English
Inbedweconcoctedourplansforthemorrow.
Buttomysurpriseandnosmallconcern,Queequegnowgavemetounderstand,thathehadbeendiligentlyconsultingYojo-thenameofhisblacklittlegod-andYojohadtoldhimtwoorthreetimesover,andstronglyinsisteduponiteveryway,thatinsteadofourgoingtogetheramongthewhaling-fleetinharbor,andinconcertselectingourcraft;insteadofthis,Isay,Yojoearnestlyenjoinedthattheselectionoftheshipshouldrestwhollywithme,inasmuchasYojopurposedbefriendingus;and,inordertodoso,hadalreadypitcheduponavessel,which,iflefttomyself,I,Ishmael,shouldinfalliblylightupon,foralltheworldasthoughithadturnedoutbychance;andinthatvesselImustimmediatelyshipmyself,forthepresentirrespectiveofQueequeg.
Ihaveforgottentomentionthat,inmanythings,QueequegplacedgreatconfidenceintheexcellenceofYojo’sjudgmentandsurprisingforecastofthings;andcherishedYojowithconsiderableesteem,asarathergoodsortofgod,whoperhapsmeantwellenoughuponthewhole,butinallcasesdidnotsucceedinhisbenevolentdesigns.
Now,thisplanofQueequeg’sorratherYojo’s,touchingtheselectionofourcraft;Ididnotlikethatplanatall.
IhadnotalittlerelieduponQueequeg’ssagacitytopointoutthewhalerbestfittedtocarryusandourfortunessecurely.
ButasallmyremonstrancesproducednoeffectuponQueequeg,Iwasobligedtoacquiesce;andaccordinglypreparedtosetaboutthisbusinesswithadeterminedrushingsortofenergyandvigor,thatshouldquicklysettlethattriflinglittleaffair.
Nextmorningearly,leavingQueequegshutupwithinourlittlebedroom-foritseemedthatitwassomesortofLentorRamadan,ordayoffasting,humiliation,andprayerwithQueequegandYojothatday;howitwasInevercouldfindout,for,thoughIappliedmyselftoitseveraltimes,InevercouldmasterhisliturgiesandXXXIXArticles-leavingQueequeg,then,fastingonhistomahawkpipe,andYojowarminghimselfathissacrificialfireofshavings,Isalliedoutamongtheshipping.
Aftermuchprolongedsauntering,andmanyrandominquiries,Ilearntthattherewerethreeshipsupforthree-years’voyages-TheDevil-dam,theTit-bit,andthePequod.
Devil-dam,Idonotknowtheoriginof;Tit-bitisobvious;Pequodyouwillnodoubtremember,wasthenameofacelebratedtribeofMassachusettsIndians;nowextinctastheancientMedes.
IpeeredandpryedabouttheDevil-dam;fromher,hoppedovertotheTit-bit;andfinally,goingonboardthePequod,lookedaroundherforamoment,andthendecidedthatthiswastheveryshipforus.
Youmayhaveseenmanyaquaintcraftinyourday,foraughtIknow;-square-toedluggers;mountainousJapanesejunks;butter-boxgalliots,andwhatnot;buttakemywordforit,youneversawsucharareoldcraftasthissamerareoldPequod.
Shewasashipoftheoldschool,rathersmallifanything;withanold-fashionedclaw-footedlookabouther.
Longseasonedandweather-stainedinthetyphoonsandcalmsofallfouroceans,heroldhull’scomplexionwasdarkenedlikeaFrenchgrenadier’s,whohasalikefoughtinEgyptandSiberia.Hervenerablebowslookedbearded.
Hermasts-cutsomewhereonthecoastofJapan,whereheroriginaloneswerelostoverboardinagale-hermastsstoodstifflyuplikethespinesofthethreeoldkingsofCologne.
Herancientdeckswerewornandwrinkled,likethepilgrim-worshippedflag-stoneinCanterburyCathedralwhereBecketbled.
Buttoalltheseheroldantiquities,wereaddednewandmarvellousfeatures,pertainingtothewildbusinessthatformorethanhalfacenturyshehadfollowed.
