English
Thatnight,inthemid-watchwhentheoldman-ashiswontatintervals-steppedforthfromthescuttleinwhichheleaned,andwenttohispivot-hole,hesuddenlythrustouthisfacefiercely,snuffinguptheseaairasasagaciousship’sdogwill,indrawingnightosomebarbarousisle.Hedeclaredthatawhalemustbenear.
Soonthatpeculiarodor,sometimestoagreatdistancegivenforthbythelivingspermwhale,waspalpabletoallthewatch;norwasanymarinersurprisedwhen,afterinspectingthecompass,andthenthedog-vane,andthenascertainingtheprecisebearingoftheodorasnearlyaspossible,Ahabrapidlyorderedtheship’scoursetobeslightlyaltered,andthesailtobeshortened.
Theacutepolicydictatingthesemovementswassufficientlyvindicatedatdaybreak,bythesightofalongsleekontheseadirectlyandlengthwiseahead,smoothasoil,andresemblinginthepleatedwaterywrinklesborderingit,thepolishedmetallic-likemarksofsomeswifttide-rip,atthemouthofadeep,rapidstream.
“Manthemast-heads!Callallhands!”
Thunderingwiththebuttsofthreeclubbedhandspikesontheforecastledeck,Daggoorousedthesleeperswithsuchjudgmentclapsthattheyseemedtoexhalefromthescuttle,soinstantaneouslydidtheyappearwiththeirclothesintheirhands.
“Whatd’yesee?”criedAhab,flatteninghisfacetothesky.
“Nothing,nothingsir!”wasthesoundhailingdowninreply.
“T’gallantsails!-stunsails!alowandaloft,andonbothsides!”
Allsailbeingset,henowcastloosethelife-line,reservedforswayinghimtothemainroyal-masthead;andinafewmomentstheywerehoistinghimthither,when,whilebuttwothirdsofthewayaloft,andwhilepeeringaheadthroughthehorizontalvacancybetweenthemain-top-sailandtop-gallant-sail,heraisedagull-likecryintheair.“Theresheblows!-theresheblows!Ahumplikeasnow-hill!
ItisMobyDick!”
Firedbythecrywhichseemedsimultaneouslytakenupbythethreelook-outs,themenondeckrushedtotheriggingtobeholdthefamouswhaletheyhadsolongbeenpursuing.
Ahabhadnowgainedhisfinalperch,somefeetabovetheotherlook-outs,Tashtegostandingjustbeneathhimonthecapofthetop-gallant-mast,sothattheIndian’sheadwasalmostonalevelwithAhab’sheel.
Fromthisheightthewhalewasnowseensomemileorsoahead,ateveryrollofthesearevealinghishighsparklinghump,andregularlyjettinghissilentspoutintotheair.
TothecredulousmarinersitseemedthesamesilentspouttheyhadsolongagobeheldinthemoonlitAtlanticandIndianOceans.
“Anddidnoneofyeseeitbefore?”criedAhab,hailingtheperchedmenallaroundhim.
“Isawhimalmostthatsameinstant,sir,thatCaptainAhabdid,andIcriedout,”saidTashtego.
“Notthesameinstant;notthesame-no,thedoubloonismine,Fatereservedthedoubloonforme.
Ionly;noneofyecouldhaveraisedtheWhiteWhalefirst.Theresheblows!-theresheblows!-theresheblows!Thereagain!-thereagain!”
hecried,inlong-drawn,lingering,methodictones,attunedtothegradualprolongingsofthewhale’svisiblejets.“He’sgoingtosound!Instunsails!Downtop-gallant-sails!Standbythreeboats.
Mr.Starbuck,remember,stayonboard,andkeeptheship.Helmthere!Luff,luffapoint!So;steady,man,steady!Theregoflukes!No,no;onlyblackwater!Allreadytheboatsthere?Standby,standby!
Lowerme,Mr.Starbuck;lower,lower,-quick,quicker!”
andheslidthroughtheairtothedeck.
“Heisheadingstraighttoleeward,sir,”criedStubb,“rightawayfromus;cannothaveseentheshipyet.”
“Bedumb,man!Standbythebraces!Harddownthehelm!-braceup!Shiverher!-shiverher!-So;wellthat!Boats,boats!”
SoonalltheboatsbutStarbuck’sweredropped;alltheboat-sailsset-allthepaddlesplying;withripplingswiftness,shootingtoleeward;andAhabheadingtheonset.
Apale,death-glimmerlitupFedallah’ssunkeneyes;ahideousmotiongnawedhismouth.
