The Pequod Meets the Rose-Bud

“In vain it was to rake for Ambergriese in the paunch of this Leviathan, insufferable fetor denying not inquiry.” Sir T. Browne, V.E.

“Searching the belly of this Leviathan for ambergris was in vain, though the unbearable stench did not prevent the search.” Sir T. Browne, V.E.

It was a week or two after the last whaling scene recounted, and when we were slowly sailing over a sleepy, vapory, mid-day sea, that the many noses on the Pequod’s deck proved more vigilant discoverers than the three pairs of eyes aloft. A peculiar and not very pleasant smell was smelt in the sea.

A week or two had passed since the last whaling scene described. We were sailing slowly over a sleepy, misty sea at midday. The many noses on the Pequod’s deck proved more alert than the three pairs of eyes high above. A strange and rather unpleasant smell came from the sea.

“I will bet something now,” said Stubb, “that somewhere hereabouts are some of those drugged whales we tickled the other day. I thought they would keel up before long.”

“I’d bet that some of those drugged whales we tickled the other day are somewhere around here,” said Stubb. “I thought they’d turn belly up before long.”

Presently, the vapors in advance slid aside; and there in the distance lay a ship, whose furled sails betokened that some sort of whale must be alongside. As we glided nearer, the stranger showed French colours from his peak; and by the eddying cloud of vulture sea-fowl that circled, and hovered, and swooped around him, it was plain that the whale alongside must be what the fishermen call a blasted whale, that is, a whale that has died unmolested on the sea, and so floated an unappropriated corpse. It may well be conceived, what an unsavory odor such a mass must exhale; worse than an Assyrian city in the plague, when the living are incompetent to bury the departed. So intolerable indeed is it regarded by some, that no cupidity could persuade them to moor alongside of it. Yet are there those who will still do it; notwithstanding the fact that the oil obtained from such subjects is of a very inferior quality, and by no means of the nature of attar-of-rose.

Soon, the mist ahead parted, revealing a ship in the distance. Its furled sails suggested that a whale of some kind lay alongside. As we glided closer, the stranger flew a French flag from its mast. A swirling cloud of vulture-like seabirds circled, hovered, and swooped around the ship. From this, it was clear that the whale alongside must be what whalers call a blasted whale. That is a whale that died undisturbed at sea and floated there, an unclaimed corpse. One can well imagine the foul smell such a mass must give off. It is worse than an Assyrian city struck by plague, where the living cannot bury the dead. Some find the stench so unbearable that no amount of greed could persuade them to moor alongside such a whale. Yet others still do it, although the oil from such whales is far inferior and smells nothing like rose perfume.

Coming still nearer with the expiring breeze, we saw that the Frenchman had a second whale alongside; and this second whale seemed even more of a nosegay than the first. In truth, it turned out to be one of those problematical whales that seem to dry up and die with a sort of prodigious dyspepsia, or indigestion; leaving their defunct bodies almost entirely bankrupt of anything like oil. Nevertheless, in the proper place we shall see that no knowing fisherman will ever turn up his nose at such a whale as this, however much he may shun blasted whales in general.

As the breeze died, we drew closer and saw that the Frenchman had a second whale alongside. This whale seemed even more fragrant than the first. In fact, it turned out to be one of those puzzling whales that seem to dry up and die from a kind of enormous indigestion. Their dead bodies are left with almost no oil at all. Nevertheless, we shall see in due course that no experienced whaler would ever turn up his nose at such a whale, however much he may avoid blasted whales in general.

The Pequod had now swept so nigh to the stranger, that Stubb vowed he recognised his cutting spade-pole entangled in the lines that were knotted round the tail of one of these whales.

The Pequod had drawn so close to the other ship that Stubb swore he recognized his cutting spade-pole. It was tangled in the lines knotted around the tail of one of the whales.

“There’s a pretty fellow, now,” he banteringly laughed, standing in the ship’s bows, “there’s a jackal for ye! I well know that these Crappoes of Frenchmen are but poor devils in the fishery; sometimes lowering their boats for breakers, mistaking them for Sperm Whale spouts; yes, and sometimes sailing from their port with their hold full of boxes of tallow candles, and cases of snuffers, foreseeing that all the oil they will get won’t be enough to dip the Captain’s wick into; aye, we all know these things; but look ye, here’s a Crappo that is content with our leavings, the drugged whale there, I mean; aye, and is content too with scraping the dry bones of that other precious fish he has there. Poor devil! I say, pass round a hat, some one, and let’s make him a present of a little oil for dear charity’s sake. For what oil he’ll get from that drugged whale there, wouldn’t be fit to burn in a jail; no, not in a condemned cell. And as for the other whale, why, I’ll agree to get more oil by chopping up and trying out these three masts of ours, than he’ll get from that bundle of bones; though, now that I think of it, it may contain something worth a good deal more than oil; yes, ambergris. I wonder now if our old man has thought of that. It’s worth trying. Yes, I’m for it;” and so saying he started for the quarter-deck.

