CHAPTER54TheTown-Ho'sStory

astoldatthegoldeninn.

thecapeofgoodhope,andallthewateryregionroundaboutthere,ismuchlikesomenotedfourcornersofagreathighway,whereyoumeetmoretravellersthaninanyotherpart.

itwasnotverylongafterspeakingthegoneythatanotherhomeward-boundwhaleman,thetown-ho,[1]wasencountered.shewasmannedalmostwhollybypolynesians.intheshortgamthatensuedshegaveusstrongnewsofmobydick.tosomethegeneralinterestinthewhitewhalewasnowwildlyheightenedbyacircumstanceofthetown-ho'sstory,whichseemedobscurelytoinvolvewiththewhaleacertainwondrous,invertedvisitationofoneofthosesocalledjudgmentsofgodwhichattimesaresaidtoovertakesomemen.thislattercircumstance,withitsownparticularaccompaniments,formingwhatmaybecalledthesecretpartofthetragedyabouttobenarrated,neverreachedtheearsofcaptainahaborhismates.forthatsecretpartofthestorywasunknowntothecaptainofthetown-hohimself.itwastheprivatepropertyofthreeconfederatewhiteseamenofthatship,oneofwhom,itseems,communicatedittotashtegowithromishinjunctionsofsecrecy,butthefollowingnighttashtegorambledinhissleep,andrevealedsomuchofitinthatway,thatwhenhewaswakenedhecouldnotwellwithholdtherest.nevertheless,sopotentaninfluencedidthisthinghaveonthoseseameninthepequodwhocametothefullknowledgeofit,andbysuchastrangedelicacy,tocallitso,weretheygovernedinthismatter,thattheykeptthesecretamongthemselvessothatitnevertranspiredabaftthepequod'smain-mast.interweavinginitsproperplacethisdarkerthreadwiththestoryaspubliclynarratedontheship,thewholeofthisstrangeaffairinowproceedtoputonlastingrecord.

formyhumor'ssake,ishallpreservethestyleinwhichioncenarrateditatlima,toaloungingcircleofmyspanishfriends,onesaint'seve,smokinguponthethick-gilttiledpiazzaofthegoldeninn.ofthosefinecavaliers,theyoungdons,pedroandsebastian,wereontheclosertermswithme;andhencetheinterludingquestionstheyoccasionallyput,andwhicharedulyansweredatthetime.

"sometwoyearspriortomyfirstlearningtheeventswhichiamaboutrehearsingtoyou,gentlemen,thetown-ho,spermwhalerofnantucket,wascruisinginyourpacifichere,notverymanydays'saileastwardfromtheeavesofthisgoodgoldeninn.shewassomewheretothenorthwardoftheline.onemorninguponhandlingthepumps,accordingtodailyusage,itwasobservedthatshemademorewaterinherholdthancommon.theysupposedasword-fishhadstabbedher,gentlemen.butthecaptain,havingsomeunusualreasonforbelievingthatraregoodluckawaitedhiminthoselatitudes;andthereforebeingveryaversetoquitthem,andtheleaknotbeingthenconsideredatalldangerous,though,indeed,theycouldnotfinditaftersearchingtheholdaslowdownaswaspossibleinratherheavyweather,theshipstillcontinuedhercruisings,themarinersworkingatthepumpsatwideandeasyintervals;butnogoodluckcame;moredayswentby,andnotonlywastheleakyetundiscovered,butitsensiblyincreased.somuchso,thatnowtakingsomealarm,thecaptain,makingallsail,stoodawayforthenearestharboramongtheislands,theretohavehishullhoveoutandrepaired.

"thoughnosmallpassagewasbeforeher,yet,ifthecommonestchancefavoured,hedidnotatallfearthathisshipwouldfounderbytheway,becausehispumpswereofthebest,andbeingperiodicallyrelievedatthem,thosesix-and-thirtymenofhiscouldeasilykeeptheshipfree;nevermindiftheleakshoulddoubleonher.intruth,wellnighthewholeofthispassagebeingattendedbyveryprosperousbreezes,thetown-hohadallbutcertainlyarrivedinperfectsafetyatherportwithouttheoccurrenceoftheleastfatality,haditnotbeenforthebrutaloverbearingofradney,themate,avineyarder,andthebitterlyprovokedvengeanceofsteelkilt,alakemananddesperadofrombuffalo.

