CHAPTER87TheGrandArmada

thelongandnarrowpeninsulaofa,extendingsouth-eastwardfromtheterritoriesofbirmah,formsthemostsoutherlypointofallasia.inacontinuouslinefromthatpeninsulastretchthelongislandsofsumatra,java,bally,andtimor;which,withmanyothers,formavastmole,orrampart,lengthwiseconnectingasiawithaustralia,anddividingthelongunbrokenindianoceanfromthethicklystuddedorientalarchipelagoes.thisrampartispiercedbyseveralsally-portsfortheconvenienceofshipsandwhales;conspicuousamongwhicharethestraitsofsundaanda.bythestraitsofsunda,chiefly,vesselsboundtochinafromthewest,emergeintothechinaseas.

thosenarrowstraitsofsundadividesumatrafromjava;andstandingmidwayinthatvastrampartofislands,buttressedbythatboldgreenpromontory,knowntoseamenasjavahead;theynotalittlecorrespondtothecentralgatewayopeningintosomevastwalledempire:andconsideringtheinexhaustiblewealthofspices,andsilks,andjewels,andgold,andivory,withwhichthethousandislandsofthatorientalseaareenriched,itseemsasignificantprovisionofnature,thatsuchtreasures,bytheveryformationoftheland,shouldatleastbeartheappearance,howeverineffectual,ofbeingguardedfromtheall-graspingwesternworld.theshoresofthestraitsofsundaareunsuppliedwiththosedomineeringfortresseswhichguardtheentrancestothemediterranean,thebaltic,andthepropontis.unlikethedanes,theseorientalsdonotdemandtheobsequioushomageofloweredtopsailsfromtheendlessprocessionofshipsbeforethewind,whichforcenturiespast,bynightandbyday,havepassedbetweentheislandsofsumatraandjava,freightedwiththecostliestcargoesoftheeast.butwhiletheyfreelywaiveaceremoniallikethis,theydobynomeansrenouncetheirclaimtomoresolidtribute.

timeoutofmindthepiraticalproasofthemalays,lurkingamongthelowshadedcovesandisletsofsumatra,havesalliedoutuponthevesselssailingthroughthestraits,fiercelydemandingtributeatthepointoftheirspears.thoughbytherepeatedbloodychastisementstheyhavereceivedatthehandsofeuropeancruisers,theaudacityofthesecorsairshasoflatebeensomewhatrepressed;yet,evenatthepresentday,weoccasionallyhearofenglishandamericanvessels,which,inthosewaters,havebeenremorselesslyboardedandpillaged.

withafair,freshwind,thepequodwasnowdrawingnightothesestraits;ahabpurposingtopassthroughthemintothejavansea,andthence,cruisingnorthwards,overwatersknowntobefrequentedhereandtherebythespermwhale,sweepinshorebythephilippineislands,andgainthefarcoastofjapan,intimeforthegreatwhalingseasonthere.bythesemeans,thecircumnavigatingpequodwouldsweepalmostalltheknownspermwhalecruisinggroundsoftheworld,previoustodescendinguponthelineinthepacific;whereahab,thougheverywhereelsefoiledinhispursuit,firmlycountedupongivingbattletomobydick,intheseahewasmostknowntofrequent;andataseasonwhenhemightmostreasonablybepresumedtobehauntingit.

buthownow?inthiszonedquest,doesahabtouchnoland?doeshiscrewdrinkair?surely,hewillstopforwater.nay.foralongtime,now,thecircusrunningsunhasracedwithinhisfieryring,andneedsnosustenancebutwhat'sinhimself.soahab.markthis,too,inthewhaler.whileotherhullsareloadeddownwithalienstuff,tobetransferredtoforeignwharves;theworld-wanderingwhale-shipcarriesnocargobutherselfandcrew,theirweaponsandtheirwants.shehasawholelake'scontentsbottledinheramplehold.sheisballastedwithutilities;notaltogetherwithunusablepig-leadandkentledge.shecarriesyears'waterinher.clearoldprimenantucketwater;which,whenthreeyearsafloat,thenantucketer,inthepacific,preferstodrinkbeforethebrackishfluid,butyesterdayraftedoffincasks,fromtheperuvianorindianstreams.henceitis,that,whileothershipsmayhavegonetochinafromnewyork,andbackagain,touchingatascoreofports,thewhale-ship,inallthatinterval,maynothavesightedonegrainofsoil;hercrewhavingseennomanbutfloatingseamenlikethemselves.sothatdidyoucarrythemthenewsthatanotherfloodhadcome;theywouldonlyanswer—"well,boys,here'stheark!"

