Lesson 86 Out of control

The speedboat had struck a buoy, but it continued to move very quickly across the water.

快艇撞上了一個浮標，但它仍在水面上快速行駛著。

Lesson 86 Out of control

Both men had just begun to swim towards the shore, when they noticed with dismay that the speedboat was moving in a circle.

兩個人剛開始向岸邊游去，就突然驚愕地發現快艇正在轉著圈行駛，

Lesson 86 Out of control

It now came straight towards them at tremendous speed.

它現在正以驚人的速度直沖他們駛來。

Lesson 86 Out of control

In less than a minute, it roared past them only a few feet away.

不到1分鐘的工夫，它從離他們只有幾英尺遠的地方呼嘯著駛了過去。

Lesson 86 Out of control

After it had passed, they swam on as quickly as they could because they knew that the boat would soon return.

快艇過去之后，他們以最快的速度向前游去，因為他們知道快艇馬上就要轉回來。

Lesson 86 Out of control

They had just had enough time to swim out of danger when the boat again completed a circle.

他們剛剛來得及游出危險區，快艇就又轉完了一圈。

Lesson 86 Out of control

On this occasion, however, it had slowed down considerably.

然而這一次它的速度慢多了。

Lesson 86 Out of control

The petrol had nearly all been used up.

汽油幾乎已經用光。

Lesson 86 Out of control

Before long, the noise dropped completely and the boat began to drift gently across the water.

沒過多久，噪音便徹底消失，快艇開始在水面上慢悠悠地漂流。

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

'At the time the murder was committed, I was travelling on the 8 o'clock train to London,' said the man.

“在兇殺發生的時候，我正坐在8點鐘開往倫敦的火車上。”那人說。

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

'Do you always catch such an early train?' asked the inspector.

“您總是趕這樣早的火車？”探長問。

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

'Of course I do,' answered the man.

“當然是的，”那人回答。

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

'I must be at work at 10 o'clock.

“我必須在10點鐘上班，我的雇主會證明我是按時到了那兒的。

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

My employer will confirm that I was there on time.'

”

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

'Would a later train get you to work on time?' asked the inspector.

“晚一點兒的車也能送您按時上班嗎？”

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

'I suppose it would, but I never catch a later train.'

“我認為可以，但我從來不乘晚一點兒的車。”

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

'At what time did you arrive at the station?'

“您幾點鐘到的火車站？”

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

'At ten to eight.I bought a paper and waited for the train.'

“7點50分。我買了張報紙，等著車來。”

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

'And you didn't notice anything unusual?'

“您沒有注意到有什么異常情況發生嗎？”

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

'Of course not.'

“當然沒有。”

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

'I suggest,' said the inspector, 'that you are not telling the truth.

“我提醒您，”探長說，“您講的不是實話。

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

I suggest that you did not catch the 8 o'clock train,

您乘的不是8點鐘的火車，

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

but that you caught the 8.25 which would still get you to work on time.

而是8點25分的，這次車同樣能使您按時上班。

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

You see, on the morning of the murder, the 8 o'clock train did not run at all.

您看，在兇殺發生的那天早晨，8點鐘的那次車根本沒有發。

Lesson 87 A perfect alibi

It broke down at Ferngreen station and was taken off the line.'

它在芬格林車站出了故障而被取消了。”

Lesson 88 Trapped in a mine

Six men have been trapped in a mine for seventeen hours.

6個人被困在礦井里已有17個小時了。

Lesson 88 Trapped in a mine

If they are not brought to the surface soon they may lose their lives.

如果不把他們盡快救到地面上來，他們就有可能喪生。

Lesson 88 Trapped in a mine

However, rescue operations are proving difficult.

然而，事實證明營救工作非常困難。

Lesson 88 Trapped in a mine

If explosives are used, vibrations will cause the roof of the mine to collapse.

如果用炸藥爆破，震動會引起礦頂塌落。

Lesson 88 Trapped in a mine

Rescue workers are therefore drilling a hole on the north side of the mine.

因此，營救人員在礦井的北側鉆了一個洞。