CHAPTER91ThePequodMeetsTheRose-Bud

"invainitwastorakeforambergrieseinthepaunchofthisleviathan,insufferablefetordenyingnotinquiry."sirt.browne,v.e.

itwasaweekortwoafterthelastwhalingscenerecounted,andwhenwewereslowlysailingoverasleepy,vapory,mid-daysea,thatthemanynosesonthepequod'sdeckprovedmorevigilantdiscoverersthanthethreepairsofeyesaloft.apeculiarandnotverypleasantsmellwassmeltinthesea.

"iwillbetsomethingnow,"saidstubb,"thatsomewherehereaboutsaresomeofthoseedwhaleswetickledtheotherday.ithoughttheywouldkeelupbeforelong."

presently,thevaporsinadvanceslidaside;andthereinthedistancelayaship,whosefurledsailsbetokenedthatsomesortofwhalemustbealongside.asweglidednearer,thestrangershowedfrenchcoloursfromhispeak;andbytheeddyingcloudofvulturesea-fowlthatcircled,andhovered,andswoopedaroundhim,itwasplainthatthewhalealongsidemustbewhatthefishermencallablastedwhale,thatis,awhalethathasdiedunmolestedonthesea,andsofloatedanunappropriatedcorpse.itmaywellbeconceived,whatanunsavoryodorsuchamassmustexhale;worsethananassyriancityintheplague,whenthelivingareincompetenttoburythedeparted.sointolerableindeedisitregardedbysome,thatnocupiditycouldpersuadethemtomooralongsideofit.yetaretherethosewhowillstilldoit;notwithstandingthefactthattheoilobtainedfromsuchsubjectsisofaveryinferiorquality,andbynomeansofthenatureofattar-of-rose.

comingstillnearerwiththeexpiringbreeze,wesawthatthefrenchmanhadasecondwhalealongside;andthissecondwhaleseemedevenmoreofanosegaythanthefirst.intruth,itturnedouttobeoneofthoseproblematicalwhalesthatseemtodryupanddiewithasortofprodigiousdyspepsia,orindigestion;leavingtheirdefunctbodiesalmostentirelybankruptofanythinglikeoil.nevertheless,intheproperplaceweshallseethatnoknowingfishermanwilleverturnuphisnoseatsuchawhaleasthis,howevermuchhemayshunblastedwhalesingeneral.

thepequodhadnowsweptsonightothestranger,thatstubbvowedherecognisedhiscuttingspade-poleentangledinthelinesthatwereknottedroundthetailofoneofthesewhales.

"there'saprettyfellow,now,"hebanteringlylaughed,standingintheship'sbows,"there'sajackalforye!iwellknowthatthesecrappoesoffrenchmenarebutpoordevilsinthefishery;sometimesloweringtheirboatsforbreakers,mistakingthemforspermwhalespouts;yes,andsometimessailingfromtheirportwiththeirholdfullofboxesoftallowcandles,andcasesofsnuffers,foreseeingthatalltheoiltheywillgetwon'tbeenoughtodipthecaptain'swickinto;aye,weallknowthesethings;butlookye,here'sacrappothatiscontentwithourleavings,theedwhalethere,imean;aye,andiscontenttoowithscrapingthedrybonesofthatotherpreciousfishhehasthere.poordevil!isay,passroundahat,someone,andlet'smakehimapresentofalittleoilfordearcharity'ssake.forwhatoilhe'llgetfromthatedwhalethere,wouldn'tbefittoburninajail;no,notinacondemnedcell.andasfortheotherwhale,why,i'llagreetogetmoreoilbychoppingupandtryingoutthesethreemastsofours,thanhe'llgetfromthatbundleofbones;though,nowthatithinkofit,itmaycontainsomethingworthagooddealmorethanoil;yes,ambergris.iwondernowifouroldmanhasthoughtofthat.it'sworthtrying.yes,i'mforit;"andsosayinghestartedforthequarter-deck.

bythistimethefaintairhadbecomeacompletecalm;sothatwhetherorno,thepequodwasnowfairlyentrappedinthesmell,withnohopeofescapingexceptbyitsbreezingupagain.issuingfromthecabin,stubbnowcalledhisboat'screw,andpulledoffforthestranger.drawingacrossherbow,heperceivedthatinaccordancewiththefancifulfrenchtaste,theupperpartofherstem-piecewascarvedinthelikenessofahugedroopingstalk,waspaintedgreen,andforthornshadcopperspikesprojectingfromithereandthere;thewholeterminatinginasymmetricalfoldedbulbofabrightredcolour.uponherheadboards,inlargegiltletters,heread"boutonderose,"—rosebutton,orrose-bud;andthiswastheromanticnameofthisaromaticship.

thoughstubbdidnotunderstandtheboutonpartoftheinscription,yetthewordrose,andthebulbousfigure-headputtogether,sufficientlyexplainedthewholetohim.