now,asmanyspermwhaleshadbeencapturedoffthewesterncoastofjava,inthenearvicinityofthestraitsofsunda;indeed,asmostoftheground,roundabout,wasgenerallyrecognisedbythefishermenasanexcellentspotforcruising;therefore,asthepequodgainedmoreandmoreuponjavahead,thelook-outswererepeatedlyhailed,andadmonishedtokeepwideawake.butthoughthegreenpalmycliffsofthelandsoonloomedonthestarboardbow,andwithdelightednostrilsthefreshcinnamonwassnuffedintheair,yetnotasinglejetwasdescried.almostrenouncingallthoughtoffallinginwithanygamehereabouts,theshiphadwellnighenteredthestraits,whenthecustomarycheeringcrywasheardfromaloft,anderelongaspectacleofsingularmagnificencesalutedus.

butherebeitpremised,thatowingtotheunweariedactivitywithwhichoflatetheyhavebeenhuntedoverallfouroceans,thespermwhales,insteadofalmostinvariablysailinginsmalldetachedcompanies,asinformertimes,arenowfrequentlymetwithinextensiveherds,sometimesembracingsogreatamultitude,thatitwouldalmostseemasifnumerousnationsofthemhadswornsolemnleagueandcovenantformutualassistanceandprotection.tothisaggregationofthespermwhaleintosuchimmensecaravans,maybeimputedthecircumstancethateveninthebestcruisinggrounds,youmaynowsometimessailforweeksandmonthstogether,withoutbeinggreetedbyasinglespout;andthenbesuddenlysalutedbywhatsometimesseemsthousandsonthousands.

broadonbothbows,atthedistanceofsometwoorthreemiles,andformingagreatsemicircle,embracingonehalfofthelevelhorizon,acontinuouschainofwhale-jetswereup-playingandsparklinginthenoondayair.unlikethestraightperpendiculartwin-jetsoftherightwhale,which,dividingattop,falloverintwobranches,likethecleftdroopingboughsofawillow,thesingleforward-slantingspoutofthespermwhalepresentsathickcurledbushofwhitemist,continuallyrisingandfallingawaytoleeward.

seenfromthepequod'sdeck,then,asshewouldriseonahighhillofthesea,thishostofvaporyspouts,individuallycurlingupintotheair,andbeheldthroughablendingatmosphereofbluishhaze,showedlikethethousandcheerfulchimneysofsomedensemetropolis,descriedofabalmyautumnalmorning,bysomehorsemanonaheight.

asmarchingarmiesapproachinganunfriendlydefileinthemountains,acceleratetheirmarch,alleagernesstoplacethatperilouspassageintheirrear,andoncemoreexpandincomparativesecurityupontheplain;evensodidthisvastfleetofwhalesnowseemhurryingforwardthroughthestraits;graduallycontractingthewingsoftheirsemicircle,andswimmingon,inonesolid,butstillcrescenticcentre.

crowdingallsailthepequodpressedafterthem;theharpooneershandlingtheirweapons,andloudlycheeringfromtheheadsoftheiryetsuspendedboats.ifthewindonlyheld,littledoubthadthey,thatchasedthroughthesestraitsofsunda,thevasthostwouldonlydeployintotheorientalseastowitnessthecaptureofnotafewoftheirnumber.andwhocouldtellwhether,inthatcongregatedcaravan,mobydickhimselfmightnottemporarilybeswimming,liketheworshippedwhite-elephantinthecoronationprocessionofthesiamese!sowithstun-sailpiledonstun-sail,wesailedalong,drivingtheseleviathansbeforeus;when,ofasudden,thevoiceoftashtegowasheard,loudlydirectingattentiontosomethinginourwake.

