CHAPTER 134 The Chase—Second Day

Atday-break,thethreemast-headswerepunctuallymannedafresh.

"D'yeseehim?"criedAhabafterallowingalittlespaceforthelighttospread.

"Seenothing,sir."

"Turnupallhandsandmakesail!hetravelsfasterthanIthoughtfor;—thetop-gallantsails!—aye,theyshouldhavebeenkeptonherallnight.Butnomatter—'tisbutrestingfortherush."

Herebeitsaid,thatthispertinaciouspursuitofoneparticularwhale,continuedthroughdayintonight,andthroughnightintoday,isathingbynomeansunprecedentedintheSouthseafishery.Forsuchisthewonderfulskill,prescienceofexperience,andinvincibleconfidenceacquiredbysomegreatnaturalgeniusesamongtheNantucketcommanders;thatfromthesimpleobservationofawhalewhenlastdescried,theywill,undercertaingivencircumstances,prettyaccuratelyforetellboththedirectioninwhichhewillcontinuetoswimforatime,whileoutofsight,aswellashisprobablerateofprogressionduringthatperiod.And,inthesecases,somewhatasapilot,whenaboutlosingsightofacoast,whosegeneraltrendinghewellknows,andwhichhedesiresshortlytoreturntoagain,butatsomefurtherpoint;likeasthispilotstandsbyhiscompass,andtakestheprecisebearingofthecapeatpresentvisible,inorderthemorecertainlytohitarighttheremote,unseenheadland,eventuallytobevisited:sodoesthefisherman,athiscompass,withthewhale;forafterbeingchased,anddiligentlymarked,throughseveralhoursofdaylight,then,whennightobscuresthefish,thecreature'sfuturewakethroughthedarknessisalmostasestablishedtothesagaciousmindofthehunter,asthepilot'scoastistohim.Sothattothishunter'swondrousskill,theproverbialevanescenceofathingwritinwater,awake,istoalldesiredpurposeswellnighasreliableasthesteadfastland.AndasthemightyironLeviathanofthemodernrailwayissofamiliarlyknowninitseverypace,that,withwatchesintheirhands,mentimehisrateasdoctorsthatofababy'spulse;andlightlysayofit,theuptrainorthedowntrainwillreachsuchorsuchaspot,atsuchorsuchanhour;evenso,almost,thereareoccasionswhentheseNantucketerstimethatotherLeviathanofthedeep,accordingtotheobservedhumorofhisspeed;andsaytothemselves,somanyhourshencethiswhalewillhavegonetwohundredmiles,willhaveaboutreachedthisorthatdegreeoflatitudeorlongitude.Buttorenderthisacutenessatallsuccessfulintheend,thewindandtheseamustbethewhaleman'sallies;forofwhatpresentavailtothebecalmedorwindboundmarineristheskillthatassureshimheisexactlyninety-threeleaguesandaquarterfromhisport?Inferablefromthesestatements,aremanycollateralsubtilematterstouchingthechaseofwhales.

Theshiptoreon;leavingsuchafurrowintheseaaswhenacannon-ball,missent,becomesaplough-shareandturnsupthelevelfield.

"Bysaltandhemp!"criedStubb,"butthisswiftmotionofthedeckcreepsupone'slegsandtinglesattheheart.ThisshipandIaretwobravefellows!—Ha,ha!Someonetakemeup,andlaunchme,spine-wise,onthesea,—forbylive-oaks!myspine'sakeel.Ha,ha!wegothegaitthatleavesnodustbehind!"

"Theresheblows—sheblows!—sheblows!—rightahead!"wasnowthemast-headcry.

"Aye,aye!"criedStubb,"Iknewit—yecan'tescape—blowonandsplityourspout,Owhale!themadfiendhimselfisafterye!blowyourtrump—blisteryourlungs!—Ahabwilldamoffyourblood,asamillershutshiswatergateuponthestream!"

