English
Themorningofthethirddaydawnedfairandfresh,andoncemorethesolitarynight-manatthefore-mast-headwasrelievedbycrowdsofthedaylightlook-outs,whodottedeverymastandalmosteveryspar.
“D’yeseehim?”criedAhab;butthewhalewasnotyetinsight.
“Inhisinfalliblewake,though;butfollowthatwake,that’sall.
Helmthere;steady,asthougoest,andhastbeengoing.Whatalovelydayagain!
wereitanew-madeworld,andmadeforasummer-housetotheangels,andthismorningthefirstofitsthrowingopentothem,afairerdaycouldnotdawnuponthatworld.
Here’sfoodforthought,hadAhabtimetothink;butAhabneverthinks;heonlyfeels,feels,feels;that’stinglingenoughformortalman!tothink’saudacity.Godonlyhasthatrightandprivilege.
Thinkingis,oroughttobe,acoolnessandacalmness;andourpoorheartsthrob,andourpoorbrainsbeattoomuchforthat.
Andyet,I’vesometimesthoughtmybrainwasverycalm-frozencalm,thisoldskullcracksso,likeaglassinwhichthecontentsturnedtoice,andshiverit.
Andstillthishairisgrowingnow;thismomentgrowing,andheatmustbreedit;butno,it’slikethatsortofcommongrassthatwillgrowanywhere,betweentheearthycleftsofGreenlandiceorinVesuviuslava.
Howthewildwindsblowit;theywhipitaboutmeasthetornshredsofsplitsailslashthetossedshiptheyclingto.
Avilewindthathasnodoubtblownerethisthroughprisoncorridorsandcells,andwardsofhospitals,andventilatedthem,andnowcomesblowinghitherasinnocentasfleeces.Outuponit!-it’stainted.
WereIthewind,I’dblownomoreonsuchawicked,miserableworld.
I’dcrawlsomewheretoacave,andslinkthere.
Andyet,‘tisanobleandheroicthing,thewind!whoeverconqueredit?
Ineveryfightithasthelastandbitterestblow.
Runtiltingatit,andyoubutrunthroughit.Ha!
acowardwindthatstrikesstarknakedmen,butwillnotstandtoreceiveasingleblow.
EvenAhabisabraverthing-anoblerthingthanthat.
Wouldnowthewindbuthadabody;butallthethingsthatmostexasperateandoutragemortalman,allthesethingsarebodiless,butonlybodilessasobjects,notasagents.
There’samostspecial,amostcunning,oh,amostmaliciousdifference!
Andyet,Isayagain,andswearitnow,thatthere’ssomethingallgloriousandgraciousinthewind.
ThesewarmTradeWinds,atleast,thatintheclearheavensblowstraighton,instrongandsteadfast,vigorousmildness;andveernotfromtheirmark,howeverthebasercurrentsoftheseamayturnandtack,andmightiestMississippiesofthelandswiftandswerveabout,uncertainwheretogoatlast.AndbytheeternalPoles!
thesesameTradesthatsodirectlyblowmygoodshipon;theseTrades,orsomethinglikethem-somethingsounchangeable,andfullasstrong,blowmykeeledsoulalong!Toit!Aloftthere!Whatd’yesee?”
“Nothing,sir.”
“Nothing!andnoonathand!Thedoubloongoesa-begging!Seethesun!Aye,aye,itmustbeso.I’veover-sailedhim.How,gotthestart?
Aye,he’schasingmenow;notI,him-that’sbad;Imighthaveknownit,too.Fool!thelines-theharpoonshe’stowing.Aye,aye,Ihaverunhimbylastnight.About!about!
Comedown,allofye,buttheregularlookouts!Manthebraces!”
Steeringasshehaddone,thewindhadbeensomewhatonthePequod’squarter,sothatnowbeingpointedinthereversedirection,thebracedshipsailedharduponthebreezeassherechurnedthecreaminherownwhitewake.
“Againstthewindhenowsteersfortheopenjaw,”murmuredStarbucktohimself,ashecoiledthenew-hauledmain-braceupontherail.
