they were in such a weakened condition that the captain durst not put off with them in so heavy a vessel. 他们已是精疲力竭，船长不敢一下子把这么一艘困难重重的船启航离岸。

　　After taking counsel with his officers, he anchored the ship as far off shore as possible; loaded and ran out his two cannon from the bows; 船长跟他的头目们商量后，决定暂时把船尽可能地泊得远远的，并在船头架起两门大炮，

　　stacked his muskets on the poop; and warning the Islanders not to approach the ship at their peril, 把他那些滑膛枪都架在舵楼上，好教那些岛民不敢随便冒险靠近船边。

　　took one man with him, and setting the sail of his best whale-boat,  这样，他就带了一个人，扯起他那只最好的捕鲸小艇的帆，

　　steered straight before the wind for Tahiti, five hundred miles distant, to procure a reinforcement to his crew. 径自顺风驶往五百英里外的塔希提，去设法补充水手。

　　"On the fourth day of the sail, a large canoe was descried, which seemed to have touched at a low isle of corals. “小艇航驶到第四天上，突然发现了一只大独木舟，这只独木舟好象要停靠在一个小珊瑚岛上。

　　He steered away from it; but the savage craft bore down on him; and soon the voice of Steelkilt hailed him to heave to, or he would run him under water. 他把小艇撑开，不跟那只独木舟接近，可是那只野船却朝他直冲上来，立即竟听到斯蒂尔基尔特的声音，招呼他停下来，否则，就要把他弄进海里。

　　The captain presented a pistol. 船长掏出了枪。

　　With one foot on each prow of the yoked war-canoes, the Lakeman laughed him to scorn;  那个湖上人双脚跨在那只双连作战独木舟的前头，嘲笑着他；

　　assuring him that if the pistol so much as clicked in the lock, he would bury him in bubbles and foam. 对他肯定地说，如果那支枪真的卡塔一扳上，就把他葬身在浪沫翻腾的海里。

　　What do you want of me? cried the captain." 你向我要什么呀？船长大声叫道。”

　　"Where are you bound? and for what are you bound? demanded Steelkilt; no lies. “你要到哪里去？你要去干什么？别说谎。斯蒂尔基尔特问道。

　　I am bound to Tahiti for more men." 我要到塔希提去再雇些人。”

　　Very good. Let me board you a moment--I come in peace. 很好，让我到你船上去一下——我是和和平平来的。