OldCaptainPeleg,manyyearsherchief-mate,beforehecommandedanothervesselofhisown,andnowaretiredseaman,andoneoftheprincipalownersofthePequod,-thisoldPeleg,duringthetermofhischief-mateship,hadbuiltuponheroriginalgrotesqueness,andinlaidit,allover,withaquaintnessbothofmaterialanddevice,unmatchedbyanythingexceptitbeThorkill-Hake’scarvedbucklerorbedstead.
ShewasapparelledlikeanybarbaricEthiopianemperor,hisneckheavywithpendantsofpolishedivory.Shewasathingoftrophies.
Acannibalofacraft,trickingherselfforthinthechasedbonesofherenemies.
Allround,herunpanelled,openbulwarksweregarnishedlikeonecontinuousjaw,withthelongsharpteethofthespermwhale,insertedthereforpins,tofastenheroldhempenthewsandtendonsto.
Thosethewsrannotthroughbaseblocksoflandwood,butdeftlytravelledoversheavesofsea-ivory.
Scorningaturnstilewheelatherreverendhelm,shesportedthereatiller;andthattillerwasinonemass,curiouslycarvedfromthelongnarrowlowerjawofherhereditaryfoe.
Thehelmsmanwhosteeredthattillerinatempest,feltliketheTartar,whenheholdsbackhisfierysteedbyclutchingitsjaw.
Anoblecraft,butsomehowamostmelancholy!Allnoblethingsaretouchedwiththat.
NowwhenIlookedaboutthequarter-deck,forsomeonehavingauthority,inordertoproposemyselfasacandidateforthevoyage,atfirstIsawnobody;butIcouldnotwelloverlookastrangesortoftent,orratherwigwam,pitchedalittlebehindthemain-mast.
Itseemedonlyatemporaryerectionusedinport.
Itwasofaconicalshape,sometenfeethigh;consistingofthelong,hugeslabsoflimberblackbonetakenfromthemiddleandhighestpartofthejawsoftheright-whale.
Plantedwiththeirbroadendsonthedeck,acircleoftheseslabslacedtogether,mutuallyslopedtowardseachother,andattheapexunitedinatuftedpoint,wheretheloosehairyfibreswavedtoandfrolikethetop-knotonsomeoldPottowottamieSachem’shead.
Atriangularopeningfacedtowardsthebowsoftheship,sothattheinsidercommandedacompleteviewforward.
Andhalfconcealedinthisqueertenement,Iatlengthfoundonewhobyhisaspectseemedtohaveauthority;andwho,itbeingnoon,andtheship’sworksuspended,wasnowenjoyingrespitefromtheburdenofcommand.
Hewasseatedonanold-fashionedoakenchair,wrigglingalloverwithcuriouscarving;andthebottomofwhichwasformedofastoutinterlacingofthesameelasticstuffofwhichthewigwamwasconstructed.
Therewasnothingsoveryparticular,perhaps,abouttheappearanceoftheelderlymanIsaw;hewasbrownandbrawny,likemostoldseamen,andheavilyrolledupinbluepilot-cloth,cutintheQuakerstyle;onlytherewasafineandalmostmicroscopicnet-workoftheminutestwrinklesinterlacingroundeyes,whichmusthavearisenfromhiscontinualsailingsinmanyhardgales,andalwayslookingtowindward;-forthiscausesthemusclesabouttheeyestobecomepursedtogether.
Sucheye-wrinklesareveryeffectualinascowl.
“IsthistheCaptainofthePequod?”saidI,advancingtothedoorofthetent.
“SupposingitbethecaptainofthePequod,whatdostthouwantofhim?”hedemanded.
“Iwasthinkingofshipping.”
“Thouwast,wastthou?IseethouartnoNantucketer-everbeeninastoveboat?”
“No,Sir,Ineverhave.”
“Dostknownothingatallaboutwhaling,Idaresay-eh?
“Nothing,Sir;butIhavenodoubtIshallsoonlearn.I’vebeenseveralvoyagesinthemerchantservice,andIthinkthat-”
“Merchantservicebedamned.Talknotthatlingotome.Dostseethatleg?
-I’lltakethatlegawayfromthystern,ifeverthoutalkestofthemerchantservicetomeagain.Marchantserviceindeed!
Isupposenowyefeelconsiderableproudofhavingservedinthosemarchantships.Butflukes!
man,whatmakestheewanttogoawhaling,eh?
