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Thepredestinateddayarrived,andwedulymettheshipJungfrau,DerickDeDeer,master,ofBremen.
Atonetimethegreatestwhalingpeopleintheworld,theDutchandGermansarenowamongtheleast;buthereandthereatverywideintervalsoflatitudeandlongitude,youstilloccasionallymeetwiththeirflaginthePacific.
Forsomereason,theJungfrauseemedquiteeagertopayherrespects.
WhileyetsomedistancefromthePequod,sheroundedto,anddroppingaboat,hercaptainwasimpelledtowardsus,impatientlystandinginthebowsinsteadofthestern.
“Whathasheinhishandthere?”criedStarbuck,pointingtosomethingwavinglyheldbytheGerman.“Impossible!-alamp-feeder!”
“Notthat,”saidStubb,“no,no,it’sacoffee-pot,Mr.Starbuck;he’scomingofftomakeusourcoffee,istheYarman;don’tyouseethatbigtincantherealongsideofhim?-that’shisboilingwater.Oh!he’sallright,istheYarman.”
“Goalongwithyou,”criedFlask,“it’salamp-feederandanoil-can.He’soutofoil,andhascomea-begging.”
Howevercuriousitmayseemforanoil-shiptobeborrowingoilonthewhale-ground,andhowevermuchitmayinvertedlycontradicttheoldproverbaboutcarryingcoalstoNewcastle,yetsometimessuchathingreallyhappens;andinthepresentcaseCaptainDerickDeDeerdidindubitablyconductalamp-feederasFlaskdiddeclare.
Ashemountedthedeck,Ahababruptlyaccostedhim,withoutatallheedingwhathehadinhishand;butinhisbrokenlingo,theGermansoonevincedhiscompleteignoranceoftheWhiteWhale;immediatelyturningtheconversationtohislamp-feederandoilcan,withsomeremarkstouchinghishavingtoturnintohishammockatnightinprofounddarkness-hislastdropofBremenoilbeinggone,andnotasingleflying-fishyetcapturedtosupplythedeficiency;concludingbyhintingthathisshipwasindeedwhatintheFisheryistechnicallycalledacleanone(thatis,anemptyone),welldeservingthenameofJungfrauortheVirgin.
Hisnecessitiessupplied,Derickdeparted;buthehadnotgainedhisship’sside,whenwhaleswerealmostsimultaneouslyraisedfromthemast-headsofbothvessels;andsoeagerforthechasewasDerick,thatwithoutpausingtoputhisoil-canandlamp-feederaboard,heslewedroundhisboatandmadeaftertheleviathanlamp-feeders.
Now,thegamehavingrisentoleeward,heandtheotherthreeGermanboatsthatsoonfollowedhim,hadconsiderablythestartofthePequod’skeels.
Therewereeightwhales,anaveragepod.
Awareoftheirdanger,theyweregoingallabreastwithgreatspeedstraightbeforethewind,rubbingtheirflanksascloselyassomanyspansofhorsesinharness.
Theyleftagreat,widewake,asthoughcontinuallyunrollingagreatwideparchmentuponthesea.
Fullinthisrapidwake,andmanyfathomsintherear,swamahuge,humpedoldbull,whichbyhiscomparativelyslowprogress,aswellasbytheunusualyellowishincrustationsover-growinghim,seemedafflictedwiththejaundice,orsomeotherinfirmity.
Whetherthiswhalebelongedtothepodinadvance,seemedquestionable;foritisnotcustomaryforsuchvenerableleviathanstobeatallsocial.
Nevertheless,hestucktotheirwake,thoughindeedtheirbackwatermusthaveretardedhim,becausethewhite-boneorswellathisbroadmuzzlewasadashedone,liketheswellformedwhentwohostilecurrentsmeet.
Hisspoutwasshort,slow,andlaborious;comingforthwithachokingsortofgush,andspendingitselfintornshreds,followedbystrangesubterraneancommotionsinhim,whichseemedtohaveegressathisotherburiedextremity,causingthewatersbehindhimtoupbubble.
“Who’sgotsomeparegoric?”saidStubb,“hehasthestomach-ache,I’mafraid.
Lord,thinkofhavinghalfanacreofstomach-ache!
AdversewindsareholdingmadChristmasinhim,boys.
It’sthefirstfoulwindeverknewtoblowfromastern;butlook,dideverwhaleyawsobefore?itmustbe,he’slosthistiller.”
