CHAPTER 16 The Ship
Inbedweconcoctedourplansforthemorrow.Buttomysurpriseandnosmallconcern,Queequegnowgavemetounderstand,thathehadbeendiligentlyconsultingYojo—thenameofhisblacklittlegod—andYojohadtoldhimtwoorthreetimesover,andstronglyinsisteduponiteveryway,thatinsteadofourgoingtogetheramongthewhaling-fleetinharbor,andinconcertselectingourcraft;insteadofthis,Isay,Yojoearnestlyenjoinedthattheselectionoftheshipshouldrestwhollywithme,inasmuchasYojopurposedbefriendingus;and,inordertodoso,hadalreadypitcheduponavessel,which,iflefttomyself,I,Ishmael,shouldinfalliblylightupon,foralltheworldasthoughithadturnedoutbychance;andinthatvesselImustimmediatelyshipmyself,forthepresentirrespectiveofQueequeg.
Ihaveforgottentomentionthat,inmanythings,QueequegplacedgreatconfidenceintheexcellenceofYojo'sjudgmentandsurprisingforecastofthings;andcherishedYojowithconsiderableesteem,asarathergoodsortofgod,whoperhapsmeantwellenoughuponthewhole,butinallcasesdidnotsucceedinhisbenevolentdesigns.
Now,thisplanofQueequeg's,orratherYojo's,touchingtheselectionofourcraft;Ididnotlikethatplanatall.IhadnotalittlerelieduponQueequeg'ssagacitytopointoutthewhalerbestfittedtocarryusandourfortunessecurely.ButasallmyremonstrancesproducednoeffectuponQueequeg,Iwasobligedtoacquiesce;andaccordinglypreparedtosetaboutthisbusinesswithadeterminedrushingsortofenergyandvigor,thatshouldquicklysettlethattriflinglittleaffair.Nextmorningearly,leavingQueequegshutupwithYojoinourlittlebedroom—foritseemedthatitwassomesortofLentorRamadan,ordayoffasting,humiliation,andprayerwithQueequegandYojothatday;howitwasInevercouldfindout,for,thoughIappliedmyselftoitseveraltimes,InevercouldmasterhisliturgiesandXXXIXArticles—leavingQueequeg,then,fastingonhistomahawkpipe,andYojowarminghimselfathissacrificialfireofshavings,Isalliedouamongtheshipping.Aftermuchprolongedsaunteringandmanyrandominquiries,Ilearntthattherewerethreeshipsupforthree-years'voyages—TheDevildam,theTit-bit,andthePequod.Devil-Dam,Idonotknowtheoriginof;Tit-bitisobvious;Pequod,youwillnodoubtremember,wasthenameofacelebratedtribeofMassachusettsIndians;nowextinctastheancientMedes.IpeeredandpryedabouttheDevildam;fromher,hoppedovertotheTit-bit;andfinally,goingonboardthePequod,lookedaroundherforamoment,andthendecidedthatthiswastheveryshipforus.
