Aristotle put the dimensions of one squid at five cubits, or 3.1 meters. Our fishermen frequently see specimens over 1.8 meters long. The museums in Trieste and Montpellier have preserved some devilfish carcasses measuring two meters. Besides, according to the calculations of naturalists, one of these animpas only six feet long would have tentacles as long as twenty-seven. Which is enough to make a fearsome monster."

亚历士多德曾经确证过一条长3.1米的槍乌贼。我们现在的渔夫也经常看到一些长超过1.8米的槍乌贼。特里艾斯特和蒙特普利的博物馆，里就收藏着一些长2米的章鱼骨胳。此外，按博物学家的推算，一只这样的动物，长只有6英尺，它的触须就可能长达27英尺。这就足以让它成为可怕的怪物。”

Does anybody fish for 'em nowadays? the Canadian asked.

“现在有人捕捉过吗？”加拿大人问。

If they don't fish for them, sailors at least sight them. A friend of mine, Captain Paul Bos of Le Havre, has often sworn to me that he encountered one of these monsters of colossal size in the seas of the East Indies. But the most astonishing event, which proves that these gigantic animals undeniably exist, took place a few years ago in 1861.

“即使没人捕捉过，水手至少也会看过。我的一个朋友，哈夫尔港的保罗·保斯船长，他经常向我肯定说他在印度海里碰到一只身体巨大的怪物。但最令人吃惊、最让人不能否认这种怪物存在的事实，是发生在几年前1861年。”

What event was that? Ned Land asked.

“什么事实？”尼德·兰问。

Just this. In 1861, to the northeast of Tenerife and fairly near the latitude where we are right now, the crewof the gunboat Alecto spotted a monstrous squid swimming in their waters. Commander Bouguer approached the animal and attacked it with blows from harpoons and blasts from rifles, but without much success because bullets and harpoons crossed its soft flesh as if it were semiliquid jelly.

“是这样。1861年，在特内里夫岛东北方，与我们现在所处差不多的纬度上，护卫舰‘阿利敦号’船上的一个船员看到了一只巨大的槍乌贼在海水中游动，他用鱼叉和槍去打它，但没什么大用，因为鱼叉和子弹穿进它软绵绵的肉里，就像穿进松软的果冻中一样。