English
Atday-break,thethreemast-headswerepunctuallymannedafresh.
“D’yeseehim?”criedAhabafterallowingalittlespaceforthelighttospread.
“Seenothing,sir.”
“Turnupallhandsandmakesail!hetravelsfasterthanIthoughtfor;-thetop-gallantsails!-aye,theyshouldhavebeenkeptonherallnight.Butnomatter-‘tisbutrestingfortherush.”
Herebeitsaid,thatthispertinaciouspursuitofoneparticularwhale,continuedthroughdayintonight,andthroughnightintoday,isathingbynomeansunprecedentedintheSouthseafishery.
Forsuchisthewonderfulskill,prescienceofexperience,andinvincibleconfidenceacquiredbysomegreatnaturalgeniusesamongtheNantucketcommanders;thatfromthesimpleobservationofawhalewhenlastdescried,theywill,undercertaingivencircumstances,prettyaccuratelyforetellboththedirectioninwhichhewillcontinuetoswimforatime,whileoutofsight,aswellashisprobablerateofprogressionduringthatperiod.
And,inthesecases,somewhatasapilot,whenaboutlosingsightofacoast,whosegeneraltrendinghewellknows,andwhichhedesiresshortlytoreturntoagain,butatsomefurtherpoint;likeasthispilotstandsbyhiscompass,andtakestheprecisebearingofthecapeatpresentvisible,inorderthemorecertainlytohitarighttheremote,unseenheadland,eventuallytobevisited:sodoesthefisherman,athiscompass,withthewhale;forafterbeingchased,anddiligentlymarked,throughseveralhoursofdaylight,then,whennightobscuresthefish,thecreature’sfuturewakethroughthedarknessisalmostasestablishedtothesagaciousmindofthehunter,asthepilot’scoastistohim.
Sothattothishunter’swondrousskill,theproverbialevanescenceofathingwritinwater,awake,istoalldesiredpurposeswellnighasreliableasthesteadfastland.
AndasthemightyironLeviathanofthemodernrailwayissofamiliarlyknowninitseverypace,that,withwatchesintheirhands,mentimehisrateasdoctorsthatofababy’spulse;andlightlysayofit,theuptrainorthedowntrainwillreachsuchorsuchaspot,atsuchorsuchanhour;evenso,almost,thereareoccasionswhentheseNantucketerstimethatotherLeviathanofthedeep,accordingtotheobservedhumorofhisspeed;andsaytothemselves,somanyhourshencethiswhalewillhavegonetwohundredmiles,willhaveaboutreachedthisorthatdegreeoflatitudeorlongitude.
Buttorenderthisacutenessatallsuccessfulintheend,thewindandtheseamustbethewhaleman’sallies;forofwhatpresentavailtothebecalmedorwind-boundmarineristheskillthatassureshimheisexactlyninety-threeleaguesandaquarterfromhisport?
Inferablefromthesestatements,aremanycollateralsubtilematterstouchingthechaseofwhales.
Theshiptoreon;leavingsuchafurrowintheseaaswhenacannonball,missent,becomesaplough-shareandturnsupthelevelfield.
“Bysaltandhemp!”criedStubb,“butthisswiftmotionofthedeckcreepsupone’slegsandtinglesattheheart.ThisshipandIaretwobravefellows!-Ha,ha!
Someonetakemeup,andlaunchme,spine-wise,onthesea,-forbylive-oaks!myspine’sakeel.Ha,ha!
wegothegaitthatleavesnodustbehind!”
“Theresheblows-sheblows!-sheblows!-rightahead!”wasnowthemast-headcry.
“Aye,aye!”criedStubb,“Iknewit-yecan’tescape-blowonandsplityourspout,Owhale!themadfiendhimselfisafterye!blowyourtrump-blisteryourlungs!
-Ahabwilldamoffyourblood,asamillershutshiswatergateuponthestream!”
AndStubbdidbutspeakoutforwellnighallthatcrew.
Thefrenziesofthechasehadbythistimeworkedthembubblinglyup,likeoldwineworkedanew.