Youmayhaveseenmanyaquaintcraftinyourday,foraughtIknow;—square-toedluggers;mountainousJapanesejunks;butter-boxgalliots,andwhatnot;buttakemywordforit,youneversawsucharareoldcraftasthissamerareoldPequod.Shewasashipoftheoldschool,rathersmallifanything;withanoldfashionedclaw-footedlookabouther.Longseasonedandweather-stainedinthetyphoonsandcalmsofallfouroceans,heroldhull'scomplexionwasdarkenedlikeaFrenchgrenadier's,whohasalikefoughtinEgyptandSiberia.Hervenerablebowslookedbearded.Hermasts—cutsomewhereonthecoastofJapan,whereheroriginaloneswerelostoverboardinagale—hermastsstoodstifflyuplikethespinesofthethreeoldkingsofCologne.Herancientdeckswerewornandwrinkled,likethepilgrim-worshippedflagstoneinCanterburyCathedralwhereBecketbled.Buttoalltheseheroldantiquities,wereaddednewandmarvellousfeatures,pertainingtothewildbusinessthatformorethanhalfacenturyshehadfollowed.OldCaptainPeleg,manyyearsherchief-mate,beforehecommandedanothervesselofhisown,andnowaretiredseaman,andoneoftheprincipalownersofthePequod,—thisoldPeleg,duringthetermofhischiefmateship,hadbuiltuponheroriginalgrotesqueness,andinlaidit,allover,withaquaintnessbothofmaterialanddevice,unmatchedbyanythingexceptitbeThorkill-Hake'scarvedbucklerorbedstead.ShewasapparelledlikeanybarbaricEthiopianemperor,hisneckheavywithpendantsofpolishedivory.Shewasathingoftrophies.Acannibalofacraft,trickingherselfforthinthechasedbonesofherenemies.Allround,herunpanelled,openbulwarksweregarnishedlikeonecontinuousjaw,withthelongsharpteethofthespermwhale,insertedthereforpins,tofastenheroldhempenthewsandtendonsto.Thosethewsrannotthroughbaseblocksoflandwood,butdeftlytravelledoversheavesofsea-ivory.Scorningaturnstilewheelatherreverendhelm,shesportedthereatiller;andthattillerwasinonemass,curiouslycarvedfromthelongnarrowlowerjawofherhereditaryfoe.Thehelmsmanwhosteeredbythattillerinatempest,feltliketheTartar,whenheholdsbackhisfierysteedbyclutchingitsjaw.Anoblecraft,butsomehowamostmelancholy!Allnoblethingsaretouchedwiththat.
NowwhenIlookedaboutthequarter-deck,forsomeonehavingauthority,inordertoproposemyselfasacandidateforthevoyage,atfirstIsawnobody;butIcouldnotwelloverlookastrangesortoftent,orratherwigwam,pitchedalittlebehindthemain-mast.Itseemedonlyatemporaryerectionusedinport.Itwasofaconicalshape,sometenfeethigh;consistingofthelong,hugeslabsoflimberblackbonetakenfromthemiddleandhighestpartofthejawsoftherightwhale.Plantedwiththeirbroadendsonthedeck,acircleoftheseslabslacedtogether,mutuallyslopedtowardseachother,andattheapexunitedinatuftedpoint,wheretheloosehairyfibreswavedtoandfrolikethetop-knotonsomeoldPottowottamieSachem'shead.Atriangularopeningfacedtowardsthebowsoftheship,sothattheinsidercommandedacompleteviewforward.
Andhalfconcealedinthisqueertenement,Iatlengthfoundonewhobyhisaspectseemedtohaveauthority;andwho,itbeingnoon,andtheship'sworksuspended,wasnowenjoyingrespitefromtheburdenofcommand.Hewasseatedonanold-fashionedoakenchair,wrigglingalloverwithcuriouscarving;andthebottomofwhichwasformedofastoutinterlacingofthesameelasticstuffofwhichthewigwamwasconstructed.
Therewasnothingsoveryparticular,perhaps,abouttheappearanceoftheelderlymanIsaw;hewasbrownandbrawny,likemostoldseamen,andheavilyrolledupinbluepilot-cloth,cutintheQuakerstyle;onlytherewasafineandalmostmicroscopicnet-workoftheminutestwrinklesinterlacingroundhiseyes,whichmusthavearisenfromhiscontinualsailingsinmanyhardgales,andalwayslookingtowindward;—forthiscausesthemusclesabouttheeyestobecomepursedtogether.Sucheye-wrinklesareveryeffectualinascowl.
"IsthistheCaptainofthePequod?"saidI,advancingtothedoorofthetent.
"SupposingitbethecaptainofthePequod,whatdostthouwantofhim?"hedemanded.
"Iwasthinkingofshipping."
"Thouwast,wastthou?IseethouartnoNantucketer—everbeeninastoveboat?"
"No,Sir,Ineverhave."
"Dostknownothingatallaboutwhaling,Idaresay—eh?
"Nothing,Sir;butIhavenodoubtIshallsoonlearn.I'vebeenseveralvoyagesinthemerchantservice,andIthinkthat—"
"Merchantservicebedamned.Talknotthatlingotome.Dostseethatleg?—I'lltakethatlegawayfromthystern,ifeverthoutalkestofthemarchantservicetomeagain.Marchantserviceindeed!Isupposenowyefeelconsiderableproudofhavingservedinthosemarchantships.Butflukes!man,whatmakestheewanttogoawhaling,eh?—itlooksalittlesuspicious,don'tit,eh?—Hastnotbeenapirate,hastthou?—DidstnotrobthylastCaptain,didstthou?—Dostnotthinkofmurderingtheofficerswhenthougettesttosea?"
