CHAPTER 133 The Chase—First Day

Thatnight,inthemid-watch,whentheoldman—ashiswontatintervals—steppedforthfromthescuttleinwhichheleaned,andwenttohispivot-hole,hesuddenlythrustouthisfacefiercely,snuffinguptheseaairasasagaciousship'sdogwill,indrawingnightosomebarbarousisle.Hedeclaredthatawhalemustbenear.Soonthatpeculiarodor,sometimestoagreatdistancegivenforthbythelivingspermwhale,waspalpabletoallthewatch;norwasanymarinersurprisedwhen,afterinspectingthecompass,andthenthedog-vane,andthenascertainingtheprecisebearingoftheodorasnearlyaspossible,Ahabrapidlyorderedtheship'scoursetobeslightlyaltered,andthesailtobeshortened.

Theacutepolicydictatingthesemovementswassufficientlyvindicatedatdaybreak,bythesightofalongsleekontheseadirectlyandlengthwiseahead,smoothasoil,andresemblinginthepleatedwaterywrinklesborderingit,thepolishedmetallic-likemarksofsomeswifttide-rip,atthemouthofadeep,rapidstream.

"Manthemast-heads!Callallhands!"

Thunderingwiththebuttsofthreeclubbedhandspikesontheforecastledeck,Daggoorousedthesleeperswithsuchjudgmentclapsthattheyseemedtoexhalefromthescuttle,soinstantaneouslydidtheyappearwiththeirclothesintheirhands.

"Whatd'yesee?"criedAhab,flatteninghisfacetothesky.

"Nothing,nothingsir!"wasthesoundhailingdowninreply.

"T'gallantsails!—stunsails!alowandaloft,andonbothsides!"

Allsailbeingset,henowcastloosethelife-line,reservedforswayinghimtothemainroyal-masthead;andinafewmomentstheywerehoistinghimthither,when,whilebuttwothirdsofthewayaloft,andwhilepeeringaheadthroughthehorizontalvacancybetweenthemain-top-sailandtop-gallant-sail,heraisedagull-likecryintheair."Theresheblows!—theresheblows!Ahumplikeasnow-hill!ItisMobyDick!"

Firedbythecrywhichseemedsimultaneouslytakenupbythethreelook-outs,themenondeckrushedtotheriggingtobeholdthefamouswhaletheyhadsolongbeenpursuing.Ahabhadnowgainedhisfinalperch,somefeetabovetheotherlook-outs,Tashtegostandingjustbeneathhimonthecapofthetopgallant-mast,sothattheIndian'sheadwasalmostonalevelwithAhab'sheel.Fromthisheightthewhalewasnowseensomemileorsoahead,ateveryrollofthesearevealinghishighsparklinghump,andregularlyjettinghissilentspoutintotheair.TothecredulousmarinersitseemedthesamesilentspouttheyhadsolongagobeheldinthemoonlitAtlanticandIndianOceans.

"Anddidnoneofyeseeitbefore?"criedAhab,hailingtheperchedmenallaroundhim.

"Isawhimalmostthatsameinstant,sir,thatCaptainAhabdid,andIcriedout,"saidTashtego.

"Notthesameinstant;notthesame—no,thedoubloonismine,Fatereservedthedoubloonforme.Ionly;noneofyecouldhaveraisedtheWhiteWhalefirst.Theresheblows!—theresheblows!—theresheblows!Thereagain!—thereagain!"hecried,inlong-drawn,lingering,methodictones,attunedtothegradualprolongingsofthewhale'svisiblejets."He'sgoingtosound!Instunsails!Downtop-gallant-sails!Standbythreeboats.Mr.Starbuck,remember,stayonboard,andkeeptheship.Helmthere!Luff,luffapoint!So;steady,man,steady!Theregoflukes!No,no;onlyblackwater!Allreadytheboatsthere?Standby,standby!Lowerme,Mr.Starbuck;lower,lower,—quick,quicker!"andheslidthroughtheairtothedeck.

"Heisheadingstraighttoleeward,sir,"criedStubb,"rightawayfromus;cannothaveseentheshipyet."

"Bedumb,man!Standbythebraces!Harddownthehelm!—braceup!Shiverher!—shiverher!—So;wellthat!Boats,boats!"

SoonalltheboatsbutStarbuck'sweredropped;alltheboat-sailsset—allthepaddlesplying;withripplingswiftness,shootingtoleeward;andAhabheadingtheonset.Apale,death-glimmerlitupFedallah'ssunkeneyes;ahideousmotiongnawedhismouth.

