Twice every day for three days this was repeated; but on the fourth morning a confused wrangling, and then ascuffling was heard, as the customary summons was delivered; and suddenly four men burst up from the forecastle, saying they were ready to turn to. The fetid closeness of the air, and a famishing diet, united perhapsto some fears of ultimate retribution, had constrained them to surrender at discretion. Emboldened by this, the Captain reiterated his demand to the rest, but Steelkilt shouted up to him a terrific hint to stop his babbling and betake himself where he belonged. On the fifth morning three others of the mutineers bolted up into the air from the desperate arms below that sought to restrain them. Only three were left.
三天里,每天這樣重復(fù)兩次;可是,到了第四天早晨,在發(fā)出了例常的老命令后,卻有一陣亂糟糟的口角聲,接著又是一陣腳步聲;再一會(huì)兒,驀地里四個(gè)人從船頭樓沖了出來,說是他們要去干活了。大概是那里邊密不通風(fēng),氣味惡濁,又是餓得發(fā)慌,還加上怕會(huì)受到最后的責(zé)罰,這才迫使他們不得不無條件投降了。船長看到這個(gè)情況,勇氣大增,于是又對(duì)那些還在下面的人重申他的要求,可是,斯蒂爾基爾特卻在下面對(duì)他高聲叫嚷,發(fā)出怕人的暗示,要他停止嘮嘮叨叨,趕緊回到他原來的地方去。到第五天早晨,又有三個(gè)叛亂者不顧死活地掙脫了下面要他們留下來的胳膊,突然跑了出來了。這樣,留在里邊只有三個(gè)人了。
Better turn to, now? said the Captain with a heartless jeer.
現(xiàn)在,還不如回去工作為好?船長以一種無情的嘲弄說道。
Shut us up again, will ye! Cried Steelkilt.
你還是把我們鎖起來吧!斯蒂爾基爾特嚷道。
Oh! certainly," said the Captain, and the key clicked.
那當(dāng)然啦,船長說,鑰匙卡搭一響,鎖住了。
It was at this point, gentlemen, that enraged by the defection of seven of his former associates, and stungby the mocking voice that had last hailed him, and maddened by his long entombment in a place as black as the bowels of despair; it was then that Steelkilt proposed to the two Canallers, thus far apparently of one mind with him, to burst out of their hole at the next summoning of the garrison;
就在這時(shí),諸位先生,由于先前七個(gè)同伙的背叛而極為憤怒,加上剛才又讓船長對(duì)他那么冷言冷語所刺痛,再加上他久給幽閉在那絕望的深淵似的暗窩里,弄得簡直發(fā)了狂;于是,斯蒂爾基爾特對(duì)那兩個(gè)運(yùn)河船的水手提出(這兩個(gè)人直到這時(shí)顯然還是跟他一條心的),明天早晨船長再來叫喊的時(shí)候,就沖出洞口去,