wherewith they slaughtered as many sharks as they could reach. 在他们够得到的地方大肆屠杀鲨鱼。

　　This procedure of theirs, to be sure, was very disinterested and benevolent of them. 他们这种做法，自然是毫无私心而且慈善为怀的。

　　They meant Queequeg's best happiness, I admit; 我虽然认为，他们是存心为了魁魁格的安全；

　　but in their hasty zeal to befriend him, and from the circumstance that both he and the sharks were at times half hidden by the blood-muddled water, 不过，在他们急想庇护他的热情中，再从魁魁格和鲨鱼群时常是半隐在血腥糊涂的海水里的情形说来，

　　those indiscreet spades of theirs would come nearer amputating a leg than a tall. 他们这两支不很慎重的铲子，就差不多更有砍到一条腿而不是砍到鱼的可能了。

　　But poor Queequeg, I suppose, straining and gasping there with that great iron hook, 可是我想，可怜的魁魁格在那里煞费气力气喘吁吁地摆弄那只大铁钩，

　　poor Queequeg, I suppose, only prayed to his Yojo, and gave up his life into the hands of his gods. 我想可怜的魁魁格只有恳求他的约约，把他的生命交给他的天神了。

　　Well, well, my dear comrade and twin-brother, thought I, as I drew in and then slacked off the rope to every swell of the sea—what matters it, after all? 当我合着海浪的起伏，把那根索子一会儿拉紧，一会儿放松的时候，我心里想，好吧，好吧，我亲爱的伙伴和孪生弟兄，说到底，这算得了什么呢？

　　Are you not the precious image of each and all of us men in this whaling world? 你可不就是我们这个捕鲸界里大家的宝贝么？

　　That unsounded ocean you gasp in, is Life; those sharks, your foes; those spades, your friends; 你所渴望的那个深不可测的海洋就是生命；那些鲨鱼就是你的仇敌；那些铲子就是你的朋友；

　　and what between sharks and spades you are in a sad pickle and peril, poor lad. 在你这样左右为难的险境中，鲨鱼跟铲子又有什么区别呢，可怜的伙伴呀。

　　But courage! there is good cheer in store for you, Queequeg. 可是，拿出勇气来呀！欢欣鼓舞正在等着你呢，魁魁格。

　　For now, as with blue lips and blood-shot eyes the exhausted savage at last climbs up the chains and stands all dripping and involuntarily trembling over the side; 现在这个精疲力竭、嘴唇发青、眼睛充血的野人，终于攀上了锚链，不由自主地抖抖索索翻过船舷，全身湿淋淌滴地站在那里了；

　　the steward advances, and with a benevolent, consolatory glance hands him—what? Some hot Cognac? No! 那个茶房带着一种仁慈、安慰的眼色走上前去，拿给他——什么呀？热的白兰地么？不！

　　hands him, ye gods! hands him a cup of tepid ginger and water! 给他，天呀！给他一杯不冷不热的姜汤！