They had little difficulty in finding it, but hauling it out of the water proved to be a serious problem. The sides of the dish were so smooth that it was almost impossible to attach hawsers and chains to the rim without damaging it. Eventually chains were fixed to one end of the dish and a powerful winch was put into operation. The dish rose to the surface and was gently drawn towards the canal bank. For one agonizing moment, the dish was perched precariously on the bank of the canal, but it suddenly overbalanced and slid back into the water. The men were now obliged to try once more.

　　15.They had little difficulty in finding it, but hauling it out of the water proved to be a serious problem.

　　他们没费多大事儿就找到了盘子。可是把盘子捞出却是一个很大的难题。

　　16.The sides of the dish were so smooth that it was almost impossible to attach hawsers and chains to the rim without damaging it.

　　盘子四边十分光滑，要在盘边拴上绳索或链条而同时又不损坏它是很难办到的。

　　17.Eventually chains were fixed to one end of the dish and a powerful winch was put into operation.

　　不过，他们终于将链条固定在盘子的一端，一台大功率的绞车开动起来。

　　18.The dish rose to the surface and was gently drawn towards the canal bank.

　　盘子慢慢浮出水面，被轻轻地拽向运河岸边。

　　19.For one agonizing moment, the dish was perched precariously on the bank of the canal, but it suddenly overbalanced and slid back into the water.

　　在令人忐忑不安的瞬间，盘子晃晃悠悠地上了岸，但它突然失去了平衡，又跌回水中。

　　20. The men were now obliged to try once more.

　　工人们只得再来一次。

　　语言点:be obliged to的意思是“不得不(做)”。