I sat down on an old wooden settle, carved all over like a bench on the Battery.  我在一只老式的木头高背长靠椅上坐下,这只椅子就象炮台公园里的长椅一样,全都刻划满了,

At one end a ruminating tar was still further adorning it with his jack-knife, stooping over and diligently working away at the space between his legs.  椅子的另一头,一个若有所思的水手用他那把大折刀还在往上面添着花样,他伛着身子,在他两腿间的木头上用劲地刻着。

He was trying his hand at a ship under full sail, but he didn't make much headway, I thought. 我心里想,他是想雕出一艘满篷而驶的船,却又不很得手。

At last some four or five of us were summoned to our meal in an adjoining room.  最后,我们中间有四五个人被叫到隔壁的房间里去吃饭了。

It was cold as Iceland-no fire at all-the landlord said he couldn't afford it.  那里冷得象冰岛...根本就没生火...店老板说他生不起火。

Nothing but two dismal tallow candles, each in a winding sheet.  什么也没有,只燃了两支丧气的牛油烛,烛泪结得都满了,就象死人裹上一层尸衣。

We were fain to button up our monkey jackets, and hold to our lips cups of scalding tea with our half frozen fingers.  我们只好把短外衣扣上,用我们冻得半僵的双手捧起滚烫的茶杯凑到嘴边。

But the fare was of the most substantial kind-not only meat and potatoes, but dumplings; good heavens! dumplings for supper!  不过,饭菜却挺丰盛...不但有肉有土豆,还有汤团;天哪!把汤团拿来当晚饭吃!

One young fellow in a green box coat, addressed himself to these dumplings in a most direful manner. 一个穿着一件绿色的车夫外套的年青小伙子,神情极其可怕地在忙着吃这些汤团.