correspondingtothecrescentinourvan,webeheldanotherinourrear.itseemedformedofdetachedwhitevapors,risingandfallingsomethinglikethespoutsofthewhales;onlytheydidnotsocompletelycomeandgo;fortheyconstantlyhovered,withoutfinallydisappearing.levellinghisglassatthissight,ahabquicklyrevolvedinhispivot-hole,crying,"aloftthere,andrigwhipsandbucketstowetthesails;—malays,sir,andafterus!"

asiftoolonglurkingbehindtheheadlands,tillthepequodshouldfairlyhaveenteredthestraits,theserascallyasiaticswerenowinhotpursuit,tomakeupfortheirover-cautiousdelay.butwhentheswiftpequod,withafreshleadingwind,washerselfinhotchase;howverykindofthesetawnyphilanthropiststoassistinspeedingherontoherownchosenpursuit,—mereriding-whipsandrowelstoher,thattheywere.aswithglassunderarm,ahabto-and-fropacedthedeck;inhisforwardturnbeholdingthemonstershechased,andintheafteronethebloodthirstypirateschasinghim;somesuchfancyastheaboveseemedhis.andwhenheglanceduponthegreenwallsofthewaterydefileinwhichtheshipwasthensailing,andbethoughthimthatthroughthatgatelaytheroutetohisvengeance,andbeheld,howthatthroughthatsamegatehewasnowbothchasingandbeingchasedtohisdeadlyend;andnotonlythat,butaherdofremorselesswildpiratesandinhumanatheisticaldevilswereinfernallycheeringhimonwiththeircurses;—whenalltheseconceitshadpassedthroughhisbrain,ahab'sbrowwasleftgauntandribbed,liketheblacksandbeachaftersomestormytidehasbeengnawingit,withoutbeingabletodragthefirmthingfromitsplace.

butthoughtslikethesetroubledveryfewoftherecklesscrew;andwhen,aftersteadilydroppinganddroppingthepiratesastern,thepequodatlastshotbythevividgreencockatoopointonthesumatraside,emergingatlastuponthebroadwatersbeyond;then,theharpooneersseemedmoretogrievethattheswiftwhaleshadbeengainingupontheship,thantorejoicethattheshiphadsovictoriouslygaineduponthemalays.butstilldrivingoninthewakeofthewhales,atlengththeyseemedabatingtheirspeed;graduallytheshipnearedthem;andthewindnowdyingaway,wordwaspassedtospringtotheboats.butnosoonerdidtheherd,bysomepresumedwonderfulinstinctofthespermwhale,becomenotifiedofthethreekeelsthatwereafterthem,—thoughasyetamileintheirrear,—thantheyralliedagain,andformingincloseranksandbattalions,sothattheirspoutsalllookedlikeflashinglinesofstackedbayonets,movedonwithredoubledvelocity.

strippedtoourshirtsanddrawers,wesprangtothewhite-ash,andafterseveralhours'pullingwerealmostdisposedtorenouncethechase,whenageneralpausingcommotionamongthewhalesgaveanimatingtokenthattheywerenowatlastundertheinfluenceofthatstrangeperplexityofinertirresolution,which,whenthefishermenperceiveitinthewhale,theysayheisgallied.thecompactmartialcolumnsinwhichtheyhadbeenhithertorapidlyandsteadilyswimming,werenowbrokenupinonemeasurelessrout;andlikekingporus'elephantsintheindianbattlewithalexander,theyseemedgoingmadwithconsternation.inalldirectionsexpandinginvastirregularcircles,andaimlesslyswimminghitherandthither,bytheirshortthickspoutings,theyplainlybetrayedtheirdistractionofpanic.thiswasstillmorestrangelyevincedbythoseoftheirnumber,who,completelyparalysedasitwere,helplesslyfloatedlikewater-eddismantledshipsonthesea.hadtheseleviathansbeenbutaflockofsimplesheep,pursuedoverthepasturebythreefiercewolves,theycouldnotpossiblyhaveevincedsuchexcessivedismay.butthisoccasionaltimidityischaracteristicofalmostallherdingcreatures.thoughbandingtogetherintensofthousands,thelion-manedbuffaloesofthewesthavefledbeforeasolitaryhorseman.witness,too,allhumanbeings,howwhenherdedtogetherinthesheepfoldofatheatre'spit,theywill,attheslightestalarmoffire,rushhelterskelterfortheoutlets,crowding,trampling,jamming,andremorselesslydashingeachothertodeath.best,therefore,withholdanyamazementatthestrangelygalliedwhalesbeforeus,forthereisnofollyofthebeastsoftheearthwhichisnotinfinitelyoutdonebythemadnessofmen.

