Stubb and Flask Kill a Right Whale and Discuss It

It must be borne in mind that all this time we have a Sperm Whale’s prodigious head hanging to the Pequod’s side. But we must let it continue hanging there a while till we can get a chance to attend to it. For the present other matters press, and the best we can do now for the head, is to pray heaven the tackles may hold.

Keep in mind that all this time, a Sperm Whale’s enormous head has been hanging from the Pequod’s side. But we must leave the head hanging there a while, until we have a chance to attend to it. For now, other matters are more pressing. The best we can do for the head is to pray that the rigging holds.

Now, during the past night and forenoon, the Pequod had gradually drifted into a sea, which, by its occasional patches of yellow brit, gave unusual tokens of the vicinity of Right Whales, a species of the Leviathan that but few supposed to be at this particular time lurking anywhere near. And though all hands commonly disdained the capture of those inferior creatures; and though the Pequod was not commissioned to cruise for them at all, and though she had passed numbers of them near the Crozetts without lowering a boat; yet now that a Sperm Whale had been brought alongside and beheaded, to the surprise of all, the announcement was made that a Right Whale should be captured that day, if opportunity offered.

During the previous night and morning, the Pequod had gradually drifted into an area of sea dotted with occasional patches of yellow brit. These patches were unusual signs that Right Whales were nearby. Few people thought this species of Leviathan was lurking anywhere in the area at that time. The crew generally looked down on hunting these inferior creatures. The Pequod had not been sent out to hunt them at all, and she had passed many near the Crozetts without lowering a boat. Yet now that a Sperm Whale had been brought alongside and beheaded, an announcement surprised everyone. A Right Whale would be captured that day, if the opportunity arose.

Nor was this long wanting. Tall spouts were seen to leeward; and two boats, Stubb’s and Flask’s, were detached in pursuit. Pulling further and further away, they at last became almost invisible to the men at the mast-head. But suddenly in the distance, they saw a great heap of tumultuous white water, and soon after news came from aloft that one or both the boats must be fast. An interval passed and the boats were in plain sight, in the act of being dragged right towards the ship by the towing whale. So close did the monster come to the hull, that at first it seemed as if he meant it malice; but suddenly going down in a maelstrom, within three rods of the planks, he wholly disappeared from view, as if diving under the keel. “Cut, cut!” was the cry from the ship to the boats, which, for one instant, seemed on the point of being brought with a deadly dash against the vessel’s side. But having plenty of line yet in the tubs, and the whale not sounding very rapidly, they paid out abundance of rope, and at the same time pulled with all their might so as to get ahead of the ship. For a few minutes the struggle was intensely critical; for while they still slacked out the tightened line in one direction, and still plied their oars in another, the contending strain threatened to take them under. But it was only a few feet advance they sought to gain. And they stuck to it till they did gain it; when instantly, a swift tremor was felt running like lightning along the keel, as the strained line, scraping beneath the ship, suddenly rose to view under her bows, snapping and quivering; and so flinging off its drippings, that the drops fell like bits of broken glass on the water, while the whale beyond also rose to sight, and once more the boats were free to fly. But the fagged whale abated his speed, and blindly altering his course, went round the stern of the ship towing the two boats after him, so that they performed a complete circuit.

They did not have to wait long. Tall spouts appeared downwind, and two boats, Stubb’s and Flask’s, set off in pursuit. They rowed farther and farther away, until the men at the masthead could barely see them. But suddenly, the men saw a great mass of churning white water in the distance. Soon afterward, word came from the masthead that one or both boats must be attached to a whale. After a while, the boats came into clear view. The whale was dragging them straight toward the ship. The monster came so close to the hull that at first it seemed intent on attacking. But suddenly it plunged into a whirlpool less than fifty feet from the ship’s planks. It disappeared completely, as if diving beneath the keel. “Cut, cut!” the men on the ship shouted to the boats. For an instant, the boats seemed about to be smashed against the ship’s side. But they still had plenty of line in their tubs, and the whale was not diving very quickly. So the men paid out plenty of rope and rowed with all their might to get ahead of the ship. For a few minutes, they were in terrible danger. They kept letting out the taut line in one direction while rowing in another. But the opposing forces threatened to pull the boats under. They only needed to gain a few feet, though, and they kept at it until they did. Instantly, a quick tremor ran like lightning along the keel. The taut line scraped beneath the ship, then suddenly rose into view under the bow, snapping and quivering. It flung off water, and the drops fell on the sea like bits of broken glass. The whale also rose into view beyond the ship, and the boats were free to fly again. But the exhausted whale slowed down and blindly changed course. It went around the ship’s stern, towing both boats behind it, so that they made a complete circuit of the ship.

