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Ahab gave orders that not an oar should be used, and no man must speak but in whispers. So seated like Ontario Indians on the gunwales of the boats, we swiftly but silently paddled along; the calm not admitting of the noiseless sails being set. Presently, as we thus glided in chase, the monster perpendicularly flitted his tail forty feet into the air, and then sank out of sight like a tower swallowed up.
亞哈下令不許用槳，除了耳語，誰都不許高聲說話。我們都象安大略的印第安人一般坐在艇舷上，迅捷而悄悄地蕩過去；靜得連悄悄的扯帆聲都聽不到。我們就這樣悄悄趕去，不一會，那條大鯨把它的尾巴垂直地聳向空中，高達四十英尺，接著又象個被淹沒了的大塔一般沉下去，看不見了。
"There go flukes!" was the cry, an announcement immediately followed by Stubb's producing his match and igniting his pipe, for now a respite was granted. After the full interval of his sounding had elapsed, the whale rose again, and being now in advance of the smoker's boat, and much nearer to it than to any of the others, Stubb counted upon the honor of the capture. It was obvious, now, that the whale had at length become aware of his pursuers. All silence of cautiousness was therefore no longer of use. Paddles were dropped, and oars came loudly into play. And still puffing at his pipe, Stubb cheered on his crew to the assault.
“走啦！”傳來了這一聲叫喊，緊跟著這聲通知，斯塔布就在摸他的火柴，燃點著他的煙斗，因為現在可以休息一下了。那條鯨深鉆在海里好久后，又冒了出來，而且，這時已經來到這個吸煙者的小艇前頭，比其它任何一只小艇都要靠近，于是，斯塔布認為這是義不容辭，應該把它捕獲的時機了。很明顯地，現在，那條鯨終于發覺它的追捕者了。因此，再也用不著小心謹慎，偷偷摸摸了。大家都不蕩槳，槳子嘩啦啦地劃起來。斯塔布一邊還在吸煙斗，一邊在給他幾個要去進擊的水手打氣。
Yes, a mighty change had come over the fish. All alive to his jeopardy, he was going "head out"; that part obliquely projecting from the mad yeast which he brewed.
不錯，這條鯨跟先前大不相同了。它完全發現它的危境，正準備"露頭"；它的頭在它所吐出來的混濁的水沫中側斜地向前突起。
Footnote: It will be seen in some other place of what a very light substance the entire interior of the sperm whale's enormous head consists.
原注：在其它場合，我們將可以看到抹香鯨那只大頭的整個內部都是一種非常輕的東西。
