English
Stubb’swhalehadbeenkilledsomedistancefromtheship.
Itwasacalm;so,formingatandemofthreeboats,wecommencedslowbusinessoftowingthetrophytothePequod.
Andnow,asweeighteenmenwithourthirty-sixarms,andonehundredandeightythumbsandfingers,slowlytoiledhourafterhouruponthatinert,sluggishcorpseinthesea;anditseemedhardlytobudgeatall,exceptatlongintervals;goodevidencewasherebyfurnishedoftheenormousnessofthemasswemoved.
For,uponthegreatcanalofHang-Ho,orwhatevertheycallit,inChina,fourorfivelaborersonthefoot-pathwilldrawabulkyfreightedjunkattherateofamileanhour;butthisgrandargosywetowedheavilyforgedalong,asifladenwithpigleadinbulk.
Darknesscameon;butthreelightsupanddowninthePequod’smain-riggingdimlyguidedourway;tilldrawingnearerwesawAhabdroppingoneofseveralmorelanternsoverthebulwarks.
Vacantlyeyeingtheheavingwhaleforamoment,heissuedtheusualordersforsecuringitforthenight,andthenhandinghislanterntoaseaman,wenthiswayintothecabin,anddidnotcomeforwardagainuntilmorning.
Though,inoverseeingthepursuitofthiswhale,CaptainAhabhadevincedhiscustomaryactivity,tocallitso;yetnowthatthecreaturewasdead,somevaguedissatisfaction,orimpatience,ordespair,seemedworkinginhim;asifthesightofthatdeadbodyremindedhimthatMobyDickwasyettobeslain;andthoughathousandotherwhaleswerebroughttohisship,allthatwouldnotonejotadvancehisgrand,monomaniacobject.
VerysoonyouwouldhavethoughtfromthesoundonthePequod’sdecks,thatallhandswerepreparingtocastanchorinthedeep;forheavychainsarebeingdraggedalongthedeck,andthrustrattlingoutoftheport-holes.
Butbythoseclankinglinks,thevastcorpseitself,nottheship,istobemoored.
Tiedbytheheadtothestern,andbythetalltothebows,thewhalenowlieswithitsblackhullclosetothevessel’s,andseenthroughthedarknessofthenight,whichobscuredthesparsandriggingaloft,thetwo-shipandwhale,seemedyokedtogetherlikecolossalbullocks,whereofonereclineswhiletheotherremainsstanding.
Alittleitemmayaswellberelatedhere.
Thestrongestandmostreliableholdwhichtheshiphasuponthewhalewhenmooredalongside,isbytheflukesortail;andasfromitsgreaterdensitythatpartisrelativelyheavierthananyother(exceptingtheside-fins),itsflexibilityevenindeath,causesittosinklowbeneaththesurface;sothatwiththehandyoucannotgetatitfromtheboat,inordertoputthechainroundit.
Butthisdifficultyisingeniouslyovercome:asmall,stronglineispreparedwithawoodenfloatatitsouterend,andaweightinitsmiddle,whiletheotherendissecuredtotheship.
Byadroitmanagementthewoodenfloatismadetoriseontheothersideofthemass,sothatnowhavinggirdledthewhale,thechainisreadilymadetofollowsuit;andbeingslippedalongthebody,isatlastlockedfastroundthesmallestpartofthetail,atthepointofjunctionwithitsbroadflukesorlobes.
IfmoodyAhabwasnowallquiescence,atleastsofarascouldbeknownondeck,Stubb,hissecondmate,flushedwithconquest,betrayedanunusualbutstillgood-naturedexcitement.
SuchanunwontedbustlewasheinthatthestaidStarbuck,hisofficialsuperior,quietlyresignedtohimforthetimethesolemanagementofaffairs.
Onesmall,helpingcauseofallthislivelinessinStubb,wassoonmadestrangelymanifest.
Stubbwasahighliver;hewassomewhatintemperatelyfondofthewhaleasaflavorishthingtohispalate.
“Asteak,asteak,ereIsleep!You,Daggoo!overboardyougo,andcutmeonefromhissmall!”
Herebeitknown,thatthoughthesewildfishermendonot,asageneralthing,andaccordingtothegreatmilitarymaxim,maketheenemydefraythecurrentexpensesofthewar(atleastbeforerealizingtheproceedsofthevoyage),yetnowandthenyoufindsomeoftheseNantucketerswhohaveagenuinerelishforthatparticularpartoftheSpermWhaledesignatedbyStubb;comprisingthetaperingextremityofthebody.