Meantime, they hauled more and more upon their lines, till close flanking him on both sides, Stubb answered Flask with lance for lance; and thus round and round the Pequod the battle went, while the multitudes of sharks that had before swum round the Sperm Whale’s body, rushed to the fresh blood that was spilled, thirstily drinking at every new gash, as the eager Israelites did at the new bursting fountains that poured from the smitten rock.

Meanwhile, they pulled harder and harder on their lines until they were close beside him, one on each side. Stubb matched Flask thrust for thrust with his lance. And so the battle went round and round the Pequod. The multitudes of sharks that had been swimming around the Sperm Whale’s body rushed to the fresh blood. They drank thirstily at every new wound, just as the eager Israelites drank at the new fountains bursting from the struck rock.

At last his spout grew thick, and with a frightful roll and vomit, he turned upon his back a corpse.

At last, his spout grew thick. He rolled and vomited horribly, then turned onto his back, dead.

While the two headsmen were engaged in making fast cords to his flukes, and in other ways getting the mass in readiness for towing, some conversation ensued between them.

The two headsmen tied ropes to his flukes and prepared the mass for towing. As they worked, they talked.

“I wonder what the old man wants with this lump of foul lard,” said Stubb, not without some disgust at the thought of having to do with so ignoble a leviathan.

“I wonder what the old man wants with this lump of foul lard,” said Stubb. He was somewhat disgusted at the thought of dealing with such an unimpressive whale.

“Wants with it?” said Flask, coiling some spare line in the boat’s bow, “did you never hear that the ship which but once has a Sperm Whale’s head hoisted on her starboard side, and at the same time a Right Whale’s on the larboard; did you never hear, Stubb, that that ship can never afterwards capsize?”

“What does it want with it?” said Flask, coiling some spare line in the boat’s bow. “Haven’t you ever heard, Stubb, that a ship can never capsize afterward if it has once hoisted a Sperm Whale’s head on its starboard side and a Right Whale’s head on its port side at the same time?”

“Why not?

“Why not?

“I don’t know, but I heard that gamboge ghost of a Fedallah saying so, and he seems to know all about ships’ charms. But I sometimes think he’ll charm the ship to no good at last. I don’t half like that chap, Stubb. Did you ever notice how that tusk of his is a sort of carved into a snake’s head, Stubb?”

“I don’t know, but I heard that yellow ghost Fedallah say so. He seems to know all about ships’ charms. But I sometimes think his charms will bring the ship to a bad end. I don’t much like that fellow, Stubb. Did you ever notice how his tusk is carved into a sort of snake’s head, Stubb?”

“Sink him! I never look at him at all; but if ever I get a chance of a dark night, and he standing hard by the bulwarks, and no one by; look down there, Flask”—pointing into the sea with a peculiar motion of both hands—“Aye, will I! Flask, I take that Fedallah to be the devil in disguise. Do you believe that cock and bull story about his having been stowed away on board ship? He’s the devil, I say. The reason why you don’t see his tail, is because he tucks it up out of sight; he carries it coiled away in his pocket, I guess. Blast him! now that I think of it, he’s always wanting oakum to stuff into the toes of his boots.”

