2 空中历险记儒勒 凡尔纳
A Voyage in a BalloonJules Verne
47 鲨口脱险佚名
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59 沉船脱险理查德 米兰达
Trapped in a Sunken ShipRichard Miranda
71 岩岛奇遇露西 莫德 蒙哥马利
An Adventure on Island RockLucy Maud Montgomery
暗夜魔法石
The Magic Stone at Dark Night
88 黑猫埃德加 爱伦 坡
The Black CatEdgar Allen Poe
110 一个古怪的梦马克 吐温
A Curious DreamMark Twain
131 猴爪W.W.雅各布斯
The Monkey’s PawW.W. Jacobs
158 法官的房子布拉姆 斯托克
The Judge'' s HouseBram Stoker
198 罗生门芥川龙之介
RashomonRyunosukeAkutagawa
疑点多米诺
Suspicious Domint
212 名画失窃案雅克 福特雷尔
Problem of the Stolen RubensJacques Futrelle
237 花园血案之谜G. K.切斯特顿
The Secret Garden G.K.Chesterton
285 死亡诊断安布罗斯 比尔斯
A Diagnosis of DeathAmbrose Bierce
295 圆脸男人杰克 伦敦
Moon-FaceJack London
內容試閱：
空中历险记
A Voyage in a Balloon
儒勒·凡尔纳 Jules Verne
儒勒·凡尔纳（Jules
Verne，1828—1905），法国著名科幻小说家、冒险小说家。1863年，他凭《在已知和未知世界中奇异的漫游》一举成名，进一步地激发了他的创作热情。他一生中共创作了66部小说，其中《格兰特船长的儿女》《海底两万里》《神秘岛》《八十天环游地球》等风靡全球，成为家喻户晓的作品。他以大量著作和突出贡献，被誉为“现代科学幻想小说之父”。
Ⅰ
In the month of September, 1850, I arrived at
Frankfort-on-the-Maine. My passage through the principal cities of
Germany, had been brilliantly marked by aerostatic balloon; but, up
to this day, no inhabitant of the Confederation had accompanied me,
and the successful experiments at Paris of Messrs. Green, Godard,
and Poitevin, had failed to induce the grave Germans to attempt
aerial voyages.
Meanwhile, hardly had the news of my approaching ascension
circulated throughout Frankfort, than three persons of note asked
the favour of accompanying me. Two days after, we were to ascend
from the Place de la Comedie. I immediately occupied myself with
the preparations. My balloon, of gigantic proportions, was of silk,
coated with gutta percha, a substance not liable to injury from
acids or gas, and of absolute impermeability. Some trifling rents
were mended: the inevitable results of perilous descents.
The day of our ascension was that of the great fair of September,
which attracts all the world to Frankfort. The apparatus for
filling was composed of six hogsheads arranged around a large vat,
hermetically sealed. The hydrogen gas, evolved by the contact of
water with iron and sulphuric acid, passed from the first
reservoirs to the second, and thence into the immense globe, which
was thus gradually inflated. These preparations occupied all the
morning, and about 11 o’clock, the balloon was three-quarters full;
sufficiently so; for as we rise, the atmospheric layers diminish in
density, and the gas, confined within the aerostat, acquiring more
elasticity, might otherwise burst its envelope. My calculations had
furnished me with the exact measurement of gas required to carry my
companions and myself to a considerable height.
We were to ascend at noon. It was truly a magnificent spectacle,
that of the impatient crowd who thronged around the reserved
enclosure, inundated the entire square and adjoining streets, and
covered the neighbouring houses from the basements to the slated
roofs. The high winds of past days had lulled, and an overpowering
heat was radiating from an unclouded sky; not a breath animated the
atmosphere. In such weather, one might descend in the very spot he
had left.
I carried three hundred pounds of ballast, in bags; the car,
perfectly round, four feet in diameter, and three feet in height,
was conveniently attached; the cord which sustained it was
symmetrically extended from the upper hemisphere of the aerostat;
the compass was in its place, the barometer suspended to the iron
hoop which surrounded the supporting cord, at a distance of eight
feet above the car; the anchor carefully prepared, all was in
readiness for our departure.