thoughmanyofthewhales,ashasbeensaid,wereinviolentmotion,yetitistobeobservedthatasawholetheherdneitheradvancednorretreated,butcollectivelyremainedinoneplace.asiscustomaryinthosecases,theboatsatonceseparated,eachmakingforsomeonelonewhaleontheoutskirtsoftheshoal.inaboutthreeminutes'time,queequeg'sharpoonwasflung;thestrickenfishdartedblindingsprayinourfaces,andthenrunningawaywithuslikelight,steeredstraightfortheheartoftheherd.thoughsuchamovementonthepartofthewhalestruckundersuchcircumstances,isinnowiseunprecedented;andindeedisalmostalwaysmoreorlessanticipated;yetdoesitpresentoneofthemoreperilousvicissitudesofthefishery.forastheswiftmonsterdragsyoudeeperanddeeperintothefranticshoal,youbidadieutocircumspectlifeandonlyexistinadeliriousthrob.

as,blindanddeaf,thewhaleplungedforward,asifbysheerpowerofspeedtoridhimselfoftheironleechthathadfastenedtohim;aswethustoreawhitegashinthesea,onallsidesmenacedasweflew,bythecrazedcreaturestoandfrorushingaboutus;ourbesetboatwaslikeashipmobbedbyiceislesinatempest,andstrivingtosteerthroughtheircomplicatedchannelsandstraits,knowingnotatwhatmomentitmaybelockedinandcrushed.

butnotabitdaunted,queequegsteeredusmanfully;nowsheeringofffromthismonsterdirectlyacrossourrouteinadvance;nowedgingawayfromthat,whosecolossalflukesweresuspendedoverhead,whileallthetime,starbuckstoodupinthebows,lanceinhand,prickingoutofourwaywhateverwhaleshecouldreachbyshortdarts,fortherewasnotimetomakelongones.norweretheoarsmenquiteidle,thoughtheirwonteddutywasnowaltogetherdispensedwith.theychieflyattendedtotheshoutingpartofthebusiness."outoftheway,commodore!"criedone,toagreatdromedarythatofasuddenrosebodilytothesurface,andforaninstantthreatenedtoswampus."harddownwithyourtail,there!"criedasecondtoanother,which,closetoourgunwale,seemedcalmlycoolinghimselfwithhisownfan-likeextremity.

allwhaleboatscarrycertaincuriouscontrivances,originallyinventedbythenantucketindians,calleds.twothicksquaresofwoodofequalsizearestoutlyclenchedtogether,sothattheycrosseachother'sgrainatrightangles;alineofconsiderablelengthisthenattachedtothemiddleofthisblock,andtheotherendofthelinebeinglooped,itcaninamomentbefastenedtoaharpoon.itischieflyamonggalliedwhalesthatthisisused.forthen,morewhalesarecloseroundyouthanyoucanpossiblychaseatonetime.butspermwhalesarenoteverydayencountered;whileyoumay,then,youmustkillallyoucan.andifyoucannotkillthemallatonce,youmustwingthem,sothattheycanbeafterwardskilledatyourleisure.henceitis,thatattimeslikethesethe,comesintorequisition.ourboatwasfurnishedwiththreeofthem.thefirstandsecondwereessfullydarted,andwesawthewhaleseringlyrunningoff,fetteredbytheenormoussidelongresistanceofthetowing.theywerecrampedlikemalefactorswiththechainandball.butuponflingingthethird,intheactoftossingoverboardtheclumsywoodenblock,itcaughtunderoneoftheseatsoftheboat,andinaninstanttoreitoutandcarrieditaway,droppingtheoarsmanintheboat'sbottomastheseatslidfromunderhim.onbothsidestheseacameinatthewoundedplanks,butwestuffedtwoorthreedrawersandshirtsin,andsostoppedtheleaksforthetime.