Aboutmidnightthatsteakwascutandcooked;andlightedbytwolanternsofspermoil,Stubbstoutlystooduptohisspermacetisupperatthecapstan-head,asifthatcapstanwereasideboard.
NorwasStubbtheonlybanqueteronwhale’sfleshthatnight.
Minglingtheirmumblingswithhisownmastications,thousandsonthousandsofsharks,swarmingroundthedeadleviathan,smackinglyfeastedonitsfatness.
Thefewsleepersbelowintheirbunkswereoftenstartledbythesharpslappingoftheirtailsagainstthehull,withinafewinchesofthesleepers’hearts.
Peeringoverthesideyoucouldjustseethem(asbeforeyouheardthem)wallowinginthesullen,blackwaters,andturningoverontheirbacksastheyscoopedouthugeglobularpiecesofthewhaleofthebignessofahumanhead.
Thisparticularfeatofthesharkseemsallbutmiraculous.
Howatsuchanapparentlyunassailablesurface,theycontrivetogougeoutsuchsymmetricalmouthfuls,remainsapartoftheuniversalproblemofallthings.
Themarktheythusleaveonthewhale,maybestbelikenedtothehollowmadebyacarpenterincountersinkingforascrew.
Thoughamidallthesmokinghorroranddiabolismofasea-fight,sharkswillbeseenlonginglygazinguptotheship’sdecks,likehungrydogsroundatablewhereredmeatisbeingcarved,readytoboltdowneverykilledmanthatistossedtothem;andthough,whilethevaliantbutchersoverthedeck-tablearethuscanniballycarvingeachother’slivemeatwithcarving-knivesallgildedandtasselled,thesharks,also,withtheirjewel-hiltedmouths,arequarrelsomelycarvingawayunderthetableatthedeadmeat;andthough,wereyoutoturnthewholeaffairupsidedown,itwouldstillbeprettymuchthesamething,thatistosay,ashockingsharkishbusinessenoughforallparties;andthoughsharksalsoaretheinvariableoutridersofallslaveshipscrossingtheAtlantic,systematicallytrottingalongside,tobehandyincaseaparcelistobecarriedanywhere,oradeadslavetobedecentlyburied;andthoughoneortwootherlikeinstancesmightbesetdown,touchingthesetterms,places,andoccasions,whensharksdomostsociallycongregate,andmosthilariouslyfeast;yetistherenoconceivabletimeoroccasionwhenyouwillfindtheminsuchcountlessnumbers,andingayerormorejovialspirits,thanaroundadeadspermwhale,mooredbynighttoawhaleshipatsea.
Ifyouhaveneverseenthatsight,thensuspendyourdecisionabouttheproprietyofdevil-worship,andtheexpediencyofconciliatingthedevil.
But,asyet,Stubbheedednotthemumblingsofthebanquetthatwasgoingonsonighhim,nomorethanthesharksheededthesmackingofhisownepicureanlips.
“Cook,cook!-where’sthatoldFleece?”
hecriedatlength,wideninghislegsstillfurther,asiftoformamoresecurebaseforhissupper;and,atthesametimedartinghisforkintothedish,asifstabbingwithhislance;“cook,youcook!-sailthisway,cook!”
Theoldblack,notinanyveryhighgleeathavingbeenpreviouslyrousedfromhiswarmhammockatamostunseasonablehour,cameshamblingalongfromhisgalley,for,likemanyoldblacks,therewassomethingthematterwithhisknee-pans,whichhedidnotkeepwellscouredlikehisotherpans;thisoldFleece,astheycalledhim,cameshufflingandlimpingalong,assistinghisstepwithhistongs,which,afteraclumsyfashion,weremadeofstraightenedironhoops;thisoldEbonyflounderedalong,andinobediencetothewordofcommand,cametoadeadstopontheoppositesideofStubb’ssideboard;when,withbothhandsfoldedbeforehim,andrestingonhistwo-leggedcane,hebowedhisarchedbackstillfurtherover,atthesametimesidewaysinclininghishead,soastobringhisbestearintoplay.
“Cook,”saidStubb,rapidlyliftingaratherreddishmorseltohismouth,“don’tyouthinkthissteakisratheroverdone?
You’vebeenbeatingthissteaktoomuch,cook;it’stootender.
Don’tIalwayssaythattobegood,awhale-steakmustbetough?
Therearethosesharksnowovertheside,don’tyouseetheypreferittoughandrare?Whatashindytheyarekickingup!
Cook,goandtalkto‘em;tell‘emtheyarewelcometohelpthemselvescivilly,andinmoderation,buttheymustkeepquiet.Blastme,ifIcanhearmyownvoice.Away,cook,anddelivermymessage.