-itlooksalittlesuspicious,don’tit,eh?-Hastnotbeenapirate,hastthou?
-DidstnotrobthylastCaptain,didstthou?
-Dostnotthinkofmurderingtheofficerswhenthougettesttosea?”
Iprotestedmyinnocenceofthesethings.
Isawthatunderthemaskofthesehalfhumorousinnuendoes,thisoldseaman,asaninsulatedQuakerishNantucketer,wasfullofhisinsularprejudices,andratherdistrustfulofallaliens,unlesstheyhailedfromCapeCodortheVineyard.
“Butwhattakestheea-whaling?IwanttoknowthatbeforeIthinkofshippingye.”
“Well,sir,Iwanttoseewhatwhalingis.Iwanttoseetheworld.”
“Wanttoseewhatwhalingis,eh?HaveyeclappedeyeonCaptainAhab?”
“WhoisCaptainAhab,sir?”
“Aye,aye,Ithoughtso.CaptainAhabistheCaptainofthisship.”
“Iammistakenthen.IthoughtIwasspeakingtotheCaptainhimself.”
“ThouartspeakingtoCaptainPeleg-that’swhoyearespeakingto,youngman.
ItbelongstomeandCaptainBildadtoseethePequodfittedoutforthevoyage,andsuppliedwithallherneeds,includingcrew.Wearepartownersandagents.
ButasIwasgoingtosay,ifthouwantesttoknowwhatwhalingis,asthoutellestyedo,Icanputyeinawayoffindingitoutbeforeyebindyourselftoit,pastbackingout.
ClapeyeonCaptainAhab,youngman,andthouwiltfindthathehasonlyoneleg.”
“Whatdoyoumean,sir?Wastheotheronelostbyawhale?”
“Lostbyawhale!Youngman,comenearertome:itwasdevoured,chewedup,crunchedbythemonstrousestparmacettythateverchippedaboat!-ah,ah!”
Iwasalittlealarmedbyhisenergy,perhapsalsoalittletouchedattheheartygriefinhisconcludingexclamation,butsaidascalmlyasIcould,“Whatyousayisnodoubttrueenough,sir;buthowcouldIknowtherewasanypeculiarferocityinthatparticularwhale,thoughindeedImighthaveinferredasmuchfromthesimplefactoftheaccident.”
“Lookyenow,youngman,thylungsareasortofsoft,d’yesee;thoudostnottalksharkabit.Sure,ye’vebeentoseabeforenow;sureofthat?”
“Sir,”saidI,“IthoughtItoldyouthatIhadbeenfourvoyagesinthemerchant-”
“Harddownoutofthat!MindwhatIsaidaboutthemarchantservice-don’taggravateme-Iwon’thaveit.Butletusunderstandeachother.
Ihavegiventheeahintaboutwhatwhalingis!doyeyetfeelinclinedforit?”
“Ido,sir.”
“Verygood.Now,artthouthemantopitchaharpoondownalivewhale’sthroat,andthenjumpafterit?Answer,quick!”
“Iam,sir,ifitshouldbepositivelyindispensabletodoso;nottobegotridof,thatis;whichIdon’ttaketobethefact.”
“Goodagain.Nowthen,thounotonlywantesttogoa-whaling,tofindoutbyexperiencewhatwhalingis,butyealsowanttogoinordertoseetheworld?Wasnotthatwhatyesaid?Ithoughtso.
Wellthen,juststepforwardthere,andtakeapeepovertheweatherbow,andthenbacktomeandtellmewhatyeseethere.”
ForamomentIstoodalittlepuzzledbythiscuriousrequest,notknowingexactlyhowtotakeit,whetherhumorouslyorinearnest.
Butconcentratingallhiscrow’sfeetintoonescowl,CaptainPelegstartedmeontheerrand.
Goingforwardandglancingovertheweatherbow,Iperceivedthattheshipswingingtoheranchorwiththeflood-tide,wasnowobliquelypointingtowardstheopenocean.
Theprospectwasunlimited,butexceedinglymonotonousandforbidding;nottheslightestvarietythatIcouldsee.
“Well,what’sthereport?”saidPelegwhenIcameback;“whatdidyesee?”
