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Thephantoms,forsotheythenseemed,wereflittingontheothersideofthedeck,and,withanoiselesscelerity,werecastingloosethetacklesandbandsoftheboatwhichswungthere.
Thisboathadalwaysbeendeemedoneofthespareboats,thoughtechnicallycalledthecaptain’s,onaccountofitshangingfromthestarboardquarter.
Thefigurethatnowstoodbyitsbowswastallandswart,withonewhitetoothevillyprotrudingfromitssteel-likelips.
ArumpledChinesejacketofblackcottonfunereallyinvestedhim,withwideblacktrowsersofthesamedarkstuff.
Butstrangelycrowningthisebonnesswasaglisteningwhiteplaitedturban,thelivinghairbraidedandcoiledroundandrounduponhishead.
Lessswartinaspect,thecompanionsofthisfigurewereofthatvivid,tiger-yellowcomplexionpeculiartosomeoftheaboriginalnativesoftheManillas;-aracenotoriousforacertaindiabolismofsubtilty,andbysomehonestwhitemarinerssupposedtobethepaidspiesandsecretconfidentialagentsonthewaterofthedevil,theirlord,whosecounting-roomtheysupposetobeelsewhere.
Whileyetthewonderingship’scompanyweregazinguponthesestrangers,Ahabcriedouttothewhite-turbanedoldmanattheirhead,“Allreadythere,Fedallah?”
“Ready,”wasthehalf-hissedreply.
“Lowerawaythen;d’yehear?”shoutingacrossthedeck.“Lowerawaythere,Isay.”
Suchwasthethunderofhisvoice,thatspiteoftheiramazementthemensprangovertherail;thesheaveswhirledroundintheblocks;withawallow,thethreeboatsdroppedintothesea;while,withadexterous,off-handeddaring,unknowninanyothervocation,thesailors,goat-like,leapeddowntherollingship’ssideintothetossedboatsbelow.
Hardlyhadtheypulledoutfromundertheship’slee,whenafourthkeel,comingfromthewindwardside,pulledroundunderthestern,andshowedthefivestrangersrowingAhab,who,standingerectinthestern,loudlyhailedStarbuck,Stubb,andFlask,tospreadthemselveswidely,soastocoveralargeexpanseofwater.
ButwithalltheireyesagainrivetedupontheswartFedallahandhiscrew,theinmatesoftheotherboatsobeyednotthecommand.
“CaptainAhab?-”saidStarbuck.
“Spreadyourselves,”criedAhab;“giveway,allfourboats.Thou,Flask,pulloutmoretoleeward!”
“Aye,aye,sir,”cheerilycriedlittleKing-Post,sweepingroundhisgreatsteeringoar.“Layback!”addressinghiscrew.“There!-there!-thereagain!Theresheblowsrightahead,boys!-layback!
“Neverheedyonderyellowboys,Archy.”
“Oh,Idon’tmind’em,sir,”saidArchy;“Iknewitallbeforenow.Didn’tIhear‘eminthehold?Anddidn’tItellCabacohereofit?Whatsaywe,Cabaco?Theyarestowaways,Mr.Flask.”
“Pull,pull,myfinehearts-alive;pull,mychildren;pull,mylittleones,”drawlinglyandsoothinglysighedStubbtohiscrew,someofwhomstillshowedsignsofuneasiness.
“Whydon’tyoubreakyourbackbones,myboys?Whatisityoustareat?Thosechapsinyonderboat?Tut!
Theyareonlyfivemorehandscometohelpusnevermindfromwherethemorethemerrier.
Pull,then,dopull;nevermindthebrimstonedevilsaregoodfellowsenough.
So,so;thereyouarenow;that’sthestrokeforathousandpounds;that’sthestroketosweepthestakes!
Hurrahforthegoldcupofspermoil,myheroes!Threecheers,men-allheartsalive!
Easy,easy;don’tbeinahurry-don’tbeinahurry.
Whydon’tyousnapyouroars,yourascals?Bitesomething,youdogs!So,so,so,then:-softly,softly!That’sit-that’sit!longandstrong.Givewaythere,giveway!