Whateverpalefearsandforebodingssomeofthemmighthavefeltbefore;thesewerenotonlynowkeptoutofsightthroughthegrowingaweofAhab,buttheywerebrokenup,andonallsidesrouted,astimidprairieharesthatscatterbeforetheboundingbison.
ThehandofFatehadsnatchedalltheirsouls;andbythestirringperilsofthepreviousday;therackofthepastnight’ssuspense;thefixed,unfearing,blind,recklesswayinwhichtheirwildcraftwentplungingtowardsitsflyingmark;byallthesethings,theirheartswerebowledalong.
Thewindthatmadegreatbelliesoftheirsails,andrushedthevesselonbyarmsinvisibleasirresistible;thisseemedthesymbolofthatunseenagencywhichsoenslavedthemtotherace.
Theywereoneman,notthirty.Forastheoneshipthatheldthemall;thoughitwasputtogetherofallcontrastingthings-oak,andmaple,andpinewood;iron,andpitch,andhemp-yetalltheseranintoeachotherintheoneconcretehull,whichshotonitsway,bothbalancedanddirectedbythelongcentralkeel;evenso,alltheindividualitiesofthecrew,thisman’svalor,thatman’sfear;guiltandguiltiness,allvarietieswereweldedintooneness,andwerealldirectedtothatfatalgoalwhichAhabtheironelordandkeeldidpointto.
Therigginglived.Themast-heads,likethetopsoftallpalms,wereoutspreadinglytuftedwitharmsandlegs.
Clingingtoasparwithonehand,somereachedforththeotherwithimpatientwavings;others,shadingtheireyesfromthevividsunlight,satfaroutontherockingyards;allthesparsinfullbearingofmortals,readyandripefortheirfate.Ah!
howtheystillstrovethroughthatinfinitebluenesstoseekoutthethingthatmightdestroythem!
“Whysingyenotoutforhim,ifyeseehim?”
criedAhab,when,afterthelapseofsomeminutessincethefirstcry,nomorehadbeenheard.
“Swaymeup,men;yehavebeendeceived;notMobyDickcastsoneoddjetthatway,andthendisappears.”
Itwasevenso;intheirheadlongeagerness,themenhadmistakensomeotherthingforthewhale-spout,astheeventitselfsoonproved;forhardlyhadAhabreachedhisperch;hardlywastheropebelayedtoitspinondeck,whenhestruckthekey-notetoanorchestra,thatmadetheairvibrateaswiththecombineddischargeofrifles.
Thetriumphanthallooofthirtybuckskinlungswasheard,as-muchnearertotheshipthantheplaceoftheimaginaryjet,lessthanamileahead-MobyDickbodilyburstintoview!
Fornotbyanycalmandindolentspoutings;notbythepeaceablegushofthatmysticfountaininhishead,didtheWhiteWhalenowrevealhisvicinity;butbythefarmorewondrousphenomenonofbreaching.
Risingwithhisutmostvelocityfromthefurthestdepths,theSpermWhalethusboomshisentirebulkintothepureelementofair,andpilingupamountainofdazzlingfoam,showshisplacetothedistanceofsevenmilesandmore.
Inthosemoments,thetorn,enragedwavesheshakesoff,seemhismane;insomecases,thisbreachingishisactofdefiance.
“Thereshebreaches!thereshebreaches!”
wasthecry,asinhisimmeasurablebravadoestheWhiteWhaletossedhimselfsalmon-liketoHeaven.
Sosuddenlyseenintheblueplainofthesea,andrelievedagainstthestillbluermarginofthesky,thespraythatheraised,forthemoment,intolerablyglitteredandglaredlikeaglacier;andstoodtheregraduallyfadingandfadingawayfromitsfirstsparklingintensity,tothedimmistinessofanadvancingshowerinavale.
“Aye,breachyourlasttothesun,MobyDick!”criedAhab,“thyhourandthyharpoonareathand!-Down!downallofye,butonemanatthefore.Theboats!-standby!”
Unmindfulofthetediousrope-laddersoftheshrouds,themen,likeshootingstars,slidtothedeck,bytheisolatedbackstaysandhalyards;whileAhab,lessdartingly,butstillrapidlywasdroppedfromhisperch.
