評論
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Thereby the weapon is instantly at hand to its hurler, who snatches it up as readily from its rest as a backwoodsman swings his rifle from the wall. It is customary to have two harpoons reposing in the crotch, respectively called the first and second irons.
因此，這種武器，使用人隨時都拿得到，他順手從架子上抓起那把標槍，如同一個森林人隨時從墻上摘下他那支來福槍。按照習慣，一只叉柱總是架有兩支標槍，分別叫做頭槍和二槍。
But these two harpoons, each by its own cord, are both connected with the line; the object being this: to dart them both, if possible, one instantly after the other into the same whale; so that if, in the coming drag, one should draw out, the other may still retain a hold. It is a doubling of the chances. But it very often happens that owing to the instantaneous, violent, convulsive running of the whale upon receiving the first iron, it becomes impossible for the harpooneer, however lightning-like in his movements, to pitch the second iron into him. Nevertheless, as the second iron is already connected with the line, and the line is running, hence that weapon must, at all events, be anticipatingly tossed out of the boat, somehow and somewhere; else the most terrible jeopardy would involve all hands. Tumbled into the water, it accordingly is in such cases; the spare coils of box line (mentioned in a preceding chapter) making this feat, in most instances, prudently practicable.
但是，這兩支各縛有一找繩子的標槍，都是連著一根捕鯨索的；其目的是：如果兩支都有投出去的可能，就可以一支緊接一支地向那條鯨投去；所以，碰到要拖曳的時候，如果必須拉出一支來，另一支還是可以插在鯨身上。這就是雙重的機會。不過往往會出現(xiàn)這種情況：由于大鯨一受到第一槍，便立刻狂游亂竄，弄得那個標槍手，盡管動作迅速如閃電，也無法再對它補上第二槍。然而，因為二槍本來已是跟那根捕鯨索連在一起，而且那根捕鯨索又正在奔著，因此，無論如何，必須把那支標槍先從小艇拋出去，否則，大家就會遭到最可怖的危險。一旦碰到這種情況，標槍往往就滾進海里；那只索桶（前一章已經(jīng)提到了）里多余的索圈也慢慢地滾出去。
