Though such a movement on the part of the whale struck under such circumstances, is in no wise uNPRecedented; and indeed is almost always more or less anticipated; yet does it present one of the more perilous vicissitudes of the fishery. For as the swift monster drags you deeper and deeper into the frantic shoal, you bid adieu to circumspect life and only exist in a delirious throb.
大鯨被擊中后而表現出這種動作來,并不是前無先例的;老實說,這往往差不多是事先就多少估計到的;而這也是捕魚業(yè)的較會發(fā)生危險變化的一種情況。因為當那只狂奔直闖的巨獸把你越拖越拖到如瘋如狂的鯨群中心里去的時候,那你就只有跟這種戰(zhàn)戰(zhàn)兢兢的生活告別,去過那種心驚肉跳的生活了。
As, blind and deaf, the whale plunged forward, as if by sheer power of speed to rid himself of the iron leech that had fastened to him; as we thus tore a white gash in the sea, on all sides menaced as we flew, by the crazed creatures to and fro rushing about us; our beset boat was like a ship mobbed by ice-isles in a tempest, and striving to steer through their complicated channels and straits, knowing not at what moment it may be locked in and crushed.
這時,那條如盲如瞎。向前直鉆的鯨,好象在使盡全力,想把緊插在它身上那只鐵水蛭甩掉。我們就這樣被在我們旁邊沖來撞去的發(fā)狂的大鯨團團圍住,四面受敵,只好一邊快速地劃,一邊設法在海上殺開一條白隙來。我們這只被困的小艇就象一只在狂風暴雨中、被冰塊沖來擊去的船只,拼命想撐過錯綜復雜的大小海峽,生怕不知什么時候又會被團團圍住,壓得粉碎。
But not a bit daunted, Queequeg steered us manfully; now sheering off from this monster directly across our route in advance; now edging away from that, whose colossal flukes were suspended overhead, while all the time, Starbuck stood up in the bows, lance in hand, pricking out of our way whatever whales he could reach by short darts, for there was no time to make long ones. Nor were the oarsmen quite idle, though their wonted duty was now altogether dispensed with. They chiefly attended to the shouting part of the business.
但是,魁魁格卻一點也不害怕,仍然果敢地為我們把舵,一會兒直接打那擋住我們去路的巨獸身邊擦過去,一會兒又從這條大鯨身邊掠過去,那些鯨的大裂片都高掛在我們頭頂。斯達巴克始終站在艇頭,手里拿著捕鯨槍,在夠得到的地方,輕輕地(因為已經無法狠狠一戳了)朝隨便哪條鯨一戳,這樣一邊刺戳,一邊打開出路。槳手們也不是完全閑著沒事做,雖則他們現在都完全免去了日常的差使。他們主要地就是擔任叫喊方面的工作。