AndStubbdidbutspeakoutforwellnighallthatcrew.Thefrenziesofthechasehadbythistimeworkedthembubblinglyup,likeoldwineworkedanew.Whateverpalefearsandforebodingssomeofthemmighthavefeltbefore;thesewerenotonlynowkeptoutofsightthroughthegrowingaweofAhab,buttheywerebrokenup,andonallsidesrouted,astimidprairieharesthatscatterbeforetheboundingbison.ThehandofFatehadsnatchedalltheirsouls;andbythestirringperilsofthepreviousday;therackofthepastnight'ssuspense;thefixed,unfearing,blind,recklesswayinwhichtheirwildcraftwentplungingtowardsitsflyingmark;byallthesethings,theirheartswerebowledalong.Thewindthatmadegreatbelliesoftheirsails,andrushedthevesselonbyarmsinvisibleasirresistible;thisseemedthesymbolofthatunseenagencywhichsoenslavedthemtotherace.

Theywereoneman,notthirty.Forastheoneshipthatheldthemall;thoughitwasputtogetherofallcontrastingthings—oak,andmaple,andpinewood;iron,andpitch,andhemp—yetalltheseranintoeachotherintheoneconcretehull,whichshotonitsway,bothbalancedanddirectedbythelongcentralkeel;evenso,alltheindividualitiesofthecrew,thisman'svalor,thatman'sfear;guiltandguiltiness,allvarietieswereweldedintooneness,andwerealldirectedtothatfatalgoalwhichAhabtheironelordandkeeldidpointto.

Therigginglived.Themast-heads,likethetopsoftallpalms,wereoutspreadinglytuftedwitharmsandlegs.Clingingtoasparwithonehand,somereachedforththeotherwithimpatientwavings;others,shadingtheireyesfromthevividsunlight,satfaroutontherockingyards;allthesparsinfullbearingofmortals,readyandripefortheirfate.Ah!howtheystillstrovethroughthatinfinitebluenesstoseekoutthethingthatmightdestroythem!

"Whysingyenotoutforhim,ifyeseehim?"criedAhab,when,afterthelapseofsomeminutessincethefirstcry,nomorehadbeenheard."Swaymeup,men;yehavebeendeceived;notMobyDickcastsoneoddjetthatway,andthendisappears."

Itwasevenso;intheirheadlongeagerness,themenhadmistakensomeotherthingforthewhalespout,astheeventitselfsoonproved;forhardlyhadAhabreachedhisperch;hardlywastheropebelayedtoitspinondeck,whenhestruckthekey-notetoanorchestra,thatmadetheairvibrateaswiththecombineddischargesofrifles.Thetriumphanthallooofthirtybuckskinlungswasheard,as—muchnearertotheshipthantheplaceoftheimaginaryjet,lessthanamileahead—MobyDickbodilyburstintoview!Fornotbyanycalmandindolentspoutings;notbythepeaceablegushofthatmysticfountaininhishead,didtheWhiteWhalenowrevealhisvicinity;butbythefarmorewondrousphenomenonofbreaching.Risingwithhisutmostvelocityfromthefurthestdepths,theSpermWhalethusboomshisentirebulkintothepureelementofair,andpilingupamountainofdazzlingfoam,showshisplacetothedistanceofsevenmilesandmore.Inthosemoments,thetorn,enragedwavesheshakesoff,seemhismane;insomecases,thisbreachingishisactofdefiance.

"Thereshebreaches!thereshebreaches!"wasthecry,asinhisimmeasurablebravadoestheWhiteWhaletossedhimselfsalmon-liketoHeaven.Sosuddenlyseenintheblueplainofthesea,andrelievedagainstthestillbluermarginofthesky,thespraythatheraised,forthemoment,intolerablyglitteredandglaredlikeaglacier;andstoodtheregraduallyfadingandfadingawayfromitsfirstsparklingintensity,tothedimmistinessofanadvancingshowerinavale.

"Aye,breachyourlasttothesun,MobyDick!"criedAhab,"thyhourandthyharpoonareathand!—Down!downallofye,butonemanatthefore.Theboats!—standby!"