Thedevilfetchye,yeragamuffinrapscallions;yeareallasleep.Stopsnoring,yesleepers,andpull.Pull,willye?pull,can’tye?pull,won’tye?
Whyinthenameofgudgeonsandginger-cakesdon’tyepull?-pullandbreaksomething!pull,andstartyoureyesout!
Here,”whippingoutthesharpknifefromhisgirdle;“everymother’ssonofyedrawhisknife,andpullwiththebladebetweenhisteeth.That’sit-that’sit.
Nowyedosomething;thatlookslikeit,mysteel-bits.Starther-starther,mysilverspoons!Starther,marling-spikes!”
Stubb’sexordiumtohiscrewisgivenhereatlarge,becausehehadratherapeculiarwayoftalkingtothemingeneral,andespeciallyininculcatingthereligionofrowing.
Butyoumustnotsupposefromthisspecimenofhissermonizingsthatheeverflewintodownrightpassionswithhiscongregation.
Notatall;andthereinconsistedhischiefpeculiarity.
Hewouldsaythemostterrificthingstohiscrew,inatonesostrangelycompoundedoffunmostterriandfury,andthefuryseemedsocalculatedmerelyasaspicetothefun,thatnooarsmencouldhearsuchqueerinvocationswithoutpullingfordearlife,andyetpullingforthemerejokeofthething.
Besidesheallthetimelookedsoeasyandindolenthimself,solounginglymanagedhissteering-oar,andsobroadlygaped-open-mouthedattimes-thatthemeresightofsuchayawningcommander,bysheerforceofcontrast,actedlikeacharmuponthecrew.
Thenagain,Stubbwasoneofthoseoddsortofhumorists,whosejollityissometimessocuriouslyambiguous,astoputallinferiorsontheirguardinthematterofobeyingthem.
InobediencetoasignfromAhab,StarbuckwasnowpullingobliquelyacrossStubb’sbow;andwhenforaminuteorsothetwoboatswereprettyneartoeachother,Stubbhailedthemate.
“Mr.Starbuck!larboardboatthere,ahoy!awordwithye,sir,ifyeplease!”
“Halloa!”returnedStarbuck,turningroundnotasingleinchashespoke;stillearnestlybutwhisperinglyurginghiscrew;hisfacesetlikeaflintfromStubb’s.
“Whatthinkyeofthoseyellowboys,sir!
“Smuggledonboard,somehow,beforetheshipsailed.(Strong,strong,boys!)”
inawhispertohiscrew,thenspeakingoutloudagain:“Asadbusiness,Mr.Stubb!(seetheher,seetheher,mylads!)
butnevermind,Mr.Stubb,allforthebest.
Letallyourcrewpullstrong,comewhatwill.(Spring,mymen,spring!)
There’shogsheadsofspermahead,Mr.Stubb,andthat’swhatyecamefor.(Pull,myboys!)Sperm,sperm’stheplay!
Thisatleastisduty;dutyandprofithandinhand.”
“Aye,aye,Ithoughtasmuch,”soliloquizedStubb,whentheboatsdiverged,“assoonasIclapteyeon‘em,Ithoughtso.
Aye,andthat’swhathewentintotheafterholdfor,sooften,asDough-Boylongsuspected.Theywerehiddendownthere.TheWhiteWhale’satthebottomofit.Well,well,sobeit!Can’tbehelped!Allright!Givewaymen!Itain’ttheWhiteWhaleto-day!Giveway!”
Nowtheadventoftheseoutlandishstrangersatsuchacriticalinstantastheloweringoftheboatsfromthedeck,thishadnotunreasonablyawakenedasortofsuperstitiousamazementinsomeoftheship’scompany;butArchy’sfancieddiscoveryhavingsometimepreviousgotabroadamongthem,thoughindeednotcreditedthen,thishadinsomesmallmeasurepreparedthemfortheevent.
Ittookofftheextremeedgeoftheirwonder;andsowhatwithallthisandStubb’sconfidentwayofaccountingfortheirappearance,theywereforthetimefreedfromsuperstitioussurmisings;thoughtheaffairstillleftabundantroomforallmannerofwildconjecturesastodarkAhab’spreciseagencyinthematterfromthebeginning.
