So far as what there may be of a narrative in this book; 就本书中可以称为故事的章节说来，

and, indeed, as indirectly touching one or two very interesting and curious particulars in the habits of sperm whales, 就间接地提到抹香鲸一两件十分有趣而奇特的习性说来，

the foregoing chapter, in its earlier part, is as important a one as will be found in this volume; 上一章的开头部分，倒确是这部书的最重要的章节。

but the leading matter of it requires to be still further and more familiarly enlarged upon, in order to be adequately understood, 不过，为了使得人们更能充分领会，还得就它的主要内容更进一步。

and moreover to take away any incredulity which a profound ignorance of the entire subject may induce in some minds, 更通俗地絮述一下，还得排除人们由于对整个题材之极其不理解而可能产生的任何怀疑，

as to the natural verity of the main points of this affair. 以便对事物的要点获得本来的真面目。

I care not to perform this part of my task methodically; 我不想把这份工作做得怎样有条不紊，

but shall be content to produce the desired impression by separate citations of items, 只求能借助那些对我这个捕鲸者说来，

practically or reliably known to me as a whaleman; 是切合实际或者可靠的各种引证，

and from these citations, I take it 而产生希望得到的印象就心满意足了。我认为，从这些引证中，

the conclusion aimed at will naturally follow of itself. 就会自然而然地得出所指望的结论来。

First: I have personally known three instances where a whale, after receiving a harpoon, 第一，我亲自经历过三个实例，就是一只鲸被标枪戳过后，

has effected a complete escape; 还能安全无恙地脱逃，

and, after an interval (in one instance of three years), 而且，经过一段时间(有一次是三年模样)，

has been again struck by the same hand, and slain; 又给同一个人戳中，杀死了。

when the two irons, both marked by the same private cypher, have been taken from the body. 当时，在鲸身上拿下来的两支标枪，都刻有同样的暗记。

In the instance where three years intervened between the flinging of the two harpoons; 在这一前后两支标枪相隔三年的实例中，

and I think it may have been something more than that; 我认为它还有些更为复杂的经过，

the man who darted them happening, in the interval, to go in a trading ship on a voyage to Africa, 在这段期间里，那个投了两次标枪的人，随着一艘商船到非洲去，

went ashore there, joined a discovery party, 他在那里登岸后，参加了一个探险队，

and penetrated far into the interior, 深入非洲内地，

where he travelled for a period of nearly two years,  在那里奔跑了将近两年的时间，

often endangered by serpents, savages, tigers, poisonous miasmas, 经常会遇到毒蛇、野人、猛虎、疫疠、瘴气，

with all the other common perils incident to wandering in the heart of unknown regions. 以及在深入蛮荒腹地中随时都可碰到的其它种种危险。

Meanwhile, the whale he had struck must also have been on its travels; 这期间，那条曾经被他击中过的大鲸也一定是在继续它的旅行，

no doubt it had thrice circumnavigated the globe, brushing with its flanks all the coasts of Africa; 而且一定已经环游了世界三圈，身躯擦过了非洲一切沿海的地方，

but to no purpose. 只是毫无所获。

This man and this whale again came together, and the one vanquished the other. 这个人和这条大鲸终于又相遇了，这个人便把大鲸打死了。

I say I, myself, have known three instances similar to this; 我说，我亲自经历过类似的三个实例；

that is in two of them I saw the whales struck; 就是说其中有二次我亲眼看到击中了大鲸；

and, upon the second attack, 而且在第二次的攻击后，

saw the two irons with the respective marks cut in them, afterwards taken from the dead fish. 还看到从死鲸身上取出来的标枪头上都各刻有记号。

In the three-year instance, 在这个三年的实例上，

it so fell out that I was in the boat both times, 碰巧我前后两次都在那只小艇上，

first and last, 最初和最后，

and the last time distinctly recognized a peculiar sort of huge mole under the whale's eye, 而且最后一次，我还清清楚楚地看到了大鲸眼睛下面有一颗特别大的黑痣，

which I had observed there three years previous. 跟我三年前所看到的一模一样。

I say three years, but I am pretty sure it was more than that. 我说三年，事实上还要多一些。

Here are three instances, then, which I personally know the truth of; 那么，这里所提出的三个实例，都是我亲自经历过的真实情况；

but I have heard of many other instances from persons whose veracity in the matter there is no good ground to impeach. 我还从许多人那里听到其它许多实例，那些实例的真实性也是无可置疑的。