Likenoiselessnautilusshells,theirlightprowsspedthroughthesea;butonlyslowlytheynearedthefoe.Astheynearedhim,theoceangrewstillmoresmooth;seemeddrawingacarpetoveritswaves;seemedanoon-meadow,soserenelyitspread.Atlengththebreathlesshuntercamesonighhisseeminglyunsuspectingprey,thathisentiredazzlinghumpwasdistinctlyvisible,slidingalongtheseaasifanisolatedthing,andcontinuallysetinarevolvingringoffinest,fleecy,greenishfoam.Hesawthevastinvolvedwrinklesoftheslightlyprojectingheadbeyond.Beforeit,faroutonthesoftTurkish-ruggedwaters,wenttheglisteningwhiteshadowfromhisbroad,milkyforehead,amusicalripplingplayfullyaccompanyingtheshade;andbehind,thebluewatersinterchangeablyflowedoverintothemovingvalleyofhissteadywake;andoneitherhandbrightbubblesaroseanddancedbyhisside.Butthesewerebrokenagainbythelighttoesofhundredsofgayfowlsoftlyfeatheringthesea,alternatewiththeirfitfulflight;anliketosomeflag-staffrisingfromthepaintedhullofanargosy,thetallbutshatteredpoleofarecentlanceprojectedfromthewhitewhale'sback;andatintervalsoneofthecloudofsoft-toedfowlshovering,andtoandfroskimminglikeacanopyoverthefish,silentlyperchedandrockedonthispole,thelongtailfeathersstreaminglikepennons.

Agentlejoyousness—amightymildnessofreposeinswiftness,investedtheglidingwhale.NotthewhitebullJupiterswimmingawaywithravishedEuropaclingingtohisgracefulhorns;hislovely,leeringeyessidewaysintentuponthemaid;withsmoothbewitchingfleetness,ripplingstraightforthenuptialbowerinCrete;notJove,notthatgreatmajestySupreme!didsurpasstheglorifiedWhiteWhaleashesodivinelyswam.

Oneachsoftside—coincidentwiththepartedswell,thatbutonceleavinghim,thenflowedsowideawayoneachbrightside,thewhaleshedoffenticings.Nowondertherehadbeensomeamongthehunterswhonamelesslytransportedandalluredbyallthisserenity,hadventuredtoassailit;buthadfatallyfoundthatquietudebutthevestureoftornadoes.Yetcalm,enticingcalm,oh,whale!thouglideston,toallwhoforthefirsttimeeyethee,nomatterhowmanyinthatsamewaythoumay'sthavebejuggledanddestroyedbefore.

Andthus,throughtheserenetranquillitiesofthetropicalsea,amongwaveswhosehand-clappingsweresuspendedbyexceedingrapture,MobyDickmovedon,stillwithholdingfromsightthefullterrorsofhissubmergedtrunk,entirelyhidingthewrenchedhideousnessofhisjaw.Butsoontheforepartofhimslowlyrosefromthewater;foraninstanthiswholemarbleizedbodyformedahigharch,likeVirginia'sNaturalBridge,andwarninglywavinghisbanneredflukesintheair,thegrandgodrevealedhimself,sounded,andwentoutofsight.Hoveringlyhalting,anddippingonthewing,thewhitesea-fowlslonginglylingeredovertheagitatedpoolthatheleft.

Withoarsapeak,andpaddlesdown,thesheetsoftheirsailsadrift,thethreeboatsnowstillyfloated,awaitingMobyDick'sreappearance.

"Anhour,"saidAhab,standingrootedinhisboat'sstern;andhegazedbeyondthewhale'splace,towardsthedimbluespacesandwidewooingvacanciestoleeward.Itwasonlyaninstant;foragainhiseyesseemedwhirlingroundinhisheadashesweptthewaterycircle.Thebreezenowfreshened;theseabegantoswell.

"Thebirds!—thebirds!"criedTashtego.

