DURING THE PERIOD in which these developments were occurring,

这些事件发生的时候，

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

我正从美国内布拉斯加州的贫瘠地区做完了科学考察回来。

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学博物馆的副教授，法国政府派我参加这次考察，

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.

在内布拉斯加州度过了六个月的时间，三月底，我满载了珍贵的标本回到纽约，我动身回法国的日期定在五月初。

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

所以，我就利用逗留期间，把这次收集来的矿物标本和动、植物标本加以整理，而斯各脱亚号的意外事件就是在这个时候发生的。

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

我自然也熟悉当时议论纷纷的这个问题，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.

我把美国和欧洲的各种报刊读了又读，但没有获得进一步的了解。因为这个怪物，我作了种种猜测。

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

由于自己拿不定主意，我始终摇摆于极端不同的见解之间。

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

这是一件真实的事，那是无可置疑的;怀疑这事的人，请他们去摸一摸斯各脱亚号的裂口好了。

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

当我到纽约的时候，这问题正闹得热火朝天。

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

有些不学无术的人曾经说那是浮动的小岛，是不可捉摸的暗礁，不过，这种假设,现在完全被推翻了。