“Loweraway,”hecried,sosoonashehadreachedhisboat-aspareone,riggedtheafternoonprevious.“Mr.Starbuck,theshipisthine-awayfromtheboats,butkeepnearthem.Lower,all!”
Asiftostrikeaquickterrorintothem,bythistimebeingthefirstassailanthimself,MobyDickhadturned,andwasnowcomingforthethreecrews.
Ahab’sboatwascentral;andcheeringhismen,hetoldthemhewouldtakethewhalehead-and-head,-thatis,pullstraightuptohisforehead,-anotuncommonthing;forwhenwithinacertainlimit,suchacourseexcludesthecomingonsetfromthewhale’ssidelongvision.
Buterethatcloselimitwasgained,andwhileyetallthreeboatswereplainastheship’sthreemaststohiseye;theWhiteWhalechurninghimselfintofuriousspeed,almostinaninstantasitwere,rushingamongtheboatswithopenjaws,andalashingtail,offeredappallingbattleoneveryside;andheedlessoftheirondartedathimfromeveryboat,seemedonlyintentonannihilatingeachseparateplankofwhichthoseboatsweremade.
Butskilfullymanoeuvred,incessantlywheelingliketrainedchargersinthefield;theboatsforawhileeludedhim;though,attimes,butbyaplank’sbreadth;whileallthetime,Ahab’sunearthlyslogantoreeveryothercrybuthistoshreds.
Butatlastinhisuntraceableevolutions,theWhiteWhalesocrossedandrecrossed,andinathousandwaysentangledtheslackofthethreelinesnowfasttohim,thattheyforeshortened,and,ofthemselves,warpedthedevotedboatstowardstheplantedironsinhim;thoughnowforamomentthewhaledrewasidealittle,asiftorallyforamoretremendouscharge.
Seizingthatopportunity,Ahabfirstpaidoutmoreline;andthenwasrapidlyhaulingandjerkinginuponitagain-hopingthatwaytodisencumberitofsomesnarls-whenlo!
-asightmoresavagethantheembattledteethofsharks!
Caughtandtwisted-corkscrewedinthemazesoftheline,looseharpoonsandlances,withalltheirbristlingbarbsandpoints,cameflashinganddrippinguptothechocksinthebowsofAhab’sboat.Onlyonethingcouldbedone.
Seizingtheboat-knife,hecriticallyreachedwithin-through-andthen,without-theraysofsteel;draggedinthelinebeyond,passedit,inboard,tothebowsman,andthen,twicesunderingtheropenearthechocks-droppedtheinterceptedfagotofsteelintothesea;andwasallfastagain.
Thatinstant,theWhiteWhalemadeasuddenrushamongtheremainingtanglesoftheotherlines;bysodoing,irresistiblydraggedthemoreinvolvedboatsofStubbandFlasktowardshisflukes;dashedthemtogetherliketworollinghusksonasurf-beatenbeach,andthen,divingdownintothesea,disappearedinaboilingmaelstrom,inwhich,foraspace,theodorouscedarchipsofthewrecksdancedroundandround,likethegratednutmeginaswiftlystirredbowlofpunch.
Whilethetwocrewswereyetcirclinginthewaters,reachingoutaftertherevolvingline-tubs,oars,andotherfloatingfurniture,whileaslopelittleFlaskbobbedupanddownlikeanemptyvial,twitchinghislegsupwardstoescapethedreadedjawsofsharks;andStubbwaslustilysingingoutforsomeonetoladlehimup;andwhiletheoldman’sline-nowparting-admittedofhispullingintothecreamypooltorescuewhomhecould;-inthatwildsimultaneousnessofathousandconcretedperils,-Ahab’syetunstrickenboatseemeddrawnuptowardsHeavenbyinvisiblewires,-as,arrow-like,shootingperpendicularlyfromthesea,theWhiteWhaledashedhisbroadforeheadagainstitsbottom,andsentitturningoverandover,intotheair;tillitfellagain-gunwaledown-andAhabandhismenstruggledoutfromunderit,likesealsfromasea-sidecave.