AsanoverladenIndiamanbearingdowntheHindostancoastwithadeckloadoffrightenedhorses,careens,buries,rolls,andwallowsonherway;sodidthisoldwhaleheavehisagedbulk,andnowandthenpartlyturningoveronhiscumbrousrib-ends,exposethecauseofhisdeviouswakeintheunnaturalstumpofhisstarboardfin.
Whetherhehadlostthatfininbattle,orhadbeenbornwithoutit,itwerehardtosay.
“Onlywaitabit,oldchap,andI’llgiveyeaslingforthatwoundedarm,”criedcruelFlask,pointingtothewhale-linenearhim.
“Mindhedon’tslingtheewithit,”criedStarbuck.“Giveway,ortheGermanwillhavehim.”
Withoneintentallthecombinedrivalboatswerepointedforthisonefish,becausenotonlywashethelargest,andthereforethemostvaluablewhale,buthewasnearesttothem,andtheotherwhalesweregoingwithsuchgreatvelocity,moreover,asalmosttodefypursuitforthetime.
Atthisjuncture,thePequod’skeelshadshotbythethreeGermanboatslastlowered;butfromthegreatstarthehadhad,Derick’sboatstillledthechase,thougheverymomentnearedbyhisforeignrivals.
Theonlythingtheyfeared,was,thatfrombeingalreadysonightohismark,hewouldbeenabledtodarthisironbeforetheycouldcompletelyovertakeandpasshim.
AsforDerick,heseemedquiteconfidentthatthiswouldbethecase,andoccasionallywithaderidinggestureshookhislamp-feederattheotherboats.
“Theungraciousandungratefuldog!”criedStarbuck;“hemocksanddaresmewiththeverypoor-boxIfilledforhimnotfiveminutesago!”
-Theninhisoldintensewhisper-“giveway,greyhounds!Dogtoit!”
“Itellyewhatitis,men”-criedStubbtohiscrew-“it’sagainstmyreligiontogetmad;butI’dliketoeatthatvillainousYarman-Pull-won’tye?
Areyegoingtoletthatrascalbeatye?Doyelovebrandy?
Ahogsheadofbrandy,then,tothebestman.
Come,whydon’tsomeofyeburstablood-vessel?
Who’sthatbeendroppingananchoroverboard-wedon’tbudgeaninch-we’rebecalmed.
Halloo,here’sgrassgrowingintheboat’sbottom-andbytheLord,themastthere’sbudding.Thiswon’tdo,boys.LookatthatYarman!
Theshortandlongofitis,men,willyespitfireornot?”
“Oh!seethesudshemakes!”
criedFlask,dancingupanddown-“Whatahump-Oh,dopileonthebeef-layslikealog!Oh!
mylads,dospring-slap-jacksandquahogsforsupper,youknow,mylads-bakedclamsandmuffins-ho,do,do,spring,-he’sahundredbarreler-don’tlosehimnow-don’toh,don’t!
-seethatYarman-Oh,won’tyepullforyourduff,mylads-suchasog!suchasogger!Don’tyelovesperm?Theregoesthreethousanddollars,men!-abank!-awholebank!ThebankofEngland!-Oh,do,do,do!-What’sthatYarmanaboutnow?”
AtthismomentDerickwasintheactofpitchinghislamp-feederattheadvancingboats,andalsohisoil-can;perhapswiththedoubleviewofretardinghisrivals’way,andatthesametimeeconomicallyacceleratinghisownbythemomentaryimpetusofthebackwardtoss.
“TheunmannerlyDutchdogger!”criedStubb.
“Pullnow,men,likefiftythousandline-of-battle-shiploadsofred-haireddevils.
Whatd’yesay,Tashtego;areyouthemantosnapyourspineintwo-and-twentypiecesforthehonorofoldGayhead?Whatd’yesay?”
“Isay,pulllikegod-dam,”-criedtheIndian.
Fiercely,butevenlyincitedbythetauntsoftheGerman,thePequod’sthreeboatsnowbeganrangingalmostabreast;and,sodisposed,momentarilynearedhim.
Inthatfine,loose,chivalrousattitudeoftheheadsmanwhendrawingneartohisprey,thethreematesstoodupproudly,occasionallybackingtheafteroarsmanwithanexhilaratingcryof,“Theresheslides,now!Hurrahforthewhite-ashbreeze!DownwiththeYarman!Sailoverhim!”