Likenoiselessnautilusshells,theirlightprowsspedthroughthesea;butonlyslowlytheynearedthefoe.
Astheynearedhim,theoceangrewstillmoresmooth;seemeddrawingacarpetoveritswaves;seemedanoon-meadow,soserenelyitspread.
Atlengththebreathlesshuntercamesonighseeminglyunsuspectingprey,thathisentiredazzlinghumpwasdistinctlyvisible,slidingalongtheseaasifanisolatedthing,andcontinuallysetinarevolvingringoffinest,fleecy,greenishfoam.
Hesawthevast,involvedwrinklesoftheslightlyprojectingheadbeyond.
Beforeit,faroutonthesoftTurkish-ruggedwaters,wenttheglisteningwhiteshadowfromhisbroad,milkyforehead,amusicalripplingplayfullyaccompanyingtheshade;andbehind,thebluewatersinterchangeablyflowedoverintothemovingvalleyofhissteadywake;andoneitherhandbrightbubblesaroseanddancedbyhisside.
Butthesewerebrokenagainbythelighttoesofhundredsofgayfowlssoftlyfeatheringthesea,alternatewiththeirfitfulflight;andliketosomeflag-staffrisingfromthepaintedhullofanargosy,thetallbutshatteredpoleofarecentlanceprojectedfromthewhitewhale’sback;andatintervalsoneofthecloudofsoft-toedfowlshovering,andtoandfroskimminglikeacanopyoverthefish,silentlyperchedandrockedonthispole,thelongtailfeathersstreaminglikepennons.
Agentlejoyousness-amightymildnessofreposeinswiftness,investedtheglidingwhale.
NotthewhitebullJupiterswimmingawaywithravishedEuropaclingingtohisgracefulhorns;hislovely,leeringeyessidewaysintentuponthemaid;withsmoothbewitchingfleetness,ripplingstraightforthenuptialbowerinCrete;notJove,notthatgreatmajestySupreme!
didsurpasstheglorifiedWhiteWhaleashesodivinelyswam.
Oneachsoftside-coincidentwiththepartedswell,thatbutonceleavinghimthenflowedsowideaway-oneachbrightside,thewhaleshedoffenticings.
Nowondertherehadbeensomeamongthehunterswhonamelesslytransportedandalluredbyallthisserenity,hadventuredtoassailit;buthadfatallyfoundthatquietudebutthevestureoftornadoes.Yetcalm,enticingcalm,oh,whale!
thouglideston,toallwhoforthefirsttimeeyethee,nomatterhowmanyinthatsamewaythoumaysthavebejuggledanddestroyedbefore.
Andthus,throughtheserenetranquilitiesofthetropicalsea,amongwaveswhosehand-clappingsweresuspendedbyexceedingrapture,MobyDickmovedon,stillwithholdingfromsightthefullterrorsofhissubmergedtrunk,entirelyhidingthewrenchedhideousnessofhisjaw.
Butsoontheforepartofhimslowlyrosefromthewater;foraninstanthiswholemarbleizedbodyformedahigharch,likeVirginia’sNaturalBridge,andwarninglywavinghisbanneredflukesintheair,thegrandgodrevealedhimself,soundedandwentoutofsight.
Hoveringlyhalting,anddippingonthewing,thewhitesea-fowlslonginglylingeredovertheagitatedpoolthatheleft.
Withoarsapeak,andpaddlesdown,thesheetsoftheirsailsadrift,thethreeboatsnowstillyfloated,awaitingMobyDick’sreappearance.
“Anhour,”saidAhab,standingrootedinhisboat’sstern;andhegazedbeyondthewhale’splace,towardsthedimbluespacesandwidewooingvacanciestoleeward.
Itwasonlyaninstant;foragainhiseyesseemedwhirlingroundinhisheadashesweptthewaterycircle.
Thebreezenowfreshened;theseabegantoswell.
“Thebirds!-thebirds!”criedTashtego.
InlongIndianfile,aswhenheronstakewing,thewhitebirdswerenowallflyingtowardsAhab’sboat;andwhenwithinafewyardsbeganflutteringoverthewaterthere,wheelingroundandround,withjoyous,expectantcries.
Theirvisionwaskeenerthanman’s;Ahabcoulddiscovernosigninthesea.
Butsuddenlyashepeereddownanddownintoitsdepths,heprofoundlysawawhitelivingspotnobiggerthanawhiteweasel,withwonderfulcelerityuprising,andmagnifyingasitrose,tillitturned,andthentherewereplainlyrevealedtwolongcrookedrowsofwhite,glisteningteeth,floatingupfromtheundiscoverablebottom.
