It turned out that the Jeroboam had a malignant epidemic on board, and that Mayhew, her captain, was fearful of infecting the Pequod's company. For, though himself and the boat's crew remained untainted, and though his ship was half a rifle-shot off, and an incorruptible sea and air rolling and flowing between; yet conscientiously adhering to the timid quarantine of the land, he peremptorily refused to come into direct contact with the Pequod.
结果才弄清楚，"耶罗波安号"上闹过一种恶性流行症，船长梅休怕会传给"裴廓德号"的船员。因为，虽则他跟他那只小艇的水手都还没有染上这种流行症，虽则他那艘船还远隔半个步枪射程之遥，而且中间还横着一重滚滚的清水和一层不断在吹刮着的清风；然而，他还是慎重地严格遵守陆上那种胆怯的检疫法，硬是不肯跟"裴廓德号"直接接触。
But this did by no means prevent all communications. Preserving an interval of some few yards between itself and the ship, the Jeroboam's boat by the occasional use of its oars contrived to keep parallel to the Pequod, as she heavily forged through the sea (for by this time it blew very fresh), with her main-topsail aback; though, indeed, at times by the sudden onset of a large rolling wave, the boat would be pushed some way ahead; but would be soon skilfully brought to her proper bearings again. Subject to this, and other the like interruptions now and then, a conversation was sustained between the two parties; but at intervals not without still another interruption of a very different sort.
但是，这也决不是说不能进行一切联系。他们虽然保持着几码的距离，可是，"耶罗波安号"的小艇却时时用它那些桨子，设法跟"裴廓德号"保持平行，因为"裴廓德号"猛烈地向前驶去（这时风已吹得很急），主桅的中桅帆朝后鼓起着；虽说时时确有一阵滚滚的巨浪突然冲击过来，把那只小艇往前冲了一阵；不过，他们立刻又很熟练地使它恢复正常。由于这种情况，再加上不时发生的其它类似的障碍，双方的对话就不免断断续续；而且，也时时不免发生另一种性质十分不同的障碍。
Pulling an oar in the Jeroboam's boat, was a man of a singular appearance, even in that wild whaling life where individual notabilities make up all totalities.
在"耶罗波安号"的小艇上操桨的，有一个相貌颇为特别的水手，哪怕在那种各种人等应有尽有的野蛮的捕鲸业里，他也是个罕见的人。