Unmindfulofthetediousrope-laddersoftheshrouds,themen,likeshootingstars,slidtothedeck,bytheisolatedbackstaysandhalyards;whileAhab,lessdartingly,butstillrapidlywasdroppedfromhisperch.

"Loweraway,"hecried,sosoonashehadreachedhisboat—aspareone,riggedtheafternoonprevious."Mr.Starbuck,theshipisthine—keepawayfromtheboats,butkeepnearthem.Lower,all!"

Asiftostrikeaquickterrorintothem,bythistimebeingthefirstassailanthimself,MobyDickhadturned,andwasnowcomingforthethreecrews.Ahab'sboatwascentral;andcheeringhismen,hetoldthemhewouldtakethewhalehead-and-head,—thatis,pullstraightuptohisforehead,—anotuncommonthing;forwhenwithinacertainlimit,suchacourseexcludesthecomingonsetfromthewhale'ssidelongvision.Buterethatcloselimitwasgained,andwhileyetallthreeboatswereplainastheship'sthreemaststohiseye;theWhiteWhalechurninghimselfintofuriousspeed,almostinaninstantasitwere,rushingamongtheboatswithopenjaws,andalashingtail,offeredappallingbattleoneveryside;andheedlessoftheironsdartedathimfromeveryboat,seemedonlyintentonannihilatingeachseparateplankofwhichthoseboatsweremade.Butskilfullyman?uvred,incessantlywheelingliketrainedchargersinthefield;theboatsforawhileeludedhim;though,attimes,butbyaplank'sbreadth;whileallthetime,Ahab'sunearthlyslogantoreeveryothercrybuthistoshreds.

Butatlastinhisuntraceableevolutions,theWhiteWhalesocrossedandrecrossed,andinathousandwaysentangledtheslackofthethreelinesnowfasttohim,thattheyforeshortened,and,ofthemselves,warpedthedevotedboatstowardstheplantedironsinhim;thoughnowforamomentthewhaledrewasidealittle,asiftorallyforamoretremendouscharge.Seizingthatopportunity,Ahabfirstpaidoutmoreline:andthenwasrapidlyhaulingandjerkinginuponitagain—hopingthatwaytodisencumberitofsomesnarls—whenlo!—asightmoresavagethantheembattledteethofsharks!

Caughtandtwisted—corkscrewedinthemazesoftheline,looseharpoonsandlances,withalltheirbristlingbarbsandpoints,cameflashinganddrippinguptothechocksinthebowsofAhab'sboat.Onlyonethingcouldbedone.Seizingtheboat-knife,hecriticallyreachedwithin—through—andthen,without—theraysofsteel;draggedinthelinebeyond,passedit,inboard,tothebowsman,andthen,twicesunderingtheropenearthechocks—droppedtheinterceptedfagotofsteelintothesea;andwasallfastagain.Thatinstant,theWhiteWhalemadeasuddenrushamongtheremainingtanglesoftheotherlines;bysodoing,irresistiblydraggedthemoreinvolvedboatsofStubbandFlasktowardshisflukes;dashedthemtogetherliketworollinghusksonasurf-beatenbeach,andthen,divingdownintothesea,disappearedinaboilingmaelstrom,inwhich,foraspace,theodorouscedarchipsofthewrecksdancedroundandround,likethegratednutmeginaswiftlystirredbowlofpunch.

Whilethetwocrewswereyetcirclinginthewaters,reachingoutaftertherevolvingline-tubs,oars,andotherfloatingfurniture,whileaslopelittleFlaskbobbedupanddownlikeanemptyvial,twitchinghislegsupwardstoescapethedreadedjawsofsharks;andStubbwaslustilysingingoutforsomeonetoladlehimup;andwhiletheoldman'sline—nowparting—admittedofhispullingintothecreamypooltorescuewhomhecould;—inthatwildsimultaneousnessofathousandconcretedperils,—Ahab'syetunstrickenboatseemeddrawnuptowardsHeavenbyinvisiblewires,—as,arrow-like,shootingperpendicularlyfromthesea,theWhiteWhaledashedhisbroadforeheadagainstitsbottom,andsentit,turningoverandover,intotheair;tillitfellagain—gunwaledownwards—andAhabandhismenstruggledoutfromunderit,likesealsfromasea-sidecave.