Here,takethislantern,”snatchingonefromhissideboard;“nowthen,goandpreachtothem!”
Sullenlytakingtheofferedlantern,oldFleecelimpedacrossthedecktothebulwarks;andthen,withonehanddroopinghislightlowoverthesea,soastogetagoodviewofhiscongregation,withtheotherhandhesolemnlyflourishedhistongs,andleaningfaroverthesideinamumblingvoicebeganaddressingthesharks,whileStubb,softlycrawlingbehind,overheardallthatwassaid.
“Fellow-critters:I’seorderedheretosaydatyoumuststopdatdamnoisedare.Youhear?Stopdatdamsmackin’obdelips!
MassaStubbsaydatyoucanfillyourdambelliesuptodehatchings,butbyGor!youmuststopdatdamracket!”
“Cook,”hereinterposedStubb,accompanyingthewordwithasuddenslapontheshoulder,-“cook!
why,damnyoureyes,youmustn’tswearthatwaywhenyou’repreaching.
That’snowaytoconvertsinners,cook!”
“Whodat?Denpreachtohimyourself,”sullenlyturningtogo.
“No,cook;goon,goon.”
“Well,den,Belubedfellow-critters:”-
“Right!”exclaimedStubb,approvingly,“coax‘emtoit,trythat,”andFleececontinued.
“Doyouisallsharks,andbynaturweryworacious,yetIzaytoyou,fellow-critters,datdatworaciousness-‘topdatdamslappin’obdetail!
Howyoutinktohear,‘sposeyoukeepupsuchadamslappingandbitin’dare?”
“Cook,”criedStubb,collaringhim,“Iwon’thavethatswearing.Talkto‘emgentlemanly.”
Oncemorethesermonproceeded.
“Yourworaciousness,fellow-critters.Idon’tblameyesomuchfor;datisnatur,andcan’tbehelped;buttogoberndatwickednatur,datisdepint.
Youissharks,sartin;butifyougoberndesharkinyou,whydenyoubeangel;forallangelisnot’ingmoredandesharkwellgoberned.
Now,lookhere,bred’ren,justtrywonsttobecibil,ahelpingyourselbsfromdatwhale.
Don’tbetearin’deblubberoutyourneighbour’smout,Isay.
Isnotonesharkdoodrightastodertodatwhale?
And,byGor,noneonyouhasderighttodatwhale;datwhalebelongtosomeoneelse.
Iknowsomeo’youhasberrybrigmout,briggerdanoders;butthendebrigmoutssometimeshasdesmallbellies;sodatdebrignessofdemoutisnottoswallerwid,buttobitoffdeblubberfordesmallfryobsharks,datcan’tgetintodescrougetohelpdemselves.”
“Welldone,oldFleece!”criedStubb,“that’sChristianity;goon.”
“Nousegoin’on;dedamwillainswillkeepascougin’andslappin’eachoder,MassaStubb;deydon’thearoneword;nousea-preachingtosuchdamg’uttonsasyoucall‘em,tilldarebelliesisfull,anddarebelliesisbottomless;andwhendeydoget‘emfull,deywonthearyouden;fordendeysinkinthesea,gofasttosleepondecoral,andcan’thearnotingatall,nomore,foreberandeber.”
“Uponmysoul,Iamaboutofthesameopinion;sogivethebenediction,Fleece,andI’llawaytomysupper.”
Uponthis,Fleece,holdingbothhandsoverthefishymob,raisedhisshrillvoice,andcried-
“Cussedfellow-critters!Kickupdedamndestrowaseveryoucan;fillyourdambellies‘tilldeybust-anddendie.”
“Now,cook,”saidStubb,resuminghissupperatthecapstan;“standjustwhereyoustoodbefore,there,overagainstme,andpayparticularattention.”
“All‘dention,”saidFleece,againstoopingoveruponhistongsinthedesiredposition.
“Well,”saidStubb,helpinghimselffreelymeanwhile;“Ishallnowgobacktothesubjectofthissteak.Inthefirstplace,howoldareyou,cook?”
“Whatdatdowidde‘teak,”saidtheoldblack,testily.
“Silence!Howoldareyou,cook?”
”’Boutninety,deysay,”hegloomilymuttered.
“Andyouhavelivedinthisworldhardupononehundredyears,cook,anddon’tknowyethowtocookawhale-steak?”
rapidlyboltinganothermouthfulatthelastword,sothatmorselseemedacontinuationofthequestion.“Wherewereyouborn,cook?”
