噴水客棧

Entering that gable-ended Spouter-Inn, you found yourself in a wide, low, straggling entry with old-fashioned wainscots, reminding one of the bulwarks of some condemned old craft.

一走進那山牆對街的噴水客棧，你便置身在一處又寬又矮、零亂延伸的門廳裡，舊式的護壁板教人想起某艘報廢老船的舷牆。

On one side hung a very large oilpainting so thoroughly besmoked, and every way defaced, that in the unequal crosslights by which you viewed it, it was only by diligent study and a series of systematic visits to it, and careful inquiry of the neighbors, that you could any way arrive at an understanding of its purpose.

一側掛著一幅極大的油畫，被煙燻得透黑、四處剝損，以致在那高低不齊的交錯光線下，你非得用功鑽研、一次次有系統地去看它、再仔細向街坊打聽，才多少弄得懂它到底想畫什麼。

Such unaccountable masses of shades and shadows, that at first you almost thought some ambitious young artist, in the time of the New England hags, had endeavored to delineate chaos bewitched.

那一團團莫名其妙的明暗陰影，乍看之下你幾乎以為，是某位野心勃勃的年輕畫家，在新英格蘭巫案那年代，試圖描繪「中了魔法的混沌」。

But by dint of much and earnest contemplation, and oft repeated ponderings, and especially by throwing open the little window towards the back of the entry, you at last come to the conclusion that such an idea, however wild, might not be altogether unwarranted.

但憑著一再認真的端詳與反覆的揣摩，尤其是把門廳後頭那扇小窗推開之後，你終於得出結論：這想法雖然狂，倒也未必全無根據。

But what most puzzled and confounded you was a long, limber, portentous, black mass of something hovering in the centre of the picture over three blue, dim, perpendicular lines floating in a nameless yeast.

但最教你困惑、最把你弄糊塗的，是畫面正中那團又長又軟、透著不祥的黑色東西，懸在三條幽暗、垂直的藍線之上，而那幾條線又浮在一片叫不出名字的泡沫裡。

A boggy, soggy, squitchy picture truly, enough to drive a nervous man distracted.

這畫真是又泥濘、又濕黏、又黏糊，足以把一個神經質的人逼瘋。

Yet was there a sort of indefinite, half-attained, unimaginable sublimity about it that fairly froze you to it, till you involuntarily took an oath with yourself to find out what that marvellous painting meant.

然而它身上又有一種說不分明、似達非達、難以想像的崇高感，硬是把你釘在那兒，直到你不由自主地對自己發誓：非弄清楚這幅奇畫的含義不可。

Ever and anon a bright, but, alas, deceptive idea would dart you through.—It’s the Black Sea in a midnight gale.—It’s the unnatural combat of the four primal elements.—It’s a blasted heath.—It’s a Hyperborean winter scene.—It’s the breaking-up of the icebound stream of Time.

時不時會有一個靈光、卻唉、終究是騙人的念頭從你腦中閃過——是午夜風暴裡的黑海。——是四大原始元素的反常惡鬥。——是一片遭雷劈的荒原。——是極北之地的冬景。——是時間那條冰封之河的崩解開裂。

But at last all these fancies yielded to that one portentous something in the picture’s midst.

但最後，這一切幻想都讓位給了畫面正中那一團不祥之物。

That once found out, and all the rest were plain.

那玩意兒一旦看透，其餘的便都清楚了。

But stop; does it not bear a faint resemblance to a gigantic fish? even the great leviathan himself?

可且慢；它難道不依稀像一條巨魚？甚至就是那頭巨大的利維坦本身？

In fact, the artist’s design seemed this: a final theory of my own, partly based upon the aggregated opinions of many aged persons with whom I conversed upon the subject.

其實，這畫家的構想，照我最後的推斷似乎是這樣的——這推斷一部分也綜合了我為此請教過的許多老人家的看法。

The picture represents a Cape-Horner in a great hurricane; the half-foundered ship weltering there with its three dismantled masts alone visible; and an exasperated whale, purposing to spring clean over the craft, is in the enormous act of impaling himself upon the three mast-heads.

畫的是一艘繞行合恩角的船陷在一場大颶風裡；那半沉的船在浪裡顛簸翻滾，只剩三根光禿禿的桅杆露在外頭；而一頭暴怒的鯨，存心要整個躍過那艘船，正以驚天動地之勢，把自己刺穿在那三根桅頂之上。

The opposite wall of this entry was hung all over with a heathenish array of monstrous clubs and spears.

這門廳的對牆上，掛滿了一整排異教味十足、形狀駭人的棍棒與長矛。

Some were thickly set with glittering teeth resembling ivory saws; others were tufted with knots of human hair; and one was sickle-shaped, with a vast handle sweeping round like the segment made in the new-mown grass by a long-armed mower.

有的密密嵌著一排閃亮的牙齒，像象牙鋸；有的綴著一束束人髮的結；還有一把彎如鐮刀，巨大的握柄畫出一道弧線，像長臂割草人在新割的草地上掃出的那道圓弧。

You shuddered as you gazed, and wondered what monstrous cannibal and savage could ever have gone a death-harvesting with such a hacking, horrifying implement.

你一邊看一邊發抖，心想究竟是什麼樣兇殘的食人族與野人，會拿著這麼一件又砍又劈、駭人聽聞的傢伙去「收割死亡」。

Mixed with these were rusty old whaling lances and harpoons all broken and deformed.

夾在這些東西裡的，是一些生鏽的舊捕鯨矛和魚叉，全都斷裂變形了。

Some were storied weapons.

其中有幾件是有來歷的武器。

With this once long lance, now wildly elbowed, fifty years ago did Nathan Swain kill fifteen whales between a sunrise and a sunset.

就用這一支如今彎得不成樣子、當年卻很長的矛，五十年前，內森・斯溫從日出到日落之間殺了十五頭鯨。

And that harpoon—so like a corkscrew now—was flung in Javan seas, and run away with by a whale, years afterwards slain off the Cape of Blanco.

而那支魚叉——如今活像個拔塞鑽——是在爪哇海域擲出的，被一頭鯨帶著逃走，多年後那鯨在白角外海被殺。

The original iron entered nigh the tail, and, like a restless needle sojourning in the body of a man, travelled full forty feet, and at last was found imbedded in the hump.

那叉頭起初是從近尾處刺入的，後來像一根在人體裡四處遊走、不肯安分的針，足足移動了四十英尺，最後在鯨背的隆肉裡被找到。

Crossing this dusky entry, and on through yon low-arched way—cut through what in old times must have been a great central chimney with fireplaces all round—you enter the public room.

穿過這昏暗的門廳，再走過那道低矮的拱門——它是從一座舊時想必四面都有爐口的中央大煙囪鑿穿出來的——你便走進了公共大廳。

A still duskier place is this, with such low ponderous beams above, and such old wrinkled planks beneath, that you would almost fancy you trod some old craft’s cockpits, especially of such a howling night, when this corner-anchored old ark rocked so furiously.

這地方更昏暗，頭上是低垂笨重的橫梁，腳下是布滿皺紋的老地板，你幾乎要以為自己踩在某艘老船的底艙——尤其在這樣一個風聲呼嘯的夜裡，這艘錨定在街角的老方舟，搖得正兇。

On one side stood a long, low, shelf-like table covered with cracked glass cases, filled with dusty rarities gathered from this wide world’s remotest nooks.