Forme,IsilentlyrecalledthemysteriousshadowsIhadseencreepingonboardthePequodduringthedimNantucketdawn,aswellastheenigmaticalhintingsoftheunaccountableElijah.
Meantime,Ahab,outofhearingofhisofficers,havingsidedthefurthesttowindward,wasstillrangingaheadoftheotherboats;acircumstancebespeakinghowpotentacrewwaspullinghim.
Thosetigeryellowcreaturesofhisseemedallsteelandwhalebone;likefivetrip-hammerstheyroseandfellwithregularstrokesofstrength,whichperiodicallystartedtheboatalongthewaterlikeahorizontalburstboileroutofaMississippisteamer.
AsforFedallah,whowasseenpullingtheharpooneeroar,hehadthrownasidehisblackjacket,anddisplayedhisnakedchestwiththewholepartofhisbodyabovethegunwale,clearlycutagainstthealternatingdepressionsofthewateryhorizon;whileattheotherendoftheboatAhab,withonearm,likeafencer’s,thrownhalfbackwardintotheair,asiftocounterbalanceanytendencytotrip;AhabwasseensteadilymanaginghissteeringoarasinathousandboatloweringseretheWhiteWhalehadtornhim.
Allatoncetheoutstretchedarmgaveapeculiarmotionandthenremainedfixed,whiletheboat’sfiveoarswereseensimultaneouslypeaked.
Boatandcrewsatmotionlessonthesea.
Instantlythethreespreadboatsintherearpausedontheirway.
Thewhaleshadirregularlysettledbodilydownintotheblue,thusgivingnodistantlydiscernibletokenofthemovement,thoughfromhiscloservicinityAhabhadobservedit.
“Everymanlookoutalonghisoars!”criedStarbuck.“Thou,Queequeg,standup!”
Nimblyspringinguponthetriangularraisedboxinthebow,thesavagestooderectthere,andwithintenselyeagereyesgazedofftowardsthespotwherethechasehadlastbeendescried.
Likewiseupontheextremesternoftheboatwhereitwasalsotriangularlyplatformedlevelwiththegunwale,Starbuckhimselfwasseencoollyandadroitlybalancinghimselftothejerkingtossingsofhischipofacraft,andsilentlyeyeingthevastblueeyeofthesea.
NotveryfardistantFlask’sboatwasalsolyingbreathlesslystill;itscommanderrecklesslystandinguponthetopoftheloggerhead,astoutsortofpostrootedinthekeel,andrisingsometwofeetabovethelevelofthesternplatform.
Itisusedforcatchingturnswiththewhaleline.
Itstopisnotmorespaciousthanthepalmofaman’shand,andstandinguponsuchabaseasthat,Flaskseemedperchedatthemast-headofsomeshipwhichhadsunktoallbuthertrucks.
ButlittleKing-Postwassmallandshort,andatthesametimelittleKing-Postwasfullofalargeandtallambition,sothatthisloggerheadstand-pointofhisdidbynomeanssatisfyKing-Post.
“Ican’tseethreeseasoff;tipusupanoarthere,andletmeontothat.”
Uponthis,Daggoo,witheitherhanduponthegunwaletosteadyhisway,swiftlyslidaft,andthenerectinghimselfvolunteeredhisloftyshouldersforapedestal.
“Goodamast-headasany,sir.Willyoumount?”
“ThatIwill,andthankyeverymuch,myfinefellow;onlyIwishyoufiftyfeettaller.”
Whereuponplantinghisfeetfirmlyagainsttwooppositeplanksoftheboat,thegiganticnegro,stoopingalittle,presentedhisflatpalmtoFlask’sfoot,andthenputtingFlask’shandonhishearse-plumedheadandbiddinghimspringashehimselfshouldtoss,withonedexterousflinglandedthelittlemanhighanddryonhisshoulders.
AndherewasFlasknowstanding,Daggoowithoneliftedarmfurnishinghimwithabreastbandtoleanagainstandsteadyhimselfby.
