And in this way the two went once slowly round the windlass; when, resolved at last no longer to retreat, bethinking him that he had now forborne as much as comported with his humor, the Lakeman paused on the hatchesand thus spoke to the officer:
這樣,這兩個人又慢慢地繞著絞車走去;最后到他決定再也不后退了,想著他的忍耐功夫和無言的表示已都差不多了,這個湖上人便在艙口上停下來,對這個頭目這樣說:
"Mr. Radney, I will not obey you. Take that hammer away, or look to yourself. But the predestinated mate coming still closer to him, where the Lakeman stood fixed, now shook the heavy hammer within an inch of his teeth; meanwhile repeating a string of insufferable maledictions. Retreating not the thousandth part of an inch; stabbing him in the eye with the unflinching poniard of his glance, Steelkilt, clenching his right hand behind him and creepingly drawing it back, told his persecutor that if the hammer but grazed his cheek he (Steelkilt) would murder him. But, gentlemen, the fool had been branded for the slaughter by the gods. Immediately the hammer touched the cheek; the next instant the lower jaw of the mate was stove in his head; he fell on the hatch spouting blood like a whale.
“拉德尼先生,我決不服從你的命令。把那把榔頭拿開,否則,你自己當心??墒?,這個該死的大副還在朝他走攏去,走到湖上人已站定了的那個地方,把那把沉重的榔頭晃得差不多要碰著對方的牙齒;嘴里則念叨著一連串難聽的咒詛。斯蒂爾基爾特分毫也不后退了;他一邊用他那匕首似的不畏縮的眼色直戳進那大副的眼睛,右手放在背后捏得緊緊的,又悄悄地放松;一邊告訴他的迫害者說,那把榔頭只消碰一碰他的臉頰,那他(斯蒂爾基爾特)就要揍死他。但是,諸位先生,這個傻瓜已給煞神蓋上烙印啦。說時遲,那時快,那頭驀地一碰上臉頰;那個大副的下巴頦立刻就給打癟了;他倒在艙口上,嘴里象條鯨一般噴出血來。
"Ere the cry could go aft Steelkilt was shaking one of the backstays leading far aloft to where two of his comrades were standing their mastheads. They were both Canallers.
“叫喊聲還沒有傳到船尾,斯蒂爾基爾特已在搖著引向桅頂?shù)暮笾鳎膬蓚€伙伴就高高地站在那上面。他們都是運河船的水手。
"Canallers! Cried Don Pedro. We have seen many whaleships in our harbors, but never heard of your Canallers.Pardon: who and what are they?
“運河船的水手!佩德羅叫道。在我們港埠上,我們見過了許多捕鯨船,可從來沒有聽到說過你所說的那些運河船的水手。對不住;他們是些什么人?