海底兩萬里 第12期 第2章 正與反(1)

DURING THE PERIOD in which these developments were occurring,

這些事件發(fā)生的時候，

I had returned from a scientific undertaking organized to explore the Nebraska badlands in the United States.

我正從美國內布拉斯加州的貧瘠地區(qū)做完了科學考察回來。

In my capacity as Assistant Professor at the Paris Museum of Natural History, I had been attached to this expedition by the French government.

由于我是巴黎自然科學博物館的副教授，法國政府派我參加這次考察，

After spending six months in Nebraska, I arrived in New York laden with valuable collections near the end of March. My departure for France was set for early May.

在內布拉斯加州度過了六個月的時間，三月底，我滿載了珍貴的標本回到紐約，我動身回法國的日期定在五月初。

In the meantime, then, I was busy classifying my mineralogical, botanical, and zoological treasures when that incident took place with the Scotia.

所以，我就利用逗留期間，把這次收集來的礦物標本和動、植物標本加以整理，而斯各脫亞號的意外事件就是在這個時候發(fā)生的。

I was perfectly abreast of this question, which was the big news of the day, and how could I not have been?

我自然也熟悉當時議論紛紛的這個問題，而且我怎能不知道呢?

I had read and reread every American and European newspaper without being any farther along. This mystery puzzled me.

我把美國和歐洲的各種報刊讀了又讀，但沒有獲得進一步的了解。因為這個怪物，我作了種種猜測。

Finding it impossible to form any views, I drifted from one extreme to the other.

由于自己拿不定主意，我始終搖擺于極端不同的見解之間。

Something was out there, that much was certain, and any doubting Thomas was invited to place his finger on the Scotia's wound.

這是一件真實的事，那是無可置疑的;懷疑這事的人，請他們去摸一摸斯各脫亞號的裂口好了。

When I arrived in New York, the question was at the boiling point.

當我到紐約的時候，這問題正鬧得熱火朝天。

The hypothesis of a drifting islet or an elusive reef, put forward by people not quite in their right minds, was completely eliminated.

有些不學無術的人曾經(jīng)說那是浮動的小島，是不可捉摸的暗礁，不過，這種假設,現(xiàn)在完全被推翻了。