“Damn him! I never look at him at all. But if I ever get a chance on a dark night, with him standing by the ship’s side and no one else around, look down there, Flask.” He pointed into the sea with a peculiar motion of both hands. “Yes, I will! Flask, I think that Fedallah is the devil in disguise. Do you believe that ridiculous story about him having been hidden on board the ship? He’s the devil, I tell you. You don’t see his tail because he tucks it out of sight. I guess he carries it coiled up in his pocket. Damn him! Now that I think of it, he’s always asking for oakum to stuff into the toes of his boots.”

“He sleeps in his boots, don’t he? He hasn’t got any hammock; but I’ve seen him lay of nights in a coil of rigging.”

“He sleeps in his boots, doesn’t he? He doesn’t have a hammock, but I’ve seen him sleep at night in a coil of rigging.”

“No doubt, and it’s because of his cursed tail; he coils it down, do ye see, in the eye of the rigging.”

“Of course, and it’s because of his cursed tail. You see, he coils it down in the eye of the rigging.”

“What’s the old man have so much to do with him for?”

“Why does the old man have so much to do with him?”

“Striking up a swap or a bargain, I suppose.”

“Making a trade or a deal, I suppose.”

“Bargain?—about what?”

“A bargain? About what?”

“Why, do ye see, the old man is hard bent after that White Whale, and the devil there is trying to come round him, and get him to swap away his silver watch, or his soul, or something of that sort, and then he’ll surrender Moby Dick.”

“You see, the old man is determined to get that White Whale. The devil there is trying to get him to trade away his silver watch, or his soul, or something like that. Then the devil will surrender Moby Dick.”

“Pooh! Stubb, you are skylarking; how can Fedallah do that?”

“Oh, Stubb, you’re joking. How can Fedallah do that?”

“I don’t know, Flask, but the devil is a curious chap, and a wicked one, I tell ye. Why, they say as how he went a sauntering into the old flag-ship once, switching his tail about devilish easy and gentlemanlike, and inquiring if the old governor was at home. Well, he was at home, and asked the devil what he wanted. The devil, switching his hoofs, up and says, ‘I want John.’ ‘What for?’ says the old governor. ‘What business is that of yours,’ says the devil, getting mad,—‘I want to use him.’ ‘Take him,’ says the governor—and by the Lord, Flask, if the devil didn’t give John the Asiatic cholera before he got through with him, I’ll eat this whale in one mouthful. But look sharp—ain’t you all ready there? Well, then, pull ahead, and let’s get the whale alongside.”

“I don’t know, Flask, but the devil is a curious fellow, and a wicked one, I tell you. They say he once strolled into the old flagship, swinging his tail around as casually as any gentleman. He asked if the old governor was at home. Well, he was, and he asked the devil what he wanted. The devil shifted his hooves and said, ‘I want John.’ ‘What for?’ said the old governor. ‘What business is that of yours?’ said the devil, getting angry. ‘I want to use him.’ ‘Take him,’ said the governor. And by the Lord, Flask, if the devil didn’t give John Asiatic cholera before he was done with him, I’ll eat this whale in one mouthful. But look sharp. Aren’t you all ready there? Well, then, row ahead, and let’s get the whale alongside.”

“I think I remember some such story as you were telling,” said Flask, when at last the two boats were slowly advancing with their burden towards the ship, “but I can’t remember where.”

“I think I remember a story like the one you were telling,” said Flask. By then, the two boats were slowly carrying their burden toward the ship. “But I can’t remember where.”

“Three Spaniards? Adventures of those three bloody-minded soldadoes? Did ye read it there, Flask? I guess ye did?”

“Three Spaniards? The adventures of those three bloodthirsty soldiers? Did you read about them there, Flask? I guess you did?”

“No: never saw such a book; heard of it, though. But now, tell me, Stubb, do you suppose that that devil you was speaking of just now, was the same you say is now on board the Pequod?”

“No, I’ve never seen a book like that, though I’ve heard of it. But tell me, Stubb, do you think the devil you just mentioned is the same one you say is now aboard the Pequod?”