“Godkeepus,butalreadymybonesfeeldampwithinme,andfromtheinsidewetmyflesh.
ImisdoubtmethatIdisobeymyGodinobeyinghim!”
“Standbytoswaymeup!”criedAhab,advancingtothehempenbasket.“Weshouldmeethimsoon.”
“Aye,aye,sir,”andstraightwayStarbuckdidAhab’sbidding,andoncemoreAhabswungonhigh.
Awholehournowpassed;gold-beatenouttoages.
Timeitselfnowheldlongbreathswithkeensuspense.
Butatlast,somethreepointsofftheweatherbow,Ahabdescriedthespoutagain,andinstantlyfromthethreemast-headsthreeshriekswentupasifthetonguesoffirehadvoicedit.
“ForeheadtoforeheadImeetthee,thisthirdtime,MobyDick!Ondeckthere!
-bracesharperup;crowdherintothewind’seye.
He’stoofarofftoloweryet,Mr.Starbuck.Thesailsshake!
Standoverthathelmsmanwithatop-maul!
So,so;hetravelsfast,andImustdown.
Butletmehaveonemoregoodroundlookalofthereatthesea;there’stimeforthat.
Anold,oldsight,andyetsomehowsoyoung;aye,andnotchangedawinksinceIfirstsawit,aboy,fromthesand-hillsofNantucket!Thesame-thesame!-thesametoNoahastome.There’sasoftshowertoleeward.Suchlovelyleewardings!
Theymustleadsomewhere-tosomethingelsethancommonland,morepalmythanthepalms.Leeward!
thewhitewhalegoesthatway;looktowindward,then;thebetterifthebittererquarter.Butgoodbye,goodbye,oldmast-head!What’sthis?-green?
aye,tinymossesinthesewarpedcracks.
NosuchgreenweatherstainsonAhab’shead!
There’sthedifferencenowbetweenman’soldageandmatter’s.
Butaye,oldmast,webothgrowoldtogether;soundinourhulls,thougharewenot,myship?Aye,minusaleg,that’sall.
Byheaventhisdeadwoodhasthebetterofmyliveflesheveryway.
Ican’tcomparewithit;andI’veknownsomeshipsmadeofdeadtreesoutlastthelivesofmenmadeofthemostvitalstuffofvitalfathers.What’sthathesaid?
heshouldstillgobeforeme,mypilot;andyettobeseenagain?Butwhere?
WillIhaveeyesatthebottomofthesea,supposingIdescendthoseendlessstairs?
andallnightI’vebeensailingfromhim,whereverhedidsinkto.
Aye,aye,likemanymorethoutoldistdirefultruthastouchingthyself,OParsee;but,Ahab,therethyshotfellshort.
Goodbye,mast-head-keepagoodeyeuponthewhale,thewhileI’mgone.
We’lltalkto-morrow,nay,to-night,whenthewhitewhaleliesdownthere,tiedbyheadandtail.”
Hegavetheword;andstillgazingroundhim,wassteadilyloweredthroughtheclovenblueairtothedeck.
Induetimetheboatswerelowered;butasstandinginhisshallop’sstern,Ahabjusthovereduponthepointofthedescent,hewavedtothemate,-whoheldoneofthetackle-ropesondeck-andbadehimpause.
“Starbuck!”
“Sir?”
“Forthethirdtimemysoul’sshipstartsuponthisvoyage,Starbuck.”
“Aye,sir,thouwilthaveitso.”
“Someshipssailfromtheirports,andeverafterwardsaremissing,Starbuck!”
“Truth,sir:saddesttruth.”
“Somemendieatebbtide;someatlowwater;someatthefulloftheflood;-andIfeelnowlikeabillowthat’sallonecrestedcomb,Starbuck.Iamold;-shakehandswithme,man.”
Theirhandsmet;theireyesfastened;Starbuck’stearstheglue.
