CHAPTER14Nantucket

nothingmorehappenedonthepassageworthythementioning;so,afterafinerun,wesafelyarrivedinnantucket.

nantucket!takeoutyourmapandlookatit.seewhatarealcorneroftheworlditoccupies;howitstandsthere,awayoffshore,morelonelythantheeddystonelighthouse.lookatit—amerehillock,andelbowofsand;allbeach,withoutabackground.thereismoresandtherethanyouwoulduseintwentyyearsasasubstituteforblottingpaper.somegamesomewightswilltellyouthattheyhavetoplantweedsthere,theydon'tgrownaturally;thattheyimportcanadathistles;thattheyhavetosendbeyondseasforaspiletostopaleakinanoilcask;thatpiecesofwoodinnantucketarecarriedaboutlikebitsofthetruecrossinrome;thatpeoplethereplanttoadstoolsbeforetheirhouses,togetundertheshadeinsummertime;thatonebladeofgrassmakesanoasis,threebladesinaday'swalkaprairie;thattheywearquicksandshoes,somethinglikelaplandersnow-shoes;thattheyaresoshutup,beltedabout,everywayinclosed,surrounded,andmadeanutterislandofbytheocean,thattotheirverychairsandtablessmallclamswillsometimesbefoundadhering,astothebacksofseaturtles.buttheseextravaganzasonlyshowthatnantucketisnoillinois.

looknowatthewondroustraditionalstoryofhowthisislandwassettledbythered-men.thusgoesthelegend.inoldentimesaneagleswoopeddownuponthenewenglandcoast,andcarriedoffaninfantindianinhistalons.withloudlamenttheparentssawtheirchildborneoutofsightoverthewidewaters.theyresolvedtofollowinthesamedirection.settingoutintheircanoes,afteraperilouspassagetheydiscoveredtheisland,andtheretheyfoundanemptyivorycasket,—thepoorlittleindian'sskeleton.

whatwonder,then,thatthesenantucketers,bornonabeach,shouldtaketotheseaforalivelihood!theyfirstcaughtcrabsandquohogsinthesand;grownbolder,theywadedoutwithnetsformackerel;moreexperienced,theypushedoffinboatsandcapturedcod;andatlast,launchinganavyofgreatshipsonthesea,exploredthiswateryworld;putanincessantbeltofcircumnavigationsroundit;peepedinatbehring'sstraits;andinallseasonsandalloceansdeclaredeverlastingwarwiththemightiestanimatedmassthathassurvivedtheflood;mostmonstrousandmostmountainous!thathimmalehan,salt-seamastodon,clothedwithsuchportentousnessofunconsciouspower,thathisverypanicsaremoretobedreadedthanhismostfearlessandmaliciousassaults!

andthushavethesenakednantucketers,theseseahermits,issuingfromtheirant-hillinthesea,overrunandconqueredthewateryworldlikesomanyalexanders;parcellingoutamongthemtheatlantic,pacific,andindianoceans,asthethreepiratepowersdidpoland.letamericaaddmexicototexas,andpilecubauponcanada;lettheenglishoverswarmallindia,andhangouttheirblazingbannerfromthesun;twothirdsofthisterraqueousglobearethenantucketer's.fortheseaishis;heownsit,asemperorsownempires;otherseamenhavingbutarightofwaythroughit.merchantshipsarebutextensionbridges;armedonesbutfloatingforts;evenpiratesandprivateers,thoughfollowingtheseaashighwaymentheroad,theybutplunderotherships,otherfragmentsofthelandlikethemselves,withoutseekingtodrawtheirlivingfromthebottomlessdeepitself.thenantucketer,healoneresidesandriotsonthesea;healone,inbiblelanguage,goesdowntoitinships;toandfroploughingitashisownspecialplantation.thereishishome;therelieshisbusiness,whichanoah'sfloodwouldnotinterrupt,thoughitoverwhelmedallthemillionsinchina.helivesonthesea,asprairiecocksintheprairie;hehidesamongthewaves,heclimbsthemaschamoishuntersclimbthealps.foryearsheknowsnottheland;sothatwhenhecomestoitatlast,itsmellslikeanotherworld,morestrangelythanthemoonwouldtoanearthsman.withthelandlessgull,thatatsunsetfoldsherwingsandisrockedtosleepbetweenbillows;soatnightfall,thenantucketer,outofsightofland,furlshissails,andlayshimtohisrest,whileunderhisverypillowrushherdsofwalrusesandwhales.