ButsodecidedanoriginalstarthadDerickhad,thatspiteofalltheirgallantry,hewouldhaveprovedthevictorinthisrace,hadnotarighteousjudgmentdescendeduponhiminacrabwhichcaughtthebladeofhismidshipoarsman.
Whilethisclumsylubberwasstrivingtofreehiswhite-ash,andwhile,inconsequence,Derick’sboatwasnightocapsizing,andhethunderingawayathismeninamightyrage;-thatwasagoodtimeforStarbuck,Stubb,andFlask.
Withashout,theytookamortalstartforwards,andslantinglyrangedupontheGerman’squarter.
Aninstantmore,andallfourboatswerediagonicallyinthewhale’simmediatewake,whilestretchingfromthem,onbothsides,wasthefoamingswellthathemade.
Itwasaterrific,mostpitiable,andmaddeningsight.
Thewhalewasnowgoingheadout,andsendinghisspoutbeforehiminacontinualtormentedjet;whilehisonepoorfinbeathissideinanagonyoffright.
Nowtothishand,nowtothat,heyawedinhisfalteringflight,andstillateverybillowthathebroke,hespasmodicallysankinthesea,orsidewaysrolledtowardstheskyhisonebeatingfin.
SohaveIseenabirdwithclippedwing,makingaffrightedbrokencircleintheair,vainlystrivingtoescapethepiraticalhawks.
Butthebirdhasavoice,andwithplaintivecrieswillmakeknownherfear;butthefearofthisvastdumbbruteofthesea,waschainedupandenchantedinhim;hehadnovoice,savethatchokingrespirationthroughhisspiracle,andthismadethesightofhimunspeakablypitiable;whilestill,inhisamazingbulk,portcullisjaw,andomnipotenttail,therewasenoughtoappalthestoutestmanwhosopitied.
SeeingnowthatbutaveryfewmomentsmorewouldgivethePequod’sboattheadvantage,andratherthanbethusfoiledofhisgame,Derickchosetohazardwhattohimmusthaveseemedamostunusuallylongdart,erethelastchancewouldforeverescape.
Butnosoonerdidhisharpooneerstandupforthestroke,thanallthreetigers-Queequeg,Tashtego,Daggoo-instinctivelysprangtotheirfeet,andstandinginadiagonalrow,simultaneouslypointedtheirbarbs;anddartedovertheheadoftheGermanharpooneer,theirthreeNantucketironsenteredthewhale.Blindingvaporsoffoamandwhite-fire!
Thethreeboats,inthefirstfuryofthewhale’sheadlongrush,bumpedtheGerman’sasidewithsuchforce,thatbothDerickandhisbaffledharpooneerwerespilledout,andsailedoverbythethreeflyingkeels.
“Don’tbeafraid,mybutter-boxes,”criedStubb,castingapassingglanceuponthemasheshotby;“ye’llbepickeduppresently-allright-Isawsomesharksastern-St.Bernard’sdogs,youknow-relievedistressedtravellers.Hurrah!thisisthewaytosailnow.Everykeelasunbeam!Hurrah!
-Herewegolikethreetinkettlesatthetailofamadcougar!
Thisputsmeinmindoffasteningtoanelephantinatilburyonaplain-makesthewheelspokesfly,boys,whenyoufastentohimthatway;andthere’sdangerofbeingpitchedouttoo,whenyoustrikeahill.Hurrah!
thisisthewayafellowfeelswhenhe’sgoingtoDavyJones-allarushdownanendlessinclinedplane!Hurrah!
thiswhalecarriestheeverlastingmail!”
Butthemonster’srunwasabriefone.Givingasuddengasp,hetumultuouslysounded.
Withagratingrush,thethreelinesflewroundtheloggerheadswithsuchaforceastogougedeepgroovesinthem;whilesofearfulweretheharpooneersthatthisrapidsoundingwouldsoonexhaustthelines,thatusingalltheirdexterousmight,theycaughtrepeatedsmokingturnswiththeropetoholdon;tillatlast-owingtotheperpendicularstrainfromthelead-linedchocksoftheboat,whencethethreeropeswentstraightdownintotheblue-thegunwalesofthebowswerealmostevenwiththewater,whilethethreesternstiltedhighintheair.
Andthewhalesoonceasingtosound,forsometimetheyremainedinthatattitude,fearfulofexpendingmoreline,thoughthepositionwasalittleticklish.
Butthoughboatshavebeentakendownandlostinthisway,yetitisthis“holdingon,”asitiscalled;thishookingupbythesharpbarbsofhislivefleshfromtheback;thisitisthatoftentormentstheLeviathanintosoonrisingagaintomeetthesharplanceofhisfoes.
