StubbandFlaskmountedonthem,andpassingadditionallashingsovertheanchorstherehanging. No,Stubb;youmaypoundthatknotthereasmuchasyouplease,butyouwillneverpoundintomewhatyouwerejustnowsaying. Andhowlongagoisitsinceyousaidtheverycontrary? Didn’tyouoncesaythatwhatevershipAhabsailsin,thatshipshouldpaysomethingextraonitsinsurancepolicy,justasthoughitwereloadedwithpowderbarrelsaftandboxesoflucifersforward?Stop,now;didn’tyousayso?” “Well,supposeIdid?Whatthen! I’vepartchangedmyfleshsincethattime,whynotmymind? Besides,supposingweareloadedwithpowderbarrelsaftandlucifersforward;howthedevilcouldthelucifersgetafireinthisdrenchingsprayhere? Why,mylittleman,youhaveprettyredhair,butyoucouldn’tgetafirenow. Shakeyourself;you’reAquarius,orthewater-bearer,Flask;mightfillpitchersatyourcoatcollar. Don’tyousee,then,thatfortheseextrariskstheMarineInsurancecompanieshaveextraguarantees?Herearehydrants,Flask. Buthark,again,andI’llansweryetheotherthing. Firsttakeyourlegoffromthecrownoftheanchorhere,though,soIcanpasstherope;nowlisten. What’sthemightydifferencebetweenholdingamast’slightning-rodinthestorm,andstandingclosebyamastthathasn’tgotanylightning-rodatallinastorm? Don’tyousee,youtimber-head,thatnoharmcancometotheholderoftherod,unlessthemastisfirststruck?Whatareyoutalkingabout,then? Notoneshipinahundredcarriesrods,andAhab,-aye,man,andallofus,-wereinnomoredangerthen,inmypooropinion,thanallthecrewsintenthousandshipsnowsailingtheseas. Why,youKing-Post,you,Isupposeyouwouldhaveeverymanintheworldgoaboutwithasmalllightning-rodrunningupthecornerofhishat,likeamilitiaofficer’sskeweredfeather,andtrailingbehindlikehissash.Whydon’tyebesensible,Flask? it’seasytobesensible;whydon’tye,then? anymanwithhalfaneyecanbesensible.” “Idon’tknowthat,Stubb.Yousometimesfinditratherhard.” “Yes,whenafellow’ssoakedthrough,it’shardtobesensible,that’safact. AndIamaboutdrenchedwiththisspray. Nevermind;catchtheturnthere,andpassit. Seemstomewearelashingdowntheseanchorsnowasiftheywerenevergoingtobeusedagain. Tyingthesetwoanchorshere,Flask,seemsliketyingaman’shandsbehindhim. Andwhatbiggeneroushandstheyare,tobesure.Theseareyourironfists,hey?Whataholdtheyhave,too! Iwonder,Flask,whethertheworldisanchoredanywhere;ifsheis,sheswingswithanuncommonlongcable,though. There,hammerthatknotdown,andwe’vedone. So;nexttotouchingland,lightingondeckisthemostsatisfactory. Isay,justwringoutmyjacketskirts,willye?Thankye. Theylaughatlong-togsso,Flask;butseemstome,along-tailedcoatoughtalwaystobeworninallstormsafloat. Thetailstaperingdownthatway,servetocarryoffthewater,d’yesee. Samewithcockedhats;thecocksformgable-endeave-troughs,Flask. Nomoremonkey-jacketsandtarpaulinsforme;Imustmountaswallow-tail,anddrivedownabeaver;so.Halloa!whew! theregoesmytarpaulinoverboard;Lord,Lord,thatthewindsthatcomefromheavenshouldbesounmannerly!Thisisanastynight,lad.” 