ithadbeennexttoimpossibletodarttheseedharpoons,wereitnotthatasweadvancedintotheherd,ourwhale'swaygreatlydiminished;moreover,thataswewentstillfurtherandfurtherfromthecircumferenceofcommotion,thedirefuldisordersseemedwaning.sothatwhenatlastthejerkingharpoondrewout,andthetowingwhalesidewaysvanished;then,withthetaperingforceofhispartingmomentum,weglidedbetweentwowhalesintotheinnermostheartoftheshoal,asiffromsomemountaintorrentwehadslidintoaserenevalleylake.herethestormsintheroaringglensbetweentheoutermostwhales,wereheardbutnotfelt.inthiscentralexpansetheseapresentedthatsmoothsatin-likesurface,calledasleek,producedbythesubtlemoisturethrownoffbythewhaleinhismorequietmoods.yes,wewerenowinthatenchantedcalmwhichtheysaylurksattheheartofeverycommotion.andstillinthedistracteddistancewebeheldthetumultsoftheouterconcentriccircles,andsawessivepodsofwhales,eightortenineach,swiftlygoingroundandround,likemultipliedspansofhorsesinaring;andsocloselyshouldertoshoulder,thatatitaniccircus-ridermighteasilyhaveover-archedthemiddleones,andsohavegoneroundontheirbacks.owingtothedensityofthecrowdofreposingwhales,moreimmediatelysurroundingtheembayedaxisoftheherd,nopossiblechanceofescapewasatpresentaffordedus.wemustwatchforabreachinthelivingwallthathemmedusin;thewallthathadonlyadmittedusinordertoshutusup.keepingatthecentreofthelake,wewereoccasionallyvisitedbysmalltamecowsandcalves;thewomenandchildrenofthisroutedhost.

now,inclusiveoftheoccasionalwideintervalsbetweentherevolvingoutercircles,andinclusiveofthespacesbetweenthevariouspodsinanyoneofthosecircles,theentireareaatthisjuncture,embracedbythewholemultitude,musthavecontainedatleasttwoorthreesquaremiles.atanyrate—thoughindeedsuchatestatsuchatimemightbedeceptive—spoutingsmightbediscoveredfromourlowboatthatseemedplayingupalmostfromtherimofthehorizon.imentionthiscircumstance,because,asifthecowsandcalveshadbeenpurposelylockedupinthisinnermostfold;andasifthewideextentoftheherdhadhithertopreventedthemfromlearningtheprecisecauseofitsstopping;or,possibly,beingsoyoung,unsophisticated,andeverywayinnocentandinexperienced;howeveritmayhavebeen,thesesmallerwhales—nowandthenvisitingourbecalmedboatfromthemarginofthelake—evincedawondrousfearlessnessandconfidence,orelseastillbecharmedpanicwhichitwasimpossiblenottomarvelat.likehouseholddogstheycamesnufflingroundus,rightuptoourgunwales,andtouchingthem;tillitalmostseemedthatsomespellhadsuddenlydomesticatedthem.queequegpattedtheirforeheads;starbuckscratchedtheirbackswithhislance;butfearfuloftheconsequences,forthetimerefrainedfromdartingit.

