海底两万里 第207期 第15章 一封邀请信(9)

I've no more objections to raise, I replied. I'll only ask you, captain: how can you light your way at the bottom of the ocean?

我再没有什么可以非难的了，我回答，但我要问，您在海底下行动是靠什么来照明呢?

With the Ruhmkorff device, Professor Aronnax. If the first is carried on the back, the second is fastened to the belt.

我用的是兰可夫灯，阿龙纳斯先生。呼吸器放在我背上，探照灯带在我腰间。

It consists of a Bunsen battery that I activate not with potassium dichromate but withsodium.

探照灯装有一组本生电池，但我不用氯化钾，而用海中含量很多的氯化钠来发电。

An induction coil gathers the electricity generated and directs it to a specially designed lantern.

用一个感应线圈把发生的电收集起来，送到特制的灯泡。

In this lantern one finds a glass spiral that contains only a residue of carbon dioxide gas.

灯泡中有一根弯曲的玻璃管，管中只有少量的二氧化碳气。

When the device is operating, this gas becomes luminous and gives off a continuous whitish light. Thus provided for, I breathe and I see.

使用探照灯的时候，二氧化碳气发出一种连续不断的白光，照亮起来。有了这些设备，我就可以呼吸，可以看见。

Captain Nemo, to my every objection you give such crushing answers, I'm afraid to entertain a single doubt.

尼摩船长，您对我提出的所有反对意见，都作了十分有力的答复，现在我再也不能怀疑了。

However, though I have no choice but to accept both the Rouquayrol and Ruhmkorff devices, I'd like to register some reservations about the rifle with which you'll equip me.

不过，我虽然不得不承认卢格罗尔呼吸器和兰可夫探照灯，但我对那支猎枪，眈是您要我携带的这件武器，还不得不保留我的意见。

But it isn't a rifle that uses gunpowder, the captain replied.

这不是什么火药枪。船长回答。

Then it's an air gun?

那么，是气枪吗?

Surely. How can I make gunpowder on my ship when I have no saltpeter, sulfur, orcharcoal?

可不是。船上没有硝石，没有硫磺，没有木炭，您要我怎么制造火药呢?

Even so, I replied, to fire underwater in a medium that's 855 times denser than air, you'd have to overcome considerable resistance.

还有，我说，海水比空气重八百五十五倍，在这种环境中开枪要有实效，首先就要克服这种巨大的压力。