CHAPTER 131 The Pequod Meets The Delight

TheintensePequodsailedon;therollingwavesanddayswentby;thelife-buoy-coffinstilllightlyswung;andanothership,mostmiserablymisnamedtheDelight,wasdescried.Asshedrewnigh,alleyeswerefixeduponherbroadbeams,calledshears,which,insomewhaling-ships,crossthequarter-deckattheheightofeightorninefeet;servingtocarrythespare,unrigged,ordisabledboats.

Uponthestranger'sshearswerebeheldtheshattered,whiteribs,andsomefewsplinteredplanks,ofwhathadoncebeenawhale-boat;butyounowsawthroughthiswreck,asplainlyasyouseethroughthepeeled,half-unhinged,andbleachingskeletonofahorse.

"HastseentheWhiteWhale?"

"Look!"repliedthehollow-cheekedcaptainfromhistaffrail;andwithhistrumpethepointedtothewreck.

"Hastkilledhim?"

"Theharpoonisnotyetforgedthateverwilldothat,"answeredtheother,sadlyglancinguponaroundedhammockonthedeck,whosegatheredsidessomenoiselesssailorswerebusyinsewingtogether.

"Notforged!"andsnatchingPerth'slevelledironfromthecrotch,Ahabhelditout,exclaiming—"Lookye,Nantucketer;hereinthishandIholdhisdeath!Temperedinblood,andtemperedbylightningarethesebarbs;andIsweartotemperthemtriplyinthathotplacebehindthefin,wheretheWhiteWhalemostfeelshisaccursedlife!"

"ThenGodkeepthee,oldman—see'stthouthat"—pointingtothehammock—"Iburybutoneoffivestoutmen,whowerealiveonlyyesterday;butweredeaderenight.OnlythatoneIbury;therestwereburiedbeforetheydied;yousailupontheirtomb."Thenturningtohiscrew—"Areyereadythere?placetheplankthenontherail,andliftthebody;so,then—Oh!God"—advancingtowardsthehammockwithupliftedhands—"maytheresurrectionandthelife——"

"Braceforward!Uphelm!"criedAhablikelightningtohismen.

ButthesuddenlystartedPequodwasnotquickenoughtoescapethesoundofthesplashthatthecorpsesoonmadeasitstruckthesea;notsoquick,indeed,butthatsomeoftheflyingbubblesmighthavesprinkledherhullwiththeirghostlybaptism.

AsAhabnowglidedfromthedejectedDelight,thestrangelife-buoyhangingatthePequod'ssterncameintoconspicuousrelief.

"Ha!yonder!lookyonder,men!"criedaforebodingvoiceinherwake."Invain,oh,yestrangers,yeflyoursadburial;yebutturnusyourtaffrailtoshowusyourcoffin!