butfarbeneaththiswondrousworlduponthesurface,anotherandstillstrangerworldmetoureyesaswegazedovertheside.for,suspendedinthosewateryvaults,floatedtheformsofthenursingmothersofthewhales,andthosethatbytheirenormousgirthseemedshortlytobecomemothers.thelake,asihavehinted,wastoaconsiderabledepthexceedinglytransparent;andashumaninfantswhilesucklingwillcalmlyandfixedlygazeawayfromthebreast,asifleadingtwodifferentlivesatthetime;andwhileyetdrawingmortalnourishment,bestillspirituallyfeastinguponsomeunearthlyreminiscence;—evensodidtheyoungofthesewhalesseemlookinguptowardsus,butnotatus,asifwewerebutabitofgulfweedintheirnew-bornsight.floatingontheirsides,themothersalsoseemedquietlyeyeingus.oneoftheselittleinfants,thatfromcertainqueertokensseemedhardlyadayold,mighthavemeasuredsomefourteenfeetinlength,andsomesixfeetingirth.hewasalittlefrisky;thoughasyethisbodyseemedscarceyetrecoveredfromthatirksomepositionithadsolatelyoccupiedinthematernalreticule;where,tailtohead,andallreadyforthefinalspring,theunbornwhaleliesbentlikeatartar'sbow.thedelicatesidefins,andthepalmsofhisflukes,stillfreshlyretainetheplaitedcrumpledappearanceofababy'searsnewlyarrivedfromforeignparts.

"line!line!"criedqueequeg,lookingoverthegunwale;"himfast!himfast!—wholinehim!whostruck?—twowhale;onebig,onelittle!"

"whatailsye,man?"criedstarbuck.

"look-ehere,"saidqueequeg,pointingdown.

aswhenthestrickenwhale,thatfromthetubhasreeledouthundredsoffathomsofrope;as,afterdeepsounding,hefloatsupagain,andshowstheslackenedcurlinglinebuoyantlyrisingandspirallingtowardstheair;sonow,starbucksawlongcoilsoftheumbilicalcordofmadameleviathan,bywhichtheyoungcubseemedstilltetheredtoitsdam.notseldomintherapidvicissitudesofthechase,thisnaturalline,withthematernalendloose,becomesentangledwiththehempenone,sothatthecubistherebytrapped.someofthesubtlestsecretsoftheseasseemeddivulgedtousinthisenchantedpond.wesawyoungleviathanamoursinthedeep.[1]

andthus,thoughsurroundedbycircleuponcircleofconsternationsandaffrights,didtheseinscrutablecreaturesatthecentrefreelyandfearlesslyindulgeinallpeacefulconcernments;yea,serenelyrevelledindallianceanddelight.butevenso,amidthetornadoedatlanticofmybeing,doimyselfstillforevercentrallydisportinmutecalm;andwhileponderousplanetsofunwaningwoerevolveroundme,deepdownanddeepinlandthereistillbathemeineternalmildnessofjoy.

meanwhile,aswethuslayentranced,theoccasionalsuddenfranticspectaclesinthedistanceevincedtheactivityoftheotherboats,stillengagediningthewhalesonthefrontierofthehost;orpossiblycarryingonthewarwithinthefirstcircle,whereabundanceofroomandsomeconvenientretreatswereaffordedthem.butthesightoftheenragededwhalesnowandthenblindlydartingtoandfroacrossthecircles,wasnothingtowhatatlastmetoureyes.itissometimesthecustomwhenfasttoawhalemorethancommonlypowerfulandalert,toseektohamstringhim,asitwere,bysunderingormaiminghisgigantictail-tendon.itisdonebydartingashorthandledcutting-spade,towhichisattachedaropeforhaulingitbackagain.awhalewounded(asweafterwardslearned)inthispart,butnoteffectually,asitseemed,hadbrokenawayfromtheboat,carryingalongwithhimhalfoftheharpoonline;andintheextraordinaryagonyofthewound,hewasnowdashingamongtherevolvingcircleslikethelonemounteddesperadoarnold,atthebattleofsaratoga,carryingdismaywhereverhewent.

butagonizingaswasthewoundofthiswhale,andanappallingspectacleenough,anyway;yetthepeculiarhorrorwithwhichheseemedtoinspiretherestoftheherd,wasowingtoacausewhichatfirsttheinterveningdistanceobscuredfromus.butatlengthweperceivedthatbyoneoftheunimaginableaccidentsofthefishery,thiswhalehadbecomeentangledintheharpoon-linethathetowed;hehadalsorunawaywiththecutting-spadeinhim;andwhilethefreeendoftheropeattachedtothatweapon,hadpermanentlycaughtinthecoilsoftheharpoonlineroundhistail,thecutting-spadeitselfhadworkedloosefromhisflesh.sothattormentedtomadness,hewasnowchurningthroughthewater,violentlyflailingwithhisflexibletail,andtossingthekeenspadeabouthim,woundingandmurderinghisowncomrades.