一側立著一張又長又矮、像層架的桌子，上頭擺著一個個裂了的玻璃櫃，裡面盡是從這大千世界最偏遠的角落蒐來、積滿灰塵的珍奇。

Projecting from the further angle of the room stands a dark-looking den—the bar—a rude attempt at a right whale’s head.

從大廳更裡頭的一角突出來的，是一個黑黢黢的小窩——也就是酒吧——粗手粗腳地仿成一個露脊鯨的頭。

Be that how it may, there stands the vast arched bone of the whale’s jaw, so wide, a coach might almost drive beneath it.

不管像不像，那兒確實立著鯨顎那道巨大的拱形骨頭，寬得幾乎能讓一輛馬車從底下駛過。

Within are shabby shelves, ranged round with old decanters, bottles, flasks; and in those jaws of swift destruction, like another cursed Jonah (by which name indeed they called him), bustles a little withered old man, who, for their money, dearly sells the sailors deliriums and death.

裡頭是幾排寒酸的架子，環擺著舊酒瓶、玻璃瓶、扁酒壺；而在那一對能迅速致命的鯨顎之間，像另一個受詛咒的約拿（他們確實就這麼叫他），忙進忙出著一個乾癟的小老頭——他為了那幾個錢，把譫狂與死亡高價賣給水手。

Abominable are the tumblers into which he pours his poison.

他用來倒那毒藥的玻璃杯，著實可惡。

Though true cylinders without—within, the villanous green goggling glasses deceitfully tapered downwards to a cheating bottom.

外觀雖是規矩的圓柱——杯內，那綠瑩瑩、鼓著眼似的奸詐玻璃，卻騙人地往下收窄，通到一個唬人的杯底。

Parallel meridians rudely pecked into the glass, surround these footpads’ goblets.

一道道平行的「子午線」粗糙地刻進玻璃，環著這些「攔路賊」的酒杯。

Fill to this mark, and your charge is but a penny; to this a penny more; and so on to the full glass—the Cape Horn measure, which you may gulp down for a shilling.

倒到這一格，只收你一便士；到這一格，再加一便士；如此一格格上去，直到滿杯——那就是「合恩角份量」，你可以花一先令一飲而盡。

Upon entering the place I found a number of young seamen gathered about a table, examining by a dim light divers specimens of skrimshander.

我一進門，便見一群年輕水手圍在一張桌邊，就著昏暗的光，端詳著各式各樣的鯨骨雕刻品。

I sought the landlord, and telling him I desired to be accommodated with a room, received for answer that his house was full—not a bed unoccupied.

我找到店主，說想要間房，得到的回答卻是客棧已客滿——沒有一張空床。

“But avast,” he added, tapping his forehead, “you haint no objections to sharing a harpooneer’s blanket, have ye? I s’pose you are goin’ a-whalin’, so you’d better get used to that sort of thing.”

「不過慢著，」他敲敲自己的額頭補了一句，「你總不反對跟一個魚叉手合蓋一條毯子吧？我猜你是要去捕鯨的，那這種事你最好早點習慣。」

I told him that I never liked to sleep two in a bed; that if I should ever do so, it would depend upon who the harpooneer might be, and that if he (the landlord) really had no other place for me, and the harpooneer was not decidedly objectionable, why rather than wander further about a strange town on so bitter a night, I would put up with the half of any decent man’s blanket.

我告訴他，我從來不愛兩個人擠一張床；要是真得這麼睡，那也得看那魚叉手是什麼人；不過要是他（店主）當真沒別的地方安頓我，而那魚叉手又不至於太討人厭，那麼與其在這麼冷的夜裡在陌生的城裡再四處亂晃，我也只好將就著跟任何一個還算體面的人合蓋半條毯子了。

“I thought so. All right; take a seat. Supper?—you want supper? Supper’ll be ready directly.”

「我就知道。好，坐吧。晚飯？——你要吃晚飯？晚飯馬上就好。」

I sat down on an old wooden settle, carved all over like a bench on the Battery.

我在一張舊木製高背長椅上坐下，那椅子刻滿了花紋，像炮台公園裡的長凳。

At one end a ruminating tar was still further adorning it with his jack-knife, stooping over and diligently working away at the space between his legs.

椅子一頭，一個若有所思的老水手正拿摺刀替它再添些雕飾，他彎著腰，在兩腿之間那塊地方勤快地刻著。

He was trying his hand at a ship under full sail, but he didn’t make much headway, I thought.

他在試刻一艘張滿了帆的船，但我看他刻得沒什麼進展。

At last some four or five of us were summoned to our meal in an adjoining room.

最後，我們四五個人被叫到隔壁房間用餐。

It was cold as Iceland—no fire at all—the landlord said he couldn’t afford it.

屋裡冷得像冰島——一點火都沒有——店主說他生不起火。

Nothing but two dismal tallow candles, each in a winding sheet.

只有兩支淒慘的獸脂蠟燭，各自裹著一層（凝脂的）「裹屍布」。

We were fain to button up our monkey jackets, and hold to our lips cups of scalding tea with our half frozen fingers.

我們只好把短水手外套的釦子扣緊，用半凍僵的手指端著燙嘴的茶湊到唇邊。

But the fare was of the most substantial kind—not only meat and potatoes, but dumplings; good heavens! dumplings for supper!

但這頓飯倒是極其實在——不只有肉和馬鈴薯，還有麵團子；老天爺啊！晚飯居然有麵團子！

One young fellow in a green box coat, addressed himself to these dumplings in a most direful manner.

一個穿綠色寬大外套的年輕小伙子，以一種要命的架勢朝那些麵團子下手。

“My boy,” said the landlord, “you’ll have the nightmare to a dead sartainty.”

「小子啊，」店主說，「你今晚保證要做惡夢，跑不掉的。」

“Landlord,” I whispered, “that aint the harpooneer is it?”

「店主，」我低聲問，「那不會就是那魚叉手吧？」

“Oh, no,” said he, looking a sort of diabolically funny, “the harpooneer is a dark complexioned chap. He never eats dumplings, he don’t—he eats nothing but steaks, and he likes ’em rare.”

「噢，不，」他答道，露出一種惡作劇似的滑稽神情，「那魚叉手是個皮膚黝黑的傢伙。他從不吃麵團子，從不——他只吃牛排，而且喜歡幾分熟的。」

“The devil he does,” says I. “Where is that harpooneer? Is he here?”

「他還真有講究，」我說。「那魚叉手在哪兒？他在這兒嗎？」

“He’ll be here afore long,” was the answer.

「他不久就會來，」對方答道。

I could not help it, but I began to feel suspicious of this “dark complexioned” harpooneer.

我忍不住，開始對這個「皮膚黝黑」的魚叉手起了疑心。

At any rate, I made up my mind that if it so turned out that we should sleep together, he must undress and get into bed before I did.

反正，我已打定主意：萬一真要同床，他得在我之前脫衣上床。

Supper over, the company went back to the bar-room, when, knowing not what else to do with myself, I resolved to spend the rest of the evening as a looker on.

晚飯一過，眾人回到酒吧間；我不知還能拿自己怎麼辦，便決定這一晚剩下的時間就當個旁觀者。

Presently a rioting noise was heard without.

