CHAPTER 135 The Chase—Third Day
Themorningofthethirddaydawnedfairandfresh,andoncemorethesolitarynight-manatthefore-mast-headwasrelievedbycrowdsofthedaylightlook-outs,whodottedeverymastandalmosteveryspar.
"D'yeseehim?"criedAhab;butthewhalewasnotyetinsight.
"Inhisinfalliblewake,though;butfollowthatwake,that'sall.Helmthere;steady,asthougoest,andhastbeengoing.Whatalovelydayagain!wereitanewmadeworld,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'veoversailedhim.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,ashecoiledthenewhauledmain-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,though,arewenot,myship?Aye,minusaleg,that'sall.Byheaventhisdeadwoodhasthebetterofmyliveflesheveryway.Ican'tcomparewithit;andI'veknownsomeshipsmadeofdeadtreesoutlastthelivesofmenmadeofthemostvitalstuffofvitalfathers.What'sthathesaid?heshouldstillgobeforeme,mypilot;andyettobeseenagain?Butwhere?WillIhaveeyesatthebottomofthesea,supposingIdescendthoseendlessstairs?andallnightI'vebeensailingfromhim,whereverhedidsinkto.Aye,aye,likemanymorethoutold'stdirefultruthastouchingthyself,OParsee;but,Ahab,therethyshotfellshort.Good-bye,masthead—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."Standbythecrew!"
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,—beatsityet?Stirthyself,Starbuck!—staveitoff—move,move!speakaloud!—Mast-headthere!Seeyemyboy'shandonthehill?—Crazed;—aloftthere!—keepthykeenesteyeupontheboats:—markwellthewhale!—Ho!again!—driveoffthathawk!see!hepecks—hetearsthevane"—pointingtotheredflagflyingatthemain-truck—"Ha!hesoarsawaywitit!—Where'stheoldmannow?see'stthouthatsight,ohAhab!—shudder,shudder!"
Theboatshadnotgoneveryfar,whenbyasignalfromthemast-heads—adownwardpointedarm,Ahabknewthatthewhalehadsounded;butintendingtobenearhimatthenextrising,heheldonhiswayalittlesidewaysfromthevessel;thebecharmedcrewmaintainingtheprofoundestsilence,asthehead-beatwaveshammeredandhammeredagainsttheopposingbow.
"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.Glancingupwards,hesawTashtego,Queequeg,andDaggoo,eagerlymountingtothethreemast-heads;whiletheoarsmenwererockinginthetwostavedboatswhichhadbutjustbeenhoistedtotheside,andwerebusilyatworkinrepairingthem.Oneaftertheother,throughtheport-holes,ashesped,healsocaughtflyingglimpsesofStubbandFlask,busyingthemselvesondeckamongbundlesofnewironsandlances.Ashesawallthis;asheheardthehammersinthebrokenboats;farotherhammersseemeddrivinganailintohisheart.Butherallied.Andnowmarkingthatthevaneorflagwasgonefromthemain-masthead,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,theshark'sjawthantheyieldingwater."
"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,curledroundhisgreat,Monadnockhump;hewaseventhusclosetohim;when,withbodyarchedback,andbotharmslengthwisehigh-liftedtothepoise,hedartedhisfierceiron,andhisfarfiercecurseintothehatedwhale.Asbothsteelandcursesanktothesocket,asifsuckedintoamorass,MobyDicksidewayswrithed;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,Osea,thatereitbeforevertoolate,Ahabmayslidethislast,lasttimeuponhismark!Isee:theship!theship!Dashon,mymen!Willyenotsavemyship?"
Butastheoarsmenviolentlyforcedtheirboatthroughthesledge-hammeringseas,thebeforewhalesmittenbow-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?allmylifelongfidelities?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,Iwouldyetringglasseswithye,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;andonlygodbulliedhull;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,thepaganharpooneersstillmaintainedtheirsinkinglookoutsonthesea.Andnow,concentriccirclesseizedtheloneboatitself,andallitscrew,andeachfloatingoar,andeverylance-pole,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.