CHAPTER 31 Queen Mab

NextmorningStubbaccostedFlask.

"Suchaqueerdream,King-Post,Ineverhad.Youknowtheoldman'sivoryleg,wellIdreamedhekickedmewithit;andwhenItriedtokickback,uponmysoul,mylittleman,Ikickedmylegrightoff!Andthen,presto!Ahabseemedapyramid,andI,likeablazingfool,keptkickingatit.Butwhatwasstillmorecurious,Flask—youknowhowcuriousalldreamsare—throughallthisragethatIwasin,Isomehowseemedtobethinkingtomyself,thatafterall,itwasnotmuchofaninsult,thatkickfromAhab.'Why,'thinksI,'what'stherow?It'snotarealleg,onlyafalseleg.'Andthere'samightydifferencebetweenalivingthumpandadeadthump.That'swhatmakesablowfromthehand,Flask,fiftytimesmoresavagetobearthanablowfromacane.Thelivingmember—thatmakesthelivinginsult,mylittleman.AndthinksItomyselfallthewhile,mind,whileIwasstubbingmysillytoesagainstthatcursedpyramid—soconfoundedlycontradictorywasitall,allthewhile,Isay,Iwasthinkingtomyself,'what'shislegnow,butacane—awhalebonecane.Yes,'thinksI,'itwasonlyaplayfulcudgelling—infact,onlyawhaleboningthathegaveme—notabasekick.Besides,'thinksI,'lookatitonce;why,theendofit—thefootpart—whatasmallsortofenditis;whereas,ifabroadfootedfarmerkickedme,there'sadevilishbroadinsult.Butthisinsultiswhittleddowntoapointonly.'Butnowcomesthegreatestjokeofthedream,Flask.WhileIwasbatteringawayatthepyramid,asortofbadgerhairedoldmerman,withahumponhisback,takesmebytheshoulders,andslewsmeround.'Whatareyou'bout?'sayshe.Slid!man,butIwasfrightened.Suchaphiz!But,somehow,nextmomentIwasoverthefright.'WhatamIabout?'saysIatlast.'Andwhatbusinessisthatofyours,Ishouldliketoknow,Mr.Humpback?Doyouwantakick?'Bythelord,Flask,Ihadnosoonersaidthat,thanheturnedroundhissterntome,bentover,anddraggingupalotofseaweedhehadforaclout—whatdoyouthink,Isaw?—whythunderalive,man,hissternwasstuckfullofmarlinspikes,withthepointsout.SaysI,onsecondthoughts,'IguessIwon'tkickyou,oldfellow.''WiseStubb,'saidhe,'wiseStubb;'andkeptmutteringitallthetime,asortofeatingofhisowngumslikeachimneyhag.Seeinghewasn'tgoingtostopsayingoverhis'wiseStubb,wiseStubb,'IthoughtImightaswellfalltokickingthepyramidagain.ButIhadonlyjustliftedmyfootforit,whenheroaredout,'Stopthatkicking!''Halloa,'saysI,'what'sthematternow,oldfellow?''Lookyehere,'sayshe;'let'sarguetheinsult.CaptainAhabkickedye,didn'the?''Yes,hedid,'saysI—'righthereitwas.''Verygood,'sayshe—'heusedhisivoryleg,didn'the?''Yes,hedid,'saysI.'Wellthen,'sayshe,'wiseStubb,whathaveyoutocomplainof?Didn'thekickwithrightgoodwill?itwasn'tacommonpitchpineleghekickedwith,wasit?No,youwerekickedbyagreatman,andwithabeautifulivoryleg,Stubb.It'sanhonor;Iconsideritanhonor.Listen,wiseStubb.InoldEnglandthegreatestlordsthinkitgreatglorytobeslappedbyaqueen,andmadegarter-knightsof;but,beyourboast,Stubb,thatyewerekickedbyoldAhab,andmadeawisemanof.RememberwhatIsay;bekickedbyhim;accounthiskickshonors;andonnoaccountkickback;foryoucan'thelpyourself,wiseStubb.Don'tyouseethatpyramid?'Withthat,heallofasuddenseemedsomehow,insomequeerfashion,toswimoffintotheair.Isnored;rolledover;andthereIwasinmyhammock!Now,whatdoyouthinkofthatdream,Flask?"

"Idon'tknow;itseemsasortoffoolishtome,tho.'""Maybe;maybe.Butit'smadeawisemanofme,Flask.D'yeseeAhabstandingthere,sidewayslookingoverthestern?Well,thebestthingyoucando,Flask,istolettheoldmanalone;neverspeaktohim,whateverhesays.Halloa!What'sthatheshouts?Hark!"

"Mast-head,there!Looksharp,allofye!Therearewhaleshereabouts!

"Ifyeseeawhiteone,splityourlungsforhim!

"Whatdoyouthinkofthatnow,Flask?ain'tthereasmalldropofsomethingqueeraboutthat,eh?Awhitewhale—didyemarkthat,man?Lookye—there'ssomethingspecialinthewind.Standbyforit,Flask.Ahabhasthatthat'sbloodyonhismind.But,mum;hecomesthisway."