Thefirstuprisingmomentumofthewhale-modifyingitsdirectionashestruckthesurface-involuntarilylaunchedhimalongit,toalittledistancefromthecentreofthedestructionhehadmade;andwithhisbacktoit,henowlayforamomentslowlyfeelingwithhisflukesfromsidetoside;andwheneverastrayoar,bitofplank,theleastchiporcrumboftheboatstouchedhisskin,histailswiftlydrewback,andcamesidewayssmitingthesea.
Butsoon,asifsatisfiedthathisworkforthattimewasdone,hepushedhispleatedforeheadthroughtheocean,andtrailingafterhimtheintertangledlines,continuedhisleewardwayatatraveller’smethodicpace.
Asbefore,theattentiveshiphavingdescriedthewholefight,againcamebearingdowntotherescue,anddroppingaboat,pickedupthefloatingmariners,tubs,oars,andwhateverelsecouldbecaughtat,andsafelylandedthemonherdecks.
Somesprainedshoulders,wrists,andankles;lividcontusions;wrenchedharpoonsandlances;inextricableintricaciesofrope;shatteredoarsandplanks;allthesewerethere;butnofatalorevenseriousillseemedtohavebefallenanyone.
AswithFedallahthedaybefore,soAhabwasnowfoundgrimlyclingingtohisboat’sbrokenhalf,whichaffordedacomparativelyeasyfloat;nordiditsoexhausthimasthepreviousday’smishap.
Butwhenhewashelpedtothedeck,alleyeswerefasteneduponhim;asinsteadofstandingbyhimselfhestillhalf-hungupontheshoulderofStarbuck,whohadthusfarbeentheforemosttoassisthim.
Hisivoryleghadbeensnappedoff,leavingbutoneshortsharpsplinter.
“Aye,aye,Starbuck,‘tissweettoleansometimes,betheleanerwhohewill;andwouldoldAhabhadleanedoftenerthanhehas.”
“Theferrulehasnotstood,sir,”saidthecarpenter,nowcomingup;putgoodworkintothatleg.”
“Butnobonesbroken,sir,Ihope,”saidStubbwithtrueconcern.
“Aye!andallsplinteredtopieces,Stubb!-d’yeseeit.
-Butevenwithabrokenbone,oldAhabisuntouched;andIaccountnolivingboneofmineonejotmoreme,thanthisdeadonethat’slost.
Norwhitewhale,norman,norfiend,cansomuchasgrazeoldAhabinhisownproperandinaccessiblebeing.
Cananyleadtouchyonderfloor,anymastscrapeyonderroof?-Aloftthere!whichway?”
“Deadtoleeward,sir.”
“Uphelm,then;pileonthesailagain,shipkeepers!downtherestofthespareboatsandrigthem-Mr.Starbuckaway,andmustertheboat’screws.”
“Letmefirsthelptheetowardsthebulwarks,sir.”
“Oh,oh,oh!howthissplintergoresmenow!Accursedfate!thattheunconquerablecaptaininthesoulshouldhavesuchacravenmate!”
“Sir?”
“Mybody,man,notthee.Givemesomethingforacane-there,thatshiveredlancewilldo.Musterthemen.SurelyIhavenotseenhimyet.Byheavenitcannotbe!missing?quick!callthemall.”
Theoldman’shintedthoughtwastrue.Uponmusteringthecompany,theParseewasnotthere.
“TheParsee!”criedStubb-“hemusthavebeencaughtin-”
“Theblackvomitwrenchthee!-runallofyeabove,alow,cabin,forecastle-findhim-notgone-notgone!”
ButquicklytheyreturnedtohimwiththetidingsthattheParseewasnowheretobefound.
“Aye,sir,”saidStubb-“caughtamongthetanglesofyourline-IthoughtIsawhimdraggingunder.”
“Myline!myline?Gone?-gone?Whatmeansthatlittleword?
-Whatdeath-knellringsinit,thatoldAhabshakesasifhewerethebelfry.Theharpoon,too!