Iprotestedmyinnocenceofthesethings.Isawthatunderthemaskofthesehalfhumorousinnuendoes,thisoldseaman,asaninsulatedQuakerishNantucketer,wasfullofhisinsularprejudices,andratherdistrustfulofallaliens,unlesstheyhailedfromCapeCodortheVineyard.
"Butwhattakestheea-whaling?IwanttoknowthatbeforeIthinkofshippingye."
"Well,sir,Iwanttoseewhatwhalingis.Iwanttoseetheworld."
"Wanttoseewhatwhalingis,eh?HaveyeclappedeyeonCaptainAhab?"
"WhoisCaptainAhab,sir?"
"Aye,aye,Ithoughtso.CaptainAhabistheCaptainofthisship."
"Iammistakenthen.IthoughtIwasspeakingtotheCaptainhimself."
"ThouartspeakingtoCaptainPeleg—that'swhoyearespeakingto,youngman.ItbelongstomeandCaptainBildadtoseethePequodfittedoutforthevoyage,andsuppliedwithallherneeds,includingcrew.Wearepartownersandagents.ButasIwasgoingtosay,ifthouwantesttoknowwhatwhalingis,asthoutellestyedo,Icanputyeinawayoffindingitoutbeforeyebindyourselftoit,pastbackingout.ClapeyeonCaptainAhab,youngman,andthouwiltfindthathehasonlyoneleg.
"Whatdoyoumean,sir?Wastheotheronelostbyawhale?"
"Lostbyawhale!Youngman,comenearertome:itwasdevoured,chewedup,crunchedbythemonstrousestparmacettythateverchippedaboat!—ah,ah!"
Iwasalittlealarmedbyhisenergy,perhapsalsoalittletouchedattheheartygriefinhisconcludingexclamation,butsaidascalmlyasIcould,"Whatyousayisnodoubttrueenough,sir;buthowcouldIknowtherewasanypeculiarferocityinthatparticularwhale,thoughindeedImighthaveinferredasmuchfromthesimplefactoftheaccident."
"Lookyenow,youngman,thylungsareasortofsoft,d'yesee;thoudostnottalksharkabit.Sure,ye'vebeentoseabeforenow;sureofthat?"
"Sir,"saidI,"IthoughtItoldyouthatIhadbeenfourvoyagesinthemerchant—"
"Harddownoutofthat!MindwhatIsaidaboutthemarchantservice—don'taggravateme—Iwon'thaveit.Butletusunderstandeachother.Ihavegiventheeahintaboutwhatwhalingis;doyeyetfeelinclinedforit?"
"Ido,sir."
"Verygood.Now,artthouthemantopitchaharpoondownalivewhale'sthroat,andthenjumpafterit?Answer,quick!"
"Iam,sir,ifitshouldbepositivelyindispensabletodoso;nottobegotridof,thatis;whichIdon'ttaketobethefact."
"Goodagain.Nowthen,thounotonlywantesttogoa-whaling,tofindoutbyexperiencewhatwhalingis,butyealsowanttogoinordertoseetheworld?Wasnotthatwhatyesaid?Ithoughtso.Wellthen,juststepforwardthere,andtakeapeepovertheweather-bow,andthenbacktomeandtellmewhatyeseethere."
ForamomentIstoodalittlepuzzledbythiscuriousrequest,notknowingexactlyhowtotakeit,whetherhumorouslyorinearnest.Butconcentratingallhiscrow'sfeetintoonescowl,CaptainPelegstartedmeontheerrand.
Goingforwardandglancingovertheweatherbow,Iperceivedthattheshipswingingtoheranchorwiththeflood-tide,wasnowobliquelypointingtowardstheopenocean.Theprospectwasunlimited,butexceedinglymonotonousandforbidding;nottheslightestvarietythatIcouldsee.
"Well,what'sthereport?"saidPelegwhenIcameback;"whatdidyesee?"