Among the persons who crowded around the enclosure, I remarked a
young man with pale face and agitated features. I was struck with
his appearance. He had been an assiduous spectator of my ascensions
in several cities of Germany. His uneasy air and his extraordinary
pre-occupation never left him; he eagerly contemplated the curious
machine, which rested motionless at a few feet from the ground, and
remained silent.
The clock struck twelve! This was the hour. My companions had not
appeared. I sent to the dwelling of each, and learned that one had
started for Hamburg, another for Vienna and the third, still more
fearful, for London. Their hearts had failed them at the moment of
undertaking one of those excursions, which, since the ingenious
experiments of aeronauts, are deprived of all danger. As they made,
as it were a part of the programme of the fete, they had feared
being compelled to fulfil their agreements, and had fled at the
moment of ascension. Their courage had been in inverse ratio to the
square of their swiftness in retreat.
The crowd, thus partly disappointed, were shouting with anger and
impatience. I did not hesitate to ascend alone. To re-establish the
equilibrium between the specific gravity of the balloon and the
weight to be raised, I substituted other bags of sand for my
expected companions and entered the car. The twelve men who were
holding the aerostat by twelve cords fastened to the equatorial
circle, let them slip between their fingers; the car rose a few
feet above the ground. There was not a breath of wind, and the
atmosphere, heavy as lead, seemed insurmountable.
“All is ready! ” exclaimed I, “attention! ”
The men arranged themselves; a last glance informed me that
everything was right.
“Attention! ”
There was some movement in the crowd which seemed to be invading
the reserved enclosure.
“Let go! ”
The balloon slowly ascended; but I experienced a shock which threw
me to the bottom of the car. When I rose, I found myself face to
face with an unexpected voyager—the pale young man.
“Monsieur, I salute you! ” said he to me.
“By what right· ”
“Am I here· By the right of your inability to turn me out.”
I was confounded. His assurance disconcerted me; and I had nothing
to say in reply. I looked at him, but he paid no regard to my
astonishment. He continued:
“My weight will disturb your equilibrium, Monsieur : will you
permit me·”
And without waiting for my assent, he lightened the balloon by two
bags of sand which he emptied into the air.
“Monsieur, ” said I, taking the only possible course, “you are
here, well! you choose to remain, well! But to me alone belongs the
management of the aerostat.”
“Monsieur, ” replied he, “your urbanity is entirely French; it is
of the same country with myself! I press in imagination the hand
which you refuse me. Take your measures—act as it may seem good to
you; I will wait till you have ended.”
“To.”
“To converse with you.”
The barometer had fallen to twenty-six inches; we had attained a
height of about six hundred metres, and were over the city; which
satisfied me of our complete quiescence, for I could not judge by
our motionless flags. Nothing betrays the horizontal voyage of a
balloon; it is the mass of air surrounding it which moves. A kind
of wavering heat bathed the objects extended at our feet, and gave
their outlines an indistinctness to be regretted. The needle of the
compass indicated a slight tendency to float towards the
south.
I looked again at my companion. He was a man of thirty, simply
clad; the bold outlines of his features betokened indomitable
energy; he appeared very muscular. Absorbed in the emotion of this
silent suspension, he remained immovable, seeking to distinguish
the objects which passed beneath his view.
“Vexatious mist! ” said he, at the expiration of a few
moments.
I made no reply.
“What would you· I could not pay for my voyage; I was obliged to
take you by surprise.”
“No one has asked you to descend! ”
“A similar occurrence, ” he resumed, “happened to the Counts of
Laurencin and Dampierre, when they ascended at Lyons, on the 15th
of January, 1784. A young merchant, named Fontaine, scaled the
railing, at the risk of upsetting the equipage. He accomplished the
voyage, and nobody was killed!”
“Once on the earth, we will converse! ” said I, piqued at the tone
of lightness with which he spoke.
“Bah! do not talk of returning! ”
“Do you think then that I shall delay my descent· ”
“Descent! ” said he, with surprise. “Let us ascend! ”
And before I could prevent him, two bags of sand were thrown out,
without even being emptied.
“Monsieur! ” said I, angrily.
“I know your skill, ” replied he, composedly; “your brilliant
ascensions have made some noise in the world. Experience is the
sister of practice, but it is also first cousin to theory, and I
have long and deeply studied the aerostatic art. It has affected my
brain,” added he, sadly, falling into a mute torpor.