“There’s a fine fellow,” he laughed mockingly, standing in the ship’s bow. “There’s a jackal for you! I know well that these Crappoes of Frenchmen are poor devils at whaling. Sometimes they lower their boats for breaking waves, mistaking them for sperm whale spouts. And sometimes they leave port with their hold full of boxes of tallow candles and cases of candle snuffers. They know that all the oil they get won’t be enough to dip the Captain’s wick in. Yes, we all know these things. But look here, this Crappo is content with our leftovers. I mean that drugged whale over there. And he’s content to scrape the dry bones of that other precious fish he has. Poor devil! Someone pass a hat around. Let’s give him a little oil out of charity. The oil he gets from that drugged whale won’t be fit to burn in a jail. Not even in a condemned prisoner’s cell. And as for the other whale, I’d wager I could get more oil by chopping up and boiling down our three masts than he’ll get from that bundle of bones. Though, now that I think of it, the whale may contain something worth much more than oil. Yes, ambergris. I wonder if our old man has thought of that. It’s worth trying. Yes, I’m for it.” And with that, he started for the quarterdeck.

By this time the faint air had become a complete calm; so that whether or no, the Pequod was now fairly entrapped in the smell, with no hope of escaping except by its breezing up again. Issuing from the cabin, Stubb now called his boat’s crew, and pulled off for the stranger. Drawing across her bow, he perceived that in accordance with the fanciful French taste, the upper part of her stem-piece was carved in the likeness of a huge drooping stalk, was painted green, and for thorns had copper spikes projecting from it here and there; the whole terminating in a symmetrical folded bulb of a bright red colour. Upon her head boards, in large gilt letters, he read “Bouton de Rose,”—Rose-button, or Rose-bud; and this was the romantic name of this aromatic ship.

By now, the faint breeze had died away completely. So, whether she wanted to or not, the Pequod was trapped in the smell. Her only hope of escape was for the wind to rise again. Stubb came out of the cabin, called his boat’s crew, and rowed off toward the stranger. As he crossed her bow, he noticed a carving on the upper part of her stem. In the fanciful French style, it resembled a huge drooping stalk. It was painted green, with copper spikes here and there for thorns. At the end was a symmetrical, folded bulb of bright red. On her headboards, Stubb read “Bouton de Rose” in large gold letters. It meant Rose-button, or Rose-bud. Such was the romantic name of this aromatic ship.

Though Stubb did not understand the Bouton part of the inscription, yet the word rose, and the bulbous figure-head put together, sufficiently explained the whole to him.

Stubb did not understand the Bouton part of the inscription. But the word rose and the bulbous figurehead together explained the whole inscription to him.

“A wooden rose-bud, eh?” he cried with his hand to his nose, “that will do very well; but how like all creation it smells!”

“A wooden rosebud, huh?” he cried, holding his hand to his nose. “That will do very well, but how terribly it smells!”

Now in order to hold direct communication with the people on deck, he had to pull round the bows to the starboard side, and thus come close to the blasted whale; and so talk over it.

To speak directly with the people on deck, he had to row around the bow to the starboard side. This brought him close to the blasted whale, so he could talk over it.

Arrived then at this spot, with one hand still to his nose, he bawled—“Bouton-de-Rose, ahoy! are there any of you Bouton-de-Roses that speak English?”

When he reached the spot, he still had one hand over his nose. He shouted, “Bouton-de-Rose, ahoy! Do any of you Bouton-de-Roses speak English?”

“Yes,” rejoined a Guernsey-man from the bulwarks, who turned out to be the chief-mate.

“Yes,” answered a man from Guernsey at the ship’s rail. He turned out to be the chief mate.

“Well, then, my Bouton-de-Rose-bud, have you seen the White Whale?”

“Well, my Bouton-de-Rose-bud, have you seen the White Whale?”

“What whale?”

“What whale?”

“The White Whale—a Sperm Whale—Moby Dick, have ye seen him?