"'lakeman!—buffalo!pray,whatisalakeman,andwhereisbuffalo?'saiddonsebastian,risinginhisswingingmatofgrass.

"ontheeasternshoreofourlakeerie,don;but—icraveyourcourtesy—maybe,youshallsoonhearfurtherofallthat.now,gentlemen,insquare-sailbrigsandthree-mastedships,well-nighaslargeandstoutasanythateversailedoutofyouroldcallaotofarmanilla;thislakeman,intheland-lockedheartofouramerica,hadyetbeennurturedbyallthoseagrarianfreebootingimpressionspopularlyconnectedwiththeopenocean.forintheirinterflowingaggregate,thosegrandfresh-waterseasofours,—erie,andontario,andhuron,andsuperior,andmichigan,—possessanocean-likeexpansiveness,withmanyoftheocean'snoblesttraits;withmanyofitsrimmedvarietiesofracesandofclimes.theycontainroundarchipelagoesofromanticisles,evenasthepolynesianwatersdo;inlargepart,areshoredbytwogreatcontrastingnations,astheatlanticis;theyfurnishlongmaritimeapproachestoournumerousterritorialcoloniesfromtheeast,dottedallroundtheirbanks;hereandtherearefrowneduponbybatteries,andbythegoat-likeygunsofloftymackinaw;theyhaveheardthefleetthunderingsofnavalvictories;atintervals,theyyieldtheirbeachestowildbarbarians,whoseredpaintedfacesflashfromouttheirpeltrywigwams;forleaguesandleaguesareflankedbyancientandunenteredforests,wherethegauntpinesstandlikeserriedlinesofkingsingothicgenealogies;thosesamewoodsharboringwildafricbeastsofprey,andsilkencreatureswhoseexportedfursgiverobestotartaremperors;theymirrorthepavedcapitalsofbuffaloandcleveland,aswellaswinnebagovillages;theyfloatalikethefull-edmerchantship,thearmedcruiserofthestate,thesteamer,andthebeechcanoe;theyaresweptbyboreananddismastingblastsasdirefulasanythatlashthesaltedwave;theyknowwhatshipwrecksare,foroutofsightofland,howeverinland,theyhavedrownedfullmanyamidnightshipwithallitsshriekingcrew.thus,gentlemen,thoughaninlander,steelkiltwaswild-oceanborn,andwildoceannurtured;asmuchofanaudaciousmarinerasany.andforradney,thoughinhisinfancyhemayhavelaidhimdownonthelonenantucketbeach,tonurseathismaternalsea;thoughinafterlifehehadlongfollowedouraustereatlanticandyourcontemplativepacific;yetwashequiteasvengefulandfullofsocialquarrelasthebackwoodsseaman,freshfromthelatitudesofbuck-hornhandledbowieknives.yetwasthisnantucketeramanwithsomegood-heartedtraits;andthislakeman,amariner,whothoughasortofdevilindeed,mightyetbyinflexiblefirmness,onlytemperedbythatcommondecencyofhumanrecognitionwhichisthemeanestslave'sright;thustreated,thissteelkilthadlongbeenretainedharmlessanddocile.atallevents,hehadprovedsothusfar;butradneywasdoomedandmademad,andsteelkilt—but,gentlemen,youshallhear.

