海底兩萬里 第454期 第27章 南極(11)

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Made of solid ivory, without striations, harder than elephant tusks, and less prone to yellowing, these teeth are in great demand.

是人們爭求的珍品。因此這些海馬受到意外過度的獵齲不久就要被消減到最后階段了，

Accordingly, walruses are the victims of a mindless hunting that soon will destroy them all, since their hunters indiscriminately slaughter pregnant females and youngsters, and over 4,000 individuals are destroyed annually.

因?yàn)榇蚝ｑR的獵人盲目屠殺，不管是有孕的母海馬還是幼年海馬，每年屠殺的數(shù)目超過四千條。

Passing near these unusual animals, I could examine them at my leisure since they didn't stir.

從這些新奇的動物旁邊走過，我可以從容地考察它們，因?yàn)樗鼈兞粼谀抢锊粍印?/p>

Their hides were rough and heavy, a tan color leaning toward a reddish brown; their coats were short and less than abundant.

它們的表皮很厚，多皺紋，色調(diào)是類似褚紅的茶褐色，皮毛很短，并且很少。

Some were four meters long.

有些海馬長至四米。

More tranquil and less fearful than their northern relatives, they posted no sentinels on guard duty at the approaches to their campsite.

它們比北冰洋的海馬安靜，膽大，它們并不委派特別選出來的哨兵來看守它們露營的周圍。

After examining this community of walruses, I decided to return in my tracks.

考察了這所海馬齊集的城市后，我就想回去了。

It was eleven o'clock, and if Captain Nemo found conditions favorable for taking his sights, I wanted to be present at the operation.

時間是十一點(diǎn)了。如果尼摩船長覺得條件順利，可以觀察，那我要到他面前，看著他做。

But I held no hopes that the sun would make an appearance that day.

可是，我不敢希望這一天太陽會鉆出來。

It was hidden from our eyes by clouds squeezed together on the horizon.

重重積壓在天邊的濃云使它躲開了我們的眼睛。

Apparently the jealous orb didn't want to reveal this inaccessible spot on the globe to any human being.

好像這十分珍重的太陽，不愿意在這地球上人跡不能到的地點(diǎn)，現(xiàn)出來給人們看。

Yet I decided to return to the Nautilus.

可是，我想應(yīng)當(dāng)回諾第留斯號去了。

We went along a steep, narrow path that ran over the cliff's summit.

我們沿著懸崖頂一條狹窄斜坡下去。

By 11:30 we had arrived at our landing place.

十一點(diǎn)半，我們到了上陸的地點(diǎn)。

The beached skiff had brought the captain ashore.

擱淺在那里的小艇正把船長送上地來。

I spotted him standing on a chunk of basalt.

我看見他站在一塊玄武石巖上，

His instruments were beside him.

他的器械放在他近邊。

His eyes were focused on the northern horizon, along which the sun was sweeping in its extended arc.

他眼光盯著北方天際。太陽在那邊畫出長長的曲線。