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Nothingmorehappenedonthepassageworthythementioning;so,afterafinerun,wesafelyarrivedinNantucket.
Nantucket!Takeoutyourmapandlookatit.
Seewhatarealcorneroftheworlditoccupies;howitstandsthere,awayoffshore,morelonelythantheEddystonelighthouse.
Lookatit-amerehillock,andelbowofsand;allbeach,withoutabackground.
Thereismoresandtherethanyouwoulduseintwentyyearsasasubstituteforblottingpaper.
Somegamesomewightswilltellyouthattheyhavetoplantweedsthere,theydon’tgrownaturally;thattheyimportCanadathistles;thattheyhavetosendbeyondseasforaspiletostopaleakinanoilcask;thatpiecesofwoodinNantucketarecarriedaboutlikebitsofthetruecrossinRome;thatpeoplethereplanttoadstoolsbeforetheirhouses,togetundertheshadeinsummertime;thatonebladeofgrassmakesanoasis,threebladesinaday’swalkaprairie;thattheywearquicksandshoes,somethinglikeLaplandersnow-shoes;thattheyaresoshutup,beltedabout,everywayinclosed,surrounded,andmadeanutterislandofbytheocean,thattotheverychairsandtablessmallclamswillsometimesbefoundadheringastothebacksofseaturtles.
ButtheseextravaganzasonlyshowthatNantucketisnoIllinois.
Looknowatthewondroustraditionalstoryofhowthisislandwassettledbythered-men.Thusgoesthelegend.
InoldentimesaneagleswoopeddownupontheNewEnglandcoastandcarriedoffaninfantIndianinhistalons.
Withloudlamenttheparentssawtheirchildborneoutofsightoverthewidewaters.
Theyresolvedtofollowinthesamedirection.
Settingoutintheircanoes,afteraperilouspassagetheydiscoveredtheisland,andtheretheyfoundanemptyivorycasket,-thepoorlittleIndian’sskeleton.
Whatwonder,then,thattheseNantucketers,bornonabeach,shouldtaketotheseaforalivelihood!
Theyfirstcaughtcrabsandquahogsinthesand;grownbolder,theywadedoutwithnetsformackerel;moreexperienced,theypushedoffinboatsandcapturedcod;andatlast,launchinganavyofgreatshipsonthesea,exploredthiswateryworld;putanincessantbeltofcircumnavigationsroundit;peepedinatBehring’sStraits;andinallseasonsandalloceansdeclaredeverlastingwarwiththemightiestanimatedmassthathassurvivedtheflood;mostmonstrousandmostmountainous!
ThatHimmalehan,salt-sea,Mastodon,clothedwithsuchportentousnessofunconsciouspower,thathisverypanicsaremoretobedreadedthanhismostfearlessandmaliciousassaults!
AndthushavethesenakedNantucketers,theseseahermits,issuingfromtheirant-hillinthesea,overrunandconqueredthewateryworldlikesomanyAlexanders;parcellingoutamongthemtheAtlantic,Pacific,andIndianoceans,asthethreepiratepowersdidPoland.
LetAmericaaddMexicotoTexas,andpileCubauponCanada;lettheEnglishoverswarmallIndia,andhangouttheirblazingbannerfromthesun;twothirdsofthisterraqueousglobearetheNantucketer’s.
Fortheseaishis;heownsit,asEmperorsownempires;otherseamenhavingbutarightofwaythroughit.
Merchantshipsarebutextensionbridges;armedonesbutfloatingforts;evenpiratesandprivateers,thoughfollowingtheseaashighwaymentheroad.
theybutplunderotherships,otherfragmentsofthelandlikethemselves,withoutseekingtodrawtheirlivingfromthebottomlessdeepitself.
TheNantucketer,healoneresidesandriotsonthesea;healone,inBiblelanguage,goesdowntoitinships;toandfroploughingitashisownspecialplantation.
Thereishishome;therelieshisbusinesswhichaNoah’sfloodwouldnotinterrupt,thoughitoverwhelmedallthemillionsinChina.
Helivesonthesea,asprairiecocksintheprairie;hehidesamongthewaves,heclimbsthemaschamoishuntersclimbtheAlps.
Foryearsheknowsnottheland;sothatwhenhecomestoitatlast,itsmellslikeanotherworld,morestrangelythanthemoonwouldtoanEarthsman.
Withthelandlessgull,thatatsunsetfoldsherwingsandisrockedtosleepbetweenbillows;soatnightfall,theNantucketer,outofsightofland,furlshissails,andlayshimtohisrest,whileunderhisverypillowrushherdsofwalrusesandwhales.
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