English
Thefourwhalesslainthateveninghaddiedwideapart;one,fartowindward;onelessdistant,toleeward;oneahead;oneastern.
Theselastthreewerebroughtalongsideerenightfall;butthewindwardonecouldnotbereachedtillmorning;andtheboatthathadkilleditlaybyitssideallnight;andthatboatwasAhab’s.
Thewaif-polewasthrustuprightintothedeadwhale’sspout-hole;andthelanternhangingfromitstop,castatroubledflickeringglareupontheblack,glossyback,andfaroutuponthemidnightwaves,whichgentlychafedthewhale’sbroadflank,likesoftsurfuponabeach.
Ahabandallhisboat’screwseemedasleepbuttheParsee;whocrouchinginthebow,satwatchingthesharks,thatspectrallyplayedroundthewhale,andtappedthelightcedarplankswiththeirtails.
AsoundlikethemoaninginsquadronsoverAsphaltitesofunforgivenghostsofGomorrah,ranshudderingthroughtheair.
Startedfromhisslumbers,Ahab,facetoface,sawtheParsee;andhoopedroundbythegloomofthenighttheyseemedthelastmeninafloodedworld.“Ihavedreameditagain,”saidhe.
“Ofthehearses?HaveInotsaid,oldman,thatneitherhearsenorcoffincanbethine?”
“Andwhoarehearsedthatdieonthesea?”
“ButIsaid,oldman,thaterethoucouldstdieonthisvoyage,twohearsesmustverilybeseenbytheeonthesea;thefirstnotmadebymortalhands;andthevisiblewoodofthelastonemustbegrowninAmerica.”
“Aye,aye!astrangesightthat,Parsee!-ahearseanditsplumesfloatingovertheoceanwiththewavesforthepall-bearers.Ha!Suchasightweshallnotsoonsee.”
“Believeitornot,thoucanstnotdietillitbeseen,oldman.”
“Andwhatwasthatsayingaboutthyself?”
“Thoughitcometothelast,Ishallstillgobeforetheethypilot.”
“Andwhenthouartsogonebefore-ifthateverbefall-thenereIcanfollow,thoumuststillappeartome,topilotmestill?-Wasitnotso?
Well,then,didIbelieveallyesay,ohmypilot!
IhaveheretwopledgesthatIshallyetslayMobyDickandsurviveit.”
“Takeanotherpledge,oldman,”saidtheParsee,ashiseyeslighteduplikefire-fliesinthegloom-“Hemponlycankillthee.”
“Thegallows,yemean.-Iamimmortalthen,onlandandonsea,”criedAhab,withalaughofderision;-“Immortalonlandandonsea!”
Bothweresilentagain,asoneman.Thegreydawncameon,andtheslumberingcrewarosefromtheboat’sbottom,anderenoonthedeadwhalewasbroughttotheship.
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