不久，外頭傳來一陣喧鬧。

Starting up, the landlord cried, “That’s the Grampus’s crew. I seed her reported in the offing this morning; a three years’ voyage, and a full ship. Hurrah, boys; now we’ll have the latest news from the Feegees.”

店主跳起來喊道：「那是『逆戟鯨號』的船員。今早我聽說牠在外海被通報了；出海三年，滿載而歸。好哇，弟兄們；這下我們能聽到斐濟群島最新的消息了。」

A tramping of sea boots was heard in the entry; the door was flung open, and in rolled a wild set of mariners enough.

門廳裡傳來水手靴橐橐的踩踏聲；門被一把推開，滾進來一夥夠野的水手。

Enveloped in their shaggy watch coats, and with their heads muffled in woollen comforters, all bedarned and ragged, and their beards stiff with icicles, they seemed an eruption of bears from Labrador.

他們裹著毛茸茸的值班外套，腦袋纏在羊毛圍巾裡，個個補丁累累、衣衫襤褸，鬍子凍得結了冰柱、硬邦邦的，活像一群從拉布拉多噴湧而出的熊。

They had just landed from their boat, and this was the first house they entered.

他們剛從船上上岸，這是他們進的第一家店。

No wonder, then, that they made a straight wake for the whale’s mouth—the bar—when the wrinkled little old Jonah, there officiating, soon poured them out brimmers all round.

也難怪他們筆直地朝那鯨口——也就是酒吧——划了過去；那主持其事、滿臉皺紋的小老約拿，很快給他們每人都斟上滿滿一杯。

One complained of a bad cold in his head, upon which Jonah mixed him a pitch-like potion of gin and molasses, which he swore was a sovereign cure for all colds and catarrhs whatsoever, never mind of how long standing, or whether caught off the coast of Labrador, or on the weather side of an ice-island.

有個人抱怨頭部重感冒，老約拿便替他調了一帖瀝青般的琴酒加糖蜜，並信誓旦旦說這是包治一切傷風與黏膜炎的靈丹妙藥——不管病了多久，不管是在拉布拉多外海著的涼，還是在某座冰島迎風面吹出的病。

The liquor soon mounted into their heads, as it generally does even with the arrantest topers newly landed from sea, and they began capering about most obstreperously.

酒勁很快衝上了他們的腦門——就連最老資格的酒鬼剛從海上岸時也大抵如此——他們開始喧鬧不堪地又蹦又跳。

I observed, however, that one of them held somewhat aloof, and though he seemed desirous not to spoil the hilarity of his shipmates by his own sober face, yet upon the whole he refrained from making as much noise as the rest.

然而我注意到，他們之中有一個略略站得遠些；他雖似乎不願以自己那張清醒的臉掃了同伴的興，但整體而言，他並不像其餘人那樣喧鬧。

This man interested me at once; and since the sea-gods had ordained that he should soon become my shipmate (though but a sleeping-partner one, so far as this narrative is concerned), I will here venture upon a little description of him.

這人立刻引起了我的興趣；而既然海神已注定他不久將成為我的船友（不過就本故事而言，只是個「同床的夥伴」罷了），我不妨在此斗膽替他描繪幾筆。

He stood full six feet in height, with noble shoulders, and a chest like a coffer-dam.

他足有六英尺高，肩膀堂堂，胸膛像一道圍堰。

I have seldom seen such brawn in a man.

我很少在一個人身上見過這樣的筋肉。

His face was deeply brown and burnt, making his white teeth dazzling by the contrast; while in the deep shadows of his eyes floated some reminiscences that did not seem to give him much joy.

他的臉曬得黝黑焦褐，襯得一口白牙格外耀眼；而在他雙眼深處的陰影裡，浮動著一些似乎並未帶給他多少歡愉的回憶。

His voice at once announced that he was a Southerner, and from his fine stature, I thought he must be one of those tall mountaineers from the Alleghanian Ridge in Virginia.

他一開口就顯出是個南方人，而從他那挺拔的身材，我想他準是維吉尼亞阿勒格尼山脈那一帶的高個子山民。

When the revelry of his companions had mounted to its height, this man slipped away unobserved, and I saw no more of him till he became my comrade on the sea.

當他同伴們的狂歡鬧到最高潮時，這人神不知鬼不覺地溜走了，直到他在海上成了我的同伴，我才再見到他。

In a few minutes, however, he was missed by his shipmates, and being, it seems, for some reason a huge favourite with them, they raised a cry of “Bulkington! Bulkington! where’s Bulkington?” and darted out of the house in pursuit of him.

不過幾分鐘後，他的船友們就發覺他不見了，而他似乎不知為何極得人緣，於是眾人喊起「巴爾金頓！巴爾金頓！巴爾金頓上哪兒去了？」便衝出店外去追他。

It was now about nine o’clock, and the room seeming almost supernaturally quiet after these orgies, I began to congratulate myself upon a little plan that had occurred to me just previous to the entrance of the seamen.

這會兒約莫九點了，在這一場喧鬧之後，大廳顯得幾乎異樣地安靜；我開始暗自慶幸，那群水手進門前我剛好想到的一個小計策。

No man prefers to sleep two in a bed.

沒有人喜歡兩個人擠一張床。

In fact, you would a good deal rather not sleep with your own brother.

其實，就算是自己的親兄弟，你也大半寧可不跟他同睡。

I don’t know how it is, but people like to be private when they are sleeping.

我說不上為什麼，但人睡覺時總喜歡有自己的隱私。

And when it comes to sleeping with an unknown stranger, in a strange inn, in a strange town, and that stranger a harpooneer, then your objections indefinitely multiply.

而一旦事關跟一個素不相識的陌生人、在陌生的客棧、陌生的城裡同睡，而那陌生人還是個魚叉手，那你的種種顧忌便會無止境地翻倍。

Nor was there any earthly reason why I as a sailor should sleep two in a bed, more than anybody else; for sailors no more sleep two in a bed at sea, than bachelor Kings do ashore.

而且，論到天底下任何道理，我這當水手的也沒有比別人更該兩人擠一床；因為水手在海上並不比單身國王在陸上更會兩人同床。

To be sure they all sleep together in one apartment, but you have your own hammock, and cover yourself with your own blanket, and sleep in your own skin.

誠然，他們全睡在同一個艙室裡，但你有你自己的吊床，蓋你自己的毯子，睡在你自己的皮囊裡。

The more I pondered over this harpooneer, the more I abominated the thought of sleeping with him.

我越是琢磨這個魚叉手，就越是厭惡跟他同睡這念頭。

It was fair to presume that being a harpooneer, his linen or woollen, as the case might be, would not be of the tidiest, certainly none of the finest.

不難料想，既是魚叉手，他的內衣——不管是麻的還是毛的——大概不會是最乾淨的，當然更談不上最講究。

I began to twitch all over.

我渾身開始一陣陣發毛。

Besides, it was getting late, and my decent harpooneer ought to be home and going bedwards.

再說，天色已晚，我那位「體面的」魚叉手也該回家上床了。

Suppose now, he should tumble in upon me at midnight—how could I tell from what vile hole he had been coming?

假設他這會兒半夜三更跌跌撞撞撲到我身上來——我哪知道他是從什麼齷齪窩裡鑽出來的？

“Landlord! I’ve changed my mind about that harpooneer.—I shan’t sleep with him. I’ll try the bench here.”