Thefirstuprisingmomentumofthewhale—modifyingitsdirectionashestruckthesurface—involuntarilylaunchedhimalongit,toalittledistancefromthecentreofthedestructionhehadmade;andwithhisbacktoit,henowlayforamomentslowlyfeelingwithhisflukesfromsidetoside;andwheneverastrayoar,bitofplank,theleastchiporcrumboftheboatstouchedhisskin,histailswiftlydrewback,andcamesidewayssmitingthesea.Butsoon,asifsatisfiedthathisworkforthattimewasdone,hepushedhispleatedforeheadthroughtheocean,andtrailingafterhimtheintertangledlines,continuedhisleewardwayatatraveller'smethodicpace.

Asbefore,theattentiveshiphavingdescriedthewholefight,againcamebearingdowntotherescue,anddroppingaboat,pickedupthefloatingmariners,tubs,oars,andwhateverelsecouldbecaughtat,andsafelylandedthemonherdecks.Somesprainedshoulders,wrists,andankles;lividcontusions;wrenchedharpoonsandlances;inextricableintricaciesofrope;shatteredoarsandplanks;allthesewerethere;butnofatalorevenseriousillseemedtohavebefallenanyone.AswithFedallahthedaybefore,soAhabwasnowfoundgrimlyclingingtohisboat'sbrokenhalf,whichaffordedacomparativelyeasyfloat;nordiditsoexhausthimasthepreviousday'smishap.

Butwhenhewashelpedtothedeck,alleyeswerefasteneduponhim;asinsteadofstandingbyhimselfhestillhalf-hungupontheshoulderofStarbuck,whohadthusfarbeentheforemosttoassisthim.Hisivoryleghadbeensnappedoff,leavingbutoneshortsharpsplinter.

"Aye,aye,Starbuck,'tissweettoleansometimes,betheleanerwhohewill;andwouldoldAhabhadleanedoftenerthanhehas."

"Theferrulehasnotstood,sir,"saidthecarpenter,nowcomingup;"Iputgoodworkintothatleg."

"Butnobonesbroken,sir,Ihope,"saidStubbwithtrueconcern.

"Aye!andallsplinteredtopieces,Stubb!—d'yeseeit.—Butevenwithabrokenbone,oldAhabisuntouched;andIaccountnolivingboneofmineonejotmoreme,thanthisdeadonethat'slost.Norwhitewhale,norman,norfiend,cansomuchasgrazeoldAhabinhisownproperandinaccessiblebeing.Cananyleadtouchyonderfloor,anymastscrapeyonderroof?—Aloftthere!whichway?"

"Deadtoleeward,sir."

"Uphelm,then;pileonthesailagain,shipkeepers!downtherestofthespareboatsandrigthem—Mr.Starbuckaway,andmustertheboat'screws."

"Letmefirsthelptheetowardsthebulwarks,sir.

"Oh,oh,oh!howthissplintergoresmenow!Accursedfate!thattheunconquerablecaptaininthesoulshouldhavesuchacravenmate!"

"Sir?"

"Mybody,man,notthee.Givemesomethingforacane—there,thatshiveredlancewilldo.Musterthemen.SurelyIhavenotseenhimyet.Byheavenitcannotbe!—missing?—quick!callthemall."

Theoldman'shintedthoughtwastrue.Uponmusteringthecompany,theParseewasnotthere.

"TheParsee!"criedStubb—"hemusthavebeencaughtin——"

"Theblackvomitwrenchthee!—runallofyeabove,alow,cabin,forecastle—findhim—notgone—notgone!"

ButquicklytheyreturnedtohimwiththetidingsthattheParseewasnowheretobefound.

"Aye,sir,"saidStubb—"caughtamongthetanglesofyourline—IthoughtIsawhimdraggingunder."

