Suddenly, just as on the previous evening, Ned Land's voice was audible. 突然，像昨晚那样，尼德·兰叫起来了。

There's the thing in question, astern to port! the harpooner shouted.

我们找的那个东西，在船左舷后面!”鱼叉手喊着。

Every eye looked toward the point indicated.

大家的眼光都转向他手指的地方。

There, a mile and a half from the frigate, a long blackish body emerged a meter above the waves. Quivering violently, its tail was creating a considerable eddy.

在那边，距战舰一海里半左右，一个长长的黑色躯体浮出水上一未来。它的尾巴，激动着水，搅成很大的一个漩涡。

Never had caudal equipment thrashed the sea with such power. An immense wake of glowing whiteness marked the animal's track, sweeping in a long curve.

任何东西的尾巴都不能这样有力地击打海水。这个动物走过，尾后留下一行巨大、雪白耀眼的水纹，并且描成一条长长的曲线。

Our frigate drew nearer to the cetacean. I examined it with a completely open mind.

我们的战舰埃近了这个鲸鱼类动物。

Those reports from the Shannon and the Helvetia had slightly exaggerated its dimensions, and I put its length at only 250 feet.

我随便地观察了一下。山农号和海尔维地亚号两船的报告对它的体积有些夸张，我估计一下，它不过二百五十英尺长。

Its girth was more difficult to judge, but all in all, the animal seemed to be wonderfully proportioned in all three dimensions.

至于宽，我很难估量;总之，这个动物在我看来：长宽高三方面的比例都十分匀称。