「店主！關於那魚叉手我改主意了。——我不跟他睡了。我就在這條長椅上將就吧。」

“Just as you please; I’m sorry I can’t spare ye a tablecloth for a mattress, and it’s a plaguy rough board here”—feeling of the knots and notches.

「悉聽尊便；只可惜我勻不出一塊桌布給你當褥子，而且這板子粗糙得要命」——他一邊摸著那些節疤與刻痕。

“But wait a bit, Skrimshander; I’ve got a carpenter’s plane there in the bar—wait, I say, and I’ll make ye snug enough.”

「不過等等，雕花匠（他這麼喚我）；我酒吧那兒有把木工刨子——我說等等，我這就把你弄得舒舒服服。」

So saying he procured the plane; and with his old silk handkerchief first dusting the bench, vigorously set to planing away at my bed, the while grinning like an ape.

說著他取來刨子；先用他那塊舊絲手帕把長椅撣乾淨，便使勁刨起我這張「床」來，一邊刨一邊咧嘴笑得像隻猿猴。

The shavings flew right and left; till at last the plane-iron came bump against an indestructible knot.

木屑左右飛濺；直到刨刀「砰」地一聲撞上一個怎麼也刨不掉的硬節疤。

The landlord was near spraining his wrist, and I told him for heaven’s sake to quit—the bed was soft enough to suit me, and I did not know how all the planing in the world could make eider down of a pine plank.

店主差點扭了手腕，我便叫他看在老天份上住手吧——這床對我已夠軟了，我實在不曉得，天底下再怎麼刨，也刨不出一塊鬆軟鴨絨來。

So gathering up the shavings with another grin, and throwing them into the great stove in the middle of the room, he went about his business, and left me in a brown study.

於是他又咧嘴一笑，把木屑收攏，扔進大廳中央那座大火爐裡，便忙他的去了，留我一個人陷在沉思裡。

I now took the measure of the bench, and found that it was a foot too short; but that could be mended with a chair.

我這會兒量了量那長椅，發現它短了一英尺；不過拿張椅子補一補也就行了。

But it was a foot too narrow, and the other bench in the room was about four inches higher than the planed one—so there was no yoking them.

但它又窄了一英尺，而屋裡另一條長椅又比這刨過的高了約四英寸——所以根本沒法把兩條併在一塊兒。

I then placed the first bench lengthwise along the only clear space against the wall, leaving a little interval between, for my back to settle down in.

於是我把頭一條長椅順著牆邊唯一一塊空地縱向擺好，中間留一道小縫，好讓我的背陷進去。

But I soon found that there came such a draught of cold air over me from under the sill of the window, that this plan would never do at all, especially as another current from the rickety door met the one from the window, and both together formed a series of small whirlwinds in the immediate vicinity of the spot where I had thought to spend the night.

但我很快發現，從窗檻底下灌進來一股股冷風直撲我身，這辦法根本行不通——尤其那扇搖搖晃晃的門又透進另一股氣流，跟窗口那股一碰頭，兩下夾攻，就在我原打算過夜的那塊地方附近，颳起一連串的小旋風。

The devil fetch that harpooneer, thought I, but stop, couldn’t I steal a march on him—bolt his door inside, and jump into his bed, not to be wakened by the most violent knockings?

讓魔鬼把那魚叉手抓走吧，我心想，可且慢——我何不搶先一步占了他的先機：從裡頭把他的門閂上，跳進他的床，任他怎麼猛敲也敲不醒我？

It seemed no bad idea; but upon second thoughts I dismissed it.

這主意似乎不壞；但再一想，我便打消了。

For who could tell but what the next morning, so soon as I popped out of the room, the harpooneer might be standing in the entry, all ready to knock me down!

因為誰說得準呢——說不定第二天早上我一探出房門，那魚叉手正站在門廳裡，擺好架勢要把我一拳打趴！

Still, looking round me again, and seeing no possible chance of spending a sufferable night unless in some other person’s bed, I began to think that after all I might be cherishing unwarrantable prejudices against this unknown harpooneer.

然而，我又環顧四周，眼看除非睡到別人床上，否則這一夜根本沒法熬得過去，便開始想：說不定我終究是對這個素未謀面的魚叉手，懷了些沒道理的偏見。

Thinks I, I’ll wait awhile; he must be dropping in before long. I’ll have a good look at him then, and perhaps we may become jolly good bedfellows after all—there’s no telling.

我心想，我且等一會兒；他不久準會回來。到時我好好打量他一番，說不定我們到頭來竟成了挺合得來的同床夥伴——這可說不準。

But though the other boarders kept coming in by ones, twos, and threes, and going to bed, yet no sign of my harpooneer.

可是，儘管其他房客一個個、兩三個地陸續回來上床，我那魚叉手卻仍不見蹤影。

“Landlord!” said I, “what sort of a chap is he—does he always keep such late hours?” It was now hard upon twelve o’clock.

「店主！」我說，「他到底是個什麼樣的人——他向來都這麼晚嗎？」這會兒已快近十二點了。

The landlord chuckled again with his lean chuckle, and seemed to be mightily tickled at something beyond my comprehension.

店主又發出他那乾癟的咯咯笑，似乎為某件我摸不著頭腦的事樂得不行。

“No,” he answered, “generally he’s an early bird—airley to bed and airley to rise—yes, he’s the bird what catches the worm. But to-night he went out a peddling, you see, and I don’t see what on airth keeps him so late, unless, may be, he can’t sell his head.”

「不，」他答道，「他平常是隻早起的鳥兒——早睡早起——對啦，他就是那隻抓得到蟲的鳥兒。可今晚啊，你瞧，他出門叫賣去了，我也搞不懂究竟什麼事教他這麼晚還不回——除非啊，他那顆頭賣不掉。」

“Can’t sell his head?—What sort of a bamboozingly story is this you are telling me?” getting into a towering rage.

「賣不掉他的頭？——你跟我扯的這是什麼唬人的鬼話？」我火冒三丈。

“Do you pretend to say, landlord, that this harpooneer is actually engaged this blessed Saturday night, or rather Sunday morning, in peddling his head around this town?”

「店主，你莫非是要說，這魚叉手在這神聖的週六夜、不，該說是週日清晨，竟當真在這城裡四處叫賣他的頭？」

“That’s precisely it,” said the landlord, “and I told him he couldn’t sell it here, the market’s overstocked.”

「正是這麼回事，」店主說，「我還跟他講過，在這兒賣不掉的，市面上貨太多了。」

“With what?” shouted I.

「什麼貨太多？」我嚷道。

“With heads to be sure; ain’t there too many heads in the world?”

「當然是頭啊；這世上的頭難道還不夠多嗎？」

“I tell you what it is, landlord,” said I quite calmly, “you’d better stop spinning that yarn to me—I’m not green.”

「店主，我跟你說，」我十分鎮定地說，「你最好別再跟我扯這套故事了——我可不是什麼好唬弄的菜鳥。」

“May be not,” taking out a stick and whittling a toothpick, “but I rayther guess you’ll be done brown if that ere harpooneer hears you a slanderin’ his head.”

「或許不是吧，」他掏出一根木條削起牙籤來，「不過我倒猜，那魚叉手要是聽見你這麼詆毀他的頭，你準得吃不了兜著走。」

“I’ll break it for him,” said I, now flying into a passion again at this unaccountable farrago of the landlord’s.

「那我就替他把頭砸了，」我說，又被店主這套莫名其妙的胡言亂語惹得火冒上來。

“It’s broke a’ready,” said he.