“Oh,mycaptain,mycaptain!-nobleheart-gonot-gonot!-see,it’sabravemanthatweeps;howgreattheagonyofthepersuasionthen!”
“Loweraway!”-criedAhab,tossingthemate’sarmfromhim.“Standbyforthecrew!”
Inaninstanttheboatwaspullingroundcloseunderthestern.
“Thesharks!thesharks!”criedavoicefromthelowcabin-windowthere;“Omaster,mymaster,comeback!”
ButAhabheardnothing;forhisownvoicewashigh-liftedthen;andtheboatleapedon.
Yetthevoicespaketrue;forscarcehadhepushedfromtheship,whennumbersofsharks,seeminglyrisingfromoutthedarkwatersbeneaththehull,maliciouslysnappedatthebladesoftheoars,everytimetheydippedinthewater;andinthiswayaccompaniedtheboatwiththeirbites.
Itisathingnotuncommonlyhappeningtothewhale-boatsinthoseswarmingseas;thesharksattimesapparentlyfollowingtheminthesameprescientwaythatvultureshoveroverthebannersofmarchingregimentsintheeast.
ButthesewerethefirstsharksthathadbeenobservedbythePequodsincetheWhiteWhalehadbeenfirstdescried;andwhetheritwasthatAhab’screwwereallsuchtiger-yellowbarbarians,andthereforetheirfleshmoremuskytothesensesofthesharks-amattersometimeswellknowntoaffectthem,-howeveritwas,theyseemedtofollowthatoneboatwithoutmolestingtheothers.
“Heartofwroughtsteel!”murmuredStarbuckgazingovertheside,andfollowingwithhiseyestherecedingboat-“canstthouyetringboldlytothatsight?
-loweringthykeelamongraveningsharks,andfollowedbythem,open-mouthedtothechase;andthisthecriticalthirdday?
-Forwhenthreedaysflowtogetherinonecontinuousintensepursuit;besurethefirstisthemorning,thesecondthenoon,andthethirdtheeveningandtheendofthatthing-bethatendwhatitmay.Oh!myGod!
whatisthisthatshootsthroughme,andleavesmesodeadlycalm,yetexpectant,-fixedatthetopofashudder!
Futurethingsswimbeforeme,asinemptyoutlinesandskeletons;allthepastissomehowgrowndim.
Mary,girl;thoufadestinpalegloriesbehindme;boy!
Iseemtoseebutthyeyesgrownwondrousblue.
Strangestproblemsoflifeseemclearing;butcloudssweepbetween-Ismyjourney’sendcoming?
Mylegsfeelfaint;likehiswhohasfooteditallday.Feelthyheart,-beatityet?Stirthyself,Starbuck!-staveitoff-move,move!speakaloud!-Mast-headthere!Seeyemyboy’shandonthehill?-Crazed;-aloftthere!
-keepthykeenesteyeupontheboats:-markwellthewhale!-Ho!again!-driveoffthathawk!see!
hepecks-hetearsthevane”-pointingtotheredflagflyingatthemain-truck-“Ha,hesoarsawaywithit!-Where’stheoldmannow?see’stthouthatsight,ohAhab!-shudder,shudder!”
Theboatshadnotgoneveryfar,whenbyasignalfromthemast-heads-adownwardpointedarm,Ahabknewthatthewhalehadsounded;butintendingtobenearhimatthenextrising,heheldonhiswayalittlesidewaysfromthevessel;thebecharmedcrewmaintainingtheprofoundestsilence,asthehead-bentwaveshammeredandhammeredagainsttheopposingbow.
“Drive,driveinyournails,ohyewaves!totheiruttermostheadsdrivethemin!yebutstrikeathingwithoutalid;andnocoffinandnohearsecanbemine:-andhemponlycankillme!Ha!ha!”
Suddenlythewatersaroundthemslowlyswelledinbroadcircles;thenquicklyupheaved,asifsidewaysslidingfromasubmergedbergofice,swiftlyrisingtothesurface.
