工程师大拇指案 22被砍掉的大拇指(8)

I tried to put on as unconcerned an air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the lady,

我尽量摆出一副不在意的姿态，但是我并没有忘记那位夫人的警告，

even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon my two companions.

尽管我没有把它当一回事，我还是留神注意着我的两位伙伴。

Ferguson appeared to be a morose¹ and silent man,

弗格森看样子是个乖僻沉默的人，

but I could see from the little that he said that he was at least a fellow- countryman.

可是从他所说的很少几句话里还是可以判断出他至少是一位同胞。

Colonel Lysander Stark² stopped at last before a low door, which he unlocked.

最后莱桑德·斯塔克上校在一扇矮门前站住，打开了锁。

Within was a small, square room, in which the three of us could hardly get at one time.

门内是一个小小的方形房间，我们三个人不能同时进去。

Ferguson remained outside, and the colonel ushered³ me in.

弗格森留在外面，上校领我走了进去。

'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic⁴ press,

'我们，'他说，'现在实际上是在水压机里面，

and it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were to turn it on.

如果有谁把它开动的话，对我们来说那将是一桩非常不愉快的事。

The ceiling of this small chamber⁵ is really the end of the descending⁶ piston⁷,

这个小房间的天花板，实际上是下降活塞的终端，

and it comes down with the force of many tons upon this metal floor.

它下落到这个金属地板上时带有好几吨的压力。

There are small lateral⁸ columns of water outside which receive the force,

在外面有些小的横向的水柱，里面的水受压力后

and which transmit and multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you.

就会按照您所熟悉的方式传导和增加所受的压力。

The machine goes readily enough,

机器很容易运转，

but there is some stiffness in the working of it, and it has lost a little of its force.

只是在运转时有点不灵活，浪费掉一小部分压力。

Perhaps you will have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set it right.'

请费心查看一下，并告诉我们怎样才能把它修好。'

1 morose   

adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的

参考例句：

• He was silent and morose.他沉默寡言、郁郁寡欢。
• The publicity didn't make him morose or unhappy?公开以后，没有让他郁闷或者不开心吗？

2 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

3 ushered   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
• A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 hydraulic   

adj.水力的；水压的，液压的；水力学的

参考例句：

• The boat has no fewer than five hydraulic pumps.这艘船配有不少于5个液压泵。
• A group of apprentics were operating the hydraulic press.一群学徒正在开动水压机。

5 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

6 descending   

n. 下行 adj. 下降的

参考例句：

• The results are expressed in descending numerical order . 结果按数字降序列出。
• The climbers stopped to orient themselves before descending the mountain. 登山者先停下来确定所在的位置，然后再下山。

7 piston   

n.活塞

参考例句：

• They use a piston engine instead.他们改用活塞发动机。
• The piston moves by steam pressure.活塞在蒸汽压力下运动。

8 lateral   

adj.侧面的，旁边的

参考例句：

• An airfoil that controls lateral motion.能够控制横向飞行的机翼。
• Mr.Dawson walked into the court from a lateral door.道森先生从一个侧面的门走进法庭。