「早就破了，」他說。

“Broke,” said I—“broke, do you mean?”

「破了，」我說——「你是說，破了？」

“Sartain, and that’s the very reason he can’t sell it, I guess.”

「沒錯，我猜這正是他賣不掉它的緣故。」

“Landlord,” said I, going up to him as cool as Mt. Hecla in a snow-storm—“landlord, stop whittling. You and I must understand one another, and that too without delay.

「店主，」我走到他跟前，冷靜得像暴風雪中的赫克拉火山——「店主，別削了。你我之間得把話講清楚，而且刻不容緩。

I come to your house and want a bed; you tell me you can only give me half a one; that the other half belongs to a certain harpooneer.

我到你店裡來要張床；你告訴我只能給我半張；另外半張屬於某個魚叉手。

And about this harpooneer, whom I have not yet seen, you persist in telling me the most mystifying and exasperating stories tending to beget in me an uncomfortable feeling towards the man whom you design for my bedfellow—a sort of connexion, landlord, which is an intimate and confidential one in the highest degree.

而關於這個我還沒見過面的魚叉手，你卻一個勁兒跟我講些最莫測高深、最教人光火的故事，存心要在我心裡，對這個你安排來跟我同床的人，生出一種很不舒服的感覺——店主，這種關係可是極其親密、極其交心的。

I now demand of you to speak out and tell me who and what this harpooneer is, and whether I shall be in all respects safe to spend the night with him.

我現在要你把話挑明，告訴我這魚叉手究竟是誰、是幹什麼的，以及我跟他過一夜，是否各方面都安全。

And in the first place, you will be so good as to unsay that story about selling his head, which if true I take to be good evidence that this harpooneer is stark mad, and I’ve no idea of sleeping with a madman; and you, sir, you I mean, landlord, you, sir, by trying to induce me to do so knowingly, would thereby render yourself liable to a criminal prosecution.”

首先，請你行行好，把那套賣頭的故事收回去；那故事若是真的，我看就足以證明這魚叉手是個十足的瘋子，而我可沒打算跟瘋子同睡；而你，先生，我說的就是你，店主，你，先生，若明知如此還想誘使我去這麼做，那你就要因此吃上刑事官司。」

“Wall,” said the landlord, fetching a long breath, “that’s a purty long sarmon for a chap that rips a little now and then. But be easy, be easy, this here harpooneer I have been tellin’ you of has just arrived from the south seas, where he bought up a lot of ’balmed New Zealand heads (great curios, you know), and he’s sold all on ’em but one, and that one he’s trying to sell to-night, cause to-morrow’s Sunday, and it would not do to be sellin’ human heads about the streets when folks is goin’ to churches.

「嗯哼，」店主長長吸了口氣，「對一個三不五時開開葷腔的傢伙來說，這篇訓道可夠長的。不過你放寬心、放寬心，我一直跟你說的這個魚叉手，剛從南洋回來，他在那兒收購了一大批做過防腐處理的紐西蘭人頭（很罕見的古玩，你知道），如今只剩一顆沒賣掉，今晚他正想把那顆出手，因為明天是禮拜日，等大家上教堂去的時候，在街上叫賣人頭可不成體統。

He wanted to, last Sunday, but I stopped him just as he was goin’ out of the door with four heads strung on a string, for all the airth like a string of inions.”

上個禮拜日他本來也想賣，可我在他正要出門時攔下了他——他當時拿一根繩串了四顆頭，活像串了一串洋蔥。」

This account cleared up the otherwise unaccountable mystery, and showed that the landlord, after all, had had no idea of fooling me—but at the same time what could I think of a harpooneer who stayed out of a Saturday night clean into the holy Sabbath, engaged in such a cannibal business as selling the heads of dead idolators?

這番話解開了那原本莫名其妙的謎團，也說明店主終究並沒想耍我——但與此同時，對於這麼一個從週六夜在外頭一直待到神聖安息日、幹著「叫賣死去偶像崇拜者的頭」這種食人勾當的魚叉手，我又能作何感想？

“Depend upon it, landlord, that harpooneer is a dangerous man.”

「店主，這你信得過：那魚叉手是個危險人物。」

“He pays reg’lar,” was the rejoinder. “But come, it’s getting dreadful late, you had better be turning flukes—it’s a nice bed; Sal and me slept in that ere bed the night we were spliced.

「他付帳倒挺準時，」對方回了一句。「不過來吧，天可真夠晚了，你最好『翻尾巴』（上床睡覺）了——那是張好床；我跟莎兒成親那晚就睡那張床。

There’s plenty of room for two to kick about in that bed; it’s an almighty big bed that. Why, afore we give it up, Sal used to put our Sam and little Johnny in the foot of it.

那床夠寬敞，兩個人在上頭翻來滾去都綽綽有餘；那可是張大得不得了的床。嘿，在我們不用它之前，莎兒還常把我們家山姆和小強尼塞在床尾呢。

But I got a dreaming and sprawling about one night, and somehow, Sam got pitched on the floor, and came near breaking his arm. Arter that, Sal said it wouldn’t do.

可有天夜裡我做夢、手腳亂攤，不知怎地把山姆給掀到地上去了，差點摔斷胳膊。打那以後，莎兒就說這樣不行了。

Come along here, I’ll give ye a glim in a jiffy;” and so saying he lighted a candle and held it towards me, offering to lead the way.

來這邊吧，我馬上給你點個亮兒；」說著他點了支蠟燭朝我遞過來，要替我帶路。

But I stood irresolute; when looking at a clock in the corner, he exclaimed “I vum it’s Sunday—you won’t see that harpooneer to-night; he’s come to anchor somewhere—come along then; do come; won’t ye come?”

但我站著拿不定主意；這時他瞅了一眼牆角的鐘，叫道：「我敢發誓，已經是禮拜日了——你今晚是見不著那魚叉手了；他準是在哪兒下錨歇下了——那就來吧；快來呀；你到底來不來？」

I considered the matter a moment, and then up stairs we went, and I was ushered into a small room, cold as a clam, and furnished, sure enough, with a prodigious bed, almost big enough indeed for any four harpooneers to sleep abreast.

我把這事兒掂量了片刻，然後我們便上了樓，我被領進一個小房間，冷得像隻蛤蜊，裡頭果然擺著一張碩大無比的床——大得幾乎能讓四個魚叉手並排同睡。

“There,” said the landlord, placing the candle on a crazy old sea chest that did double duty as a wash-stand and centre table; “there, make yourself comfortable now, and good night to ye.”

「好啦，」店主一邊說，一邊把蠟燭擱在一只搖搖晃晃、既當洗臉架又兼作中央桌的舊航海箱上；「好啦，你自個兒舒舒服服歇著吧，晚安了。」

I turned round from eyeing the bed, but he had disappeared.

我打量完床轉過身來，他卻已經不見了。

Folding back the counterpane, I stooped over the bed.

我把床罩翻開，俯身細看那床。

Though none of the most elegant, it yet stood the scrutiny tolerably well.

它雖談不上多雅緻，倒也還經得起這番打量。

I then glanced round the room; and besides the bedstead and centre table, could see no other furniture belonging to the place, but a rude shelf, the four walls, and a papered fireboard representing a man striking a whale.