Atanytimeitisastrangesighttothetyrotoseewithwhatwondroushabitudeofunconsciousskillthewhalemanwillmaintainanerectpostureinhisboat,evenwhenpitchedaboutbythemostriotouslyperverseandcross-runningseas.
Stillmorestrangetoseehimgiddilyperchedupontheloggerheaditself,undersuchcircumstances.
ButthesightoflittleFlaskmountedupongiganticDaggoowasyetmorecurious;forsustaininghimselfwithacool,indifferent,easy,unthoughtof,barbaricmajesty,thenoblenegrotoeveryrolloftheseaharmoniouslyrolledhisfineform.
Onhisbroadback,flaxen-hairedFlaskseemedasnow-flake.
Thebearerlookednoblerthantherider.
Thoughtrulyvivacious,tumultuous,ostentatiouslittleFlaskwouldnowandthenstampwithimpatience;butnotoneaddedheavedidhetherebygivetothenegro’slordlychest.
SohaveIseenPassionandVanitystampingthelivingmagnanimousearth,buttheearthdidnotalterhertidesandherseasonsforthat.
MeanwhileStubb,thethirdmate,betrayednosuchfar-gazingsolicitudes.
Thewhalesmighthavemadeoneoftheirregularsoundings,notatemporarydivefrommerefright;andifthatwerethecase,Stubb,ashiswontinsuchcases,itseems,wasresolvedtosolacethelanguishingintervalwithhispipe.
Hewithdrewitfromhishatband,wherehealwaysworeitaslantlikeafeather.
Heloadedit,andrammedhometheloadingwithhisthumb-end;buthardlyhadheignitedhismatchacrosstheroughsandpaperofhishand,whenTashtego,hisharpooneer,whoseeyeshadbeensettingtowindwardliketwofixedstars,suddenlydroppedlikelightfromhiserectattitudetohisseat,cryingoutinaquickphrensyofhurry,“Down,downall,andgiveway!-theretheyare!”
Toalandsman,nowhale,noranysignofaherring,wouldhavebeenvisibleatthatmoment;nothingbutatroubledbitofgreenishwhitewater,andthinscatteredpuffsofvaporhoveringoverit,andsuffusinglyblowingofftoleeward,liketheconfusedscudfromwhiterollingbillows.
Theairaroundsuddenlyvibratedandtingled,asitwere,liketheairoverintenselyheatedplatesofiron.
Beneaththisatmosphericwavingandcurling,andpartiallybeneathathinlayerofwater,also,thewhaleswereswimming.
Seeninadvanceofalltheotherindications,thepuffsofvaportheyspouted,seemedtheirforerunningcouriersanddetachedflyingoutriders.
Allfourboatswerenowinkeenpursuitofthatonespotoftroubledwaterandair.
Butitbadefaroutstripthem;itflewonandon,amassofinterblendingbubblesbornedownarapidstreamfromthehills.
“Pull,pull,mygoodboys,”saidStarbuck,inthelowestpossiblebutintensestconcentratedwhispertohismen;whilethesharpfixedglancefromhiseyesdartedstraightaheadofthebow,almostseemedastwovisibleneedlesintwounerringbinnaclecompasses.
Hedidnotsaymuchtohiscrew,though,nordidhiscrewsayanythingtohim.
Onlythesilenceoftheboatwasatintervalsstartlinglypiercedbyoneofhispeculiarwhispers,nowharshwithcommand,nowsoftwithentreaty.
HowdifferenttheloudlittleKing-Post.
“Singoutandsaysomething,myhearties.Roarandpull,mythunderbolts!
Beachme,beachmeontheirblackbacks,boys;onlydothatforme,andI’llsignovertoyoumyMartha’sVineyardplantation,boys;includingwifeandchildren,boys.Laymeon-laymeon!OLord,Lord!butIshallgostark,staringmad!See!seethatwhitewater!”
Andsoshouting,hepulledhishatfromhishead,andstampedupanddownonit;thenpickingitup,flirteditfaroffuponthesea;andfinallyfelltorearingandplungingintheboat’ssternlikeacrazedcoltfromtheprairie.