InlongIndianfile,aswhenheronstakewing,thewhitebirdswerenowallflyingtowardsAhab'sboat;andwhenwithinafewyardsbeganflutteringoverthewaterthere,wheelingroundandround,withjoyous,expectantcries.Theirvisionwaskeenerthanman's;Ahabcoulddiscovernosigninthesea.Butsuddenlyashepeereddownanddownintoitsdepths,heprofoundlysawawhitelivingspotnobiggerthanawhiteweasel,withwonderfulcelerityuprising,andmagnifyingasitrose,tillitturned,andthentherewereplainlyrevealedtwolongcrookedrowsofwhite,glisteningteeth,floatingupfromtheundiscoverablebottom.ItwasMobyDick'sopenmouthandscrolledjaw;hisvast,shadowedbulkstillhalfblendingwiththeblueofthesea.Theglitteringmouthyawnedbeneaththeboatlikeanopen-dooredmarbletomb;andgivingonesidelongsweepwithhissteeringoar,Ahabwhirledthecraftasidefromthistremendousapparition.Then,callinguponFedallahtochangeplaceswithhim,wentforwardtothebows,andseizingPerth'sharpoon,commandedhiscrewtograsptheiroarsandstandbytostern.

Now,byreasonofthistimelyspinningroundtheboatuponitsaxis,itsbow,byanticipation,wasmadetofacethewhale'sheadwhileyetunderwater.Butasifperceivingthisstratagem,MobyDick,withthatmaliciousintelligenceascribedtohim,sidelinglytransplantedhimself,asitwere,inaninstant,shootinghispleatedheadlengthwisebeneaththeboat.

Throughandthrough;througheveryplankandeachrib,itthrilledforaninstant,thewhaleobliquelylyingonhisback,inthemannerofabitingshark,slowlyandfeelinglytakingitsbowsfullwithinhismouth,sothatthelong,narrow,scrolledlowerjawcurledhighupintotheopenair,andoneoftheteethcaughtinarow-lock.Thebluishpearl-whiteoftheinsideofthejawwaswithinsixinchesofAhab'shead,andreachedhigherthanthat.InthisattitudetheWhiteWhalenowshooktheslightcedarasamildlycruelcathermouse.WithunastonishedeyesFedallahgazed,andcrossedhisarms;butthetiger-yellowcrewweretumblingovereachother'sheadstogaintheuttermoststern.

Andnow,whilebothelasticgunwaleswerespringinginandout,asthewhaledalliedwiththedoomedcraftinthisdevilishway;andfromhisbodybeingsubmergedbeneaththeboat,hecouldnotbedartedatfromthebows,forthebowswerealmostinsideofhim,asitwere;andwhiletheotherboatsinvoluntarilypaused,asbeforeaquickcrisisimpossibletowithstand,thenitwasthatmonomaniacAhab,furiouswiththistantalizingvicinityofhisfoe,whichplacedhimallaliveandhelplessintheveryjawshehated;frenziedwithallthis,heseizedthelongbonewithhisnakedhands,andwildlystrovetowrenchitfromitsgripe.Asnowhethusvainlystrove,thejawslippedfromhim;thefrailgunwalesbentin,collapsed,andsnapped,asbothjaws,likeanenormousshears,slidingfurtheraft,bitthecraftcompletelyintwain,andlockedthemselvesfastagaininthesea,midwaybetweenthetwofloatingwrecks.Thesefloatedaside,thebrokenendsdrooping,thecrewatthestern-wreckclingingtothegunwales,andstrivingtoholdfasttotheoarstolashthemacross.

Atthatpreludingmoment,eretheboatwasyetsnapped,Ahab,thefirsttoperceivethewhale'sintent,bythecraftyupraisingofhishead,amovementthatloosedhisholdforthetime;atthatmomenthishandhadmadeonefinalefforttopushtheboatoutofthebite.Butonlyslippingfurtherintothewhale'smouth,andtiltingoversidewaysasitslipped,theboathadshakenoffhisholdonthejaw;spilledhimoutofit,asheleanedtothepush;andsohefellflat-faceduponthesea.

Ripplinglywithdrawingfromhisprey,MobyDicknowlayatalittledistance,verticallythrustinghisoblongwhiteheadupanddowninthebillows;andatthesametimeslowlyrevolvinghiswholespindledbody;sothatwhenhisvastwrinkledforeheadrose—sometwentyormorefeetoutofthewater—thenowrisingswells,withalltheirconfluentwaves,dazzlinglybrokeagainstit;vindictivelytossingtheirshiveredspraystillhigherintotheair.[1]So,inagale,thebuthalfbaffledChannelbillowsonlyrecoilfromthebaseoftheEddystone,triumphantlytooverleapitssummitwiththeirscud.