“Notmuch,”Ireplied-“nothingbutwater;considerablehorizonthough,andthere’sasquallcomingup,Ithink.”
“Well,whatdoesthouthinkthenofseeingtheworld?DoyewishtogoroundCapeHorntoseeanymoreofit,eh?Can’tyeseetheworldwhereyoustand?”
Iwasalittlestaggered,butgoa-whalingImust,andIwould;andthePequodwasasgoodashipasany-Ithoughtthebest-andallthisInowrepeatedtoPeleg.
Seeingmesodetermined,heexpressedhiswillingnesstoshipme.
“Andthoumayestaswellsignthepapersrightoff,”headded-“comealongwithye.”Andsosaying,heledthewaybelowdeckintothecabin.
Seatedonthetransomwaswhatseemedtomeamostuncommonandsurprisingfigure.
ItturnedouttobeCaptainBildadwhoalongwithCaptainPelegwasoneofthelargestownersofthevessel;theothershares,asissometimesthecaseintheseports,beingheldbyacrowdofoldannuitants;widows,fatherlesschildren,andchancerywards;eachowningaboutthevalueofatimberhead,orafootofplank,oranailortwointheship.
PeopleinNantucketinvesttheirmoneyinwhalingvessels,thesamewaythatyoudoyoursinapprovedstatestocksbringingingoodinterest.
Now,Bildad,likePeleg,andindeedmanyotherNantucketers,wasaQuaker,theislandhavingbeenoriginallysettledbythatsect;andtothisdayitsinhabitantsingeneralretaininanuncommonmeasurepeculiaritiesoftheQuaker,onlyvariouslyandanomalouslymodifiedbythingsaltogetheralienandheterogeneous.
ForsomeofthesesameQuakersarethemostsanguinaryofallsailorsandwhale-hunters.
TheyarefightingQuakers;theyareQuakerswithavengeance.
Sothatthereareinstancesamongthemofmen,who,namedwithScripturenames-asingularlycommonfashionontheisland-andinchildhoodnaturallyimbibingthestatelydramatictheeandthouoftheQuakeridiom;still,fromtheaudacious,daring,andboundlessadventureoftheirsubsequentlives,strangelyblendwiththeseunoutgrownpeculiarities,athousandbolddashesofcharacter,notunworthyaScandinaviansea-king,orapoeticalPaganRoman.
Andwhenthesethingsuniteinamanofgreatlysuperiornaturalforce,withaglobularbrainandaponderousheart;whohasalsobythestillnessandseclusionofmanylongnight-watchesintheremotestwaters,andbeneathconstellationsneverseenhereatthenorth,beenledtothinkuntraditionallyandindependently;receivingallnature’ssweetorsavageimpressionsfreshfromherownvirginvoluntaryandconfidingbreast,andtherebychiefly,butwithsomehelpfromaccidentaladvantages,tolearnaboldandnervousloftylanguage-thatmanmakesoneinawholenation’scensus-amightypageantcreature,formedfornobletragedies.
Norwillitatalldetractfromhim,dramaticallyregarded,ifeitherbybirthorothercircumstances,hehavewhatseemsahalfwilfuloverrulingmorbidnessatthebottomofhisnature.
Forallmentragicallygreataremadesothroughacertainmorbidness.
Besureofthis,Oyoungambition,allmortalgreatnessisbutdisease.
But,asyetwehavenottodowithsuchanone,butwithquiteanother;andstillaman,who,ifindeedpeculiar,itonlyresultsagainfromanotherphaseoftheQuaker,modifiedbyindividualcircumstances.
LikeCaptainPeleg,CaptainBildadwasawell-to-do,retiredwhaleman.
ButunlikeCaptainPeleg-whocarednotarushforwhatarecalledseriousthings,andindeeddeemedthoseself-sameseriousthingstheveriestofalltrifles-CaptainBildadhadnotonlybeenoriginallyeducatedaccordingtothestrictestsectofNantucketQuakerism,butallhissubsequentoceanlife,andthesightofmanyunclad,lovelyislandcreatures,roundtheHorn-allthathadnotmovedthisnativebornQuakeronesinglejot,hadnotsomuchasalteredoneangleofhisvest.
Still,forallthisimmutableness,wastheresomelackofcommonconsistencyaboutworthyCaptainPeleg.
