叉架

Out of the trunk, the branches grow; out of them, the twigs. So, in productive subjects, grow the chapters.

從樹幹，長出枝椏；從枝椏，長出細梢。同樣，在豐產的主題裡，章節也這麼生長出來。

The crotch alluded to on a previous page deserves independent mention. It is a notched stick of a peculiar form, some two feet in length, which is perpendicularly inserted into the starboard gunwale near the bow, for the purpose of furnishing a rest for the wooden extremity of the harpoon, whose other naked, barbed end slopingly projects from the prow. 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.

前頁提到的那個叉架（crotch），值得獨立一提。它是一根形狀特殊、約兩呎長、帶有缺口（notched）的木棍，垂直地插進船首附近的右舷（starboard）上緣，用途是給標槍的木柄那一端提供一個擱靠處，而標槍另一端那赤裸、帶倒鉤（barbed）的尖頭，則斜斜地（slopingly）從船首突出。如此一來，武器隨時就在擲槍者的手邊——他從擱架上一把抓起它，就像林間拓荒獵人（backwoodsman）從牆上一把抄起他的步槍那樣俐落。習慣上叉架裡擱著兩支標槍，分別叫做「第一鐵器」和「第二鐵器」。

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... 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... that weapon must, at all events, be anticipatingly tossed out of the boat... the spare coils of box line... making this feat, in most instances, prudently practicable. But this critical act is not always unattended with the saddest and most fatal casualties.

但這兩支標槍，各以自己的索，都連著同一條繩；用意在此：若可能，就一支緊接一支地把它們都擲進同一頭鯨；這樣萬一在接下來的拖拽中一支脫了鉤，另一支仍能保有咬住的力。這是把命中的機會加倍。但常常發生的是：由於鯨一中第一支鐵器、便那瞬間、猛烈、痙攣般地（convulsive）狂奔，標槍手動作縱然快如閃電，也變得無法把第二支鐵器擲進牠體內。然而，既然第二支鐵器已經連著繩、繩又正在飛走，這件武器無論如何都必須被「預先地」（anticipatingly）、想辦法、隨便往哪兒拋出艇外；否則最可怕的危險會牽連全員。於是這種情況下，它就被翻拋進水裡了；前一章提過的箱繩備用盤圈，使這一手在多數情況下得以審慎地（prudently）辦到。但這個關鍵動作，並不總是不伴隨著最慘痛、最致命的傷亡（casualties）。

Furthermore: you must know that when the second iron is thrown overboard, it thenceforth becomes a dangling, sharp-edged terror, skittishly curvetting about both boat and whale, entangling the lines, or cutting them, and making a prodigious sensation in all directions. Nor, in general, is it possible to secure it again until the whale is fairly captured and a corpse.

還有：你必須知道，當第二支鐵器被拋出舷外，它從此就成了一個懸蕩的、利刃般的恐怖，在艇與鯨之間驚跳地騰躍翻滾（skittishly curvetting），纏住那些繩索、或割斷它們，並朝四面八方掀起天大的騷動。而且一般而言，要等到鯨確實被捕、成了一具屍體，才可能再把它收牢。

Consider, now, how it must be in the case of four boats all engaging one unusually strong, active, and knowing whale; when owing to these qualities in him, as well as to the thousand concurring accidents of such an audacious enterprise, eight or ten loose second irons may be simultaneously dangling about him. ...All these particulars are faithfully narrated here, as they will not fail to elucidate several most important, however intricate passages, in scenes hereafter to be painted.

現在想一想，當四艘小艇一齊攻擊一頭異常強壯、活躍、又精明的鯨時，那會是什麼光景；由於牠這些特質、加上這種大膽冒險（audacious enterprise）中千百樁交織並發的（concurring）意外，可能有八到十支鬆脫的第二鐵器同時在牠周圍懸蕩亂晃。因為當然，每艘艇都備有好幾支標槍，以便在第一支無功而擲、又收不回時，換接到繩上。所有這些細節在此忠實地敘述，因為它們必將有助於闡明（elucidate）此後要描繪的場景中、那幾個極重要卻也極錯綜的段落。