Right, I said. Nevertheless, it isn't mathematically exact proof, because the equinox needn't fall precisely at noon.

是的，我说，不过这个测定从数学上看，并不是完全精确的，因为春分时间不一定是在正午。

No doubt, sir, but the error will be under 100 meters, and that's close enough for us. Until tomorrow then.

当然，先生，但差数也不能过一百米，并且我们也不要更进一步的准确，那么，明天再来吧。

Captain Nemo went back on board. Conseil and I stayed behind until five o'clock, surveying the beach, observing and studying.

尼摩船长转回船上去了。康塞尔和我，我们留到五点，在海滩上跑来跑去，作观察，作研究。

The only unusual object I picked up was an auk's egg of remarkable size, for which a collector would have paid more than 1,000 francs.

我没有得到什么新奇的东西，就是拾得一个海枭的蛋，蛋特别大，一个珍奇收藏家可能出一千多法郎来收买。

Its cream-colored tint, plus the streaks and markings that decorated it like so many hieroglyphics, made it a rare trinket.

它的浅黄颜色，像用象形文字描绘在上面的线条和花纹，使它成为一件希有的珍玩。

I placed it in Conseil's hands, and holding it like precious porcelain from China, that cautious, sure-footed lad got it back to the Nautilus in one piece.

我把它交给康塞尔，这个小心的孩子脚步很稳，把它拿在手中，像珍贵的中国瓷器一样，完整地带到诺第留斯号。

There I put this rare egg inside one of the glass cases in the museum.

到了船上，我把蛋放在陈列室的一个玻璃橱中。

I ate supper, feasting with appetite on an excellent piece of seal liver whose flavor reminded me of pork.

我晚餐吃得很好，吃了一块海豹肝，味道很美，很像猪肝。

Then I went to bed; but not without praying, like a good Hindu, for the favors of the radiant orb.

然后我回房睡觉，睡的时候，像印度人那样，祈求太陽的恩惠，要它明天出来。

The next day, March 21, bright and early at five o'clock in the morning, I climbed onto the platform. I found Captain Nemo there.

第二天，3月21日早晨五点，我走上平台，我看见尼摩船长已经在台上，

The weather is clearing a bit, he told me. I have high hopes.

他对我说：天气清朗一些，太陽出来很有希望。

After breakfast we'll make our way ashore and choose an observation post.

早餐后，我们到地上去，选择一个地点，做我们的观察。

This issue settled, I went to find Ned Land. I wanted to take him with me.

这点确定后，我去找尼德·兰。我想拉他跟我一起去。

The obstinate Canadian refused, and I could clearly see that his tight-lipped mood and his bad temper were growing by the day.

固执的加拿大人拒绝了，我很看得出来，他的沉默跟他的坏脾气一样，一天一天增加了。

Under the circumstances I ultimately wasn't sorry that he refused.

本来，他在这种情况下表示固执不愿意去，我也并不惋惜。

In truth, there were too many seals ashore, and it would never do to expose this impulsive fisherman to such temptations.

真的，地上海豹大多了，我们下应该拿它们来诱惑这个粗心不思考的打鱼人。