Thoughrefusing,fromconscientiousscruples,tobeararmsagainstlandinvaders,yethimselfhadillimitablyinvadedtheAtlanticandPacific;andthoughaswornfoetohumanbloodshed,yethadheinhisstraight-bodiedcoat,spilledtunsupontunsofleviathangore.
Hownowinthecontemplativeeveningofhisdays,thepiousBildadreconciledthesethingsinthereminiscence,Idonotknow;butitdidnotseemtoconcernhimmuch,andveryprobablyhehadlongsincecometothesageandsensibleconclusionthataman’sreligionisonething,andthispracticalworldquiteanother.Thisworldpaysdividends.
Risingfromalittlecabinboyinshortclothesofthedrabbestdrab,toaharpooneerinabroadshad-belliedwaistcoat;fromthatbecomingboat-header,chiefmate,andcaptain,andfinallyashipowner;Bildad,asIhintedbefore,hadconcludedhisadventurouscareerbywhollyretiringfromactivelifeatthegoodlyageofsixty,anddedicatinghisremainingdaystothequietreceivingofhiswell-earnedincome.
Now,Bildad,Iamsorrytosay,hadthereputationofbeinganincorrigibleoldhunks,andinhissea-goingdays,abitter,hardtask-master.
TheytoldmeinNantucket,thoughitcertainlyseemsacuriousstory,thatwhenhesailedtheoldCategutwhaleman,hiscrew,uponarrivinghome,weremostlyallcarriedashoretothehospital,soreexhaustedandwornout.
Forapiousman,especiallyforaQuaker,hewascertainlyratherhard-hearted,tosaytheleast.
Heneverusedtoswear,though,athismen,theysaid;butsomehowhegotaninordinatequantityofcruel,unmitigatedhardworkoutofthem.
WhenBildadwasachief-mate,tohavehisdrab-coloredeyeintentlylookingatyou,madeyoufeelcompletelynervous,tillyoucouldclutchsomething-ahammeroramarrling-spike,andgotoworklikemad,atsomethingorother,nevermindwhat.
Indolenceandidlenessperishedbeforehim.
Hisownpersonwastheexactembodimentofhisutilitariancharacter.
Onhislong,gauntbody,hecarriednospareflesh,nosuperfluousbeard,hischinhavingasoft,economicalnaptoit,likethatwornnapofhisbroad-brimmedhat.
Such,then,wasthepersonthatIsawseatedonthetransomwhenIfollowedCaptainPelegdownintothecabin.
Thespacebetweenthedeckswassmall;andthere,boltupright,satoldBildad,whoalwayssatso,andneverleaned,andthistosavehiscoat-tails.
Hisbroad-brimwasplacedbesidehim;hislegswerestifflycrossed;hisdrabvesturewasbuttoneduptohischin;andspectaclesonnose,heseemedabsorbedinreadingfromaponderousvolume.
“Bildad,”criedCaptainPeleg,“atitagain,Bildad,eh?YehavebeenstudyingthoseScriptures,now,forthelastthirtyyears,tomycertainknowledge.Howfaryegot,Bildad?”
Asiflonghabituatedtosuchprofanetalkfromhisoldshipmate,Bildad,withoutnoticinghispresentirreverence,quietlylookedup,andseeingme,glancedagaininquiringlytowardsPeleg.
“Hesayshe’sourman,Bildad,”saidPeleg,“hewantstoship.”
“Dostthee?”saidBildad,inahollowtone,andturningroundtome.
“Idost,”saidIunconsciously,hewassointenseaQuaker.
“Whatdoyethinkofhim,Bildad?”saidPeleg.
“He’lldo,”saidBildad,eyeingme,andthenwentonspellingawayathisbookinamumblingtonequiteaudible.
IthoughthimthequeerestoldQuakerIeversaw,especiallyasPeleg,hisfriendandoldshipmate,seemedsuchablusterer.
ButIsaidnothing,onlylookingroundmesharply.
Pelegnowthrewopenachest,anddrawingforththeship’sarticles,placedpenandinkbeforehim,andseatedhimselfatalittletable.
IbegantothinkitwashightimetosettlewithmyselfatwhattermsIwouldbewillingtoengageforthevoyage.