"itwasnotmorethanadayortwoatthefurthestafterpointingherprowforherislandhaven,thatthetown-ho'sleakseemedagainincreasing,butonlysoastorequireanhourormoreatthepumpseveryday.youmustknowthatinasettledandcivilizedoceanlikeouratlantic,forexample,someskippersthinklittleofpumpingtheirwholewayacrossit;thoughofastill,sleepynight,shouldtheofficerofthedeckhappentoforgethisdutyinthatrespect,theprobabilitywouldbethatheandhisshipmateswouldneveragainrememberit,onaccountofallhandsgentlysubsidingtothebottom.norinthesolitaryandsavageseasfarfromyoutothewestward,gentlemen,isitaltogetherunusualforshipstokeepclangingattheirpump-handlesinfullchorusevenforavoyageofconsiderablelength;thatis,ifitliealongatolerablyaccessiblecoast,orifanyotherreasonableretreatisaffordedthem.itisonlywhenaleakyvesselisinsomeveryoutofthewaypartofthosewaters,somereallylandlesslatitude,thathercaptainbeginstofeelalittleanxious.

"muchthiswayhaditbeenwiththetown-ho;sowhenherleakwasfoundgainingoncemore,therewasintruthsomesmallconcernmanifestedbyseveralofhercompany;especiallybyradneythemate.hecommandedtheuppersailstobewellhoisted,sheetedhomeanew,andeverywayexpandedtothebreeze.nowthisradney,isuppose,wasaslittleofacoward,andaslittleinclinedtoanysortofnervousapprehensivenesstouchinghisownpersonasanyfearless,unthinkingcreatureonlandoronseathatyoucanconvenientlyimagine,gentlemen.thereforewhenhebetrayedthissolicitudeaboutthesafetyoftheship,someoftheseamendeclaredthatitwasonlyonaccountofhisbeingapartownerinher.sowhentheywereworkingthateveningatthepumps,therewasonthisheadnosmallgamesomenessslilygoingonamongthem,astheystoodwiththeirfeetcontinuallyoverflowedbytheripplingclearwater;clearasanymountainspring,gentlemen—thatbubblingfromthepumpsranacrossthedeck,andpoureditselfoutinsteadyspoutsattheleescupper-holes.

"now,asyouwellknow,itisnotseldomthecaseinthisconventionalworldofours—wateryorotherwise;thatwhenapersonplacedincommandoverhisfellow-menfindsoneofthemtobeverysignificantlhissuperioringeneralprideofmanhood,straightwayagainstthatmanheconceivesanunconquerabledislikeandbitterness;andifhehaveachancehewillpulldownandpulverizethatsubaltern'stower,andmakealittleheapofdustofit.bethisconceitofmineasitmay,gentlemen,atalleventssteelkiltwasatallandnobleanimalwithaheadlikearoman,andaflowinggoldenbeardlikethetasseledhousingsofyourlastviceroy'ssnortingcharger;andabrain,andaheart,andasoulinhim,gentlemen,whichhadmadesteelkiltcharlemagne,hadhebeenbornsontocharlemagne'sfather.butradney,themate,wasuglyasamule;yetashardy,asstubborn,asmalicious.hedidnotlovesteelkilt,andsteelkiltknewit.

"espyingthematedrawingnearashewastoilingatthepumpwiththerest,thelakemanaffectednottonoticehim,butunawed,wentonwithhisgaybanterings.

"'aye,aye,mymerrylads,it'salivelyleakthis;holdacannikin,oneofye,andlet'shaveataste.bythelord,it'sworthbottling!itellyewhat,men,oldrad'sinvestmentmustgoforit!hehadbestcutawayhispartofthehullandtowithome.thefactis,boys,thatsword-fishonlybeganthejob;he'scomebackagainwithagangofship-carpenters,saw-fish,andfile-fisandwhatnot;andthewholeposseof'emarenowhardatworkcuttingandslashingatthebottom;makingimprovements,isuppose.ifoldradwereherenow,i'dtellhimtojumpoverboardandscatter'em.they'replayingthedevilwithhisestate,icantellhim.buthe'sasimpleoldsoul,—rad,andabeautytoo.boys,theysaytherestofhispropertyisinvestedinlasses.iwonderifhe'dgiveapoordevillikemethemodelofhisnose.'

"'damnyoureyes!what'sthatpumpstoppingfor?'roaredradney,pretendingnottohaveheardthesailors'talk.'thunderawayatit!'