thisterrificobjectseemedtorecallthewholeherdfromtheirstationaryfright.first,thewhalesformingthemarginofourlakebegantocrowdalittle,andtumbleagainsteachother,asifliftedbyhalfspentbillowsfromafar;thenthelakeitselfbeganfaintlytoheaveandswell;thesubmarinebridal-chambersandnurseriesvanished;inmoreandmorecontractingorbitsthewhalesinthemorecentralcirclesbegantoswiminthickeningclusters.yes,thelongcalmwasdeparting.alowadvancinghumwassoonheard;andthenliketothetumultuousmassesofblock-icewhenthegreatriverhudsonbreaksupinspring,theentirehostofwhalescametumblingupontheirinnercentre,asiftopilethemselvesupinonecommonmountain.instantlystarbuckandqueequegchangedplaces;starbucktakingthestern.

"oars!oars!"heintenselywhispered,seizingthehelm—"gripeyouroars,andclutchyoursouls,now!mygod,men,standby!shovehimoff,youqueequeg—thewhalethere!—prickhim!—hithim!standup—standup,andstayso!spring,men—pull,men;nevermindtheirbacks—scrapethem!—scrapeaway!"

theboatwasnowallbutjammedbetweentwovastblackbulks,leavinganarrowdardanellesbetweentheirlonglengths.butbydesperateendeavorweatlastshotintoatemporaryopening;thengivingwayrapidly,andatthesametimeearnestlywatchingforanotheroutlet.aftermanysimilarhair-breadthescapes,weatlastswiftlyglidedintowhathadjustbeenoneoftheoutercircles,butnowcrossedbyrandomwhales,allviolentlymakingforonecentre.thisluckysalvationwascheaplypurchasedbythelossofqueequeg'shat,who,whilestandinginthebowstoprickthefugitivewhales,hadhishattakencleanfromhisheadbytheair-eddymadebythesuddentossingofapairofbroadflukescloseby.

riotousanddisorderedastheuniversalcommotionnowwas,itsoonresolveditselfintowhatseemedasystematicmovement;forhavingclumpedtogetheratlastinonedensebody,theythenrenewedtheironwardflightwithaugmentedfleetness.furtherpursuitwasuseless;buttheboatsstilllingeredintheirwaketopickupwhatedwhalesmightbedroppedastern,andlikewisetosecureonewhichflaskhadkilledandwaifed.thewaifisapennonedpole,twoorthreeofwhicharecarriedbyeveryboat;andwhich,whenadditionalgameisathand,areinserteduprightintothefloatingbodyofadeadwhale,bothtomarkitsplaceonthesea,andalsoastokenofpriorpossession,shouldtheboatsofanyothershipdrawnear.

theresultofthisloweringwassomewhatillustrativeofthatsagacioussayinginthefishery,—themorewhalesthelessfish.ofalltheedwhalesonlyonewascaptured.therestcontrivedtoescapeforthetime,butonlytobetaken,aswillhereafterbeseen,bysomeothercraftthanthepequod.

[1]thespermwhale,aswithallotherspeciesoftheleviathan,butunlikemostotherfish,breedsindifferentlyatallseasons;afteragestationwhichmayprobablybesetdownatninemonths,producingbutoneatatime;thoughinsomefewknowninstancesgivingbirthtoanesauandjacob:—acontingencyprovidedforinsucklingbytwoteats,curiouslysituated,oneoneachsideoftheanus;butthebreaststhemselvesextendupwardsfromthat.whenbychancethesepreciouspartsinanursingwhalearecutbythehunter'slance,themother'spouringmilkandbloodrivallinglydiscolourtheseaforrods.themilkisverysweetandrich;ithasbeentastedbyman;itmightdowellwithstrawberries.whenoverflowingwithmutualesteem,thewhalessalutemorehominum.