Yetnottospeakoftheperilofthething,itistobedoubtedwhetherthiscourseisalwaysthebest;foritisbutreasonabletopresume,thatthelongerthestrickenwhalestaysunderwater,themoreheisexhausted.
Because,owingtotheenormoussurfaceofhim-inafullgrownspermwhalesomethinglessthan2000squarefeet-thepressureofthewaterisimmense.
Weallknowwhatanastonishingatmosphericweightweourselvesstandupunder;evenhere,above-ground,intheair;howvast,then,theburdenofawhale,bearingonhisbackacolumnoftwohundredfathomsofocean!
Itmustatleastequaltheweightoffiftyatmospheres.
Onewhalemanhasestimateditattheweightoftwentyline-of-battleships,withalltheirguns,andstores,andmenonboard.
Asthethreeboatslaythereonthatgentlyrollingsea,gazingdownintoitseternalbluenoon;andasnotasinglegroanorcryofanysort,nay,notsomuchasarippleorabubblecameupfromitsdepths;whatlandsmanwouldhavethought,thatbeneathallthatsilenceandplacidity,theutmostmonsteroftheseaswaswrithingandwrenchinginagony!
Noteightinchesofperpendicularropewerevisibleatthebows.
SeemsitcrediblethatbythreesuchthinthreadsthegreatLeviathanwassuspendedlikethebigweighttoaneightdayclock.Suspended?andtowhat?Tothreebitsofboard.
Isthisthecreatureofwhomitwasoncesotriumphantlysaid-“Canstthoufillhisskinwithbarbedirons?orhisheadwithfish-spears?
Theswordofhimthatlayethathimcannothold,thespear,thedart,northehabergeon:heesteemethironasstraw;thearrowcannotmakehimflee;dartsarecountedasstubble;helaughethattheshakingofaspear!”Thisthecreature?thishe?Oh!
thatunfulfilmentsshouldfollowtheprophets.
Forwiththestrengthofathousandthighsinhistail,Leviathanhadrunhisheadunderthemountainsofthesea,tohidehimfromthePequod’sfishspears!
Inthatslopingafternoonsunlight,theshadowsthatthethreeboatssentdownbeneaththesurface,musthavebeenlongenoughandbroadenoughtoshadehalfXerxes’army.
Whocantellhowappallingtothewoundedwhalemusthavebeensuchhugephantomsflittingoverhishead!
“Standby,men;hestirs,”criedStarbuck,asthethreelinessuddenlyvibratedinthewater,distinctlyconductingupwardstothem,asbymagneticwires,thelifeanddeaththrobsofthewhale,sothateveryoarsmanfelttheminhisseat.
Thenextmoment,relievedingreatpartfromthedownwardstrainatthebows,theboatsgaveasuddenbounceupwards,asasmallicefieldwill,whenadenseherdofwhitebearsarescaredfromitintothesea.
“Haulin!Haulin!”criedStarbuckagain;“he’srising.”
Thelines,ofwhich,hardlyaninstantbefore,notonehand’sbreadthcouldhavebeengained,werenowinlongquickcoilsflungbackalldrippingintotheboats,andsoonthewhalebrokewaterwithintwoship’slengthofthehunters.
Hismotionsplainlydenotedhisextremeexhaustion.
Inmostlandanimalstherearecertainvalvesorflood-gatesinmanyoftheirveins,wherebywhenwounded,thebloodisinsomedegreeatleastinstantlyshutoffincertaindirections.
Notsowiththewhale;oneofwhosepeculiaritiesitis,tohaveanentirenon-valvularstructureoftheblood-vessels,sothatwhenpiercedevenbysosmallapointasaharpoon,adeadlydrainisatoncebegunuponhiswholearterialsystem;andwhenthisisheightenedbytheextraordinarypressureofwateratagreatdistancebelowthesurface,hislifemaybesaidtopourfromhiminincessantstreams.
Yetsovastisthequantityofbloodinhim,andsodistantandnumerousitsinteriorfountains,thathewillkeepthusbleedingandbleedingforaconsiderableperiod;evenasinadroughtariverwillflow,whosesourceisthewell-springsoffar-offandindiscerniblehills.