Alowrumblingsoundwasheard;asubterraneoushum;andthenallheldtheirbreaths;asbedraggledwithtrailingropes,andharpoons,andlances,avastformshotlengthwise,butobliquelyfromthesea.
Shroudedinathindroopingveilofmist,ithoveredforamomentintherainbowedair;andthenfellswampingbackintothedeep.
Crushedthirtyfeetupwards,thewatersflashedforaninstantlikeheapsoffountains,thenbrokenlysankinashowerofflakes,leavingthecirclingsurfacecreamedlikenewmilkroundthemarbletrunkofthewhale.
“Giveway!”criedAhabtotheoarsmen,andtheboatsdartedforwardtotheattack;butmaddenedbyyesterday’sfreshironsthatcorrodedinhim,MobyDickseemedcombinedlypossessedbyalltheangelsthatfellfromheaven.
Thewidetiersofweldedtendonsoverspreadinghisbroadwhiteforehead,beneaththetransparentskin,lookedknittedtogether;asheadon,hecamechurninghistailamongtheboats;andoncemoreflailedthemapart;spillingouttheironsandlancesfromthetwomates’boats,anddashinginonesideoftheupperpartoftheirbows,butleavingAhab’salmostwithoutascar.
WhileDaggooandQueequegwerestoppingthestrainedplanks;andasthewhaleswimmingoutfromthem,turned,andshowedoneentireflankasheshotbythemagain;atthatmomentaquickcrywentup.
Lashedroundandroundtothefish’sback;pinionedintheturnsuponturnsinwhich,duringthepastnight,thewhalehadreeledtheinvolutionsofthelinesaroundhim,thehalftornbodyoftheParseewasseen;hissableraimentfrayedtoshreds;hisdistendedeyesturnedfulluponoldAhab.
Theharpoondroppedfromhishand.
“Befooled,befooled!”-drawinginalongleanbreath-“Aye,Parsee!Iseetheeagain.
-Aye,andthougoestbefore;andthis,thisthenisthehearsethatthoudidstpromise.
ButIholdtheetothelastletterofthyword.Whereisthesecondhearse?Away,mates,totheship!
thoseboatsareuselessnow;repairthemifyecanintime,andreturntome;ifnot,Ahabisenoughtodie-Down,men!
thefirstthingthatbutofferstojumpfromthisboatIstandin,thatthingIharpoon.
Yearenotothermen,butmyarmsandmylegs;andsoobeyme.-Where’sthewhale?gonedownagain?”
Buthelookedtoonightheboat;forasifbentuponescapingwiththecorpsehebore,andasiftheparticularplaceofthelastencounterhadbeenbutastageinhisleewardvoyage,MobyDickwasnowagainsteadilyswimmingforward;andhadalmostpassedtheship,-whichthusfarhadbeensailinginthecontrarydirectiontohim,thoughforthepresentherheadwayhadbeenstopped.
Heseemedswimmingwithhisutmostvelocity,andnowonlyintentuponpursuinghisownstraightpathinthesea.
“Oh!Ahab,”criedStarbuck,“nottoolateisit,evennow,thethirdday,todesist.See!MobyDickseekstheenot.Itisthou,thou,thatmadlyseekesthim!”
Settingsailtotherisingwind,thelonelyboatwasswiftlyimpelledtoleeward,bybothoarsandcanvas.
AndatlastwhenAhabwasslidingbythevessel,sonearasplainlytodistinguishStarbuck’sfaceasheleanedovertherail,hehailedhimtoturnthevesselabout,andfollowhim,nottooswiftly,atajudiciousinterval.
GlancingupwardshesawTashtego,Queequeg,andDaggoo,eagerlymountingtothethreemast-heads;whiletheoarsmenwererockinginthetwostavedboatswhichhadjustbeenhoistedtotheside,andwerebusilyatworkinrepairingthem.
Oneaftertheother,throughtheport-holes,ashesped,healsocaughtflyingglimpsesofStubbandFlask,busyingthemselvesondeckamongbundlesofnewironsandlances.