我又環視了一下房間；除了床架和中央桌，看不到別的屬於這屋子的家具，只有一個粗陋的架子、四面牆，以及一塊糊著紙、畫著一個人叉鯨的擋火板。

Of things not properly belonging to the room, there was a hammock lashed up, and thrown upon the floor in one corner; also a large seaman’s bag, containing the harpooneer’s wardrobe, no doubt in lieu of a land trunk.

至於不算這屋子本來物件的東西，有一張捆紮起來、被扔在牆角地上的吊床；還有一只大水手袋，裝著那魚叉手的全副衣物，無疑是用來代替陸上人的衣箱。

Likewise, there was a parcel of outlandish bone fish hooks on the shelf over the fire-place, and a tall harpoon standing at the head of the bed.

同樣，壁爐上方的架子上有一捆古怪的骨製魚鉤，床頭還立著一支高高的魚叉。

But what is this on the chest? I took it up, and held it close to the light, and felt it, and smelt it, and tried every way possible to arrive at some satisfactory conclusion concerning it.

可箱子上這是什麼？我把它拿起來，湊近燈光，摸了摸、聞了聞，想盡一切辦法要對它得出個說得通的結論。

I can compare it to nothing but a large door mat, ornamented at the edges with little tinkling tags something like the stained porcupine quills round an Indian moccasin.

我只能拿它比作一張大門墊，邊上綴著一些叮噹作響的小墜飾，有點像印第安鹿皮鞋四周那些染了色的豪豬刺。

There was a hole or slit in the middle of this mat, as you see the same in South American ponchos.

這「墊子」中間有個洞、或者說一道縫，就像你在南美斗篷上看到的那樣。

But could it be possible that any sober harpooneer would get into a door mat, and parade the streets of any Christian town in that sort of guise?

可有沒有可能，哪個清醒的魚叉手會鑽進一張門墊裡，就這副打扮在某個基督教城鎮的街上招搖過市？

I put it on, to try it, and it weighed me down like a hamper, being uncommonly shaggy and thick, and I thought a little damp, as though this mysterious harpooneer had been wearing it of a rainy day.

我把它套上試了試，它沉甸甸地把我壓得像扛了個大籃子，又毛又厚得出奇，我覺得還有點潮，彷彿這神祕的魚叉手曾在某個雨天穿過它。

I went up in it to a bit of glass stuck against the wall, and I never saw such a sight in my life.

我穿著它走到牆上嵌的一小塊鏡子前，我這輩子從沒見過這麼一副尊容。

I tore myself out of it in such a hurry that I gave myself a kink in the neck.

我手忙腳亂地把它扯下來，急得脖子都扭了一下。

I sat down on the side of the bed, and commenced thinking about this head-peddling harpooneer, and his door mat.

我在床沿坐下，開始琢磨這個賣人頭的魚叉手，以及他那張「門墊」。

After thinking some time on the bed-side, I got up and took off my monkey jacket, and then stood in the middle of the room thinking.

在床邊想了一陣，我起身脫掉短水手外套，然後站在屋子中央接著想。

I then took off my coat, and thought a little more in my shirt sleeves.

接著我又脫掉外衣，只穿襯衫又想了一會兒。

But beginning to feel very cold now, half undressed as I was, and remembering what the landlord said about the harpooneer’s not coming home at all that night, it being so very late, I made no more ado, but jumped out of my pantaloons and boots, and then blowing out the light tumbled into bed, and commended myself to the care of heaven.

但這會兒只穿一半衣裳的我開始覺得很冷，又想起店主說那魚叉手今晚根本不會回來，加上時候實在太晚，我便不再囉嗦，三兩下脫了長褲和靴子，吹熄了燈，一頭栽進被窩，把自己交託給上天看顧。

Whether that mattress was stuffed with corn-cobs or broken crockery, there is no telling, but I rolled about a good deal, and could not sleep for a long time.

那床墊裡塞的究竟是玉米芯還是碎陶片，誰也說不準，反正我翻來覆去好一陣，老半天睡不著。

At last I slid off into a light doze, and had pretty nearly made a good offing towards the land of Nod, when I heard a heavy footfall in the passage, and saw a glimmer of light come into the room from under the door.

最後我總算迷迷糊糊打起盹來，眼看就要順順當當駛向夢鄉，忽聽走廊裡一陣沉重的腳步聲，又見一線微光從門縫底下透進屋來。

Lord save me, thinks I, that must be the harpooneer, the infernal head-peddler.

主啊救救我吧，我心想，那準是那魚叉手，那個該死的賣頭人。

But I lay perfectly still, and resolved not to say a word till spoken to.

但我一動不動地躺著，打定主意：不等人開口，我絕不吭聲。

Holding a light in one hand, and that identical New Zealand head in the other, the stranger entered the room, and without looking towards the bed, placed his candle a good way off from me on the floor in one corner, and then began working away at the knotted cords of the large bag I before spoke of as being in the room.

那陌生人一手提著燈、一手拎著那顆紐西蘭人頭，走進房來，看也不往床這邊看，把蠟燭擱在離我老遠的牆角地上，便動手解起我先前提過、屋裡那只大袋上打結的繩子。

I was all eagerness to see his face, but he kept it averted for some time while employed in unlacing the bag’s mouth.

我滿心急著想看他的臉，可他解袋口時，半晌都把臉別開著。

This accomplished, however, he turned round—when, good heavens! what a sight! Such a face!

等他解完，他總算轉過身來——老天爺啊！那是什麼模樣！那麼一張臉！

It was of a dark, purplish, yellow colour, here and there stuck over with large blackish looking squares.

那臉是一種暗紫帶黃的顏色，這兒那兒貼著一塊塊發黑的方塊。

Yes, it’s just as I thought, he’s a terrible bedfellow; he’s been in a fight, got dreadfully cut, and here he is, just from the surgeon.

是啊，跟我想的一模一樣，這同床的可不得了；他準是打了一架，被砍得很慘，這會兒剛從外科醫生那兒出來。

But at that moment he chanced to turn his face so towards the light, that I plainly saw they could not be sticking-plasters at all, those black squares on his cheeks.

但就在那一刻，他恰巧把臉轉向燈光，我清清楚楚看見，他臉頰上那些黑方塊根本不是什麼膏藥貼布。

They were stains of some sort or other.

那是某種染上去的印記。

At first I knew not what to make of this; but soon an inkling of the truth occurred to me. I remembered a story of a white man—a whaleman too—who, falling among the cannibals, had been tattooed by them. I concluded that this harpooneer, in the course of his distant voyages, must have met with a similar adventure.

起初我摸不著頭緒；但很快，一點真相的端倪浮上心頭。我記起一個白人——也是個捕鯨人——落到食人族手裡、被他們刺了青的故事。我便斷定，這魚叉手在他那些遠航途中，準也碰上了類似的遭遇。

And what is it, thought I, after all! It’s only his outside; a man can be honest in any sort of skin.

那又算得了什麼呢，我心想！那不過是他的外表罷了；一個人不管裹著什麼樣的皮，都可以是正直的。

But then, what to make of his unearthly complexion, that part of it, I mean, lying round about, and completely independent of the squares of tattooing.

但話說回來，他那超乎人間的膚色又該怎麼解釋——我是說那刺青方塊以外、四周那一片，跟刺青毫不相干的部分。

To be sure, it might be nothing but a good coat of tropical tanning; but I never heard of a hot sun’s tanning a white man into a purplish yellow one.

