But there are instances where, after the lapse of many hours or several days, the sunken whale again rises, more buoyant than in life. But the reason of this is obvious. Gases are generated in him; he swells to a prodigious magnitude; becomes a sort of animal balloon. A line-of-battle ship could hardly keep him under then. In the Shore Whaling, on soundings, among the Bays of New Zealand, when a Right Whale gives token of sinking, they fasten buoys to him, with plenty of rope; so that when the body has gone down, they know where to look for it when it shall have ascended again.
但是,也有許多場(chǎng)合,在經(jīng)過許多鐘頭或者好幾天后,那條沉下去的鯨又會(huì)再浮上來,比它活著的時(shí)候更有浮力。不過為什么會(huì)這樣,道理卻很明白,因?yàn)樗鼭M身是氣,脹得那么碩大無比,已經(jīng)成了一只大氣球。碰到這種場(chǎng)合,就是一只大戰(zhàn)艦也壓它不下去。在古代的捕鯨業(yè)中,每當(dāng)在新西蘭海灣一帶搜索的時(shí)候,如果碰到一條有下沉跡象的露脊鯨,他們就用許多繩索把它拴在浮筒上,這樣,等到那尸身沉下去的時(shí)候,他們就可以在它再浮起來的時(shí)候,在那個(gè)地方找到它了。
It was not long after the sinking of the body that a cry was heard from the Pequod's mast-heads, announcing that the Jungfrau was again lowering her boats; though the only spout in sight was that of a Fin-Back, belonging to the species of uncapturable whales, because of its incredible power of swimming. Nevertheless, the Fin-Back's spout is so similar to the Sperm Whale's, that by unskilful fishermen it is often mistaken for it. And consequently Derick and all his host were now in valiant chase of this unnearable brute. The Virgin crowding all sail, made after her four young keels, and thus they all disappeared far to leeward, still in bold, hopeful chase.
那尸體沉了不多久,"裴廓德號(hào)"的桅頂又叫喊起來,說是"處女號(hào)"又在放下小艇了;不過唯一可見的噴水,是那種叫做脊鰭鯨,那種不能捕捉的鯨的噴水,因?yàn)樗哂袩o可置疑的游水能耐。盡管如此,脊鰭鯨的噴水卻跟抹香鯨極為相象,因此,不高明的捕魚人,往往會(huì)把它弄錯(cuò)。難怪德立克和他的全體水手,這會(huì)兒都去驍勇地追擊起這種不能接近的野獸了。"處女號(hào)"扯滿所有的篷帆,緊跟著它那四只小艇,就此消失在下風(fēng)處,繼續(xù)在作勇敢的、滿懷希望的追擊。
Oh! many are the Fin-Backs, and many are the Dericks, my friend.
我的朋友啊,脊鰭鯨何其多,德立克也何其多喲!