“Lookatthatchapnow,”philosophicallydrawledStubb,who,withhisunlightedshortpipe,mechanicallyretainedbetweenhisteeth,atashortdistance,followedafter-“He’sgotfits,thatFlaskhas.Fits?
yes,givehimfits-that’stheveryword-pitchfitsinto‘em.Merrily,merrily,hearts-alive.
Puddingforsupper,youknow;-merry’stheword.
Pull,babes-pull,sucklings-pull,all.
Butwhatthedevilareyouhurryingabout?Softly,softly,andsteadily,mymen.
Onlypull,andkeeppulling;nothingmore.
Crackallyourbackbones,andbiteyourknivesintwo-that’sall.
Takeiteasy-whydon’tyetakeiteasy,Isay,andburstallyourliversandlungs!”
ButwhatitwasthatinscrutableAhabsaidtothattiger-yellowcrewofhis-thesewerewordsbestomittedhere;foryouliveundertheblessedlightoftheevangelicalland.
Onlytheinfidelsharksintheaudaciousseasmaygiveeartosuchwords,when,withtornadobrow,andeyesofredmurder,andfoam-gluedlips,Ahableapedafterhisprey.
Meanwhile,alltheboatstoreon.TherepeatedspecificallusionsofFlaskto“thatwhale,”ashecalledthefictitiousmonsterwhichhedeclaredtobeincessantlytantalizinghisboat’sbowwithitstail-theseallusionsofhiswereattimessovividandlife-like,thattheywouldcausesomeoneortwoofhismentosnatchafearfullookoverhisshoulder.
Butthiswasagainstallrule;fortheoarsmenmustputouttheireyes,andramaskewerthroughtheirnecks;usagesannouncingthattheymusthavenoorgansbutears;andnolimbsbutarms,inthesecriticalmoments.
Itwasasightfullofquickwonderandawe!
Thevastswellsoftheomnipotentsea;thesurging,hollowroartheymade,astheyrolledalongtheeightgunwales,likegiganticbowlsinaboundlessbowling-green;thebriefsuspendedagonyoftheboat,asitwouldtipforaninstantontheknife-likeedgeofthesharperwaves,thatalmostseemedthreateningtocutitintwo;thesuddenprofounddipintothewateryglensandhollows;thekeenspurringsandgoadingstogainthetopoftheoppositehill;theheadlong,sled-likeslidedownitsotherside;-allthese,withthecriesoftheheadsmenandharpooneers,andtheshudderinggaspsoftheoarsmen,withthewondroussightoftheivoryPequodbearingdownuponherboatswithoutstretchedsails,likeawildhenafterherscreamingbrood;-allthiswasthrilling.
Nottherawrecruit,marchingfromthebosomofhiswifeintothefeverheatofhisfirstbattle;notthedeadman’shostencounteringthefirstunknownphantomintheotherworld;-neitherofthesecanfeelstrangerandstrongeremotionsthanthatmandoes,whoforthefirsttimefindshimselfpullingintothecharmed,churnedcircleofthehuntedspermwhale.
Thedancingwhitewatermadebythechasewasnowbecomingmoreandmorevisible,owingtotheincreasingdarknessoftheduncloud-shadowsflunguponthesea.
Thejetsofvapornolongerblended,buttiltedeverywheretorightandleft;thewhalesseemedseparatingtheirwakes.
Theboatswerepulledmoreapart;Starbuckgivingchasetothreewhalesrunningdeadtoleeward.
Oursailwasnowset,and,withthestillrisingwind,werushedalong;theboatgoingwithsuchmadnessthroughthewater,thattheleeoarscouldscarcelybeworkedrapidlyenoughtoescapebeingtornfromtherow-locks.
Soonwewererunningthroughasuffusingwideveilofmist;neithershipnorboattobeseen.
“Giveway,men,”whisperedStarbuck,drawingstillfurtheraftthesheetofhissail;“thereistimetokillafishyetbeforethesquallcomes.There’swhitewateragain!-closeto!Spring!”
Soonafter,twocriesinquicksuccessiononeachsideofusdenotedthattheotherboatshadgotfast;buthardlyweretheyoverheard,whenwithalightning-likehurtlingwhisperStarbucksaid:“Standup!”
andQueequeg,harpooninhand,sprangtohisfeet.