"awoodenrose-bud,eh?"hecriedwithhishandtohisnose,"thatwilldoverywell;buthowlikeallcreationitsmells!"

nowinordertoholddirectcommunicationwiththepeopleondeck,hehadtopullroundthebowstothestarboardside,andthuscomeclosetotheblastedwhale;andsotalkoverit.

arrivedthenatthisspot,withonehandstilltohisnose,hebawled—"bouton-de-rose,ahoy!arethereanyofyoubouton-de-rosesthatspeakenglish?"

"yes,"rejoinedaguernsey-manfromthebulwarks,whoturnedouttobethechief-mate.

"well,then,mybouton-de-rose-bud,haveyouseenthewhitewhale?"

"whatwhale?"

"thewhitewhale—aspermwhale—mobydick,haveyeseenhim?

"neverheardofsuchawhale.cachalotblanche!whitewhale—no."

"verygood,then;goodbyenow,andi'llcallagaininaminute."

thenrapidlypullingbacktowardsthepequod,andseeingahableaningoverthequarter-deckrailawaitinghisreport,hemouldedhistwohandsintoatrumpetandshouted—"no,sir!no!"uponwhichahabretired,andstubbreturnedtothefrenchman.

henowperceivedthattheguernsey-man,whohadjustgotintothechains,andwasusingacutting-spade,hadslunghisnoseinasortofbag.

"what'sthematterwithyournose,there?"saidstubb."brokeit?"

"iwishitwasbroken,orthatididn'thaveanynoseatall!"answeredtheguernsey-man,whodidnotseemtorelishthejobhewasatverymuch."butwhatareyouholdingyoursfor?"

"oh,nothing!it'sawaxnose;ihavetoholditon.fineday,ain'tit?airrathergardenny,ishouldsay;throwusabunchofposies,willye,bouton-de-rose?"

"whatinthedevil'snamedoyouwanthere?"roaredtheguernseyman,flyingintoasuddenpassion.

"oh!keepcool—cool?yes,that'stheword!whydon'tyoupackthosewhalesinicewhileyou'reworkingat'em?butjokingaside,though;doyouknow,rose-bud,thatit'sallnonsensetryingtogetanyoiloutofsuchwhales?asforthatdriedupone,there,hehasn'tagillinhiswholecarcase."

"iknowthatwellenough;but,d'yesee,thecaptainherewon'tbelieveit;thisishisfirstvoyage;hewasacolognemanufacturerbefore.butcomeaboard,andmayhaphe'llbelieveyou,ifhewon'tme;andsoi'llgetoutofthisdirtyscrape."

"anythingtoobligeye,mysweetandpleasantfellow,"rejoinedstubb,andwiththathesoonmountedtothedeck.thereaqueerscenepresenteditself.thesailors,intasselledcapsofredworsted,weregettingtheheavytacklesinreadinessforthewhales.buttheyworkedratherslowandtalkedveryfast,andseemedinanythingbutagoodhumor.alltheirnosesupwardlyprojectedfromtheirfaceslikesomanyjib-booms.nowandthenpairsofthemwoulddroptheirwork,andrunuptothemast-headtogetsomefreshair.somethinkingtheywouldcatchtheplague,dippedoakumincoal-tar,andatintervalsheldittotheirnostrils.othershavingbrokenthestemsoftheirpipesalmostshortoffatthebowl,werevigorouslypuffingo-smoke,sothatitconstantlyfilledtheiolfactories.

stubbwasstruckbyashowerofoutcriesandanathemasproceedingfromthecaptain'sround-houseabaft;andlookinginthatdirectionsawafieryfacethrustfrombehindthedoor,whichwasheldajarfromwithin.thiswasthetormentedsurgeon,who,afterinvainremonstratingagainsttheproceedingsoftheday,hadbetakenhimselftothecaptain'sround-house(cabinethecalledit)toavoidthepest;butstill,couldnothelpyellingouthisentreatiesandindignationsattimes.

markingallthis,stubbarguedwellforhisscheme,andturningtotheguernsey-manhadalittlechatwithhim,duringwhichthestrangermateexpressedhisdetestationofhiscaptainasaconceitedignoramus,whohadbroughtthemallintosounsavoryandunprofitableapickle.soundinghimcarefully,stubbfurtherperceivedthattheguernsey-manhadnottheslightestsuspicionconcerningtheambergris.hethereforeheldhispeaceonthathead,butotherwisewasquitefrankandconfidentialwithhim,sothatthetwoquicklyconcoctedalittleplanforbothcircumventingandsatirizingthecaptain,withouthisatalldreamingofdistrustingtheirsincerity.accordingtothislittleplanoftheirs,theguernsey-man,undercoverofaninterpreter'soffice,wastotellthecaptainwhathepleased,butascomingfromstubb;andasforstubb,hewastoutteranynonsensethatshouldcomeuppermostinhimduringtheinterview.

bythistimetheirdestinedvictimappearedfromhiscabin.hewasasmallanddark,butratherdelicatelookingmanforasea-captain,withlargewhiskersandmoustache,however;andworearedcottonvelvetvestwithwatch-sealsathisside.tothisgentleman,stubbwasnowpolitelyintroducedbytheguernseyman,whoatonceostentatiouslyputontheaspectofinterpretingbetweenthem.