Iwasalreadyawarethatinthewhalingbusinesstheypaidnowages;butallhands,includingthecaptain,receivedcertainsharesoftheprofitscalledlays,andthattheselayswereproportionedtothedegreeofimportancepertainingtotherespectivedutiesoftheship’scompany.
Iwasalsoawarethatbeingagreenhandatwhaling,myownlaywouldnotbeverylarge;butconsideringthatIwasusedtothesea,couldsteeraship,splicearope,andallthat,ImadenodoubtthatfromallIhadheardIshouldbeofferedatleastthe275thlay-thatis,the275thpartoftheclearnetproceedsofthevoyage,whateverthatmighteventuallyamountto.
Andthoughthe275thlaywaswhattheycallaratherlonglay,yetitwasbetterthannothing;andifwehadaluckyvoyage,mightprettynearlypayfortheclothingIwouldwearoutonit,nottospeakofmythreeyears’beefandboard,forwhichIwouldnothavetopayonestiver.
Itmightbethoughtthatthiswasapoorwaytoaccumulateaprincelyfortune-andsoitwas,averypoorwayindeed.
ButIamoneofthosewhonevertakeonaboutprincelyfortunes,andamquitecontentiftheworldisreadytoboardandlodgeme,whileIamputtingupatthisgrimsignoftheThunderCloud.
Uponthewhole,Ithoughtthe275thlaywouldbeaboutthefairthing,butwouldnothavebeensurprisedhadIbeenofferedthe200th,consideringIwasofabroad-shoulderedmake.
Butonething,nevertheless,thatmademealittledistrustfulaboutreceivingagenerousshareoftheprofitswasthis:Ashore,IhadheardsomethingofbothCaptainPelegandhisunaccountableoldcronyBildad;howthattheybeingtheprincipalproprietorsofthePequod,thereforetheotherandmoreinconsiderableandscatteredowners,leftnearlythewholemanagementoftheship’saffairstothesetwo.
AndIdidnotknowbutwhatthestingyoldBildadmighthaveamightydealtosayaboutshippinghands,especiallyasInowfoundhimonboardthePequod,quiteathomethereinthecabin,andreadinghisBibleasifathisownfireside.
NowwhilePelegwasvainlytryingtomendapenwithhisjack-knife,oldBildad,tomynosmallsurprise,consideringthathewassuchaninterestedpartyintheseproceedings;Bildadneverheededus,butwentonmumblingtohimselfoutofhisbook,“Laynotupforyourselvestreasuresuponearth,wheremoth-”
“Well,CaptainBildad,”interruptedPeleg,“whatd’yesay,whatlayshallwegivethisyoungman?”
“Thouknowestbest,”wasthesepulchralreply,“thesevenhundredandseventy-seventhwouldn’tbetoomuch,wouldit?-‘wheremothandrustdocorrupt,butlay-’”
Lay,indeed,thoughtI,andsuchalay!thesevenhundredandseventy-seventh!
Well,oldBildad,youaredeterminedthatI,forone,shallnotlayupmanylaysherebelow,wheremothandrustdocorrupt.
Itwasanexceedinglylonglaythat,indeed;andthoughfromthemagnitudeofthefigureitmightatfirstdeceivealandsman,yettheslightestconsiderationwillshowthatthoughsevenhundredandseventy-sevenisaprettylargenumber,yet,whenyoucometomakeateenthofit,youwillthensee,Isay,thatthesevenhundredandseventy-seventhpartofaforthingisagooddeallessthansevenhundredandseventy-sevengolddoubloons;andsoIthoughtatthetime.
“Why,blastyoureyes,Bildad,”criedPeleg,“thoudostnotwanttoswindlethisyoungman!hemusthavemorethanthat.”
“Sevenhundredandseventy-seventh,”againsaidBildad,withoutliftinghiseyes;andthenwentonmumbling-“forwhereyourtreasureis,therewillyourheartbealso.”
“Iamgoingtoputhimdownforthethreehundredth,”saidPeleg,“doyehearthat,Bildad!Thethreehundredthlay,Isay.”