“Am I the same man that helped kill this whale? Doesn’t the devil live for ever; who ever heard that the devil was dead? Did you ever see any parson a wearing mourning for the devil? And if the devil has a latch-key to get into the admiral’s cabin, don’t you suppose he can crawl into a porthole? Tell me that, Mr. Flask?”

“Am I the same man who helped kill this whale? Doesn’t the devil live forever? Who ever heard that the devil was dead? Have you ever seen a preacher wearing mourning clothes for the devil? And if the devil has a key to the admiral’s cabin, don’t you think he can crawl through a porthole? Tell me that, Mr. Flask?”

“How old do you suppose Fedallah is, Stubb?”

“How old do you think Fedallah is, Stubb?”

“Do you see that mainmast there?” pointing to the ship; “well, that’s the figure one; now take all the hoops in the Pequod’s hold, and string along in a row with that mast, for oughts, do you see; well, that wouldn’t begin to be Fedallah’s age. Nor all the coopers in creation couldn’t show hoops enough to make oughts enough.”

“Do you see that mainmast there?” he said, pointing to the ship. “Well, that’s the number one. Now take all the hoops in the Pequod’s hold and line them up after the mast as zeros, see? Well, that number wouldn’t even come close to Fedallah’s age. And all the barrel makers in creation couldn’t supply enough hoops to make enough zeros.”

“But see here, Stubb, I thought you a little boasted just now, that you meant to give Fedallah a sea-toss, if you got a good chance. Now, if he’s so old as all those hoops of yours come to, and if he is going to live for ever, what good will it do to pitch him overboard—tell me that?

“But look here, Stubb, I thought you were just boasting that you’d toss Fedallah into the sea if you got a good chance. Now, if he’s as old as all those hoops of yours add up to, and if he’s going to live forever, what good would it do to throw him overboard? Tell me that?

“Give him a good ducking, anyhow.”

“At least dunk him good.”

“But he’d crawl back.”

“But he’d crawl back.”

“Duck him again; and keep ducking him.”

“Dunk him again, and keep dunking him.”

“Suppose he should take it into his head to duck you, though—yes, and drown you—what then?”

“What if he decides to dunk you, though? Yes, and drown you. What then?”

“I should like to see him try it; I’d give him such a pair of black eyes that he wouldn’t dare to show his face in the admiral’s cabin again for a long while, let alone down in the orlop there, where he lives, and hereabouts on the upper decks where he sneaks so much. Damn the devil, Flask; so you suppose I’m afraid of the devil? Who’s afraid of him, except the old governor who daresn’t catch him and put him in double-darbies, as he deserves, but lets him go about kidnapping people; aye, and signed a bond with him, that all the people the devil kidnapped, he’d roast for him? There’s a governor!”

“I’d like to see him try it. I’d give him two black eyes, and he wouldn’t dare show his face in the admiral’s cabin for a long time. He certainly wouldn’t show it down in the orlop, where he lives, or up here on the upper decks, where he sneaks around so much. Damn the devil, Flask. Do you think I’m afraid of the devil? Who’s afraid of him, except the old governor? The governor doesn’t dare catch him and put him in double shackles, as he deserves. Instead, he lets the devil go around kidnapping people. Yes, and he signed an agreement with the devil to roast all the people the devil kidnapped for him. Some governor!”

“Do you suppose Fedallah wants to kidnap Captain Ahab?”

“Do you think Fedallah wants to kidnap Captain Ahab?”

“Do I suppose it? You’ll know it before long, Flask. But I am going now to keep a sharp look-out on him; and if I see anything very suspicious going on, I’ll just take him by the nape of his neck, and say—Look here, Beelzebub, you don’t do it; and if he makes any fuss, by the Lord I’ll make a grab into his pocket for his tail, take it to the capstan, and give him such a wrenching and heaving, that his tail will come short off at the stump—do you see; and then, I rather guess when he finds himself docked in that queer fashion, he’ll sneak off without the poor satisfaction of feeling his tail between his legs.”

