CHAPTER31QueenMab

nextmorningstubbaccostedflask.

"suchaqueerdream,king-post,ineverhad.youknowtheoldman'sivoryleg,wellidreamedhekickedmewithit;andwhenitriedtokickback,uponmysoul,mylittleman,ikickedmylegrightoff!andthen,presto!ahabseemedapyramid,andi,likeablazingfool,keptkickingatit.butwhatwasstillmorecurious,flask—youknowhowcuriousalldreamsare—throughallthisragethatiwasin,isomehowseemedtobethinkingtomyself,thatafterall,itwasnotmuchofaninsult,thatkickfromahab.'why,'thinksi,'what'stherow?it'snotarealleg,onlyafalseleg.'andthere'samightydifferencebetweenalivingthumpandadeadthump.that'swhatmakesablowfromthehand,flask,fiftytimesmoresavagetobearthanablowfromacane.thelivingmember—thatmakesthelivinginsult,mylittleman.andthinksitomyselfallthewhile,mind,whileiwasstubbingmysillytoesagainstthatcursedpyramid—soconfoundedlycontradictorywasitall,allthewhile,isay,iwasthinkingtomyself,'what'shislegnow,butacane—awhalebonecane.yes,'thinksi,'itwasonlyaplayfulcudgelling—infact,onlyawhaleboningthathegaveme—notabasekick.besides,'thinksi,'lookatitonce;why,theendofit—thefootpart—whatasmallsortofenditis;whereas,ifabroadfootedfarmerkickedme,there'sadevilishbroadinsult.butthisinsultiswhittleddowntoapointonly.'butnowcomesthegreatestjokeofthedream,flask.whileiwasbatteringawayatthepyramid,asortofbadgerhairedoldmerman,withahumponhisback,takesmebytheshoulders,andslewsmeround.'whatareyou'bout?'sayshe.slid!man,butiwasfrightened.suchaphiz!but,somehow,nextmomentiwasoverthefright.'whatamiabout?'saysiatlast.'andwhatbusinessisthatofyours,ishouldliketoknow,mr.humpback?doyouwantakick?'bythelord,flask,ihadnosoonersaidthat,thanheturnedroundhissterntome,bentover,andingupalotofseaweedhehadforaclout—whatdoyouthink,isaw?—whythunderalive,man,hissternwasstuckfullofmarlinspikes,withthepointsout.saysi,onsecondthoughts,'iguessiwon'tkickyou,oldfellow.''wisestubb,'saidhe,'wisestubb;'andkeptmutteringitallthetime,asortofeatingofhisowngumslikeachimneyhag.seeinghewasn'tgoingtostopsayingoverhis'wisestubb,wisestubb,'ithoughtimightaswellfalltokickingthepyramidagain.butihadonlyjustliftedmyfootforit,whenheroaredout,'stopthatkicking!''halloa,'saysi,'what'sthematternow,oldfellow?''lookyehere,'sayshe;'let'sarguetheinsult.captainahabkickedye,didn'the?''yes,hedid,'saysi—'righthereitwas.''verygood,'sayshe—'heusedhisivoryleg,didn'the?''yes,hedid,'saysi.'wellthen,'sayshe,'wisestubb,whathaveyoutocomplainof?didn'thekickwithrightgoodwill?itwasn'tacommonpitchpineleghekickedwith,wasit?no,youwerekickedbyagreatman,andwithabeautifulivoryleg,stubb.it'sanhonor;iconsideritanhonor.listen,wisestubb.inoldenglandthegreatestlordsthinkitgreatglorytobeslappedbyaqueen,andmadegarter-knightsof;but,beyourboast,stubb,thatyewerekickedbyoldahab,andmadeawisemanof.rememberwhatisay;bekickedbyhim;accounthiskickshonors;andonnoaccountkickback;foryoucan'thelpyourself,wisestubb.don'tyouseethatpyramid?'withthat,heallofasuddenseemedsomehow,insomequeerfashion,toswimoffintotheair.isnored;rolledover;andthereiwasinmyhammock!now,whatdoyouthinkofthatdream,flask?"

"idon'tknow;itseemsasortoffoolishtome,tho.'""maybe;maybe.butit'smadeawisemanofme,flask.d'yeseeahabstandingthere,sidewayslookingoverthestern?well,thebestthingyoucando,flask,istolettheoldmanalone;neverspeaktohim,whateverhesays.halloa!what'sthatheshouts?hark!"

"mast-head,there!looksharp,allofye!therearewhaleshereabouts!

"ifyeseeawhiteone,splityourlungsforhim!

"whatdoyouthinkofthatnow,flask?ain'tthereasmalldropofsomethingqueeraboutthat,eh?awhitewhale—didyemarkthat,man?lookye—there'ssomethingspecialinthewind.standbyforit,flask.ahabhasthatthat'sbloodyonhismind.but,mum;hecomesthisway."