The Canadian was obviously at the end of his patience. His vigorous nature couldn't adapt to this protracted imprisonment. His facial appearance was changing by the day. His moods grew gloomier and gloomier. I had a sense of what he was suffering because I also was gripped by homesickness. Nearly seven months had gone by without our having any news from shore. Moreover, Captain Nemo's reclusiveness, his changed disposition, and especially his total silence since the battle with the devilfish all made me see things in a different light. I no longer felt the enthusiasm of our first days on board. You needed to be Flemish like Conseil to accept these circumstances, living in a habitat designed for cetaceans and other denizens of the deep. Truly, if that gallant lad had owned gills instead of lungs, I think he would have made an outstanding fish!
加拿大人顯然忍耐到了最大的限度。他剛烈的天性是不能適應(yīng)這種遙遙無期的囚禁生活。他一天天消瘦下去,性格越來越憂郁。我感覺得到他忍受著怎么樣的痛苦,因?yàn)槲乙惨粯?,飽受著思鄉(xiāng)病的折磨。差不多過去了七個(gè)月,而我們卻得不到一點(diǎn)陸地上的消息。此外,尼摩船長的孤僻,特別自從與章魚搏斗以來,他的情緒改變了,沉默寡言,所有這一切使我以不同的方式來看待事物。我再也感覺不到最初的那種熱衷。只有像康塞爾這樣的佛萊芒人才會接受這種專為鯨類動(dòng)物和其他海中動(dòng)物保留的環(huán)境。說真的,這個(gè)誠實(shí)的年輕人,如果沒有肺,而是長著腮,我想他會是一條了不起的魚的!
Well, sir? Ned Land went on, seeing that I hadn't replied.
“那該怎么辦呢?”尼德·蘭看到我不回答就問。
Well, Ned, you want me to ask Captain Nemo what he intends to do with us?
“好吧,尼德,您希望我問一問尼摩船長他對我們有什么打算嗎?”
Yes, sir.
“是的,先生。”
Even though he has already made that clear?
“盡管他曾經(jīng)說過,我們還要再問嗎?”
Yes. I want it settled once and for all. Speak just for me, strictly on my behalf, if you want.
“是的。我想最后一次確認(rèn)一下。如果您愿意的話,您只要替我說一說, 只以我的名義就行了?!?/p>
But I rarely encounter him. He positively avoids me.
“但我很少碰到他,他甚至在回避我。”
All the more reason you should go look him up.
“那就多了一個(gè)去看望他的理由了?!?/p>