"Notmuch,"Ireplied—"nothingbutwater;considerablehorizonthough,andthere'sasquallcomingup,Ithink."
"Well,whatdoesthouthinkthenofseeingtheworld?DoyewishtogoroundCapeHorntoseeanymoreofit,eh?Can'tyeseetheworldwhereyoustand?"
Iwasalittlestaggered,butgoa-whalingImust,andIwould;andthePequodwasasgoodashipasany—Ithoughtthebest—andallthisInowrepeatedtoPeleg.Seeingmesodetermined,heexpressedhiswillingnesstoshipme.
"Andthoumayestaswellsignthepapersrightoff,"headded—"comealongwithye."Andsosaying,heledthewaybelowdeckintothecabin.
Seatedonthetransomwaswhatseemedtomeamostuncommonandsurprisingfigure.ItturnedouttobeCaptainBildad,whoalongwithCaptainPelegwasoneofthelargestownersofthevessel;theothershares,asissometimesthecaseintheseports,beingheldbyacrowdofoldannuitants;widows,fatherlesschildren,andchancerywards;eachowningaboutthevalueofatimberhead,orafootofplank,oranailortwointheship.PeopleinNantucketinvesttheirmoneyinwhalingvessels,thesamewaythatyoudoyoursinapprovedstatestocksbringingingoodinterest.
Now,Bildad,likePeleg,andindeedmanyotherNantucketers,wasaQuaker,theislandhavingbeenoriginallysettledbythatsect;andtothisdayitsinhabitantsingeneralretaininanuncommonmeasurethepeculiaritiesoftheQuaker,onlyvariouslyandanomalouslymodifiedbythingsaltogetheralienandheterogeneous.ForsomeofthesesameQuakersarethemostsanguinaryofallsailorsandwhale-hunters.TheyarefightingQuakers;theyareQuakerswithavengeance.
Sothatthereareinstancesamongthemofmen,who,namedwithScripturenames—asingularlycommonfashionontheisland—andinchildhoodnaturallyimbibingthestatelydramatictheeandthouoftheQuakeridiom;still,fromtheaudacious,daring,andboundlessadventureoftheirsubsequentlives,strangelyblendwiththeseunoutgrownpeculiarities,athousandbolddashesofcharacter,notunworthyaScandinaviansea-king,orapoeticalPaganRoman.Andwhenthesethingsuniteinamanofgreatlysuperiornaturalforce,withaglobularbrainandaponderousheart;whohasalsobythestillnessandseclusionofmanylongnight-watchesintheremotestwaters,andbeneathconstellationsneverseenhereatthenorth,beenledtothinkuntraditionallyandindependently;receivingallnature'ssweetorsavageimpressionsfreshfromherownvirginvoluntaryandconfidingbreast,andtherebychiefly,butwithsomehelpfromaccidentaladvantages,tolearnaboldandnervousloftylanguage—thatmanmakesoneinawholenation'scensus—amightypageantcreature,formedfornobletragedies.Norwillitatalldetractfromhim,dramaticallyregarded,ifeitherbybirthorothercircumstances,hehavewhatseemsahalfwilfuloverrulingmorbidnessatthebottomofhisnature.Forallmentragicallygreataremadesothroughacertainmorbidness.Besureofthis,Oyoungambition,allmortalgreatnessisbutdisease.But,asyetwehavenottodowithsuchanone,butwithquiteanother;andstillaman,who,ifindeedpeculiar,itonlyresultsagainfromanotherphaseoftheQuaker,modifiedbyindividualcircumstances.