"'aye,aye,sir,'saidsteelkilt,merryasacricket.'lively,boys,lively,now!'andwiththatthepumpclangedlikefiftyfire-engines;thementossedtheirhatsofftoit,anderelongthatpeculiargaspingofthelungswasheardwhichdenotesthefullesttensionoflife'sutmostenergies.

"quittingthepumpatlast,withtherestofhisband,thelakemanwentforwardallpanting,andsathimselfdownonthewindlass;hisfacefieryred,hiseyesbloodshot,andwipingtheprofusesweatfromhisbrow.nowwhatcozeningfienditwas,gentlemen,thatpossessedradneytomeddlewithsuchamaninthatcorporeallyexasperatedstate,iknownot;butsoithappened.intolerablystridingalongthedeck,thematecommandedhimtogetabroomandsweepdowntheplanks,andalsoashovel,andremovesomeoffensivemattersconsequentuponallowingapigtorunatlarge.

"now,gentlemen,sweepingaship'sdeckatseaisapieceofhouseholdworkwhichinalltimesbutraginggalesisregularlyattendedtoeveryevening;ithasbeenknowntobedoneinthecaseofshipsactuallyfounderingatthetime.such,gentlemen,istheinflexibilityofsea-usagesandtheinstinctiveloveofneatnessinseamen;someofwhomwouldnotwillinglydrownwithoutfirstwashingtheirfaces.butinallvesselsthisbroombusinessistheprescriptiveprovinceoftheboys,ifboystherebeaboard.besides,itwasthestrongermeninthetownhothathadbeendividedintogangs,takingturnsatthepumps;andbeingthemostathleticseamanofthemall,steelkilthadbeenregularlyassignedcaptainofoneofthegangs;consequentlyheshouldhavebeenfreedfromanytrivialbusinessnotconnectedwithtrulynauticalduties,suchbeingthecasewithhiscomrades.imentionalltheseparticularssothatyoumayunderstandexactlyhowthisaffairstoodbetweenthetwomen.

"buttherewasmorethanthis:theorderabouttheshovelwasalmostasplainlymeanttostingandinsultsteelkilt,asthoughradneyhadspatinhisface.anymanwhohasgonesailorinawhale-shipwillunderstandthis;andallthisanddoubtlessmuchmore,thelakemanfullycomprehendedwhenthemateutteredhiscommand.butashesatstillforamoment,andashesteadfastlylookedintothemate'smalignanteyeandperceivedthestacksofpowder-casksheapedupinhimandtheslow-matchsilentlyburningalongtowardsthem;asheinstinctivelysawallthis,thatstrangeforbearanceandunwillingnesstostirupthedeeperpassionatenessinanyalreadyirefulbeing—arepugnancemostfelt,whenfeltatall,byreallyvaliantmenevenwhenaggrieved—thisnamelessphantomfeeling,gentlemen,stoleoversteelkilt.

"therefore,inhisordinarytone,onlyalittlebrokenbythebodilyexhaustionhewastemporarilyin,heansweredhimsayingthatsweepingthedeckwasnothisbusiness,andhewouldnotdoit.andthen,withoutatallalludingtotheshovel,hepointedtothreeladsasthecustomarysweepers;who,notbeingbilletedatthepumps,haddonelittleornothingallday.tothis,radneyrepliedwithanoath,inamostdomineeringandoutrageousmannerunconditionallyreiteratinghiscommand;meanwhileadvancinguponthestillseatedlakeman,withanupliftedcooper'sclubhammerwhichhehadsnatchedfromacasknearby.

"heatedandirritatedashewasbyhisspasmodictoilatthepumps,forallhisfirstnamelessfeelingofforbearancethesweatingsteelkiltcouldbutillbrookthisbearinginthemate;butsomehowstillsmotheringtheconflagrationwithinhim,withoutspeakingheremainededlyrootedtohisseat,tillatlasttheincensedradneyshookthehammerwithinafewinchesofhisface,furiouslycommandinghimtodohisbidding.