The balloon, after having risen, remained stationary; the unknown
consulted the barometer, and said:
“Here we are at 800 metres! Men resemble insects! See, I think it
is from this height that we should always look at them, to judge
correctly of their moral proportions! The Place de la Comedie is
transformed to an immense ant-hill. Look at the crowd piled up on
the quays. The Zeil diminishes. We are above the church of Dom. The
Maine is now only a white line dividing the city, and this bridge,
the Maine-Brucke, looks like a white thread thrown between the two
banks of the river.”
The atmosphere grew cooler.
“There is nothing I will not do for you, my host,” said my
companion. “If you are cold, I will take off my clothes and lend
them to you.”
“Thanks! ”
“Necessity makes laws. Give me your hand, I am your countryman. You
shall be instructed by my company, and my conversation shall
compensate you for the annoyance I have caused you.”
I seated myself, without replying, at the opposite extremity of the
car. The young man had drawn from his great coat a voluminous
portfolio; it was a work on aerostation.
“I possess, ” said he, “a most curious collection of engraving, and
caricatures appertaining to our aerial mania. This precious
discovery has been at once admired and ridiculed. Fortunately we
have passed the period when the Mongolfiers sought to make
factitious clouds with the vapour of water; and of the gas
affecting electric properties, which they produced by the
combustion of clamp straw with chopped wool.”
“Would you detract from the merit of these inventions· ” replied I.
“Was it not well done to have proved by experiment the possibility
of rising in the air· ”
“Who denies the glory of the first aerial navigators· Immense
courage was necessary to ascend by means of those fragile envelopes
which contained only warm air. Besides, has not aerostatic science
made great progress since the ascensions of Blanchard· Look,
Monsieur.”
He took from his collection an engraving.
“Here is the first aerial voyage undertaken by Pilatre des Rosiers
and the Marquis d’Arlandes, four months after the discovery of
balloons. Louis XVI. refused his consent to this voyage; two
condemned criminals were to have first attempted aerial travelling.
Pilatre des Rosiers was indignant at this injustice and, by means
of artifice, succeeded in setting out. This car, which renders the
management of the balloon easy, had not then been invented; a
circular gallery surrounded the lower part of the aerostat. The two
aeronauts stationed themselves at the extremities of this gallery.
The damp straw with which it was filled encumbered their movements.
A chafing-dish was suspended beneath the orifice of the balloon;
when the voyagers wished to ascend, they threw, with a long fork,
straw upon this brazier, at the risk of burning the machine, and
the air, growing warmer, gave to the balloon a new ascensional
force.
“The two bold navigators ascended, on the 21st of November, 1783,
from the gardens of La Muette, which the Dauphin had placed at
their disposal. The aerostat rose majestically, passed the Isle des
Cygnes, crossed the Seine at the Barriere de la Conference, and,
directing its way between the dome of the Invalides and L’Ecole
Militaire, approached St. Sulpice; then the aeronauts increased the
fire, ascended, cleared the Boulevard, and descended beyond the
Barriere d’Enfer. As it touched the ground, the collapsed, and
buried Pilatre des Rosiers beneath its folds.”
“Unfortunate presage! ” said I, interested in these details, which
so nearly concerned me.
“Presage of his catastrophe,” replied the unknown, with sadness.
“You have experienced nothing similar· ”
“Nothing! ”
“Bah! Misfortunes often arrive without presage.” And he remained
silent.
We were advancing towards the south; the magnetic needle pointed in
the direction of Frankfort, which was flying beneath our
feet.
“Perhaps we shall have a storm. ” said the young man.
“We will descend first.”
“Indeed! it will be better to ascend; we shall escape more surely.”
and two bags of sand were thrown overboard.
The balloon rose rapidly, and stopped at twelve hundred metres. The
cold was now intense, and there was a slight buzzing in my ears.
Nevertheless, the rays of the sun fell hotly on the globe, and,
dilating the gas it contained, gave it a greater ascensional force.
I was stupid.
“Fear nothing, ” said the young man to me. “We have three thousand
five hundred toises of respirable air. You need not trouble
yourself about my proceedings.”
I would have risen, but a vigorous hand detained me on my
seat.
“Your name· ” asked I.
“My name! how does it concern you· ”
“I have the honour to ask your name.”
“I am called Erostratus or Empedocles, as you please. Are you
interested in the progress of aerostatic science· ”
He spoke with icy coldness, and I asked myself with whom I had to
do.
