這項(xiàng)差使是要把白馬鯨脂塊剁碎后放到鍋里去;做法是使用一只尾部安在舷墻邊的木馬,下邊放著一只很大的木桶,剁碎的肉片就落在木桶里,速度之快有如一個(gè)慷慨激昂的演說家把講稿從講臺(tái)上一頁頁地翻落下來。他穿著莊重的黑衣服;高踞在顯眼的講壇上;全神貫注在圣經(jīng)紙上(原注:圣經(jīng)紙!圣經(jīng)紙!這是大副們對剁肉手的固定的叫喊聲。意思是叫他剁得仔細(xì),盡量切得越薄越好,因?yàn)榍械帽【涂梢远喟境鲇蛠?,也許不僅可以改進(jìn)品質(zhì),而且還能大大增加分量。);這個(gè)剁肉手可多象一個(gè)大主教職位的候補(bǔ)人,可多象羅馬教皇的小廝呀!
Chapter 96 The Try-Works
第九十六章 煉油間
Besides her hoisted boats, an American whaler is outwardly distinguished by her try-works. She presents the curious anomaly of the most solid masonry joining with oak and hemp in constituting the completed ship. It is as if from the open field a brick-kiln were transported to her planks.
要從外表上識(shí)別一艘美國捕鯨船,我們除了看到它有吊起的小艇外,還可以看到它有煉油間。煉油間是整個(gè)捕鯨船的一部分,它奇特得有如用?樹麻皮摻混起來的一種最堅(jiān)固的泥水作物。它仿佛是把曠野上一座磚瓦窯給搬到船上來了。
The try-works are planted between the foremast and mainmast, the most roomy part of the deck.
煉油間就設(shè)在前桅與主桅之間的地方,也是甲板上最為寬敞的部分。