Stubb and Flask1 mounted on them, and passing additional lashings over the anchors there hanging.
No, Stubb; you may pound that knot there as much as you please, but you will never pound into me what you were just now saying. And how long ago is it since you said the very contrary? Didn't you once say that whatever ship Ahab sails in, that ship should pay something extra on its insurance policy, just as though it were loaded with powder barrels aft and boxes of lucifers forward? Stop, now; didn't you say so?"
"Well, suppose I did? What then! I've part changed my flesh since that time, why not my mind? Besides, supposing we are loaded with powder barrels aft and lucifers forward; how the devil could the lucifers get afire in this drenching3 spray here? Why, my little man, you have pretty red hair, but you couldn't get afire now. Shake yourself; you're Aquarius, or the water-bearer, Flask; might fill pitchers4 at your coat collar. Don't you see, then, that for these extra risks the Marine5 Insurance companies have extra guarantees? Here are hydrants, Flask. But hark, again, and I'll answer ye the other thing. First take your leg off from the crown of the anchor here, though, so I can pass the rope; now listen. What's the mighty6 difference between holding a mast's lightning-rod in the storm, and standing7 close by a mast that hasn't got any lightning-rod at all in a storm? Don't you see, you timber-head, that no harm can come to the holder8 of the rod, unless the mast is first struck? What are you talking about, then? Not one ship in a hundred carries rods, and Ahab,--aye, man, and all of us,--were in no more danger then, in my poor opinion, than all the crews in ten thousand ships now sailing the seas. Why, you King-Post, you, I suppose you would have every man in the world go about with a small lightning-rod running up the corner of his hat, like a militia9 officer's skewered10 feather, and trailing behind like his sash. Why don't ye be sensible, Flask? it's easy to be sensible; why don't ye, then? any man with half an eye can be sensible."
"I don't know that, Stubb. You sometimes find it rather hard."
"Yes, when a fellow's soaked through, it's hard to be sensible, that's a fact. And I am about drenched11 with this spray. Never mind; catch the turn there, and pass it. Seems to me we are lashing2 down these anchors now as if they were never going to be used again. Tying these two anchors here, Flask, seems like tying a man's hands behind him. And what big generous hands they are, to be sure. These are your iron fists, hey? What a hold they have, too! I wonder, Flask, whether the world is anchored anywhere; if she is, she swings with an uncommon12 long cable, though. There, hammer that knot down, and we've done. So; next to touching13 land, lighting14 on deck is the most satisfactory. I say, just wring15 out my jacket skirts, will ye? Thank ye. They laugh at long-togs so, Flask; but seems to me, a long-tailed coat ought always to be worn in all storms afloat. The tails tapering16 down that way, serve to carry off the water, d'ye see. Same with cocked hats; the cocks form gable-end eave-troughs, Flask. No more monkey-jackets and tarpaulins18 for me; I must mount a swallow-tail, and drive down a beaver19; so. Halloa! whew! there goes my tarpaulin17 overboard; Lord, Lord, that the winds that come from heaven should be so unmannerly! This is a nasty night, lad."
1 flask | |
n.瓶,火药筒,砂箱 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 lashing | |
n.鞭打;痛斥;大量;许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 );煽动;紧系;怒斥 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 drenching | |
n.湿透v.使湿透( drench的现在分词 );在某人(某物)上大量使用(某液体) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 pitchers | |
大水罐( pitcher的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 marine | |
adj.海的;海生的;航海的;海事的;n.水兵 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 holder | |
n.持有者,占有者;(台,架等)支持物 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 militia | |
n.民兵,民兵组织 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 skewered | |
v.(用串肉扦或类似物)串起,刺穿( skewer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 drenched | |
adj.湿透的;充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 );在某人(某物)上大量使用(某液体) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 uncommon | |
adj.罕见的,非凡的,不平常的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 touching | |
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 lighting | |
n.照明,光线的明暗,舞台灯光 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 wring | |
n.扭绞;v.拧,绞出,扭 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 tapering | |
adj.尖端细的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 tarpaulin | |
n.涂油防水布,防水衣,防水帽 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 tarpaulins | |
n.防水帆布,防水帆布罩( tarpaulin的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 beaver | |
n.海狸,河狸 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |