ALTHOUGH I WAS startled by this unexpected descent, I at least have a very clear recollection of my sensations during it. 我虽然由于意外落水而吓得发慌，但我还是很清楚地记得我当时的感觉。

At first I was dragged about twenty feet under.

我首先下沉到二+英尺深的水里。

I'm a good swimmer, without claiming to equal such other authors as Byron and Edgar Allan Poe, who were master divers, and I didn't lose my head on the way down.

我是泅水的好手，但不能跟拜伦;口埃德力口·坡那两位游泳大师相比—我虽沉在水中，神志却一点没有昏迷。

With two vigorous kicks of the heel, I came back to the surface of the sea.

我两脚使劲一蹬又浮上了水面。

My first concern was to look for the frigate. Had the crew seen me go overboard?

我浮出水面来最关心的一件事就是看看战舰在哪里。船上是不是有人看见我掉下水了?

Was the Abraham Lincoln tacking about? Would Commander Farragut put a longboat to sea? Could I hope to be rescued?

林肯号是不是改变方向了?法拉古舰长是不是放小艇下海了?我能不能得救?

The gloom was profound. I glimpsed a black mass disappearing eastward, where its running lights were fading out in the distance.

夜色沉黑。我仿佛看到一大块黑东西在东方渐渐消失了，它的标灯远远地熄灭了。

It was the frigate. I felt I was done for.

这一定是我们的战舰。我觉得自己没有希望了。

Help! Help! I shouted, swimming desperately toward the Abraham Lincoln.

救命!救命!我喊着，两手拼命划着向林肯号泅去。