Ashesawallthis;asheheardthehammersinthebrokenboats;farotherhammersseemeddrivinganailintohisheart.Butherallied.
Andnowmarkingthatthevaneorflagwasgonefromthemain-mast-head,heshoutedtoTashtego,whohadjustgainedthatperch,todescendagainforanotherflag,andahammerandnails,andsonailittothemast.
Whetherfaggedbythethreedays’runningchase,andtheresistancetohisswimmingintheknottedhamperhebore;orwhetheritwassomelatentdeceitfulnessandmaliceinhim:whicheverwastrue,theWhiteWhale’swaynowbegantoabate,asitseemed,fromtheboatsorapidlynearinghimoncemore;thoughindeedthewhale’slaststarthadnotbeensolongaoneasbefore.
AndstillasAhabglidedoverthewavestheunpityingsharksaccompaniedhim;andsopertinaciouslystucktotheboat;andsocontinuallybitattheplyingoars,thatthebladesbecamejaggedandcrunched,andleftsmallsplintersinthesea,atalmosteverydip.
“Heedthemnot!thoseteethbutgivenewrowlockstoyouroars.Pullon!‘tisthebetterrest,thesharks’jawthantheyieldingwater.”
“Butateverybite,sir,thethinbladesgrowsmallerandsmaller!”
“Theywilllastlongenough!pullon!
-Butwhocantell”-hemuttered-“whetherthesesharksswimtofeastonthewhaleoronAhab?-Butpullon!Aye,allalive,now-wenearhim.Thehelm!takethehelm!
letmepass,”-andsosayingtwooftheoarsmenhelpedhimforwardtothebowsofthestillflyingboat.
Atlengthasthecraftwascasttooneside,andranrangingalongwiththeWhiteWhale’sflank,heseemedstrangelyobliviousofitsadvance-asthewhalesometimeswill-andAhabwasfairlywithinthesmokymountainmist,which,thrownofffromthewhale’sspout,curledroundhisgreatMonadnockhump;hewaseventhusclosetohim;when,withbodyarchedback,andbotharmslengthwisehigh-liftedtothepoise,hedartedhisfierceiron,andhisfarfiercercurseintothehatedwhale.
Asbothsteelandcursesanktothesocket,asifsuckedintoamorass,MobyDicksidewisewrithed;spasmodicallyrolledhisnighflankagainstthebow,and,withoutstavingaholeinit,sosuddenlycantedtheboatover,thathaditnotbeenfortheelevatedpartofthegunwaletowhichhethenclung,Ahabwouldoncemorehavebeentossedintothesea.
Asitwas,threeoftheoarsmen-whoforeknewnotthepreciseinstantofthedart,andwerethereforeunpreparedforitseffects-thesewereflungout;butsofell,that,inaninstanttwoofthemclutchedthegunwaleagain,andrisingtoitslevelonacombingwave,hurledthemselvesbodilyinboardagain;thethirdmanhelplesslydroppingastern,butstillafloatandswimming.
Almostsimultaneously,withamightyvolitionofungraduated,instantaneousswiftness,theWhiteWhaledartedthroughthewelteringsea.
ButwhenAhabcriedouttothesteersmantotakenewturnswiththeline,andholditso;andcommandedthecrewtoturnroundontheirseats,andtowtheboatuptothemark;themomentthetreacherouslinefeltthatdoublestrainandtug,itsnappedintheemptyair!
“Whatbreaksinme?Somesinewcracks!-‘tiswholeagain;oars!oars!Burstinuponhim!”
Hearingthetremendousrushofthesea-crashingboat,thewhalewheeledroundtopresenthisblankforeheadatbay;butinthatevolution,catchingsightofthenearingblackhulloftheship;seeminglyseeinginitthesourceofallhispersecutions;bethinkingit-itmaybe-alargerandnoblerfoe;ofasudden,heboredownuponitsadvancingprow,smitinghisjawsamidfieryshowersoffoam.
Ahabstaggered;hishandsmotehisforehead.“Igrowblind;hands!stretchoutbeforemethatImayyetgropemyway.Is’tnight?”
