Notonlyweretheoldsailsbeingmended,butnewsailswerecomingonboard,andboltsofcanvas,andcoilsofrigging;inshort,everythingbetokenedthattheship’spreparationswerehurryingtoaclose.
CaptainPelegseldomorneverwentashore,butsatinhiswigwamkeepingasharplook-outuponthehands:Bildaddidallthepurchasingandprovidingatthestores;andthemenemployedintheholdandontheriggingwereworkingtilllongafternight-fall.
OnthedayfollowingQueequeg’ssigningthearticles,wordwasgivenatalltheinnswheretheship’scompanywerestopping,thattheirchestsmustbeonboardbeforenight,fortherewasnotellinghowsoonthevesselmightbesailing.
Butnowonder;therewasagooddealtobedone,andthereisnotellinghowmanythingstobethoughtof,beforethePequodwasfullyequipped.
Everyoneknowswhatamultitudeofthings-beds,sauce-pans,knivesandforks,shovelsandtongs,napkins,nut-crackers,andwhatnot,areindispensabletothebusinessofhousekeeping.
Justsowithwhaling,whichnecessitatesathree-years’housekeepinguponthewideocean,farfromallgrocers,costermongers,doctors,bakers,andbankers.
Forbesidesthegreatlengthofthewhalingvoyage,thenumerousarticlespeculiartotheprosecutionofthefishery,andtheimpossibilityofreplacingthemattheremoteharborsusuallyfrequented,itmustberemembered,thatofallships,whalingvesselsarethemostexposedtoaccidentsofallkinds,andespeciallytothedestructionandlossoftheverythingsuponwhichthesuccessofthevoyagemostdepends.
Hence,thespareboats,sparespars,andsparelinesandharpoons,andspareeverythings,almost,butaspareCaptainandduplicateship.
AttheperiodofourarrivalattheIsland,theheavieststorageofthePequodhadbeenalmostcompleted;comprisingherbeef,bread,water,fuel,andironhoopsandstaves.
But,asbeforehinted,forsometimetherewasacontinualfetchingandcarryingonboardofdiversoddsandendsofthings,bothlargeandsmall.
ChiefamongthosewhodidthisfetchingandcarryingwasCaptainBildad’ssister,aleanoldladyofamostdeterminedandindefatigablespirit,butwithalverykindhearted,whoseemedresolvedthat,ifshecouldhelpit,nothingshouldbefoundwantinginthePequod,afteroncefairlygettingtosea.
Atonetimeshewouldcomeonboardwithajarofpicklesforthesteward’spantry;anothertimewithabunchofquillsforthechiefmate’sdesk,wherehekepthislog;athirdtimewitharollofflannelforthesmallofsomeone’srheumaticback.
AndlikeasisterofcharitydidthischaritableAuntCharitybustleabouthitherandthither,readytoturnherhandandhearttoanythingthatpromisedtoyieldsafety,comfort,andconsolationtoallonboardashipinwhichherbelovedbrotherBildadwasconcerned,andinwhichsheherselfownedascoreortwoofwell-saveddollars.
ButitwasstartlingtoseethisexcellentheartedQuakeresscomingonboard,asshedidthelastday,withalongoil-ladleinonehand,andstilllongerwhalinglanceintheother.
AsforBildad,hecarriedaboutwithhimalonglistofthearticlesneeded,andateveryfresharrival,downwenthismarkoppositethatarticleuponthepaper.
EveryonceinawhilePelegcamehobblingoutofhiswhaleboneden,roaringatthemendownthehatchways,roaringuptotheriggersatthemast-head,andthenconcludedbyroaringbackintohiswigwam.
Duringthesedaysofpreparation,QueequegandIoftenvisitedthecraft,andasoftenIaskedaboutCaptainAhab,andhowhewas,andwhenhewasgoingtocomeonboardhisship.
Tothesequestionstheywouldanswer,thathewasgettingbetterandbetter,andwasexpectedaboardeveryday;meantime,thetwocaptains,PelegandBildad,couldattendtoeverythingnecessarytofitthevesselforthevoyage.
IfIhadbeendownrighthonestwithmyself,IwouldhaveseenveryplainlyinmyheartthatIdidbuthalffancybeingcommittedthiswaytosolongavoyage,withoutoncelayingmyeyesonthemanwhowastobeabsolutedictatorofit,sosoonastheshipsailedoutupontheopensea.
Share this article to
FINISH