and so extreme was the hard work they underwent, that upon the vessel being ready again for sea, they were in such a weakened condition that the captain durst not put off with them in so heavy a vessel. After taking counsel with his officers, he anchored the ship as far off shore as possible; loaded and ran out his two cannon from the bows; stacked his muskets on the poop; and warning the Islanders not to approach the ship at their peril, took one man with him, and setting the sail of his best whale-boat, steered straight before the wind for Tahiti, five hundred miles distant, to procure a reinforcement to his crew.
加上他们的活儿又是极其辛苦，所以等到船只修好，准备再出海时，他们已是精疲力竭，船长不敢一下子把这么一艘困难重重的船启航离岸。船长跟他的头目们商量后，决定暂时把船尽可能地泊得远远的，并在船头架起两门大炮，把他那些滑膛枪都架在舵楼上，好教那些岛民不敢随便冒险靠近船边。这样，他就带了一个人，扯起他那只最好的捕鲸小艇的帆，径自顺风驶往五百英里外的塔希提，去设法补充水手。
"On the fourth day of the sail, a large canoe was descried, which seemed to have touched at a low isle of corals. He steered away from it; but the savage craft bore down on him; and soon the voice of Steelkilt hailed him to heave to, or he would run him under water. The captain presented a pistol. With one foot on each prow of the yoked war-canoes, the Lakeman laughed him to scorn; assuring him that if the pistol so much as clicked in the lock, he would bury him in bubbles and foam.
“小艇航驶到第四天上，突然发现了一只大独木舟，这只独木舟好象要停靠在一个小珊瑚岛上。他把小艇撑开，不跟那只独木舟接近，可是那只野船却朝他直冲上来，立即竟听到斯蒂尔基尔特的声音，招呼他停下来，否则，就要把他弄进海里。船长掏出了枪。那个湖上人双脚跨在那只双连作战独木舟的前头，嘲笑着他；对他肯定地说，如果那支枪真的卡塔一扳上，就把他葬身在浪沫翻腾的海里。
What do you want of me? cried the captain."
你向我要什么呀？船长大声叫道。”
"Where are you bound? and for what are you bound? demanded Steelkilt; no lies.
“你要到哪里去？你要去干什么？别说谎。斯蒂尔基尔特问道。
I am bound to Tahiti for more men."
我要到塔希提去再雇些人。”
Very good. Let me board you a moment--I come in peace.
很好，让我到你船上去一下——我是和和平平来的。