LikeCaptainPeleg,CaptainBildadwasawell-todo,retiredwhaleman.ButunlikeCaptainPeleg—whocarednotarushforwhatarecalledseriousthings,andindeeddeemedthoseself-sameseriousthingstheveriestofalltrifles—CaptainBildadhadnotonlybeenoriginallyeducatedaccordingtothestrictestsectofNantucketQuakerism,butallhissubsequentoceanlife,andthesightofmanyunclad,lovelyislandcreatures,roundtheHorn—allthathadnotmovedthisnativebornQuakeronesinglejot,hadnotsomuchasalteredoneangleofhisvest.Still,forallthisimmutableness,wastheresomelackofcommonconsistencyaboutworthyCaptainBildad.Thoughrefusing,fromconscientiousscruples,tobeararmsagainstlandinvaders,yethimselfhadillimitablyinvadedtheAtlanticandPacific;andthoughaswornfoetohumanbloodshed,yethadheinhisstraightbodiedcoat,spilledtunsupontunsofleviathangore.Hownowinthecontemplativeeveningofhisdays,thepiousBildadreconciledthesethingsinthereminiscence,Idonotknow;butitdidnotseemtoconcernhimmuch,andveryprobablyhehadlongsincecometothesageandsensibleconclusionthataman'sreligionisonething,andthispracticalworldquiteanother.Thisworldpaysdividends.Risingfromalittlecabin-boyinshortclothesofthedrabbestdrab,toaharpooneerinabroadshad-belliedwaistcoat;fromthatbecomingboat-header,chief-mate,andcaptain,andfinallyashipowner;Bildad,asIhintedbefore,hadconcludedhisadventurouscareerbywhollyretiringfromactivelifeatthegoodlyageofsixty,anddedicatinghisremainingdaystothequietreceivingofhiswell-earnedincome.
Now,Bildad,Iamsorrytosay,hadthereputationofbeinganincorrigibleoldhunks,andinhisseagoingdays,abitter,hardtask-master.TheytoldmeinNantucket,thoughitcertainlyseemsacuriousstory,thatwhenhesailedtheoldCategutwhaleman,hiscrew,uponarrivinghome,weremostlyallcarriedashoretothehospital,soreexhaustedandwornout.Forapiousman,especiallyforaQuaker,hewascertainlyratherhard-hearted,tosaytheleast.Heneverusedtoswear,though,athismen,theysaid;butsomehowhegotaninordinatequantityofcruel,unmitigatedhardworkoutofthem.WhenBildadwasachief-mate,tohavehisdrab-colouredeyeintentlylookingatyou,madeyoufeelcompletelynervous,tillyoucouldclutchsomething—ahammeroramarlingspike,andgotoworklikemad,atsomethingorother,nevermindwhat.Indolenceandidlenessperishedbeforehim.Hisownpersonwastheexactembodimentofhisutilitariancharacter.Onhislong,gauntbody,hecarriednospareflesh,nosuperfluousbeard,hischihavingasoft,economicalnaptoit,likethewornnapofhisbroad-brimmedhat.
Such,then,wasthepersonthatIsawseatedonthetransomwhenIfollowedCaptainPelegdownintothecabin.Thespacebetweenthedeckswassmall;andthere,bolt-upright,satoldBildad,whoalwayssatso,andneverleaned,andthistosavehiscoattails.Hisbroad-brimwasplacedbesidehim;hislegswerestifflycrossed;hisdrabvesturewasbuttoneduptohischin;andspectaclesonnose,heseemedabsorbedinreadingfromaponderousvolume.
"Bildad,"criedCaptainPeleg,"atitagain,Bildad,eh?YehavebeenstudyingthoseScriptures,now,forthelastthirtyyears,tomycertainknowledge.Howfaryegot,Bildad?"
Asiflonghabituatedtosuchprofanetalkfromhisoldshipmate,Bildad,withoutnoticinghispresentirreverence,quietlylookedup,andseeingme,glancedagaininquiringlytowardsPeleg.
"Hesayshe'sourman,Bildad,"saidPeleg,"hewantstoship."
"Dostthee?"saidBildad,inahollowtone,andturningroundtome.
"Idost,"saidIunconsciously,hewassointenseaQuaker.
"Whatdoyethinkofhim,Bildad?"saidPeleg.
"He'lldo,"saidBildad,eyeingme,andthenwentonspellingawayathisbookinamumblingtonequiteaudible.