“Thewhale!Theship!”criedthecringingoarsmen.
“Oars!oars!
Slopedownwardstothydepths,Oseathatereitbeforevertoolate,Ahabmayslidethislast,lasttimeuponhismark!Isee:theship!theship!Dashon,mymen!willyenotsavemyship?”
Butastheoarsmenviolentlyforcedtheirboatthroughthesledge-hammeringseas,thebeforewhale-smittenbow-endsoftwoplanksburstthrough,andinaninstantalmost,thetemporarilydisabledboatlaynearlylevelwiththewaves;itshalf-wading,splashingcrew,tryinghardtostopthegapandbaleoutthepouringwater.
Meantime,forthatonebeholdinginstant,Tashtego’smast-headhammerremainedsuspendedinhishand;andtheredflag,half-wrappinghimaswithaplaid,thenstreameditselfstraightoutfromhim,ashisownforward-flowingheart;whileStarbuckandStubb,standinguponthebowspritbeneath,caughtsightofthedown-comingmonsterjustassoonashe.
“Thewhale,thewhale!Uphelm,uphelm!
Oh,allyesweetpowersofair,nowhugmeclose!
LetnotStarbuckdie,ifdiehemust,inawoman’sfaintingfit.Uphelm,Isay-yefools,thejaw!thejaw!
Isthistheendofallmyburstingprayers?allmylife-longfidelities?Oh,Ahab,Ahab,lo,thywork.Steady!helmsman,steady.Nay,nay!Uphelmagain!Heturnstomeetus!
Oh,hisunappeasablebrowdrivesontowardsone,whosedutytellshimhecannotdepart.MyGod,standbymenow!”
“Standnotbyme,butstandunderme,whoeveryouarethatwillnowhelpStubb;forStubb,too,stickshere.Igrinatthee,thougrinningwhale!
WhoeverhelpedStubb,orkeptStubbawake,butStubb’sownunwinkingeye?
AndnowpoorStubbgoestobeduponamattrassthatisalltoosoft;woulditwerestuffedwithbrushwood!Igrinatthee,thougrinningwhale!Lookye,sun,moon,andstars!
Icallyeassassinsofasgoodafellowaseverspouteduphisghost.
Forallthat,Iwouldyetringglasseswiththee,wouldyebuthandthecup!Oh,oh!oh,oh!
thougrinningwhale,butthere’llbeplentyofgulpingsoon!Whyflyyenot,OAhab!
Forme,offshoesandjackettoit;letStubbdieinhisdrawers!
Amostmouldyandoversalteddeath,though;-cherries!cherries!cherries!
Oh,Flask,foroneredcherryerewedie!”
“Cherries?Ionlywishthatwewerewheretheygrow.Oh,Stubb,Ihopemypoormother’sdrawnmypart-payerethis;ifnot,fewcopperswillnowcometoher,forthevoyageisup.”
Fromtheship’sbows,nearlyalltheseamennowhunginactive;hammers,bitsofplank,lances,andharpoons,mechanicallyretainedintheirhands,justastheyhaddartedfromtheirvariousemployments;alltheirenchantedeyesintentuponthewhale,whichfromsidetosidestrangelyvibratinghispredestinatinghead,sentabroadbandofoverspreadingsemicircularfoambeforehimasherushed.
Retribution,swiftvengeance,eternalmalicewereinhiswholeaspect,andspiteofallthatmortalmancoulddo,thesolidwhitebuttressofhisforeheadsmotetheship’sstarboardbow,tillmenandtimbersreeled.Somefellflatupontheirfaces.
Likedislodgedtrucks,theheadsoftheharpooneersaloftshookontheirbull-likenecks.
Throughthebreach,theyheardthewaterspour,asmountaintorrentsdownaflume.
“Theship!Thehearse!-thesecondhearse!”criedAhabfromtheboat;“itswoodcouldonlybeAmerican!”