Thoughnotoneoftheoarsmenwasthenfacingthelifeanddeathperilsoclosetothemahead,yetwiththeireyesontheintensecountenanceofthemateinthesternoftheboat,theyknewthattheimminentinstanthadcome;theyheard,too,anenormouswallowingsoundasoffiftyelephantsstirringintheirlitter.
Meanwhiletheboatwasstillboomingthroughthemist,thewavescurlingandhissingaroundusliketheerectedcrestsofenragedserpents.
“That’shishump.There,there,giveittohim!”whisperedStarbuck.
Ashortrushingsoundleapedoutoftheboat;itwasthedartedironofQueequeg.
Thenallinoneweldedcommotioncameaninvisiblepushfromastern,whileforwardtheboatseemedstrikingonaledge;thesailcollapsedandexploded;agushofscaldingvaporshotupnearby;somethingrolledandtumbledlikeanearthquakebeneathus.
Thewholecrewwerehalfsuffocatedastheyweretossedhelter-skelterintothewhitecurdlingcreamofthesquall.
Squall,whale,andharpoonhadallblendedtogether;andthewhale,merelygrazedbytheiron,escaped.
Thoughcompletelyswamped,theboatwasnearlyunharmed.
Swimmingrounditwepickedupthefloatingoars,andlashingthemacrossthegunwale,tumbledbacktoourplaces.
Therewesatuptoourkneesinthesea,thewatercoveringeveryribandplank,sothattoourdownwardgazingeyesthesuspendedcraftseemedacoralboatgrownuptousfromthebottomoftheocean.
Thewindincreasedtoahowl;thewavesdashedtheirbucklerstogether;thewholesquallroared,forked,andcrackledarounduslikeawhitefireupontheprairie,inwhichunconsumed,wewereburning;immortalinthesejawsofdeath!
Invainwehailedtheotherboats;aswellroartothelivecoalsdownthechimneyofaflamingfurnaceashailthoseboatsinthatstorm.
Meanwhilethedrivingscud,rack,andmist,grewdarkerwiththeshadowsofnight;nosignoftheshipcouldbeseen.
Therisingseaforbadeallattemptstobaleouttheboat.
Theoarswereuselessaspropellers,performingnowtheofficeoflife-preservers.
So,cuttingthelashingofthewaterproofmatchkeg,aftermanyfailuresStarbuckcontrivedtoignitethelampinthelantern;thenstretchingitonawaifpole,handedittoQueequegasthestandard-bearerofthisforlornhope.
There,then,hesat,holdingupthatimbecilecandleintheheartofthatalmightyforlornness.
There,then,hesat,thesignandsymbolofamanwithoutfaith,hopelesslyholdinguphopeinthemidstofdespair.
Wet,drenchedthrough,andshiveringcold,despairingofshiporboat,weliftedupoureyesasthedawncameon.
Themiststillspreadoverthesea,theemptylanternlaycrushedinthebottomoftheboat.
SuddenlyQueequegstartedtohisfeet,hollowinghishandtohisear.
Weallheardafaintcreaking,asofropesandyardshithertomuffledbythestorm.
Thesoundcamenearerandnearer;thethickmistsweredimlypartedbyahuge,vagueform.
Affrighted,weallsprangintotheseaastheshipatlastloomedintoview,bearingrightdownuponuswithinadistanceofnotmuchmorethanitslength.
Floatingonthewaveswesawtheabandonedboat,asforoneinstantittossedandgapedbeneaththeship’sbowslikeachipatthebaseofacataract;andthenthevasthullrolledoverit,anditwasseennomoretillitcameupwelteringastern.
Againweswamforit,weredashedagainstitbytheseas,andwereatlasttakenupandsafelylandedonboard.
Erethesquallcamecloseto,theotherboatshadcutloosefromtheirfishandreturnedtotheshipingoodtime.
Theshiphadgivenusup,butwasstillcruising,ifhaplyitmightlightuponsometokenofourperishing,-anoaroralancepole.
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