ItwasMobyDick’sopenmouthandscrolledjaw;hisvast,shadowedbulkstillhalfblendingwiththeblueofthesea.
Theglitteringmouthyawnedbeneaththeboatlikeanopen-dooredmarbletomb;andgivingonesidelongsweepwithhissteeringoar,Ahabwhirledthecraftasidefromthistremendousapparition.
Then,callinguponFedallahtochangeplaceswithhim,wentforwardtothebows,andseizingPerth’sharpoon,commandedhiscrewtograsptheiroarsandstandbytostern.
Now,byreasonofthistimelyspinningroundtheboatuponitsaxis,itsbow,byanticipation,wasmadetofacethewhale’sheadwhileyetunderwater.
Butasifperceivingthisstratagem,MobyDick,withthatmaliciousintelligenceascribedtohim,sidelinglytransplantedhimself,asitwere,inaninstant,shootinghispleatedheadlengthwisebeneaththeboat.
Throughandthrough;througheveryplankandeachrib,itthrilledforaninstant,thewhaleobliquelylyingonhisback,inthemannerofabitingsharkslowlyandfeelinglytakingitsbowsfullwithinhismouth,sothatthelong,narrow,scrolledlowerjawcurledhighupintotheopenair,andoneoftheteethcaughtinarow-lock.
Thebluishpearl-whiteoftheinsideofthejawwaswithinsixinchesofAhab’shead,andreachedhigherthanthat.
InthisattitudetheWhiteWhalenowshooktheslightcedarasamildlycruelcathermouse.
WithunastonishedeyesFedallahgazed,andcrossedhisarms;butthetiger-yellowcrewweretumblingovereachother’sheadstogaintheuttermoststern.
Andnow,whilebothelasticgunwaleswerespringinginandout,asthewhaledalliedwiththedoomedcraftinthisdevilishway;andfromhisbodybeingsubmergedbeneaththeboat,hecouldnotbedartedatfromthebows,forthebowswerealmostinsideofhim,asitwere;andwhiletheotherboatsinvoluntarilypaused,asbeforeaquickcrisisimpossibletowithstand,thenitwasthatmonomaniacAhab,furiouswiththistantalizingvicinityofhisfoe,whichplacedhimallaliveandhelplessintheveryjawshehated;frenziedwithallthis,heseizedthelongbonewithhisnakedhands,andwildlystrovetowrenchfromitsgripe.
Asnowhethusvainlystrove,thejawslippedfromhim;thefrailgunwalesbentin,collapsed,andsnapped,asbothjaws,likeanenormousshears,slidingfurtheraft,bitthecraftcompletelyintwain,andlockedthemselvesfastagaininthesea,midwaybetweenthetwofloatingwrecks.
Thesefloatedaside,thebrokenendsdrooping,thecrewatthestern-wreckclingingtothegunwales,andstrivingtoholdfasttotheoarstolashthemacross.
Atthatpreludingmoment,eretheboatwasyetsnapped,Ahab,thefirsttoperceivethewhale’sintent,bythecraftyupraisingofhishead,amovementthatloosedhisholdforthetime;atthatmomenthishandhadmadeonefinalefforttopushtheboatoutofthebite.
Butonlyslippingfurtherintothewhale’smouth,andtiltingoversidewaysasitslipped,theboathadshakenoffhisholdonthejaw;spilledhimoutofit,asheleanedtothepush;andsohefellflat-faceduponthesea.
Ripplinglywithdrawingfromhisprey,MobyDicknowlayatalittledistance,verticallythrustinghisoblongwhiteheadupanddowninthebillows;andatthesametimeslowlyrevolvinghiswholespindledbody;sothatwhenhisvastwrinkledforeheadrose-sometwentyormorefeetoutofthewater-thenowrisingswells,withalltheirconfluentwaves,dazzlinglybrokeagainstit;vindictivelytossingtheirshiveredspraystillhigherintotheair.
*So,inagale,thebuthalfbaffledChannelbillowsonlyrecoilfromthebaseoftheEddystone,triumphantlytooverleapitssummitwiththeirscud.
*Thismotionispeculiartothespermwhale.
Itreceivesitsdesignation(pitchpoling)fromitsbeinglikenedtothatpreliminaryup-and-downpoiseofthewhale-lance,intheexercisecalledpitchpoling,previouslydescribed.