“Monsieur, ” continued he, “nothing new has been invented since the
days of the philosopher Charles. Four months after the discovery of
aerostats, he had invented the valve, which permits the gas to
escape when the balloon is too full, or when one wishes to descend;
the car, which allows the machine to be easily managed; the
network, which encloses the fabric of the balloon, and prevents its
being too heavily pressed; the ballast, which is used in ascending
and choosing the spot of descent; the coat of caoutchouc, which
renders the silk impermeable; the barometer, which determines the
height attained; and, finally, the hydrogen, which, fourteen times
lighter than air, allows of ascension to the most distant
atmospheric layers, and prevents exposure to aerial combustion. On
the 1st of December, 1783, three hundred thousand spectators
thronged the Tuileries. Charles ascended, and the soldiers
presented arms. He travelled nine leagues in the air: managing his
machine with a skill never since surpassed in aeronautic
experiments. The King conferred on him a pension of two thousand
livres, for in those days inventions were encouraged. For every one
was interested in the progress of science.”
The unknown was seized with a violent agitation.
“I, Monsieur, have studied; I am satisfied that the first aeronauts
guided their balloons. Not to speak of Blanchard, whose assertions
might be doubted, at Dijon, Guyton-Morveaux, by the aid of oars and
a helm, imparted to his machines perceptible motions, a decided
direction. More recently, at Paris, a watchmaker, M. Julien, has
made at the Hippodrome convincing experiments; for, with the aid of
a particular mechanism, an aerial apparatus of oblong form was
manifestly propelled against the wind. M. Petin placed four
balloons, filled with hydrogen, in juxtaposition, and, by means of
sails disposed horizontally and partially furled, hoped to obtain a
disturbance of the equilibrium, which, inclining the apparatus,
should compel it to an oblique path. But the motive power destined
to surmount the resistance of currents, —the helice, moving in a
movable medium, was unsuccessful. I have discovered the only method
of guiding balloons, and not an Academy has come to my assistance,
not a city has filled my subscription lists, not a government has
deigned to listen to me! It is infamous! ”
His gesticulations were so furious that the car experienced violent
oscillations; I had much difficulty in restraining him. Meanwhile,
the balloon had encountered a more rapid current. We were advancing
in a southerly direction, at 1200 metres in height, almost
accustomed to this new temperature.
“There is Darmstadt, ” said my companion. “Do you perceive its
magnificent chateau· The storm-cloud below makes the outlines of
objects waver; and it requires a practised eye to recognise
localities.”
“You are certain that it is Darmstadt· ”
“Undoubtedly; we are six leagues from Frankfort.”
“Then we must descend.”
“Descend! you would not alight upon the steeples! ” said the
unknown, mockingly.
“No, but in the environs of the city.”
“Well, it is too warm; let us remount a little.”
As he spoke thus, he seized some bags of ballast. I precipitated
myself upon him; but, with one hand, he overthrew me, and the
lightened balloon rose to a height of 1500 metres.
“Sit down, ” said he, “and do not forget that Brioschi, Biot, and
Gay-Lussac, ascended to a height of seven thousand metres, in order
to establish some new scientific laws.”
“We must descend;” resumed I, with an attempt at gentleness. “The
storm is gathering beneath our feet and around us; it would not be
prudent.”
“We will ascend above it, and shall have nothing to fear from it.
What more beautiful than to reign in heaven, and look down upon the
clouds which hover upon the earth! Is it not an honour to navigate
these aerial waves· The greatest personages have travelled like
ourselves. The Marquise and Comtesse de Montalembert, the Comtesse
de Potteries, Mlle. La Garde, the Marquis of Montalembert, set out
from the Faubourg St. Antoine for these unknown regions. The Duc de
Chartres displayed much address and presence of mind in his
ascension of the 15th of July, 1784; at Lyons, the Comtes de
Laurencin and de Dampierre; at Nantes, M. de Luynes; at Bordeaux,
D’Arbelet des Granges; in Italy, the Chevalier Andreani; in our
days, the Duke of Brunswick; have left in the air the track of
their glory. In order to equal these great personages, we must
ascend into the celestial regions higher than they. To approach the
infinite is to comprehend it.”