"Myline!myline?Gone?—gone?Whatmeansthatlittleword?—Whatdeath-knellringsinit,thatoldAhabshakesasifhewerethebelfry.Theharpoon,too!—tossoverthelitterthere,—d'yeseeit?—theforgediron,men,thewhitewhale's—no,no,no,—blisteredfool!thishanddiddartit!—'tisinthefish!—Aloftthere!Keephimnailed—Quick!—allhandstotheriggingoftheboats—collecttheoars—harpooneers!theirons,theirons!—hoisttheroyalshigher—apullonallthesheets!—helmthere!steady,steadyforyourlife!I'lltentimesgirdletheunmeasuredglobe;yeaanddivestraightthroughit,butI'llslayhimyet!"

"GreatGod!butforonesingleinstantshowthyself,"criedStarbuck;"never,neverwiltthoucapturehim,oldman—InJesus'namenomoreofthis,that'sworsethandevil'smadness.Twodayschased;twicestovetosplinters;thyverylegoncemoresnatchedfromunderthee;thyevilshadowgone—allgoodangelsmobbingtheewithwarnings:—whatmorewouldstthouhave?—Shallwekeepchasingthismurderousfishtillheswampsthelastman?Shallwebedraggedbyhimtothebottomofthesea?Shallwebetowedbyhimtotheinfernalworld?Oh,oh,—Impietyandblasphemytohunthimmore!"

"Starbuck,oflateI'vefeltstrangelymovedtothee;eversincethathourwebothsaw—thouknow'stwhat,inoneanother'seyes.Butinthismatterofthewhale,bethefrontofthyfacetomeasthepalmofthishand—alipless,unfeaturedblank.AhabisforeverAhab,man.Thiswholeact'simmutablydecreed.'Twasrehearsedbytheeandmeabillionyearsbeforethisoceanrolled.Fool!IamtheFates'lieutenant;Iactunderorders.Lookthou,underling!thatthouobeyestmine.—Standroundme,men.Yeseeanoldmancutdowntothestump;leaningonashiveredlance;proppeduponalonelyfoot.'TisAhab—hisbody'spart;butAhab'ssoul'sacentipede,thatmovesuponahundredlegs.Ifeelstrained,halfstranded,asropesthattowdismastedfrigatesinagale;andImaylookso.ButereIbreak,ye'llhearmecrack;andtillyehearthat,knowthatAhab'shawsertowshispurposeyet.Believeye,men,inthethingscalledomens?Thenlaughaloud,andcryencore!Foreretheydrown,drowningthingswilltwicerisetothesurface;thenriseagain,tosinkforevermore.SowithMobyDick—twodayshe'sfloated—tomorrowwillbethethird.Aye,men,he'llriseoncemore,—butonlytospouthislast!D'yefeelbravemen,brave?"

"Asfearlessfire,"criedStubb.

"Andasmechanical,"mutteredAhab.Thenasthemenwentforward,hemutteredon:"Thethingscalledomens!AndyesterdayItalkedthesametoStarbuckthere,concerningmybrokenboat.Oh!howvaliantlyIseektodriveoutofothers'heartswhat'sclinchedsofastinmine!—TheParsee—theParsee!—gone,gone?andhewastogobefore:—butstillwastobeseenagainereIcouldperish—How'sthat?—There'sariddlenowmightbaffleallthelawyersbackedbytheghostsofthewholelineofjudges:—likeahawk'sbeakitpecksmybrain.I'll,I'llsolveit,though!"

Whenduskdescended,thewhalewasstillinsighttoleeward.

Sooncemorethesailwasshortened,andeverythingpassednearlyasonthepreviousnight;only,thesoundofhammers,andthehumofthegrindstonewasheardtillnearlydaylight,asthementoiledbylanternsinthecompleteandcarefulriggingofthespareboatsandsharpeningtheirfreshweaponsforthemorrow.Meantime,ofthebrokenkeelofAhab'swreckedcraftthecarpentermadehimanotherleg;whilestillasonthenightbefore,slouchedAhabstoodfixedwithinhisscuttle;hishid,heliotropeglanceanticipatinglygonebackwardonitsdial;satdueeastwardfortheearliestsun.