Divingbeneaththesettlingship,thewhaleranquiveringalongitskeel;butturningunderwater,swiftlyshottothesurfaceagain,farofftheotherbow,butwithinafewyardsofAhab’sboat,where,foratime,helayquiescent.
“Iturnmybodyfromthesun.Whatho,Tashtego!letmehearthyhammer.Oh!
yethreeunsurrenderedspiresofmine;thouuncrackedkeel;andonlygod-bulliedhull;thoufirmdeck,andhaughtyhelm,andPole-pointedprow,-death-gloriousship!mustyethenperish,andwithoutme?
AmIcutofffromthelastfondprideofmeanestshipwreckedcaptains?Oh,lonelydeathonlonelylife!
Oh,nowIfeelmytopmostgreatnessliesinmytopmostgrief.Ho,ho!
fromallyourfurthestbounds,pouryenowin,yeboldbillowsofmywholeforegonelife,andtopthisonepiledcomberofmydeath!
TowardstheeIroll,thouall-destroyingbutunconqueringwhale;tothelastIgrapplewiththee;fromhell’sheartIstabatthee;forhate’ssakeIspitmylastbreathatthee.
Sinkallcoffinsandallhearsestoonecommonpool!
andsinceneithercanbemine,letmethentowtopieces,whilestillchasingthee,thoughtiedtothee,thoudamnedwhale!Thus,Igiveupthespear!”
Theharpoonwasdarted;thestrickenwhaleflewforward;withignitingvelocitythelineranthroughthegrooves;-ranfoul.
Ahabstoopedtoclearit;hedidclearit;buttheflyingturncaughthimroundtheneck,andvoicelesslyasTurkishmutesbowstringtheirvictim,hewasshotoutoftheboat,erethecrewknewhewasgone.
Nextinstant,theheavyeye-spliceintherope’sfinalendflewoutofthestark-emptytub,knockeddownanoarsman,andsmitingthesea,disappearedinitsdepths.
Foraninstant,thetrancedboat’screwstoodstill;thenturned.“Theship?GreatGod,whereistheship?”
Soontheythroughdim,bewilderingmediumssawhersidelongfadingphantom,asinthegaseousFataMorgana;onlytheuppermostmastsoutofwater;whilefixedbyinfatuation,orfidelity,orfate,totheironceloftyperches,thepaganharpooneersstillmaintainedtheirsinkinglook-outsonthesea.
Andnow,concentriccirclesseizedtheloneboatitself,andallitscrew,andeachfloatingoar,andeverylancepole,andspinning,animateandinanimate,allroundandroundinonevortex,carriedthesmallestchipofthePequodoutofsight.
ButasthelastwhelmingsintermixinglypouredthemselvesoverthesunkenheadoftheIndianatthemainmast,leavingafewinchesoftheerectsparyetvisible,togetherwithlongstreamingyardsoftheflag,whichcalmlyundulated,withironicalcoincidings,overthedestroyingbillowstheyalmosttouched;-atthatinstant,aredarmandahammerhoveredbackwardlyupliftedintheopenair,intheactofnailingtheflagfasterandyetfastertothesubsidingspar.
Asky-hawkthattauntinglyhadfollowedthemain-truckdownwardsfromitsnaturalhomeamongthestars,peckingattheflag,andincommodingTashtegothere;thisbirdnowchancedtointerceptitsbroadflutteringwingbetweenthehammerandthewood;andsimultaneouslyfeelingthatetherialthrill,thesubmergedsavagebeneath,inhisdeath-gasp,kepthishammerfrozenthere;andsothebirdofheaven,witharchangelicshrieks,andhisimperialbeakthrustupwards,andhiswholecaptiveformfoldedintheflagofAhab,wentdownwithhisship,which,likeSatan,wouldnotsinktohelltillshehaddraggedalivingpartofheavenalongwithher,andhelmetedherselfwithit.
Nowsmallfowlsflewscreamingovertheyetyawninggulf;asullenwhitesurfbeatagainstitssteepsides;thenallcollapsed,andthegreatshroudofthesearolledonasitrolledfivethousandyearsago.
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