IthoughthimthequeerestoldQuakerIeversaw,especiallyasPeleg,hisfriendandoldshipmate,seemedsuchablusterer.ButIsaidnothing,onlylookingroundmesharply.Pelegnowthrewopenachest,anddrawingforththeship'sarticles,placedpenandinkbeforehim,andseatedhimselfatalittletable.IbegantothinkitwashightimetosettlewithmyselfatwhattermsIwouldbewillingtoengageforthevoyage.Iwasalreadyawarethatinthewhalingbusinesstheypaidnowages;butallhands,includingthecaptain,receivedcertainsharesoftheprofitscalledlays,andthattheselayswereproportionedtothedegreeofimportancepertainingtotherespectivedutiesoftheship'scompany.Iwasalsoawarethatbeingagreenhandatwhaling,myownlaywouldnotbeverylarge;butconsideringthatIwasusedtothesea,couldsteeraship,splicearope,andallthat,ImadenodoubtthatfromallIhadheardIshouldbeofferedatleastthe275thlay—thatis,the275thpartoftheclearnetproceedsofthevoyage,whateverthatmighteventuallyamountto.Andthoughthe275thlaywaswhattheycallaratherlonglay,yetitwasbetterthannothing;andifwehadaluckyvoyage,mightprettynearlypayfortheclothingIwouldwearoutonit,nottospeakofmythreeyears'beefandboard,forwhichIwouldnothavetopayonestiver.
Itmightbethoughtthatthiswasapoorwaytoaccumulateaprincelyfortune—andsoitwas,averypoorwayindeed.ButIamoneofthosethatnevertakeonaboutprincelyfortunes,andamquitecontentiftheworldisreadytoboardandlodgeme,whileIamputtingupatthisgrimsignoftheThunderCloud.Uponthewhole,Ithoughtthatthe275thlaywouldbeaboutthefairthing,butwouldnothavebeensurprisedhadIbeenofferedthe200th,consideringIwasofabroad-shoulderedmake.
Butonething,nevertheless,thatmademealittledistrustfulaboutreceivingagenerousshareoftheprofitswasthis:Ashore,IhadheardsomethingofbothCaptainPelegandhisunaccountableoldcronyBildad;howthattheybeingtheprincipalproprietorsofthePequod,thereforetheotherandmoreinconsiderableandscatteredowners,leftnearlythewholemanagementoftheship'saffairstothesetwo.AndIdidnotknowbutwhatthestingyoldBildadmighthaveamightydealtosayaboutshippinghands,especiallyasInowfoundhimonboardthePequod,quiteathomethereinthecabin,andreadinghisBibleasifathisownfireside.NowwhilePelegwasvainlytryingtomendapenwithhisjack-knife,oldBildad,tomynosmallsurprise,consideringthathewassuchaninterestedpartyintheseproceedings;Bildadneverheededus,butwentonmumblingtohimselfoutofhisbook,"Laynotupforyourselvestreasuresuponearth,wheremoth—"
"Well,CaptainBildad,"interruptedPeleg,"whatd'yesay,whatlayshallwegivethisyoungman?"
"Thouknowestbest,"wasthesepulchralreply,"thesevenhundredandseventy-seventhwouldn'tbetoomuch,wouldit?—'wheremothandrustdocorrupt,butlay—'"
Lay,indeed,thoughtI,andsuchalay!thesevenhundredandseventy-seventh!Well,oldBildad,youaredeterminedthatI,forone,shallnotlayupmanylaysherebelow,wheremothandrustdocorrupt.Itwasanexceedinglylonglaythat,indeed;andthoughfromthemagnitudeofthefigureitmightatfirstdeceivealandsman,yettheslightestconsiderationwillshowthatthoughsevenhundredandseventysevenisaprettylargenumber,yet,whenyoucometomakeateenthofit,youwillthensee,Isay,thatthesevenhundredandseventy-seventhpartofafarthingisagooddeallessthansevenhundredandseventysevengolddoubloons;andsoIthoughtatthetime.
"Why,blastyoureyes,Bildad,"criedPeleg,"thoudostnotwanttoswindlethisyoungman!hemusthavemorethanthat."
"Sevenhundredandseventy-seventh,"againsaidBildad,withoutliftinghiseyes;andthenwentonmumbling—"forwhereyourtreasureis,therewillyourheartbealso."
"Iamgoingtoputhimdownforthethreehundredth,"saidPeleg,"doyehearthat,Bildad!Thethreehundredthlay,Isay."
