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But when we had ascended to an elevation of about 250 feet, we were stopped by insurmountable obstacles. The converging inside walls changed into overhangs, and our climb into a circular stroll.
不過，到了二百英尺高左右，我們不能再上去了，那邊有無法通過的障礙物。內部穹窿又成兀起斜出，往上走就轉變為繞圈的行路。在山腰的這一層上面，植物開始跟礦物斗爭。有些小樹，并且有些大樹從山崖的凹凸處長出來。
At this topmost level the vegetable kingdom began to challenge the mineral kingdom. Shrubs, and even a few trees, emerged from crevices in the walls. I recognized some spurges that let their caustic, purgative sap trickle out.
我認得那大戟草，它們流出腐蝕性的漿汁。又有向日草，這名字很不合理，因為太陽光從來照不到它們，那褪了色的和不大香的花串向下垂著，樣子很凄涼。
There were heliotropes, very remiss at living up to their sun-worshipping reputations since no sunlight ever reached them; their clusters of flowers drooped sadly, their colors and scents were faded. Here and there chrysanthemums sprouted timidly at the feet of aloes with long, sad, sickly leaves.
處處有些菊花在悲戚和病態的長葉蘆薈腳下，軟弱無力地長著。
But between these lava flows I spotted little violets that still gave off a subtle fragrance, and I confess that I inhaled it with delight.
但在火石形成的滑道中間，我看見有細小的紫羅蘭，還帶些微的香氣，我承認我很高興嗅這香味。
The soul of a flower is its scent, and those splendid water plants, flowers of the sea, have no souls!
香是花的靈魂，海中的花，像那樓美麗的水草，是沒有靈魂的！
We had arrived at the foot of a sturdy clump of dragon trees, which were splitting the rocks with exertions of their muscular roots, when Ned Land exclaimed:
我們到了一叢健壯的龍血樹下面，這時候，尼德·蘭喊起來：
Oh, sir, a hive!
啊！先生，一個蜂巢！
A hive? I answered, with a gesture of utter disbelief.
蜂巢！我回答，做個完全不相信的手勢。
Yes, a hive, the Canadian repeated, with bees buzzing around!
不錯！一個蜂巢，”加拿大人重復說，并且有好些蜂在周圍飛鳴呢。