"whatshallisaytohimfirst?"saidhe.

"why,"saidstubb,eyeingthevelvetvestandthewatchandseals,"youmayaswellbeginbytellinghimthathelooksasortofbabyishtome,thoughidon'tpretendtobeajudge."

"hesays,monsieur,"saidtheguernsey-man,infrench,turningtohiscaptain,"thatonlyyesterdayhisshipspokeavessel,whosecaptainandchief-mate,withsixsailors,hadalldiedofafevercaughtfromablastedwhaletheyhadbroughtalongside."

uponthisthecaptainstarted,andeagerlydesiredtoknowmore.

"whatnow?"saidtheguernsey-mantostubb.

"why,sincehetakesitsoeasy,tellhimthatnowihaveeyedhimcarefully,i'mquitecertainthathe'snomorefittocommandawhale-shipthanast.jagomonkey.infact,tellhimfrommehe'sababoon."

"hevowsanddeclares,monsieur,thattheotherwhale,thedriedone,isfarmoredeadlythantheblastedone;infine,monsieur,heconjuresus,aswevalueourlives,tocutloosefromthesefish.

instantlythecaptainranforward,andinaloudvoicecommandedhiscrewtodesistfromhoistingthecutting-tackles,andatoncecastloosethecablesandchainsconfiningthewhalestotheship.

"whatnow?"saidtheguernsey-man,whenthecaptainhadreturnedtothem.

"why,letmesee;yes,youmayaswelltellhimnowthat—that—infact,tellhimi'vediddledhim,and(asidetohimself)perhapssomebodyelse."

"hesays,monsieur,thathe'sveryhappytohavebeenofanyservicetous."

hearingthis,thecaptainvowedthattheywerethegratefulparties(meaninghimselfandmate)andconcludedbyinvitingstubbdownintohiscabintodrinkabottleofbordeaux.

"hewantsyoutotakeaglassofwinewithhim,"saidtheinterpreter.

"thankhimheartily;buttellhimit'sagainstmyprinciplestodrinkwiththemani'vediddled.infact,tellhimimustgo."

"hesays,monsieur,thathisprincipleswon'tadmitofhisdrinking;butthatifmonsieurwantstoliveanotherdaytodrink,thenmonsieurhadbestdropallfourboats,andpulltheshipawayfromthesewhales,forit'ssocalmtheywon'tdrift."

bythistimestubbwasovertheside,andgettingintohisboat,hailedtheguernsey-mantothiseffect,—thathavingalongtow-lineinhisboat,hewoulddowhathecouldtohelpthem,bypullingoutthelighterwhaleofthetwofromtheship'sside.whilethefrenchman'sboats,then,wereengagedintowingtheshiponeway,stubbbenevolentlytowedawayathiswhaletheotherway,ostentatiouslyslackingoutamostunusuallylongtow-line.

presentlyabreezesprangup;stubbfeignedtocastofffromthewhale;hoistinghisboats,thefrenchmansoonincreasedhisdistance,whilethepequodslidinbetweenhimandstubb'swhale.whereuponstubbquicklypulledtothefloatingbody,andhailingthepequodtogivenoticeofhisintentions,atonceproceededtoreapthefruitofhisunrighteouscunning.seizinghissharpboat-spade,hecommencedanexcavationinthebody,alittlebehindthesidefin.youwouldalmosthavethoughthewasingacellarthereinthesea;andwhenatlengthhisspadestruckagainstthegauntribs,itwasliketurningupoldromantilesandpotteryburiedinfatenglishloam.hisboat'screwwereallinhighexcitement,eagerlyhelpingtheirchief,andlookingasanxiousasgoldhunters.

andallthetimenumberlessfowlswerediving,andducking,andscreaming,andyelling,andfightingaroundthem.stubbwasbeginningtolookdisappointed,especiallyasthehorriblenosegayincreased,whensuddenlyfromouttheveryheartofthisplague,therestoleafaintstreamofperfume,whichflowedthroughthetideofbadsmellswithoutbeingabsorbedbyit,asoneriverwillflowintoandthenalongwithanother,withoutatallblendingwithitforatime.

"ihaveit,ihaveit,"criedstubb,withdelight,strikingsomethinginthesubterraneanregions,"apurse!apurse!"

droppinghisspade,hethrustbothhandsin,anddrewouthandfulsofsomethingthatlookedlikeripewindsorsoap,orrichmottledoldcheese;veryunctuousandsavorywithal.youmighteasilydentitwithyourthumb;itisofahuebetweenyellowandashcolour.andthis,goodfriends,isambergris,worthagoldguineaanouncetoanyist.somesixhandfulswereobtained;butmorewasunavoidablylostinthesea,andstillmore,perhaps,mighthavebeensecuredwereitnotforimpatientahab'sloudcommandtostubbtodesist,andcomeonboard,elsetheshipwouldbidthemgoodbye.