誠然，那也許不過是熱帶曬出的一層好膚色；可我從沒聽說過烈日能把一個白人曬成這麼一種紫黃色。

However, I had never been in the South Seas; and perhaps the sun there produced these extraordinary effects upon the skin.

不過，南洋我可從沒去過；說不定那兒的太陽對皮膚就是有這等非比尋常的效果。

Now, while all these ideas were passing through me like lightning, this harpooneer never noticed me at all.

眼下，當這些念頭像閃電般在我腦中掠過時，這魚叉手卻壓根沒注意到我。

But, after some difficulty having opened his bag, he commenced fumbling in it, and presently pulled out a sort of tomahawk, and a seal-skin wallet with the hair on.

但他費了點勁打開袋子後，便在裡頭摸索起來，不一會兒掏出一把像是戰斧的東西，還有一個帶毛的海豹皮錢袋。

Placing these on the old chest in the middle of the room, he then took the New Zealand head—a ghastly thing enough—and crammed it down into the bag.

他把這些擱在屋子中央的舊箱上，接著拿起那顆紐西蘭人頭——夠瘮人的玩意兒——硬塞回袋子裡去。

He now took off his hat—a new beaver hat—when I came nigh singing out with fresh surprise. There was no hair on his head—none to speak of at least—nothing but a small scalp-knot twisted up on his forehead.

這會兒他摘下帽子——一頂嶄新的海狸皮帽——我差點又驚叫出聲。他頭上沒有頭髮——至少沒幾根值得一提的——只在前額上扭著一小撮髮髻。

His bald purplish head now looked for all the world like a mildewed skull.

他那紫禿禿的腦袋，這會兒活像一顆發了霉的骷髏。

Had not the stranger stood between me and the door, I would have bolted out of it quicker than ever I bolted a dinner.

要不是那陌生人正擋在我和房門之間，我準會奪門而出，比我狼吞虎嚥扒完一頓飯還快。

Even as it was, I thought something of slipping out of the window, but it was the second floor back.

即便如此，我也動過從窗子溜走的念頭，可那是後面二樓。

I am no coward, but what to make of this head-peddling purple rascal altogether passed my comprehension.

我並不是膽小鬼，但這個賣人頭的紫臉惡棍到底是怎麼回事，完全超出了我所能理解的範圍。

Ignorance is the parent of fear, and being completely nonplussed and confounded about the stranger, I confess I was now as much afraid of him as if it was the devil himself who had thus broken into my room at the dead of night.

無知是恐懼之母；而對這陌生人完全摸不著頭腦、給弄得不知所措的我，老實說，這會兒怕他怕得，就像是魔鬼本人在這夜深人靜時闖進了我的房間。

In fact, I was so afraid of him that I was not game enough just then to address him, and demand a satisfactory answer concerning what seemed inexplicable in him.

事實上，我怕他怕到那地步，當下竟沒膽量開口跟他說話、要他把他身上那些莫名其妙的地方給個交代。

Meanwhile, he continued the business of undressing, and at last showed his chest and arms.

這期間，他繼續著脫衣的事，最後露出了胸膛與雙臂。

As I live, these covered parts of him were checkered with the same squares as his face; his back, too, was all over the same dark squares; he seemed to have been in a Thirty Years’ War, and just escaped from it with a sticking-plaster shirt.

我敢對天發誓，他身上這些原先遮著的部位，也跟他的臉一樣布滿了同樣的方塊格子；連他的背上，也滿是同樣的暗色方塊；他彷彿打過一場三十年戰爭，剛穿著一件「膏藥貼布做的襯衫」死裡逃生。

Still more, his very legs were marked, as if a parcel of dark green frogs were running up the trunks of young palms.

更甚者，連他的腿上都有花紋，像一群暗綠色的青蛙正順著小棕櫚樹的樹幹往上爬。

It was now quite plain that he must be some abominable savage or other shipped aboard of a whaleman in the South Seas, and so landed in this Christian country.

這會兒已很清楚，他必定是哪個可惡的野人，在南洋被招上了一艘捕鯨船，因而上了岸來到這個基督教國家。

I quaked to think of it. A peddler of heads too—perhaps the heads of his own brothers. He might take a fancy to mine—heavens! look at that tomahawk!

我一想到就直打哆嗦。還是個賣人頭的——說不定賣的就是他自己族裡弟兄的頭。他搞不好會看上我這顆——老天！瞧那把戰斧！

But there was no time for shuddering, for now the savage went about something that completely fascinated my attention, and convinced me that he must indeed be a heathen.

但這會兒沒工夫發抖了，因為那野人開始做一件事，把我的注意力完全攫住，也教我確信他必定是個異教徒。

Going to his heavy grego, or wrapall, or dreadnaught, which he had previously hung on a chair, he fumbled in the pockets, and produced at length a curious little deformed image with a hunch on its back, and exactly the colour of a three days’ old Congo baby.

他走到先前掛在椅上那件厚重的水手大衣（不管你叫它 grego、wrapall 還是 dreadnaught）前，在口袋裡摸了摸，最後掏出一尊古怪的小小畸形偶像，背上駝著個包，顏色活脫脫像一個出生三天的剛果嬰兒。

Remembering the embalmed head, at first I almost thought that this black manikin was a real baby preserved in some similar manner.

想起那顆做過防腐的人頭，起初我幾乎以為這黑色小人是個用類似方法保存下來的真嬰兒。

But seeing that it was not at all limber, and that it glistened a good deal like polished ebony, I concluded that it must be nothing but a wooden idol, which indeed it proved to be.

但見它一點都不軟、又像打磨過的烏木那樣油亮亮的，我便斷定它不過是尊木製偶像——後來證明確實如此。

For now the savage goes up to the empty fire-place, and removing the papered fire-board, sets up this little hunch-backed image, like a tenpin, between the andirons.

因為這會兒那野人走到空著的壁爐前，挪開那糊紙的擋火板，把這尊駝背小像像個保齡球瓶似地，立在兩根柴架之間。

The chimney jambs and all the bricks inside were very sooty, so that I thought this fire-place made a very appropriate little shrine or chapel for his Congo idol.

煙囪的側壁和裡頭所有的磚都黑漆漆全是煤煙，所以我覺得這壁爐倒挺適合當他那剛果偶像的一座小神龕或小教堂。

I now screwed my eyes hard towards the half hidden image, feeling but ill at ease meantime—to see what was next to follow.

這會兒我死命瞇眼盯著那半掩著的偶像，心裡七上八下——想看接下來會怎樣。

First he takes about a double handful of shavings out of his grego pocket, and places them carefully before the idol; then laying a bit of ship biscuit on top and applying the flame from the lamp, he kindled the shavings into a sacrificial blaze.

他先從大衣口袋裡掏出約莫兩捧木屑，仔細擺在偶像跟前；再在上頭放一塊船上的硬餅乾，湊上燈火一點，把木屑點成一團獻祭的火焰。

Presently, after many hasty snatches into the fire, and still hastier withdrawals of his fingers (whereby he seemed to be scorching them badly), he at last succeeded in drawing out the biscuit; then blowing off the heat and ashes a little, he made a polite offer of it to the little negro.

不一會兒，他一次次急忙地往火裡抓、又更急忙地把手指縮回來（看樣子手指被燙得不輕），最後總算把那塊餅乾夾了出來；接著吹掉些熱氣和灰燼，便彬彬有禮地把它獻給那黑色小人。

But the little devil did not seem to fancy such dry sort of fare at all; he never moved his lips.