“Do I think so? You’ll know soon enough, Flask. But I’m going to keep a close eye on him now. If I see anything very suspicious going on, I’ll grab him by the back of his neck. I’ll say, Look here, Beelzebub, you’re not doing it. And if he makes a fuss, by the Lord, I’ll reach into his pocket and grab his tail. I’ll take the tail to the capstan and give it such a wrenching and heaving that it comes clean off at the stump. You see? Then, I rather think, when he finds his tail cut off in that strange way, he’ll sneak off. He won’t even have the poor satisfaction of feeling his tail between his legs.”

“And what will you do with the tail, Stubb?”

“And what will you do with the tail, Stubb?”

“Do with it? Sell it for an ox whip when we get home;—what else?”

“What will I do with it? Sell it for an ox whip when we get home. What else?”

“Now, do you mean what you say, and have been saying all along, Stubb?”

“Now, do you mean what you’re saying and what you’ve been saying all along, Stubb?”

“Mean or not mean, here we are at the ship.”

“Shabby or not, here we are at the ship.”

The boats were here hailed, to tow the whale on the larboard side, where fluke chains and other necessaries were already prepared for securing him.

The boats were called over to tow the whale to the ship's left side. Chains for the whale's tail and other equipment were already there to secure him.

“Didn’t I tell you so?” said Flask; “yes, you’ll soon see this right whale’s head hoisted up opposite that parmacetti’s.”

“Didn’t I tell you?” said Flask. “Yes, you’ll soon see this right whale’s head lifted up opposite that parmacetti’s head.”

In good time, Flask’s saying proved true. As before, the Pequod steeply leaned over towards the sperm whale’s head, now, by the counterpoise of both heads, she regained her even keel; though sorely strained, you may well believe. So, when on one side you hoist in Locke’s head, you go over that way; but now, on the other side, hoist in Kant’s and you come back again; but in very poor plight. Thus, some minds for ever keep trimming boat. Oh, ye foolish! throw all these thunder-heads overboard, and then you will float light and right.

In time, Flask’s prediction came true. The Pequod had leaned sharply toward the sperm whale’s head. Now, with the two heads balancing each other, the ship was level again, though badly strained, as you can imagine. In the same way, hoist Locke’s head onto one side of your boat, and you lean that way. But hoist Kant’s head onto the other side, and you level out again, though in very poor shape. Some minds keep balancing their boat like this forever. Oh, you fools! Throw all these thunder-heads overboard, and you will float light and level.

In disposing of the body of a right whale, when brought alongside the ship, the same preliminary proceedings commonly take place as in the case of a sperm whale; only, in the latter instance, the head is cut off whole, but in the former the lips and tongue are separately removed and hoisted on deck, with all the well known black bone attached to what is called the crown-piece. But nothing like this, in the present case, had been done. The carcases of both whales had dropped astern; and the head-laden ship not a little resembled a mule carrying a pair of overburdening panniers.

When a right whale is brought alongside a ship, the first steps in processing its body are usually the same as for a sperm whale. But a sperm whale’s head is cut off whole. A right whale’s lips and tongue are removed separately and hoisted onto the deck, along with all the familiar black bone attached to what is called the crown-piece. In this case, however, none of this had been done. The carcasses of both whales had drifted behind the ship. With its load of heads, the ship looked very much like a mule carrying a pair of overfilled panniers.

Meantime, Fedallah was calmly eyeing the right whale’s head, and ever and anon glancing from the deep wrinkles there to the lines in his own hand. And Ahab chanced so to stand, that the Parsee occupied his shadow; while, if the Parsee’s shadow was there at all it seemed only to blend with, and lengthen Ahab’s. As the crew toiled on, Laplandish speculations were bandied among them, concerning all these passing things.

Meanwhile, Fedallah calmly studied the right whale’s head, now and then looking from its deep wrinkles to the lines on his own hand. Ahab happened to be standing so that the Parsee was in his shadow. And if the Parsee’s shadow was there at all, it seemed only to blend with Ahab’s shadow and make it longer. As the crew worked, they exchanged Laplandish speculations about all these happenings.