Bildadlaiddownhisbook,andturningsolemnlytowardshimsaid,
“CaptainPeleg,thouhastagenerousheart;butthoumustconsiderthedutythouowesttotheotherownersofthisship-widowsandorphans,manyofthem-andthatifwetooabundantlyrewardthelaborsofthisyoungman,wemaybetakingthebreadfromthosewidowsandthoseorphans.
Thesevenhundredandseventy-seventhlay,CaptainPeleg.”
“ThouBildad!”roaredPeleg,startingupandclatteringaboutthecabin.
“Blastye,CaptainBildad,ifIhadfollowedthyadviceinthesematters,IwouldaforenowhadaconsciencetolugaboutthatwouldbeheavyenoughtofounderthelargestshipthateversailedroundCapeHorn.”
“CaptainPeleg,”saidBildadsteadily,“thyconsciencemaybedrawingteninchesofwater,ortenfathoms,Ican’ttell;butasthouartstillanimpenitentman,CaptainPeleg,Igreatlyfearlestthyconsciencebebutaleakyone;andwillintheendsinktheefounderingdowntothefierypit,CaptainPeleg.”
“Fierypit!fierypit!
yeinsultme,man;pastallnaturalbearing,yeinsultme.
It’sanall-firedoutragetotellanyhumancreaturethathe’sboundtohell.Flukesandflames!
Bildad,saythatagaintome,andstartmysoulbolts,butI’ll-I’ll-yes,I’llswallowalivegoatwithallhishairandhornson.
Outofthecabin,yecanting,drab-coloredsonofawoodengun-astraightwakewithye!”
AshethunderedoutthishemadearushatBildad,butwithamarvellousoblique,slidingcelerity,Bildadforthattimeeludedhim.
Alarmedatthisterribleoutburstbetweenthetwoprincipalandresponsibleownersoftheship,andfeelinghalfamindtogiveupallideaofsailinginavesselsoquestionablyownedandtemporarilycommanded,IsteppedasidefromthedoortogiveegresstoBildad,who,Imadenodoubt,wasalleagernesstovanishfrombeforetheawakenedwrathofPeleg.
Buttomyastonishment,hesatdownagainonthetransomveryquietly,andseemedtohavenottheslightestintentionofwithdrawing.
HeseemedquiteusedtoimpenitentPelegandhisways.
AsforPeleg,afterlettingoffhisrageashehad,thereseemednomoreleftinhim,andhe,too,satdownlikealamb,thoughhetwitchedalittleasifstillnervouslyagitated.“Whew!”
hewhistledatlast-“thesquall’sgoneofftoleeward,Ithink.
Bildad,thouusedtobegoodatsharpeningalance,mendthatpen,willye.
Myjack-knifehereneedsthegrindstone.That’she;thankye,Bildad.
Nowthen,myyoungman,Ishmael’sthyname,didn’tyesay?
Wellthen,downyegohere,forthethreehundredthlay.”
“CaptainPeleg,”saidI,“Ihaveafriendwithmewhowantstoshiptoo-shallIbringhimdownto-morrow?”
“Tobesure,”saidPeleg.“Fetchhimalong,andwe’lllookathim.”
“Whatlaydoeshewant?”groanedBildad,glancingupfromtheBookinwhichhehadagainbeenburyinghimself.
“Oh!nevertheemindaboutthat,Bildad,”saidPeleg.“Hasheeverwhaleditany?”turningtome.
“KilledmorewhalesthanIcancount,CaptainPeleg.”
“Well,bringhimalongthen.”
And,aftersigningthepapers,offIwent;nothingdoubtingbutthatIhaddoneagoodmorning’swork,andthatthePequodwastheidenticalshipthatYojohadprovidedtocarryQueequegandmeroundtheCape.
ButIhadnotproceededfar,whenIbegantobethinkmethattheCaptainwithwhomIwastosailyetremainedunseenbyme;though,indeed,inmanycases,awhale-shipwillbecompletelyfittedout,andreceiveallhercrewonboard,erethecaptainmakeshimselfvisiblebyarrivingtotakecommand;forsometimesthesevoyagesaresoprolonged,andtheshoreintervalsathomesoexceedinglybrief,thatifthecaptainhavefamily,oranyabsorbingconcernmentofthatsort,hedoesnottroublehimselfmuchabouthisshipinport,butleaveshertotheownerstillallisreadyforsea.