The rarefaction of the air considerably dilated the hydrogen, and I
saw the lower part of the aerostat, designedly left empty, become
by degrees inflated, rendering the opening of the valve
indispensable; but my fearful companion seemed determined not to
allow me to direct our movements. I resolved to pull secretly the
cord attached to the valve, while he was talking with animation. I
feared to guess with whom I had to do; it would have been too
horrible! It was about three-quarters of an hour since we had left
Frankfort, and from the south thick clouds were arising and
threatening to engulf us.
“Have you lost all hope of making your plans succeed· ” said I,
with great apparent interest.
“All hope! ” replied the unknown, despairingly. “Wounded by
refusals, caricatures, those blows with the foot of an ass, have
finished me. It is the eternal punishment reserved for innovators.
See these caricatures of every age with which my portfolio is
filled.”
I had secured the cord of the valve, and stooping over his works,
concealed my movements from him. It was to be feared, nevertheless,
that he would notice that rushing sound, like a waterfall, which
the gas produces in escaping.
“How many jests at the expense of the Abbe Miolan! He was about to
ascend with Janninet and Bredin. During the operation, their
balloon took fire, and an ignorant populace tore it to pieces. Then
the caricature of The Curious Animals called them Maulant, Jean
Mind, and Gredin.”
The barometer had began to rise; it was time! A distant muttering
of thunder was heard towards the south.
“See this other engraving, ” continued he, without seeming to
suspect my manoeuvres. “It is an immense balloon, containing a
ship, large castles, houses, etc. The caricaturists little thought
that their absurdities would one day become verities. It is a large
vessel; at the left is the helm with the pilot’s box; at the prow,
maisons de plaisance, a gigantic organ, and cannon to call the
attention of the inhabitants of earth or of the moon; above the
stern the observatory and pilot-balloon; at the equatorial circle,
the barracks of the army; on the left the lantern; then upper
galleries for promenades, the sails, the wings; beneath, the cafes
and general store-houses of provisions. Admire this magnificent
announcement. ‘Invented for the good of the human race, this globe
will depart immediately for the seaports in the Levant, and on its
return will announce its voyages for the two poles and the
extremities of the Occident. Every provision is made; there will be
an exact rate of fare for each place of destination; but the prices
for distant voyages will be the same, 1000 louis. And it must be
confessed that this is a moderate sum, considering the celerity,
convenience, and pleasure of this mode of travelling above all
others. While in this balloon, every one can divert himself as he
pleases, dancing, playing, or conversing with people of talent.
Pleasure will be the soul of the aerial society.’All these
inventions excited laughter. But before long, if my days were not
numbered, these projects should become realities.”
We were visibly descending; he did not perceive it!
“See this game of balloons; it contains the whole history of the
aerostatic art. This game, for the use of educated minds, is played
like that of the Jew; with dice and counters of any value agreed
upon, which are to be paid or received, according to the condition
in which one arrives.”
“But, ” I resumed, “you seem to have valuable documents on
aerostation· ”
“I am less learned than the Almighty! That is all! I possess all
the knowledge possible in this world. From Phaeton, Icarus, and
Architas. I have searched all, comprehended all! Through me, the
aerostatic art would render immense services to the world, if God
should spare my life! But that cannot be.”
“Why not· ”
“Because my name is Empedocles or Erostratus! ”
induce [in''dju:s] v. 引诱；诱使；劝；说服；劝；说服
What induced you to do such a stupid thing·
是什么促使你做出这等蠢事？
ascend [·''send] v. 上升；登高；追溯
The rocket ascended into the cloud.
火箭高高地飞入云端。
apparatus [,·p·''reit·s] n. 装置；设备；器官；仪器
Firemen needed breathing apparatus to enter the burning
house.
消防队员需要呼吸器械才能进入燃烧的房屋。
horizontal [''h·ri''z·nt·l] adj. 水平的；地平的；横的；地平线上的
It’s very serious for horizontal deformation to damage
building.
水平变形对建筑物的破坏极为严重。
我要乘气球升空的消息刚在法兰克福传开，马上就有三个市民自告奋勇，要和我一同实现这一壮举。
我们对新生婴儿能有多大的期待呢？
但愿我这次不同寻常的可怕经历能够警示读者，但又不至于吓退那些未来的空中探险者。
The apparatus for filling was composed of...
be composed of：由……组成
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