Bildadlaiddownhisbook,andturningsolemnlytowardshimsaid,"CaptainPeleg,thouhastagenerousheart;butthoumustconsiderthedutythouowesttotheotherownersofthisship—widowsandorphans,manyofthem—andthatifwetooabundantlyrewardthelaborsofthisyoungman,wemaybetakingthebreadfromthosewidowsandthoseorphans.Thesevenhundredandseventy-seventhlay,CaptainPeleg."
"ThouBildad!"roaredPeleg,startingupandclatteringaboutthecabin."Blastye,CaptainBildad,ifIhadfollowedthyadviceinthesematters,IwouldaforenowhadaconsciencetolugaboutthatwouldbeheavyenoughtofounderthelargestshipthateversailedroundCapeHorn."
"CaptainPeleg,"saidBildadsteadily,"thyconsciencemaybedrawingteninchesofwater,ortenfathoms,Ican'ttell;butasthouartstillanimpenitentman,CaptainPeleg,Igreatlyfearlestthyconsciencebebutaleakyone;andwillintheendsinktheefounderingdowntothefierypit,CaptainPeleg.
"Fierypit!fierypit!yeinsultme,man;pastallnaturalbearing,yeinsultme.It'sanall-firedoutragetotellanyhumancreaturethathe'sboundtohell.Flukesandflames!Bildad,saythatagaintome,andstartmysoul-bolts,butI'll—I'll—yes,I'llswallowalivegoatwithallhishairandhornson.Outofthecabin,yecanting,drab-colouredsonofawoodengun—astraightwakewithye!"
AshethunderedoutthishemadearushatBildad,butwithamarvellousoblique,slidingcelerity,Bildadforthattimeeludedhim.
Alarmedatthisterribleoutburstbetweenthetwoprincipalandresponsibleownersoftheship,andfeelinghalfamindtogiveupallideaofsailinginavesselsoquestionablyownedandtemporarilycommanded,IsteppedasidefromthedoortogiveegresstoBildad,who,Imadenodoubt,wasalleagernesstovanishfrombeforetheawakenedwrathofPeleg.Buttomyastonishment,hesatdownagainonthetransomveryquietly,andseemedtohavenottheslightestintentionofwithdrawing.HeseemedquiteusedtoimpenitentPelegandhisways.AsforPeleg,afterlettingoffhisrageashehad,thereseemednomoreleftinhim,andhe,too,satdownlikealamb,thoughhetwitchedalittleasifstillnervouslyagitated."Whew!"hewhistledatlast—"thesquall'sgoneofftoleeward,Ithink.Bildad,thouusedtobegoodatsharpeningalance,mendthatpen,willye.Myjackknifehereneedsthegrindstone.That'she;thankye,Bildad.Nowthen,myyoungman,Ishmael'sthyname,didn'tyesay?Wellthen,downyegohere,Ishmael,forthethreehundredthlay."
"CaptainPeleg,"saidI,"Ihaveafriendwithmewhowantstoshiptoo—shallIbringhimdowntomorrow?"
"Tobesure,"saidPeleg."Fetchhimalong,andwe'lllookathim."
"Whatlaydoeshewant?"groanedBildad,glancingupfromthebookinwhichhehadagainbeenburyinghimself.
"Oh!nevertheemindaboutthat,Bildad,"saidPeleg."Hasheeverwhaleditany?"turningtome.
"KilledmorewhalesthanIcancount,CaptainPeleg."
"Well,bringhimalongthen."
And,aftersigningthepapers,offIwent;nothingdoubtingbutthatIhaddoneagoodmorning'swork,andthatthePequodwastheidenticalshipthatYojohadprovidedtocarryQueequegandmeroundtheCape.
ButIhadnotproceededfar,whenIbegantobethinkmethattheCaptainwithwhomIwastosailyetremainedunseenbyme;though,indeed,inmanycases,awhale-shipwillbecompletelyfittedout,andreceiveallhercrewonboard,erethecaptainmakeshimselfvisiblebyarrivingtotakecommand;forsometimesthesevoyagesaresoprolonged,andtheshoreintervalsathomesoexceedinglybrief,thatifthecaptainhaveafamily,oranyabsorbingconcernmentofthatsort,hedoesnottroublehimselfmuchabouthisshipinport,butleaveshertotheownerstillallisreadyforsea.However,itisalwaysaswelltohavealookathimbeforeirrevocablycommittingyourselfintohishands.TurningbackIaccostedCaptainPeleg,inquiringwhereCaptainAhabwastobefound.