However,itisalwaysaswelltohavealookathimbeforeirrevocablycommittingyourselfintohishands.
TurningbackIaccostedCaptainPeleg,inquiringwhereCaptainAhabwastobefound.
“AndwhatdostthouwantofCaptainAhab?It’sallrightenough;thouartshipped.”
“Yes,butIshouldliketoseehim.”
“ButIdon’tthinkthouwiltbeabletoatpresent.
Idon’tknowexactlywhat’sthematterwithhim;buthekeepscloseinsidethehouse;asortofsick,andyethedon’tlookso.
Infact,heain’tsick;butno,heisn’twelleither.
Anyhow,youngman,hewon’talwaysseeme,soIdon’tsupposehewillthee.
He’saqueerman,CaptainAhab-sosomethink-butagoodone.
Oh,thou’ltlikehimwellenough;nofear,nofear.
He’sagrand,ungodly,god-likeman,CaptainAhab;doesn’tspeakmuch;but,whenhedoesspeak,thenyoumaywelllisten.
Markye,beforewarned;Ahab’sabovethecommon;Ahab’sbeenincolleges,aswellas‘mongthecannibals;beenusedtodeeperwondersthanthewaves;fixedhisfierylanceinmightier,strangerfoesthanwhales.Hislance!
aye,thekeenestandsurestthatoutofallourisle!Oh!
heain’tCaptainBildad;no,andheain’tCaptainPeleg;he’sAhab,boy;andAhabofold,thouknowest,wasacrownedking!”
“Andaveryvileone.Whenthatwickedkingwasslain,thedogs,didtheynotlickhisblood?”
“Comehithertome-hither,hither,”saidPeleg,withasignificanceinhiseyethatalmoststartledme.
“Lookye,lad;neversaythatonboardthePequod.Neversayitanywhere.CaptainAhabdidnotnamehimself.’
Twasafoolish,ignorantwhimofhiscrazy,widowedmother,whodiedwhenhewasonlyatwelvemonthold.
AndyettheoldsquawTistig,atGayhead,saidthatthenamewouldsomehowproveprophetic.
And,perhaps,otherfoolslikehermaytelltheethesame.Iwishtowarnthee.It’salie.
IknowCaptainAhabwell;I’vesailedwithhimasmateyearsago;knowwhatheis-agoodman-notapious,goodman,likeBildad,butaswearinggoodman-somethinglikeme-onlythere’sagooddealmoreofhim.
Aye,aye,Iknowthathewasneververyjolly;andIknowthatonthepassagehomehewasalittleoutofhismindforaspell;butitwasthesharpshootingpainsinhisbleedingstumpthatbroughtthatabout,asanyonemightsee.
Iknow,too,thateversincehelosthisleglastvoyagebythataccursedwhale,he’sbeenakindofmoody-desperatemoody,andsavagesometimes;butthatwillallpassoff.
Andonceforall,letmetelltheeandassurethee,youngman,it’sbettertosailwithamoodygoodcaptainthanalaughingbadone.
Sogood-byetothee-andwrongnotCaptainAhab,becausehehappenstohaveawickedname.
Besides,myboy,hehasawife-notthreevoyageswedded-asweet,resignedgirl.
Thinkofthat;bythatsweetgirlthatoldmanhadachild:holdyethentherecanbeanyutter,hopelessharminAhab?
No,no,mylad;stricken,blasted,ifhebe,Ahabhashishumanities!”
AsIwalkedaway,Iwasfullofthoughtfulness;whathadbeenincidentallyrevealedtomeofCaptainAhab,filledmewithacertainwildvaguenessofpainfulnessconcerninghim.
Andsomehow,atthetime,Ifeltasympathyandasorrowforhim,butforIdon’tknowwhat,unlessitwasthecruellossofhisleg.
AndyetIalsofeltastrangeaweofhim;butthatsortofawe,whichIcannotatalldescribe,wasnotexactlyawe;Idonotknowwhatitwas.
ButIfeltit;anditdidnotdisinclinemetowardshim;thoughIfeltimpatienceatwhatseemedlikemysteryinhim,soimperfectlyashewasknowntomethen.
However,mythoughtswereatlengthcarriedinotherdirections,sothatforthepresentdarkAhabslippedmymind.
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