Bythismotionthewhalemustbestandmostcomprehensivelyviewwhateverobjectsmaybeencirclinghim.
Butsoonresuminghishorizontalattitude,MobyDickswamswiftlyroundandroundthewreckedcrew;sidewayschurningthewaterinhisvengefulwake,asiflashinghimselfuptostillanotherandmoredeadlyassault.
Thesightofthesplinteredboatseemedtomaddenhim,asthebloodofgrapesandmulberriescastbeforeAntiochus’selephantsinthebookofMaccabees.
MeanwhileAhabhalfsmotheredinthefoamofthewhale’sinsolenttail,andtoomuchofacrippletoswim,-thoughhecouldstillkeepafloat,evenintheheartofsuchawhirlpoolasthat;helplessAhab’sheadwasseen,likeatossedbubblewhichtheleastchanceshockmightburst.
Fromtheboat’sfragmentarystern,Fedallahincuriouslyandmildlyevedhim;theclingingcrew,attheotherdriftingend,couldnotsuccorhim;morethanenoughwasitforthemtolooktothemselves.
ForsorevolvinglyappallingwastheWhiteWhale’saspect,andsoplanetarilyswifttheever-contractingcircleshemade,thatheseemedhorizontallyswoopinguponthem.
Andthoughtheotherboats,unharmed,stillhoveredhardby;stilltheydarednotpullintotheeddytostrike,lestthatshouldbethesignalfortheinstantdestructionofthejeopardizedcastaways,Ahabandall;norinthatcasecouldtheythemselveshopetoescape.
Withstrainingeyes,then,theyremainedontheouteredgeofthedirefulzone,whosecentrehadnowbecometheoldman’shead.
Meantime,fromthebeginningallthishadbeendescriedfromtheship’smastheads;andsquaringheryards,shehadbornedownuponthescene;andwasnowsonigh,thatAhabinthewaterhailedher!
-“Sailonthe”-butthatmomentabreakingseadashedonhimfromMobyDick,andwhelmedhimforthetime.
Butstrugglingoutofitagain,andchancingtoriseonatoweringcrest,heshouted,-“Sailonthewhale!-Drivehimoff!”
ThePequod’sprowswerepointed-,andbreakingupthecharmedcircle,sheeffectuallypartedthewhitewhalefromhisvictim.Ashesullenlyswamoff,theboatsflewtotherescue.
DraggedintoStubb’sboatwithblood-shot,blindedeyes,thewhitebrinecakinginhiswrinkles;thelongtensionofAhab’sbodilystrengthdidcrack,andhelplesslyheyieldedtohisbody’sdoomforatime,lyingallcrushedinthebottomofStubb’sboat,likeonetroddenunderfootofherdsofelephants.
Farinland,namelesswailscamefromhim,asdesolatesoundsfromoutravines.
Butthisintensityofhisphysicalprostrationdidbutsomuchthemoreabbreviateit.
Inaninstant’scompass,greatheartssometimescondensetoonedeeppang,thesumtotalofthoseshallowpainskindlydiffusedthroughfeeblermen’swholelives.
Andso,suchhearts,thoughsummaryineachonesuffering;still,ifthegodsdecreeit,intheirlife-timeaggregateawholeageofwoe,whollymadeupofinstantaneousintensities;forevenintheirpointlesscentres,thosenoblenaturescontaintheentirecircumferencesofinferiorsouls.
“Theharpoon,”saidAhab,halfwayrising,anddragginglyleaningononebendedarm-“isitsafe?”
“Aye,sir,foritwasnotdarted;thisisit,”saidStubb,showingit.
“Layitbeforeme;-anymissingmen?”
“One,two,three,four,five;-therewerefiveoars,sir,andherearefivemen.”
“That’sgood.-Helpme,man;Iwishtostand.So,so,Iseehim!there!there!
goingtoleewardstill;whataleapingspout!-Handsofffromme!
TheeternalsaprunsupinAhab’sbonesagain!Setthesail;outoars;thehelm!”
Itisoftenthecasethatwhenaboatisstove,itscrew,beingpickedupbyanotherboat,helptoworkthatsecondboat;andthechaseisthuscontinuedwithwhatiscalleddouble-bankedoars.Itwasthusnow.
Buttheaddedpoweroftheboatdidnotequaltheaddedpowerofthewhale,forheseemedtohavetreble-bankedhiseveryfin;swimmingwithavelocitywhichplainlyshowed,thatifnow,underthesecircumstances,pushedon,thechasewouldproveanindefinitelyprolonged,ifnotahopelessone;norcouldanycrewendureforsolongaperiod,suchanunintermitted,intensestrainingattheoar;athingbarelytolerableonlyinsomeonebriefvicissitude.
