and so extreme was the hard work they underwent, that upon the vessel being ready again for sea, they were in such a weakened condition that the captain durst not put off with them in so heavy a vessel. After taking counsel with his officers, he anchored the ship as far off shore as possible; loaded and ran out his two cannon from the bows; stacked his muskets on the poop; and warning the Islanders not to approach the ship at their peril, took one man with him, and setting the sail of his best whale-boat, steered straight before the wind for Tahiti, five hundred miles distant, to procure a reinforcement to his crew.
加上他們的活兒又是極其辛苦,所以等到船只修好,準(zhǔn)備再出海時(shí),他們已是精疲力竭,船長不敢一下子把這么一艘困難重重的船啟航離岸。船長跟他的頭目們商量后,決定暫時(shí)把船盡可能地泊得遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)的,并在船頭架起兩門大炮,把他那些滑膛槍都架在舵樓上,好教那些島民不敢隨便冒險(xiǎn)靠近船邊。這樣,他就帶了一個(gè)人,扯起他那只最好的捕鯨小艇的帆,徑自順風(fēng)駛往五百英里外的塔希提,去設(shè)法補(bǔ)充水手。
On the fourth day of the sail, a large canoe was desCried, which seemed to have touched at a low isle of corals. He steered away from it; but the savage craft bore down on him; and soon the voice of Steelkilt hailed him to heave to, or he would run him under water. The captain presented a pistol. With one foot on each prow of the yoked war-canoes, the Lakeman laughed him to scorn; assuring him that if the pistol so much as clicked in the lock, he would bury him in bubbles and foam.
小艇航駛到第四天上,突然發(fā)現(xiàn)了一只大獨(dú)木舟,這只獨(dú)木舟好象要??吭谝粋€(gè)小珊瑚島上。他把小艇撐開,不跟那只獨(dú)木舟接近,可是那只野船卻朝他直沖上來,立即竟聽到斯蒂爾基爾特的聲音,招呼他停下來,否則,就要把他弄進(jìn)海里。船長掏出了槍。那個(gè)湖上人雙腳跨在那只雙連作戰(zhàn)獨(dú)木舟的前頭,嘲笑著他;對(duì)他肯定地說,如果那支槍真的卡塔一扳上,就把他葬身在浪沫翻騰的海里。
What do you want of me? Cried the captain."
你向我要什么呀?船長大聲叫道。”
Where are you bound? and for what are you bound? demanded Steelkilt; no lies.
你要到哪里去?你要去干什么?別說謊。斯蒂爾基爾特問道。
I am bound to Tahiti for more men."
我要到塔希提去再雇些人。”
Very good. Let me board you a moment--I come in peace.
很好,讓我到你船上去一下——我是和和平平來的。