Evennow,whentheboatspulleduponthiswhale,andperilouslydrewoverhisswayingflukes,andthelancesweredartedintohim,theywerefollowedbysteadyjetsfromthenewmadewound,whichkeptcontinuallyplaying,whilethenaturalspout-holeinhisheadwasonlyatintervals,howeverrapid,sendingitsaffrightedmoistureintotheair.
Fromthislastventnobloodyetcame,becausenovitalpartofhimhadthusfarbeenstruck.
Hislife,astheysignificantlycallit,wasuntouched.
Astheboatsnowmorecloselysurroundedhim,thewholeupperpartofhisform,withmuchofitthatisordinarilysubmerged,wasplainlyrevealed.
Hiseyes,orrathertheplaceswherehiseyeshadbeen,werebeheld.
Asstrangemisgrownmassesgatherintheknot-holesofthenoblestoakswhenprostrate,sofromthepointswhichthewhale’seyeshadonceoccupied,nowprotrudedblindbulbs,horriblypitiabletosee.Butpitytherewasnone.
Forallhisoldage,andhisonearm,andhisblindeyes,hemustdiethedeathandbemurdered,inordertolightthegaybridalsandothermerry-makingsofmen,andalsotoilluminatethesolemnchurchesthatpreachunconditionalinoffensivenessbyalltoall.
Stillrollinginhisblood,atlasthepartiallydisclosedastrangelydiscoloredbunchorprotuberance,thesizeofabushel,lowdownontheflank.
“Anicespot,”criedFlask;“justletmeprickhimthereonce.”
“Avast!”criedStarbuck,“there’snoneedofthat!”
ButhumaneStarbuckwastoolate.Attheinstantofthedartanulcerousjetshotfromthiscruelwound,andgoadedbyitintomorethansufferableanguish,thewhalenowspoutingthickblood,withswiftfuryblindlydartedatthecraft,bespatteringthemandtheirgloryingcrewsalloverwithshowersofgore,capsizingFlask’sboatandmarringthebows.Itwashisdeathstroke.
For,bythistime,sospentwashebylossofblood,thathehelplesslyrolledawayfromthewreckhehadmade;laypantingonhisside,impotentlyflappedwithhisstumpedfin,thenoverandoverslowlyrevolvedlikeawaningworld;turnedupthewhitesecretsofhisbelly;laylikealog,anddied.
Itwasmostpiteous,thatlastexpiringspout.
Aswhenbyunseenhandsthewaterisgraduallydrawnofffromsomemightyfountain,andwithhalf-stifledmelancholygurglingsthespray-columnlowersandlowerstotheground-sothelastlongdyingspoutofthewhale.
Soon,whilethecrewswereawaitingthearrivaloftheship,thebodyshowedsymptomsofsinkingwithallitstreasuresunrifled.
Immediately,byStarbuck’sorders,linesweresecuredtoitatdifferentpoints,sothaterelongeveryboatwasabuoy;thesunkenwhalebeingsuspendedafewinchesbeneaththembythecords.
Byveryheedfulmanagement,whentheshipdrewnigh,thewhalewastransferredtoherside,andwasstronglysecuredtherebythestiffestfluke-chains,foritwasplainthatunlessartificiallyupheld,thebodywouldatoncesinktothebottom.
Itsochancedthatalmostuponfirsthimwiththespade,theentirelengthofacorrodedharpoonwasfoundimbeddedinhisflesh,onthelowerpartofthebunchbeforedescribed.
Butasthestumpsofharpoonsarefrequentlyfoundinthedeadbodiesofcapturedwhales,withthefleshperfectlyhealedaroundthem,andnoprominenceofanykindtodenotetheirplace;therefore,theremustneedshavebeensomeotherunknownreasoninthepresentcasefullytoaccountfortheulcerationalludedto.
Butstillmorecuriouswasthefactofalance-headofstonebeingfoundinhim,notfarfromtheburiediron,thefleshperfectlyfirmaboutit.Whohaddartedthatstonelance?Andwhen?
ItmighthavebeendartedbysomeNor’WestIndianlongbeforeAmericawasdiscovered.
Whatothermarvelsmighthavebeenrummagedoutofthismonstrouscabinetthereisnotelling.
Butasuddenstopwasputtofurtherdiscoveries,bytheship’sbeingunprecedentedlydraggedoversidewaystothesea,owingtothebody’simmenselyincreasingtendencytosink.
