CHAPTER39FirstNight-Watch

fore-top.

(stubbsolus,andmendingabrace.)

ha!ha!ha!ha!hem!clearmythroat!—i'vebeenthinkingoveriteversince,andthatha,ha'sthefinalconsequence.whyso?becausealaugh'sthewisest,easiestanswertoallthat'squeer;andcomewhatwill,onecomfort'salwaysleft—thatunfailingcomfortis,it'sallpredestinated.iheardnotallhistalkwithstarbuck;buttomypooreyestarbuckthenlookedsomethingasitheothereveningfelt.besuretheoldmogulhasfixedhim,too.iedit,knewit;hadhadthegift,mightreadilyhaveprophesiedit—forwheniclappedmyeyeuponhisskullisawit.well,stubb,wisestubb—that'smytitle—well,stubb,whatofit,stubb?here'sacarcase.iknownotallthatmaybecoming,butbeitwhatitwill,i'llgotoitlaughing.suchaishleeringaslurksinallyourhorribles!ifeelfunny.fa,la!lirra,skirra!what'smyjuicylittlepearathomedoingnow?cryingitseyesout?—givingapartytothelastarrivedharpooneers,idaresay,gayasafrigate'spennant,andsoami—fa,la!lirra,skirra!oh—

we'lldrinkto-nightwithheartsaslight,

tolove,asgayandfleetin

asbubblesthatswim,onthebeaker'sbrim,

andbreakonthelipswhilemeeting.

abravestavethat—whocalls?mr.starbuck?aye,aye,sir—(aside)he'smysuperior,hehashistoo,ifi'mnotmistaken.—aye,aye,sir,justthroughwiththisjob—coming.