Butsoonresuminghishorizontalattitude,MobyDickswamswiftlyroundandroundthewreckedcrew;sidewayschurningthewaterinhisvengefulwake,asiflashinghimselfuptostillanotherandmoredeadlyassault.Thesightofthesplinteredboatseemedtomaddenhim,asthebloodofgrapesandmulberriescastbeforeAntiochus'selephantsinthebookofMaccabees.MeanwhileAhabhalfsmotheredinthefoamofthewhale'sinsolenttail,andtoomuchofacrippletoswim,—thoughhecouldstillkeepafloat,evenintheheartofsuchawhirlpoolasthat;helplessAhab'sheadwasseen,likeatossedbubblewhichtheleastchanceshockmightburst.Fromtheboat'sfragmentarystern,Fedallahincuriouslyandmildlyeyedhim;theclingingcrew,attheotherdriftingend,couldnotsuccorhim;morethanenoughwasitforthemtolooktothemselves.ForsorevolvinglyappallingwastheWhiteWhale'saspect,andsoplanetarilyswifttheever-contractingcircleshemade,thatheseemedhorizontallyswoopinguponthem.Andthoughtheotherboats,unharmed,stillhoveredhardby;stilltheydarednotpullintotheeddytostrike,lestthatshouldbethesignalfortheinstantdestructionofthejeopardizedcastaways,Ahabandall;norinthatcasecouldtheythemselveshopetoescape.Withstrainingeyes,then,theyremainedontheouteredgeofthedirefulzone,whosecentrehadnowbecometheoldman'shead.

Meantime,fromthebeginningallthishadbeendescriedfromtheship'smastheads;andsquaringheryards,shehadbornedownuponthescene;andwasnowsonigh,thatAhabinthewaterhailedher!—"Sailonthe"—butthatmomentabreakingseadashedonhimfromMobyDick,andwhelmedhimforthetime.Butstrugglingoutofitagain,andchancingtoriseonatoweringcrest,heshouted,—"Sailonthewhale!—Drivehimoff!"

ThePequod'sprowswerepointed;andbreakingupthecharmedcircle,sheeffectuallypartedthewhitewhalefromhisvictim.Ashesullenlyswamoff,theboatsflewtotherescue.

DraggedintoStubb'sboatwithblood-shot,blindedeyes,thewhitebrinecakinginhiswrinkles;thelongtensionofAhab'sbodilystrengthdidcrack,andhelplesslyheyieldedtohisbody'sdoom:foratime,lyingallcrushedinthebottomofStubb'sboat,likeonetroddenunderfootofherdsofelephants.Farinland,namelesswailscamefromhim,asdesolatesoundsfromoutravines.

Butthisintensityofhisphysicalprostrationdidbutsomuchthemoreabbreviateit.Inaninstant'scompass,greatheartssometimescondensetoonedeeppang,thesumtotalofthoseshallowpainskindlydiffusedthroughfeeblermen'swholelives.Andso,suchhearts,thoughsummaryineachonesuffering;still,ifthegodsdecreeit,intheirlife-timeaggregateawholeageofwoe,whollymadeupofinstantaneousintensities;forevenintheirpointlesscentres,thosenoblenaturescontaintheentirecircumferencesofinferiorsouls.

"Theharpoon,"saidAhab,halfwayrising,anddragginglyleaningononebendedarm—"isitsafe?"

"Aye,sir,foritwasnotdarted;thisisit,"saidStubb,showingit.

"Layitbeforeme;—anymissingmen?"

"One,two,three,four,five;—therewerefiveoars,sir,andherearefivemen.

"That'sgood.—Helpme,man;Iwishtostand.So,so,Iseehim!there!there!goingtoleewardstill;whataleapingspout!—Handsofffromme!TheeternalsaprunsupinAhab'sbonesagain!Setthesail;outoars;thehelm!"

Itisoftenthecasethatwhenaboatisstove,itscrew,beingpickedupbyanotherboat,helptoworkthatsecondboat;andthechaseisthuscontinuedwithwhatiscalleddouble-bankedoars.Itwasthusnow.Buttheaddedpoweroftheboatdidnotequaltheaddedpowerofthewhale,forheseemedtohavetreble-bankedhiseveryfin;swimmingwithavelocitywhichplainlyshowed,thatifnow,underthesecircumstances,pushedon,thechasewouldproveanindefinitelyprolonged,ifnotahopelessone;norcouldanycrewendureforsolongaperiod,suchanunintermitted,intensestrainingattheoar;athingbarelytolerableonlyinsomeonebriefvicissitude.Theshipitself,then,asitsometimeshappens,offeredthemostpromisingintermediatemeansofovertakingthechase.Accordingly,theboatsnowmadeforher,andweresoonswayeduptotheircranes—thetwopartsofthewreckedboathavingbeenpreviouslysecuredbyher—andthenhoistingeverythingtoherside,andstackinghercanvashighup,andsidewaysoutstretchingitwithstun-sails,likethedouble-jointedwingsofanalbatross;thePequodboredownintheleewardwakeofMoby-Dick.Atthewellknown,methodicintervals,thewhale'sglitteringspoutwasregularlyannouncedfromthemannedmast-heads;andwhenhewouldbereportedasjustgonedown,Ahabwouldtakethetime,andthenpacingthedeck,binnacle-watchinhand,sosoonasthelastsecondoftheallottedhourexpired,hisvoicewasheard.—"Whoseisthedoubloonnow?D'yeseehim?"andifthereplywas,No,sir!straightwayhecommandedthemtolifthimtohisperch.Inthiswaythedayworeon;Ahab,nowaloftandmotionless;anon,unrestinglypacingtheplanks.