但那小鬼似乎一點都不賞臉吃這種乾巴巴的東西；它的嘴唇動都沒動一下。

All these strange antics were accompanied by still stranger guttural noises from the devotee, who seemed to be praying in a sing-song or else singing some pagan psalmody or other, during which his face twitched about in the most unnatural manner.

這一切古怪的舉動，還伴隨著這位信徒口中更古怪的喉音；他似乎在用一種抑揚頓挫的腔調禱告，要不就是在唱某種異教的讚美詩，唱的時候，他的臉以一種極不自然的方式抽搐著。

At last extinguishing the fire, he took the idol up very unceremoniously, and bagged it again in his grego pocket as carelessly as if he were a sportsman bagging a dead woodcock.

最後他把火滅了，毫不客氣地一把抓起那偶像，又隨手塞回大衣口袋裡，那隨便勁兒，活像個獵人把一隻打死的山鷸往袋裡一塞。

All these queer proceedings increased my uncomfortableness, and seeing him now exhibiting strong symptoms of concluding his business operations, and jumping into bed with me, I thought it was high time, now or never, before the light was put out, to break the spell in which I had so long been bound.

這一連串古怪的舉動，更添了我的不自在；眼看他這會兒露出種種要收尾、要跳上床跟我同睡的明顯跡象，我想此刻正是時候，過了這村沒這店，得趕在燈滅之前，打破這個把我困了這麼久的魔咒。

But the interval I spent in deliberating what to say, was a fatal one.

但我用來斟酌該說什麼的那一小段空檔，卻是致命的。

Taking up his tomahawk from the table, he examined the head of it for an instant, and then holding it to the light, with his mouth at the handle, he puffed out great clouds of tobacco smoke.

他從桌上拿起他那把戰斧，端詳了一下斧頭，然後把它湊到燈光下，嘴對著斧柄，噗噗吐出大團大團的菸霧。

The next moment the light was extinguished, and this wild cannibal, tomahawk between his teeth, sprang into bed with me.

下一刻燈就滅了，這野蠻的食人族，叼著那把戰斧，一個翻身跳上床來跟我同睡。

I sang out, I could not help it now; and giving a sudden grunt of astonishment he began feeling me.

我尖叫出聲，這會兒實在忍不住了；他猛地驚「哼」一聲，便伸手在我身上摸索起來。

Stammering out something, I knew not what, I rolled away from him against the wall, and then conjured him, whoever or whatever he might be, to keep quiet, and let me get up and light the lamp again.

我結結巴巴不知吐出了句什麼，一邊翻身躲開他、貼到牆邊，一邊懇求他——不管他是何方神聖——安分點，讓我起來把燈重新點上。

But his guttural responses satisfied me at once that he but ill comprehended my meaning.

但他那喉音的回應立刻讓我明白，他根本沒怎麼聽懂我的意思。

“Who-e debel you?”—he at last said—“you no speak-e, dam-me, I kill-e.” And so saying the lighted tomahawk began flourishing about me in the dark.

「你係——什麼鬼東西？」他終於開口——「你不講話，他媽的，我宰了你。」說著，那把點著火的戰斧便在黑暗中朝我揮舞起來。

“Landlord, for God’s sake, Peter Coffin!” shouted I. “Landlord! Watch! Coffin! Angels! save me!”

「店主，看在上帝份上，彼得・柯芬！」我大喊。「店主！更夫！柯芬！天使啊！救救我！」

“Speak-e! tell-ee me who-ee be, or dam-me, I kill-e!” again growled the cannibal, while his horrid flourishings of the tomahawk scattered the hot tobacco ashes about me till I thought my linen would get on fire.

「講啊！告訴我你係——誰，不然，他媽的，我宰了你！」那食人族又咆哮道，他那駭人的揮斧把滾燙的菸灰撒得我滿身都是，我都以為自己的內衣要燒起來了。

But thank heaven, at that moment the landlord came into the room light in hand, and leaping from the bed I ran up to him.

但謝天謝地，就在這時店主提著燈走進房來，我一個翻身下床朝他奔去。

“Don’t be afraid now,” said he, grinning again, “Queequeg here wouldn’t harm a hair of your head.”

「別怕了，」他又咧嘴笑著說，「這位魁魁格，連你一根頭髮都不會傷的。」

“Stop your grinning,” shouted I, “and why didn’t you tell me that that infernal harpooneer was a cannibal?”

「別笑了，」我嚷道，「你幹嘛不早告訴我，那個該死的魚叉手是個食人族？」

“I thought ye know’d it;—didn’t I tell ye, he was a peddlin’ heads around town?—but turn flukes again and go to sleep. Queequeg, look here—you sabbee me, I sabbee—you this man sleepe you—you sabbee?”

「我以為你曉得呢；——我不是跟你說了，他在城裡四處賣頭嗎？——好啦，再翻過去睡吧。魁魁格，聽著——你『懂得』我，我『懂得』——你，這個人睡你（這兒）——你『懂』不『懂』？」

“Me sabbee plenty”—grunted Queequeg, puffing away at his pipe and sitting up in bed.

「我懂得很——」魁魁格哼了一聲，一邊在床上坐起身，一邊吧嗒吧嗒抽著他的菸斗。

“You gettee in,” he added, motioning to me with his tomahawk, and throwing the clothes to one side.

「你進來，」他補了一句，拿戰斧朝我比劃著，把被子掀到一邊。

He really did this in not only a civil but a really kind and charitable way.

他這麼做，不僅彬彬有禮，而且當真透著一股善意與寬厚。

I stood looking at him a moment. For all his tattooings he was on the whole a clean, comely looking cannibal.

我站著看了他一會兒。撇開他那一身刺青不談，他整體上是個乾乾淨淨、相貌堂堂的食人族。

What’s all this fuss I have been making about, thought I to myself—the man’s a human being just as I am: he has just as much reason to fear me, as I have to be afraid of him.

我剛剛到底在大驚小怪些什麼呀，我暗自尋思——這人跟我一樣是個人：他怕我的理由，和我怕他的理由，半斤八兩。

Better sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian.

寧可跟一個清醒的食人族同床，也別跟一個醉醺醺的基督徒同睡。

“Landlord,” said I, “tell him to stash his tomahawk there, or pipe, or whatever you call it; tell him to stop smoking, in short, and I will turn in with him. But I don’t fancy having a man smoking in bed with me. It’s dangerous. Besides, I ain’t insured.”

「店主，」我說，「叫他把那戰斧——或者菸斗，隨你怎麼叫它——擱到一邊去；總之，叫他別抽了，我就跟他睡。可我不喜歡有人在床上跟我一起抽菸。那很危險。再說，我又沒保險。」

This being told to Queequeg, he at once complied, and again politely motioned me to get into bed—rolling over to one side as much as to say—“I won’t touch a leg of ye.”

這話一傳給魁魁格，他立刻照辦，又彬彬有禮地示意我上床——一邊往一側翻過去，那意思彷彿是說——「我連你一條腿都不會碰。」

“Good night, landlord,” said I, “you may go.”

「晚安，店主，」我說，「你可以走了。」

I turned in, and never slept better in my life.

我鑽進被窩，這輩子從沒睡得這麼香過。