"steelkiltrose,andslowlyretreatingroundthewindlass,steadilyfollowedbythematewithhismenacinghammer,deliberatelyrepeatedhisintentionnottoobey.seeing,however,thathisforbearancehadnottheslightesteffect,byanawfulandunspeakableintimationwithhistwistedhandhewarnedoffthefoolishandinfatuatedman;butitwastonopurpose.andinthiswaythetwowentonceslowlyroundthewindlass;when,resolvedatlastnolongertoretreat,bethinkinghimthathehadnowforborneasmuchascomportedwithhishumor,thelakemanpausedonthehatchesandthusspoketotheofficer:

"'mr.radney,iwillnotobeyyou.takethathammeraway,orlooktoyourself.'butthepredestinatedmatecomingstillclosertohim,wherethelakemanstoodfixed,nowshooktheheavyhammerwithinaninchofhisteeth;meanwhilerepeatingastringofinsufferablemaledictions.retreatingnotthethousandthpartofaninch;stabbinghimintheeyewiththeunflinchingponiardofhisglance,steelkilt,clenchinghisrighthandbehindhimandcreepinglydrawingitback,toldhispersecutorthatifthehammerbutgrazedhischeekhe(steelkilt)wouldmurderhim.but,gentlemen,thefoolhadbeenbrandedfortheslaughterbythegods.immediatelythehammertouchedthecheek;thenextinstantthelowerjawofthematewasstoveinhishead;hefellonthehatchspoutingbloodlikeawhale.

"erethecrycouldgoaftsteelkiltwasshakingoneofthebackstaysleadingfaralofttowheretwoofhiscomradeswerestandingtheirmastheads.theywerebothcanallers.

"'canallers!'crieddonpedro.'wehaveseenmanywhale-shipsinourharbours,butneverheardofyourcanallers.pardon:whoandwhatarethey?'

"'canallers,don,aretheboatmenbelongingtoourgranderiecanal.youmusthaveheardofit.'

"'nay,senor;hereaboutsinthisdull,warm,mostlazy,andhereditaryland,weknowbutlittleofyourvigorousnorth.'

"'aye?wellthen,don,refillmycup.yourchicha'sveryfine;andereproceedingfurtheriwilltellyewhatourcanallersare;forsuchinformationmaythrowside-lightuponmystory.'

"forthreehundredandsixtymiles,gentlemen,throughtheentirebreadthofthestateofnewyork;throughnumerouspopulouscitiesandmostthrivingvillages;throughlong,dismal,uninhabitedswamps,andaffluent,cultivatedfields,unrivalledforfertilitybybilliard-roomandbar-room;throughtheholy-ofholiesofgreatforests;onromanarchesoverindianrivers;throughsunandshade;byhappyheartsorbroken;throughallthewidecontrastingsceneryofthosenoblemohawkcounties;andespecially,byrowsofsnow-whitechapels,whosespiresstandalmostlikemilestones,flowsonecontinualstreamofvenetianlycorruptandoftenlawlesslife.there'syourtrueashantee,gentlemen;therehowlyourpagans;whereyoueverfindthem,nextdoortoyou;underthelong-flungshadow,andthesnugpatronisingleeofchurches.forbysomecuriousfatality,asitisoftennotedofyourmetropolitanfreebootersthattheyeverencamparoundthehallsofjustice,sosinners,gentlemen,mostaboundinholiestvicinities.

"'isthatafriarpassing?'saiddonpedro,lookingdownwardsintothecrowdedplazza,withhumorousconcern.

"'wellforournorthernfriend,dameisabella'sinquisitionwanesinlima,'laugheddonsebastian.'proceed,senor.'

"'amoment!pardon!'criedanotherofthecompany.'inthenameofalluslimeese,ibutdesiretoexpresstoyou,sirsailor,thatwehavebynomeansoverlookedyourdelicacyinnotsubstitutingpresentlimafordistantveniceinyourcorruptcomparison.oh!donotbowandlooksurprised;youknowtheproverballalongthiscoast—"corruptaslima."itbutbearsoutyoursaying,too;churchesmoreplentifulthanbilliardtables,andforeveropen—and"corruptaslima."so,too,venice;ihavebeenthere;theholycityoftheblessedevangelist,st.mark!—st.dominic,purgeit!yourcup!thanks:hereirefill;now,youpouroutagain.'

