CHAPTER49TheHyena

therearecertainqueertimesandoccasionsinthisstrangemixedaffairwecalllifewhenamantakesthiswholeuniverseforavastpracticaljoke,thoughthewitthereofhebutdimlydiscerns,andmorethansuspectsthatthejokeisatnobody'sexpensebuthisown.however,nothingdispirits,andnothingseemsworthwhiledisputing.heboltsdownallevents,allcreeds,andbeliefs,andpersuasions,allhardthingsvisibleandinvisible,nevermindhowknobby;asanostrichofpotentdigestiongobblesdownbulletsandgunflints.andasforsmalldifficultiesandworryingsprospectsofsuddendisaster,periloflifeandlimb;allthese,anddeathitself,seemtohimonlysly,goodnaturedhits,andjollypunchesinthesidebestowedbytheunseenandountableoldjoker.thatoddsortofwaywardmoodiamspeakingof,comesoveramanonlyinsometimeofextremetribulation;itcomesintheverymidstofhisearnestness,sothatwhatjustbeforemighthaveseemedtohimathingmostmomentous,nowseemsbutapartofthegeneraljoke.thereisnothingliketheperilsofwhalingtobreedthisfreeandeasysortofgenial,desperadophilosophy;andwithitinowregardedthiswholevoyageofthepequod,andthegreatwhitewhaleitsobject.

"queequeg,"saidi,whentheyhadedme,thelastman,tothedeck,andiwasstillshakingmyselfinmyjackettoflingoffthewater;"queequeg,myfinfriend,doesthissortofthingoftenhappen?"withoutmuchemotion,thoughsoakedthroughjustlikeme,hegavemetounderstandthatsuchthingsdidoftenhappen.

"mr.stubb,"saidi,turningtothatworthy,who,buttonedupinhisoil-jacket,wasnowcalmlysmokinghispipeintherain;"mr.stubb,ithinkihaveheardyousaythatofallwhalemenyouevermet,ourchiefmate,mr.starbuck,isbyfarthemostcarefulandprudent.isupposethen,thatgoingplumponaflyingwhalewithyoursailsetinaysquallistheheightofawhaleman'sdiscretion?"

"certain.i'veloweredforwhalesfromaleakingshipinagaleoffcapehorn."

"mr.flask,"saidi,turningtolittleking-post,whowasstandingcloseby;"youareexperiencedinthesethings,andiamnot.willyoutellmewhetheritisanunalterablelawinthisfishery,mr.flask,foranoarsmantobreakhisownbackpullinghimselfbackforemostintodeath'sjaws?"

"can'tyoutwistthatsmaller?"saidflask."yes,that'sthelaw.ishouldliketoseeaboat'screwbackingwateruptoawhalefaceforemost.ha,ha!thewhalewouldgivethemsquintforsquint,mindthat!"

herethen,fromthreeimpartialwitnesses,ihadadeliberatestatementoftheentirecase.considering,therefore,thatsquallsandcapsizingsinthewaterandconsequentbivouacksonthedeep,weremattersofcommonoccurrenceinthiskindoflife;consideringthatatthesuperlativelycriticalinstantofgoingontothewhaleimustresignmylifeintothehandsofhimwhosteeredtheboat—oftentimesafellowwhoatthatverymomentisinhisimpetuousnessuponthepointofscuttlingthecraftwithhisownfranticstampings;consideringthattheparticulardisastertoourownparticularboatwaschieflytobeimputedtostarbuck'sdrivingontohiswhalealmostintheteethofasquall,andconsideringthatstarbuck,notwithstanding,wasfamousforhisgreatheedfulnessinthefishery;consideringthatibelongedtothisuncommonlyprudentstarbuck'sboat;andfinallyconsideringinwhatadevil'schaseiwasimplicated,touchingthewhitewhale:takingallthingstogether,isay,ithoughtimightaswellgobelowandmakearoughdraftofmywill."queequeg,"saidi,"comealong,youshallbemylawyer,executor,andlegatee."

itmayseemstrangethatofallmensailorsshouldbetinkeringattheirlastwillsandtestaments,buttherearenopeopleintheworldmorefondofthatdiversion.thiswasthefourthtimeinmynauticallifethatihaddonethesamething.aftertheceremonywasconcludeduponthepresentoccasion,ifeltalltheeasier;astonewasrolledawayfrommyheart.besides,allthedaysishouldnowlivewouldbeasgoodasthedaysthatlazaruslivedafterhisresurrection;asupplementarycleangainofsomanymonthsorweeksasthecasemightbe.isurvivedmyself;mydeathandburialwerelockedupinmychest.ilookedroundmetranquillyandcontentedly,likeaquietghostwithacleanconsciencesittinginsidethebarsofasnugfamilyvault.

nowthen,thoughti,unconsciouslyrollingupthesleevesofmyfrock,heregoesforacool,collecteddiveatdeathanddestruction,andthedevilfetchthehindmost.