Theshipitself,then,asitsometimeshappens,offeredthemostpromisingintermediatemeansofovertakingthechase.
Accordingly,theboatsnowmadeforher,andweresoonswayeduptotheircranes-thetwopartsofthewreckedboathavingbeenpreviouslysecuredbyher-andthenhoistingeverythingtoherside,andstackinghercanvashighup,andsidewaysoutstretchingitwithstunsails,likethedouble-jointedwingsofanalbatross;thePequodboredownintheleewardwakeofMobyDick.
Atthewellknown,methodicintervals,thewhale’sglitteringspoutwasregularlyannouncedfromthemannedmast-heads;andwhenhewouldbereportedasjustgonedown,Ahabwouldtakethetime,andthenpacingthedeck,binnacle-watchinhand,sosoonasthelastsecondoftheallottedhourexpired,hisvoicewasheard.-“Whoseisthedoubloonnow?D’yeseehim?”andifthereplywasNo,sir!
straightwayhecommandedthemtolifthimtohisperch.
Inthiswaythedayworeon;Ahab,nowaloftandmotionless;anon,unrestinglypacingtheplanks.
Ashewasthuswalking,utteringnosound,excepttohailthemenaloft,ortobidthemhoistasailstillhigher,ortospreadonetoastillgreaterbreadth-thustoandfropacing,beneathhisslouchedhat,ateveryturnhepassedhisownwreckedboat,whichhadbeendroppeduponthequarter-deck,andlaytherereversed;brokenbowtoshatteredstern.
Atlasthepausedbeforeit;andasinanalreadyover-cloudedskyfreshtroopsofcloudswillsometimessailacross,soovertheoldman’sfacetherenowstolesomesuchaddedgloomasthis.
Stubbsawhimpause;andperhapsintending,notvainly,though,toevincehisownunabatedfortitude,andthuskeepupavaliantplaceinhisCaptain’smind,headvanced,andeyeingthewreckexclaimed-“Thethistletheassrefused;itprickedhismouthtookeenly,sir,ha!ha!”
“Whatsoullessthingisthisthatlaughsbeforeawreck?Man,man!
didInotknowtheebraveasfearlessfire(andasmechanical)Icouldswearthouwertapaltroon.
Groannorlaughshouldbeheardbeforeawreck.”
“Aye,sir,”saidStarbuckdrawingnear,”’tisasolemnsight;anomen,andanillone.”
“Omen?omen?-thedictionary!
Ifthegodsthinktospeakoutrighttoman,theywillhonorablyspeakoutright;notshaketheirheads,andgiveanoldwives’darklinghint.-Begone!
Yetwoaretheoppositepolesofonething;StarbuckisStubbreversed,andStubbisStarbuck;andyetwoareallmankind;andAhabstandsaloneamongthemillionsofthepeopledearth,norgodsnormenhisneighbors!Cold,cold-Ishiver!-Hownow?Aloftthere!D’yeseehim?
Singoutforeveryspout,thoughhespouttentimesasecond!”
Thedaywasnearlydone;onlythehelmofhisgoldenrobewasrustling.Soonitwasalmostdark,butthelook-outmenstillremainedunset.
“Can’tseethespoutnow,sir;-toodark”-criedavoicefromtheair.
“Howheadingwhenlastseen?”
“Asbefore,sir,-straighttoleeward.”
“Good!hewilltravelslowernow‘tisnight.
Downroyalsandtop-gallantstunsails,Mr.Starbuck.
Wemustnotrunoverhimbeforemorning;he’smakingapassagenow,andmayheave-toawhile.Helmthere!keepherfullbeforethewind!-Aloft!comedown!
-Mr.Stubb,sendafreshhandtothefore-masthead,andseeitmannedtillmorning.”
-Thenadvancingtowardsthedoublooninthemain-mast-“Men,thisgoldismine,forIearnedit;butIshallletitabideheretilltheWhiteWhaleisdead;andthen,whosoeverofyefirstraiseshim,uponthedayheshallbekilled,thisgoldisthatman’s;andifonthatdayIshallagainraisehim,then,tentimesitssumshallbedividedamongallofye!Awaynow!thedeckisthine,sir!”
Andsosaying,heplacedhimselfhalfwaywithinthescuttle,andslouchinghishat,stoodtheretilldawn,exceptwhenatintervalsrousinghimselftoseehowthenightworeon.
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