"freelydepictedinhisownvocation,gentlemen,thecanallerwouldmakeafinedramatichero,soabundantlyandpicturesquelywickedishe.likemarkantony,fordaysanddaysalonghisgreen-turfed,flowerynile,heindolentlyfloats,openlytoyingwithisred-cheekedcleopatra,ripeninghisapricotthighuponthesunnydeck.butashore,allthiseffeminacyisdashed.thebrigandishguisewhichthecanallersoproudlysports;hisslouchedandgaily-ribbonedhatbetokenhisgrandfeatures.aterrortothesmilinginnocenceofthevillagesthroughwhichhefloats;hisswartvisageandbolderarenotunshunnedincities.onceavagabondonhisowncanal,ihavereceivedgoodturnsfromoneofthesecanallers;ithankhimheartily;wouldfainbenotungrateful;butitisoftenoneoftheprimeredeemingqualitiesofyourmanofviolence,thatattimeshehasasstiffanarmtobackapoorstrangerinastrait,astoplunderawealthyone.insum,gentlemen,whatthewildnessofthiscanallifeis,isemphaticallyevincedbythis;thatourwildwhale-fisherycontainssomanyofitsmostfinishedgraduates,andthatscarceanyraceofmankind,exceptsydneymen,aresomuchdistrustedbyourwhalingcaptains.nordoesitatalldiminishthecuriousnessofthismatter,thattomanythousandsofourruralboysandyoungmenbornalongitsline,theprobationarylifeofthegrandcanalfurnishesthesoletransitionbetweenquietlyreapinginachristiancornfield,andrecklesslyploughingthewatersofthemostbarbaricseas.

"'isee!isee!'impetuouslyexclaimeddonpedro,spillinghischichauponhissilveryruffles.'noneedtotravel!theworld'sonelima.ihadthought,now,thatatyourtemperatenorththegenerationswerecoldandholyasthehills.—butthestory.'

"ileftoff,gentlemen,wherethelakemanshookthebackstay.hardlyhadhedoneso,whenhewassurroundedbythethreejuniormatesandthefourharpooneers,whoallcrowdedhimtothedeck.butslidingdowntheropeslikebalefulcomets,thetwocanallersrushedintotheuproar,andsoughttodragtheirmanoutofittowardstheforecastle.othersofthesailorsjoinedwiththeminthisattempt,andatwistedturmoilensued;whilestandingoutofharm'sway,thevaliantcaptaindancedupanddownwithawhale-pike,callinguponhisofficerstomanhandlethatatrociousscoundrel,andsmokehimalongtothequarter-deck.atintervals,herancloseuptotherevolvingborderoftheconfusion,andpryingintotheheartofitwithhispike,soughttoprickouttheobjectofhisresentment.butsteelkiltandhisdesperadoesweretoomuchforthemall;theyeededingainingtheforecastledeck,where,hastilyslewingaboutthreeorfourlargecasksinalinewiththewindlass,thesesea-parisiansentrenchedthemselvesbehindthebarricade.

"'comeoutofthat,yepirates!'roaredthecaptain,nowmenacingthemwithapistolineachhand,justbroughttohimbythesteward.'comeoutofthat,yecut-throats!'

"steelkiltleapedonthebarricade,andstridingupanddownthere,defiedtheworstthepistolscoulddo;butgavethecaptaintounderstanddistinctly,thathis(steelkilt's)deathwouldbethesignalforamurderousmutinyonthepartofallhands.fearinginhisheartlestthismightprovebuttootrue,thecaptainalittledesisted,butstillcommandedtheinsurgentsinstantlytoreturntotheirduty.

"'willyoupromisenottotouchus,ifwedo?'demandedtheirringleader.

"'turnto!turnto!—imakenopromise;—toyourduty!doyouwanttosinktheship,byknockingoffatatimelikethis?turnto!'andheoncemoreraisedapistol.

"'sinktheship?'criedsteelkilt.'aye,lethersink.notamanofusturnsto,unlessyouswearnottoraisearope-yarnagainstus.whatsayye,men?'turningtohiscomrades.afiercecheerwastheirresponse.