However,Starbuck,whohadtheorderingofaffairs,hungontoittothelast;hungontoitsoresolutely,indeed,thatwhenatlengththeshipwouldhavebeencapsized,ifstillpersistinginlockingarmswiththebody;then,whenthecommandwasgiventobreakclearfromit,suchwastheimmovablestrainuponthetimber-headstowhichthefluke-chainsandcableswerefastened,thatitwasimpossibletocastthemoff.
MeantimeeverythinginthePequodwasaslant.
Tocrosstotheothersideofthedeckwaslikewalkingupthesteepgabledroofofahouse.Theshipgroanedandgasped.
Manyoftheivoryinlayingsofherbulwarksandcabinswerestartedfromtheirplaces,bytheunnaturaldislocation.
Invainhandspikesandcrowswerebroughttobearupontheimmovablefluke-chains,toprythemadriftfromthetimberheads;andsolowhadthewhalenowsettledthatthesubmergedendscouldnotbeatallapproached,whileeverymomentwholetonsofponderosityseemedaddedtothesinkingbulk,andtheshipseemedonthepointofgoingover.
“Holdon,holdon,won’tye?”criedStubbtothebody,“don’tbeinsuchadevilofahurrytosink!
Bythunder,men,wemustdosomethingorgoforit.
Nousepryingthere;avast,Isaywithyourhandspikes,andrunoneofyeforaprayerbookandapen-knife,andcutthebigchains.”
“Knife?Aye,aye,”criedQueequeg,andseizingthecarpenter’sheavyhatchet,heleanedoutofaporthole,andsteeltoiron,beganslashingatthelargestfluke-chains.
Butafewstrokes,fullofsparks,weregiven,whentheexceedingstraineffectedtherest.
Withaterrificsnap,everyfasteningwentadrift;theshiprighted,thecarcasesank.
Now,thisoccasionalinevitablesinkingoftherecentlykilledSpermWhaleisaverycuriousthing;norhasanyfishermanyetadequatelyaccountedforit.
UsuallythedeadSpermWhalefloatswithgreatbuoyancy,withitssideorbellyconsiderablyelevatedabovethesurface.
Iftheonlywhalesthatthussankwereold,meagre,andbroken-heartedcreatures,theirpadsoflarddiminishedandalltheirbonesheavyandrheumatic;thenyoumightwithsomereasonassertthatthissinkingiscausedbyanuncommonspecificgravityinthefishsosinking,consequentuponthisabsenceofbuoyantmatterinhim.Butitisnotso.
Foryoungwhales,inthehighesthealth,andswellingwithnobleaspirations,prematurelycutoffinthewarmflushandMayoflife,withalltheirpantinglardaboutthem!
eventhesebrawny,buoyantheroesdosometimessink.
Beitsaid,however,thattheSpermWhaleisfarlessliabletothisaccidentthananyotherspecies.
Whereoneofthatsortgodown,twentyRightWhalesdo.
ThisdifferenceinthespeciesisnodoubtimputableinnosmalldegreetothegreaterquantityofboneintheRightWhale;hisVenetianblindsalonesometimesweighingmorethanaton;fromthisincumbrancetheSpermWhaleiswhollyfree.
Butthereareinstanceswhere,afterthelapseofmanyhoursorseveraldays,thesunkenwhaleagainrises,morebuoyantthaninlife.Butthereasonofthisisobvious.
Gasesaregeneratedinhim;heswellstoaprodigiousmagnitude;becomesasortofanimalballoon.
Aline-of-battleshipcouldhardlykeephimunderthen.
IntheShoreWhaling,onsoundings,amongtheBaysofNewZealand,whenaRightWhalegivestokenofsinking,theyfastenbuoystohim,withplentyofrope;sothatwhenthebodyhasgonedown,theyknowwheretolookforitwhenitshallhaveascendedagain.
ItwasnotlongafterthesinkingofthebodythatacrywasheardfromthePequod’smast-heads,announcingthattheJungfrauwasagainloweringherboats;thoughtheonlyspoutinsightwasthatofaFin-Back,belongingtothespeciesofuncapturablewhales,becauseofitsincrediblepowerofswimming.
Nevertheless,theFin-Back’sspoutissosimilartotheSpermWhale’s,thatbyunskilfulfishermenitisoftenmistakenforit.
AndconsequentlyDerickandallhishostwerenowinvaliantchaseofthisunnearablebrute.
TheVirgincrowdingallsail,madeafterherfouryoungkeels,andthustheyalldisappearedfartoleeward,stillinbold,hopefulchase.
Oh!manyaretheFin-Backs,andmanyaretheDericks,myfriend.
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