”’Hinddehatchway,inferry-boat,goin’oberdeRoanoke.”
“Borninaferry-boat!That’squeer,too.ButIwanttoknowwhatcountryyouwerebornin,cook!”
“Didn’tIsaydeRoanokecountry?”hecriedsharply.
“No,youdidn’t,cook;butI’lltellyouwhatI’mcomingto,cook.Youmustgohomeandbebornoveragain;youdon’tknowhowtocookawhale-steakyet.”
“Bressmysoul,ifIcooknoderone,”hegrowled,angrily,turningroundtodepart.
“Comebackhere,cook;-here,handmethosetongs;-nowtakethatbitofsteakthere,andtellmeifyouthinkthatsteakcookedasitshouldbe?
Takeit,Isay”-holdingthetongstowardshim-“takeit,andtasteit.”
Faintlysmackinghiswitheredlipsoveritforamoment,theoldnegromuttered,“Bestcooked‘teakIebertaste;joosy,berryjoosy.”
“Cook,”saidStubb,squaringhimselfoncemore;“doyoubelongtothechurch?”
“PassedoneonceinCape-Down,”saidtheoldmansullenly.
“AndyouhaveonceinyourlifepassedaholychurchinCape-Town,whereyoudoubtlessoverheardaholyparsonaddressinghishearersashisbelovedfellow-creatures,haveyou,cook!
Andyetyoucomehere,andtellmesuchadreadfullieasyoudidjustnow,eh?”saidStubb.“Wheredoyouexpecttogoto,cook?”
“Gotobedberrysoon,”hemumbled,half-turningashespoke.
“Avast!heaveto!Imeanwhenyoudie,cook.It’sanawfulquestion.Nowwhat’syouranswer?”
“Whendisoldbrackmandies,”saidthenegroslowly,changinghiswholeairanddemeanor,“hehisselfwon’tgonowhere;butsomebressedangelwillcomeandfetchhim.”
“Fetchhim?How?Inacoachandfour,astheyfetchedElijah?Andfetchhimwhere?”
“Updere,”saidFleece,holdinghistongsstraightoverhishead,andkeepingitthereverysolemnly.
“So,then,youexpecttogointoourmain-top,doyou,cook,whenyouaredead?Butdon’tyouknowthehigheryouclimb,thecolderitgets?Main-top,eh?”
“Didn’tsaydatt’all,”saidFleece,againinthesulks.
“Yousaidupthere,didn’tyou?andnowlookyourself,andseewhereyourtongsarepointing.
But,perhapsyouexpecttogetintoheavenbycrawlingthroughthelubber’shole,cook;but,no,no,cook,youdon’tgetthere,exceptyougotheregularway,roundbytherigging.
It’saticklishbusiness,butmustbedone,orelseit’snogo.Butnoneofusareinheavenyet.
Dropyourtongs,cook,andhearmyorders.Doyehear?
Holdyourhatinonehand,andclapt’othera’topofyourheart,whenI’mgivingmyorders,cook.What!thatyourheart,there?-that’syourgizzard!Aloft!aloft!-that’sit-nowyouhaveit.Holdittherenow,andpayattention.”
“All‘dention,”saidtheoldblack,withbothhandsplacedasdesired,vainlywrigglinghisgrizzledhead,asiftogetbothearsinfrontatoneandthesametime.
“Wellthen,cook,youseethiswhale-steakofyourswassoverybad,thathaveputitoutofsightassoonaspossible;youseethat,don’tyou?
Well,forthefuture,whenyoucookanotherwhale-steakformyprivatetablehere,thecapstan,I’lltellyouwhattodosoasnottospoilitbyoverdoing.
Holdthesteakinonehand,andshowalivecoaltoitwiththeother;thatdone,dishit;d’yehear?
Andnowto-morrow,cook,whenwearecuttinginthefish,besureyoustandbytogetthetipsofhisfins;havethemputinpickle.
Asfortheendsoftheflukes,havethemsoused,cook.There,nowyemaygo.”
ButFleecehadhardlygotthreepacesoff,whenhewasrecalled.
“Cook,givemecutletsforsupperto-morrownightinthemid-watch.D’yehear?awayyousailthen.-Halloa!stop!makeabowbeforeyougo.-Avastheavingagain!
Whale-ballsforbreakfast-don’tforget.”
“Wish,bygor!whaleeathim,‘steadofhimeatwhale.
I’mbressedifheain’tmoreofsharkdanMassaSharkhisself,”mutteredtheoldman,limpingaway;withwhichsageejaculationhewenttohishammock.
Share this article to
FINISH