-tossoverthelitterthere,-d’yeseeit?
-theforgediron,men,thewhitewhale’s-no,no,no,-listeredfool!thishanddiddartit!-‘tisinthefish!-Aloftthere!Keephimnailed-Quick!
-allhandstotheriggingoftheboats-collecttheoars-harpooneers!theirons,theirons!
-hoistroyalshigher-apullonallthesheets!-helmthere!steady,steadyforyourlife!
I’lltentimesgirdletheunmeasuredglobe;yeaanddivestraightthroughit,butI’llslayhimyet!
“GreatGod!butforonesingleinstantshowthyself,”criedStarbuck;“never,neverwiltthoucapturehim,oldman-InJesus’namenomoreofthis,that’sworsethandevil’smadness.
Twodayschased;twicestovetosplinters;thyverylegoncemoresnatchedfromunderthee;thyevilshadowgone-allgoodangelsmobbingtheewithwarnings:-whatmorewouldstthouhave?
-Shallwekeepchasingthismurderousfishtillheswampsthelastman?
Shallwebedraggedbyhimtothebottomofthesea?
Shallwebetowedbyhimtotheinfernalworld?
Oh,oh,-Impietyandblasphemytohunthimmore!”
“Starbuck,oflateI’vefeltstrangelymovedtothee;eversincethathourwebothsaw-thouknow’stwhat,inoneanother’seyes.
Butinthismatterofthewhale,bethefrontofthyfacetomeasthepalmofthishand-alipless,unfeaturedblank.AhabisforeverAhab,man.Thiswholeact’simmutablydecreed.
‘Twasrehearsedbytheeandmeabillionyearsbeforethisoceanrolled.Fool!
IamtheFates’lieutenant;Iactunderorders.Lookthou,underling!thatthouobeyestmine.-Standroundmen,men.
Yeseeanoldmancutdowntothestump;leaningonashiveredlance;proppeduponalonelyfoot.
‘TisAhab-hisbody’spart;butAhab’ssoul’sacentipede,thatmovesuponahundredlegs.
Ifeelstrained,half-stranded,asropesthattowdismastedfrigatesinagale;andImaylookso.
ButereIbreak,yellhearmecrack;andtillyehearthat,knowthatAhab’shawsertowshispurposeyet.
Believeye,men,inthethingscalledomens?Thenlaughaloud,andcryencore!
Foreretheydrown,drowningthingswilltwicerisetothesurface;thenriseagain,tosinkforevermore.
SowithMobyDick-twodayshe’sfloated-to-morrowwillbethethird.
Aye,men,he’llriseoncemore,-butonlytospouthislast!D’yefeelbravemen,brave?”
“Asfearlessfire,”criedStubb.
“Andasmechanical,”mutteredAhab.Thenasthemenwentforward,hemutteredon:“Thethingscalledomens!
AndyesterdayItalkedthesametoStarbuckthere,concerningmybrokenboat.Oh!
howvaliantlyIseektodriveoutofothers’heartswhat’sclinchedsofastinmine!-TheParsee-theParsee!-gone,gone?
andhewastogobefore:-butstillwastobeseenagainereIcouldperish-How’sthat?
-There’sariddlenowmightbaffleallthelawyersbackedbytheghostsofthewholelineofjudges:-likeahawk’sbeakitpecksmybrain.I’ll,I’llsolveit,though!”
Whenduskdescended,thewhalewasstillinsighttoleeward.
Sooncemorethesailwasshortened,andeverythingpassednearlyasonthepreviousnight;only,thesoundofhammers,andthehumofthegrindstonewasheardtillnearlydaylight,asthementoiledbylanternsinthecompleteandcarefulriggingofthespareboatsandsharpeningtheirfreshweaponsforthemorrow.
Meantime,ofthebrokenkeelofAhab’swreckedcraftthecarpentermadehimanotherleg;whilestillasonthenightbefore,slouchedAhabstoodfixedwithinhisscuttle;hishid,heliotropeglanceanticipatinglygonebackwardonitsdial;satdueeastwardfortheearliestsun.
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