"thelakemannowpatrolledthebarricade,allthewhilekeepinghiseyeonthecaptain,andjerkingoutsuchsentencesasthese:—'it'snotourfault;wedidn'twantit;itoldhimtotakehishammeraway;itwasboy'sbusiness;hemighthaveknownmebeforethis;itoldhimnottoprickthebuffalo;ibelieveihavebrokenafingerhereagainsthiscursedjaw;ain'tthosemincingknivesdownintheforecastlethere,men?looktothosehandspikes,myhearties.captain,bygod,looktoyourself;saytheword;don'tbeafool;forgetitall;wearereadytoturnto;treatusdecently,andwe'reyourmen;butwewon'tbeed.

"'turnto!imakenopromises,turnto,isay!'

"'lookye,now,'criedthelakeman,flingingouthisarmtowardshim,'thereareafewofushere(andiamoneofthem)whohaveshippedforthecruise,d'yesee;nowasyouwellknow,sir,wecanclaimourdischargeassoonastheanchorisdown;sowedon'twantarow;it'snotourinterest;wewanttobepeaceable;wearereadytowork,butwewon'tbeed.

"'turnto!'roaredthecaptain.

"steelkiltglancedroundhimamoment,andthensaid:—'itellyouwhatitisnow,captain,ratherthankillye,andbehungforsuchashabbyrascal,wewon'tliftahandagainstyeunlessyeattackus;buttillyousaythewordaboutnotingus,wedon'tdoahand'sturn.'

"'downintotheforecastlethen,downwithye,i'llkeepyetheretillye'resickofit.downyego.'

"'shallwe?'criedtheringleadertohismen.mostofthemwereagainstit;butatlength,inobediencetosteelkilt,theyprecededhimdownintotheirdarkden,growlinglydisappearing,likebearsintoacave.

"asthelakeman'sbareheadwasjustlevelwiththeplanks,thecaptainandhisposseleapedthebarricade,andrapidlydrawingovertheslideofthescuttle,plantedtheirgroupofhandsuponit,andloudlycalledforthestewardtobringtheheavybrasspadlockbelongingtothecompanionway.thenopeningtheslidealittle,thecaptainwhisperedsomethingdownthecrack,closedit,andturnedthekeyuponthem—teninnumber—leavingondecksometwentyormore,whothusfarhadremainedneutral.

"allnightawide-awakewatchwaskeptbyalltheofficers,forwardandaft,especiallyabouttheforecastlescuttleandforehatchway;atwhichlastplaceitwasfearedtheinsurgentsmightemerge,afterbreakingthroughthebulkheadbelow.butthehoursofdarknesspassedinpeace;themenwhostillremainedattheirdutytoilinghardatthepumps,whoseclinkingandclankingatintervalsthroughthedrearynightdismallyresoundedthroughtheship.

"atsunrisethecaptainwentforward,andknockingonthedeck,summonedtheprisonerstowork;butwithayelltheyrefused.waterwasthenlowereddowntothem,andacoupleofhandfulsofbiscuitweretossedafterit;whenagainturningthekeyuponthemandpocketingit,thecaptainreturnedtothequarter-deck.twiceeverydayforthreedaysthiswasrepeated;butonthefourthmorningaconfusedwrangling,andthenascufflingwasheard,asthecustomarysummonswasdelivered;andsuddenlyfourmenburstupfromtheforecastle,sayingtheywerereadytoturnto.thefetidclosenessoftheair,andafamishingdiet,unitedperhapstosomefearsofultimateretribution,hadconstrainedthemtosurrenderatdiscretion.emboldenedbythis,thecaptainreiteratedhisdemandtotherest,butsteelkiltshouteduptohimaterrifichinttostophisbabblingandbetakehimselfwherehebelonged.onthefifthmorningthreeothersofthemutineersboltedupintotheairfromthedesperatearmsbelowthatsoughttorestrainthem.onlythreewereleft.

"'betterturnto,now?'saidthecaptainwithaheartlessjeer.