Ashewasthuswalking,utteringnosound,excepttohailthemenaloft,ortobidthemhoistasailstillhigher,ortospreadonetoastillgreaterbreadth—thustoandfropacing,beneathhisslouchedhat,ateveryturnhepassedhisownwreckedboat,whichhadbeendroppeduponthequarter-deck,andlaytherereversed;brokenbowtoshatteredstern.Atlasthepausedbeforeit;andasinanalreadyover-cloudedskyfreshtroopsofcloudswillsometimessailacross,soovertheoldman'sfacetherenowstolesomesuchaddedgloomasthis.

Stubbsawhimpause;andperhapsintending,notvainly,though,toevincehisownunabatedfortitude,andthuskeepupavaliantplaceinhisCaptain'smind,headvanced,andeyeingthewreckexclaimed—"Thethistletheassrefused;itprickedhismouthtookeenly,sir;ha!ha!"

"Whatsoullessthingisthisthatlaughsbeforeawreck?Man,man!didInotknowtheebraveasfearlessfire(andasmechanical)Icouldswearthouwertapoltroon.Groannorlaughshouldbeheardbeforeawreck."

"Aye,sir,"saidStarbuckdrawingnear,"'tisasolemnsight;anomen,andanillone."

"Omen?omen?—thedictionary!Ifthegodsthinktospeakoutrighttoman,theywillhonorablyspeakoutright;notshaketheirheads,andgiveanoldwives'darklinghint.—Begone!Yetwoaretheoppositepolesofonething;StarbuckisStubbreversed,andStubbisStarbuck;andyetwoareallmankind;andAhabstandsaloneamongthemillionsofthepeopledearth,norgodsnormenhisneighbors!Cold,cold—Ishiver!—Hownow?Aloftthere!D'yeseehim?Singoutforeveryspout,thoughhespouttentimesasecond!"

Thedaywasnearlydone;onlythehemofhisgoldenrobewasrustling.Soon,itwasalmostdark,butthelook-outmenstillremainedunset.

"Can'tseethespoutnow,sir;—toodark"—criedavoicefromtheair.

"Howheadingwhenlastseen?"

"Asbefore,sir,—straighttoleeward."

"Good!hewilltravelslowernow'tisnight.Downroyalsandtop-gallantstun-sails,Mr.Starbuck.Wemustnotrunoverhimbeforemorning;he'smakingapassagenow,andmayheave-toawhile.Helmthere!keepherfullbeforethewind!—Aloft!comedown!—Mr.Stubb,sendafreshhandtothefore-masthead,andseeitmannedtillmorning."—Thenadvancingtowardsthedoublooninthemain-mast—"Men,thisgoldismine,forIearnedit;butIshallletitabideheretilltheWhiteWhaleisdead;andthen,whosoeverofyefirstraiseshim,uponthedayheshallbekilled,thisgoldisthatman's;andifonthatdayIshallagainraisehim,then,tentimesitssumshallbedividedamongallofye!Awaynow!—thedeckisthine,sir!"

Andsosaying,heplacedhimselfhalfwaywithinthescuttle,andslouchinghishat,stoodtheretilldawn,exceptwhenatintervalsrousinghimselftoseehowthenightworeon.

[1]Thismotionispeculiartothespermwhale.Itreceivesitsdesignation(pitchpoling)fromitsbeinglikenedtothatpreliminaryup-and-downpoiseofthewhale-lance,intheexercisecalledpitchpoling,previouslydescribed.Bythismotionthewhalemustbestandmostcomprehensivelyviewwhateverobjectsmaybeencirclinghim.