"AndwhatdostthouwantofCaptainAhab?It'sallrightenough;thouartshipped."
"Yes,butIshouldliketoseehim."
"ButIdon'tthinkthouwiltbeabletoatpresent.Idon'tknowexactlywhat'sthematterwithhim;buthekeepscloseinsidethehouse;asortofsick,andyethedon'tlookso.Infact,heain'tsick;butno,heisn'twelleither.Anyhow,youngman,hewon'talwaysseeme,soIdon'tsupposehewillthee.He'saqueerman,CaptainAhab—sosomethink—butagoodone.Oh,thou'ltlikehimwellenough;nofear,nofear.He'sagrand,ungodly,god-likeman,CaptainAhab;doesn'tspeakmuch;but,whenhedoesspeak,thenyoumaywelllisten.Markye,beforewarned;Ahab'sabovethecommon;Ahab'sbeenincolleges,aswellas'mongthecannibals;beenusedtodeeperwondersthanthewaves;fixedhisfierylanceinmightier,strangerfoethanwhales.Hislance!aye,thekeenestandthesurestthatoutofallourisle!Oh!heain'tCaptainBildad;no,andheain'tCaptainPeleg;he'sAhab,boy;andAhabofold,thouknowest,wasacrownedking!"
"Andaveryvileone.Whenthatwickedkingwasslain,thedogs,didtheynotlickhisblood?"
"Comehithertome—hither,hither,"saidPeleg,withasignificanceinhiseyethatalmoststartledme."Lookye,lad;neversaythatonboardthePequod.Neversayitanywhere.CaptainAhabdidnotnamehimself.'Twasafoolish,ignorantwhimofhiscrazy,widowedmother,whodiedwhenhewasonlyatwelvemonthold.AndyettheoldsquawTistig,atGayhead,saidthatthenamewouldsomehowproveprophetic.And,perhaps,otherfoolslikehermaytelltheethesame.Iwishtowarnthee.It'salie.IknowCaptainAhabwell;I'vesailedwithhimasmateyearsago;Iknowwhatheis—agoodman—notapious,goodman,likeBildad,butaswearinggoodman—somethinglikeme—onlythere'sagooddealmoreofhim.Aye,aye,Iknowthathewasneververyjolly;andIknowthatonthepassagehome,hewasalittleoutofhismindforaspell;butitwasthesharpshootingpainsinhisbleedingstumpthatbroughtthatabout,asanyonemightsee.Iknow,too,thateversincehelosthisleglastvoyagebythataccursedwhale,he'sbeenakindofmoody—desperatemoody,andsavagesometimes;butthatwillallpassoff.Andonceforall,letmetelltheeandassurethee,youngman,it'sbettertosailwithamoodygoodcaptainthanalaughingbadone.Sogood-byetothee—andwrongnotCaptainAhab,becausehehappenstohaveawickedname.Besides,myboy,hehasawife—notthreevoyageswedded—asweet,resignedgirl.Thinkofthat;bythatsweetgirlthatoldmanhasachild:holdyethentherecanbeanyutter,hopelessharminAhab?No,no,mylad;stricken,blasted,ifhebe,Ahabhashishumanities!"
AsIwalkedaway,Iwasfullofthoughtfulness;whathadbeenincidentallyrevealedtomeofCaptainAhab,filledmewithacertainwildvaguenessofpainfulnessconcerninghim.Andsomehow,atthetime,Ifeltasympathyandasorrowforhim,butforIdon'tknowwhat,unlessitwasthecruellossofhisleg.AndyetIalsofeltastrangeaweofhim;butthatsortofawe,whichIcannotatalldescribe,wasnotexactlyawe;Idonotknowwhatitwas.ButIfeltit;anditdidnotdisinclinemetowardshim;thoughIfeltimpatienceatwhatseemedlikemysteryinhim,soimperfectlyashewasknowntomethen.However,mythoughtswereatlengthcarriedinotherdirections,sothatforthepresentdarkAhabslippedmymind.