘留,监禁;分娩;限制,局限 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13
afterward
![]() |
|
adv.后来;以后 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14
persevere
![]() |
|
v.坚持,坚忍,不屈不挠 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15
conflagration
![]() |
|
n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16
aperture
![]() |
|
n.孔,隙,窄的缺口 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17
vessel
![]() |
|
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18
laden
![]() |
|
adj.装满了的;充满了的;负了重担的;苦恼的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19
scorching
![]() |
|
adj. 灼热的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20
retrace
![]() |
|
v.折回;追溯,探源 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21
tack
![]() |
|
n.大头钉;假缝,粗缝 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22
imminent
![]() |
|
adj.即将发生的,临近的,逼近的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23
embarrassment
![]() |
|
n.尴尬;使人为难的人(事物);障碍;窘迫 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24
concealment
![]() |
|
n.隐藏, 掩盖,隐瞒 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
©英文小说网 2005-2010