The monster, instead of sounding, darts impetuously forward.
這只長須鯨沒有下潛,而是徑直向前游去,
The boat holds fast by the line.
拖著船快速前行。
The water hisses, and dense clouds of spray fly over her bows.
海水發(fā)出嘶嘶的聲音,濃密的水霧掠過船頭。
The whale continues his onward course.
長須鯨繼續(xù)向前游。
The crew, accustomed only to the less powerful true whale of Baffin Bay,
船員們只習慣于捕殺巴芬灣那些不很強壯的鯨魚,
believe that he must soon be tired out.
他們認為長須鯨肯定很快就會筋疲力盡。
Now they see before them a long, unbroken ice-field.
現(xiàn)在,他們看見前面出現(xiàn)一片長長的完整的冰原。
Unwilling to lose their prize, no one gives the order to cut the line.
他們不想放棄獵物,沒有人下令切斷魚線。
On, on they dash. Almost before they are aware of it, they are on the edge of the ice.
他們一直向前進。當他們意識到的時候,船已經(jīng)來到冰的邊緣。
With the speed of lightning the whale plunges beneath the wide-extending sheet of ice,
長須鯨像一陣光,迅速扎入了廣闊的冰原。
and in another instant the boat's bow strikes it.
突然,船頭撞到了它。
Before a hand can be raised to cut the rope,
沒有人來得及割斷繩子,
and almost before the crew can utter a despairing cry, downward the boat is drawn;
船員們甚至沒來得及發(fā)出一聲絕望的呼叫,船就傾覆了;
and those who are watching her at a distance, with horror see her and all on board disappear!
那些在遠處觀望的人都非常驚恐,看著長須鯨和那條船從眼前消失!
They row up to the spot, but not a trace of the boat nor of their companions is to be found.
他們趕過去時,船和船員早已不見蹤影。