“The White Whale, a Sperm Whale, Moby Dick, have you seen him?

“Never heard of such a whale. Cachalot Blanche! White Whale—no.”

“I’ve never heard of such a whale. Cachalot Blanche! A white whale? No.”

“Very good, then; good bye now, and I’ll call again in a minute.”

“All right, then. Goodbye for now. I’ll come back in a minute.”

Then rapidly pulling back towards the Pequod, and seeing Ahab leaning over the quarter-deck rail awaiting his report, he moulded his two hands into a trumpet and shouted—“No, Sir! No!” Upon which Ahab retired, and Stubb returned to the Frenchman.

Stubb then rowed quickly back toward the Pequod. He saw Ahab leaning over the quarterdeck rail, waiting for his report. Stubb cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “No, Sir! No!” Ahab then went back inside, and Stubb returned to the Frenchman.

He now perceived that the Guernsey-man, who had just got into the chains, and was using a cutting-spade, had slung his nose in a sort of bag.

He now noticed that the Guernsey-man had his nose in a sort of bag. The man had just climbed into the chains and was using a cutting-spade.

“What’s the matter with your nose, there?” said Stubb. “Broke it?”

“What’s wrong with your nose?” said Stubb. “Did you break it?”

“I wish it was broken, or that I didn’t have any nose at all!” answered the Guernsey-man, who did not seem to relish the job he was at very much. “But what are you holding yours for?”

“I wish it was broken, or that I didn’t have a nose at all!” answered the Guernsey-man. He didn’t seem to enjoy the job he was doing. “But what are you holding yours for?”

“Oh, nothing! It’s a wax nose; I have to hold it on. Fine day, ain’t it? Air rather gardenny, I should say; throw us a bunch of posies, will ye, Bouton-de-Rose?”

“Oh, nothing! It’s a wax nose. I have to hold it on. Nice day, isn’t it? The air smells rather like a garden, I’d say. Throw us a bunch of flowers, will you, Bouton-de-Rose?”

“What in the devil’s name do you want here?” roared the Guernseyman, flying into a sudden passion.

“What the devil do you want here?” the Guernseyman roared, suddenly furious.

“Oh! keep cool—cool? yes, that’s the word! why don’t you pack those whales in ice while you’re working at ’em? But joking aside, though; do you know, Rose-bud, that it’s all nonsense trying to get any oil out of such whales? As for that dried up one, there, he hasn’t a gill in his whole carcase.”

“Oh! Keep cool. Cool? Yes, that’s the word! Why don’t you pack those whales in ice while you’re working on them? But joking aside, Rose-bud, do you know it’s all nonsense to try to get oil from whales like these? As for that dried-up one over there, he doesn’t have a gill of oil in his whole carcass.”

“I know that well enough; but, d’ye see, the Captain here won’t believe it; this is his first voyage; he was a Cologne manufacturer before. But come aboard, and mayhap he’ll believe you, if he won’t me; and so I’ll get out of this dirty scrape.”

“I know that well enough, but you see, the Captain here won’t believe it. This is his first voyage. He used to make cologne. But come aboard, and perhaps he’ll believe you if he won’t believe me. Then I’ll get out of this nasty mess.”

“Anything to oblige ye, my sweet and pleasant fellow,” rejoined Stubb, and with that he soon mounted to the deck. There a queer scene presented itself. The sailors, in tasselled caps of red worsted, were getting the heavy tackles in readiness for the whales. But they worked rather slow and talked very fast, and seemed in anything but a good humor. All their noses upwardly projected from their faces like so many jib-booms. Now and then pairs of them would drop their work, and run up to the mast-head to get some fresh air. Some thinking they would catch the plague, dipped oakum in coal-tar, and at intervals held it to their nostrils. Others having broken the stems of their pipes almost short off at the bowl, were vigorously puffing tobacco-smoke, so that it constantly filled their olfactories.

“Anything to oblige you, my sweet and pleasant fellow,” replied Stubb. With that, he soon climbed up to the deck. There he saw a strange scene. The sailors, wearing tasseled red wool caps, were preparing the heavy tackle for the whales. But they worked rather slowly and talked very fast, and they seemed far from cheerful. All their noses stuck up from their faces like so many jib-booms. Now and then, two sailors would stop working and climb to the masthead for fresh air. Some thought they might catch the plague. They dipped oakum in coal tar and held it to their nostrils from time to time. Others had broken their pipe stems almost off at the bowl. They puffed hard on their pipes, so that tobacco smoke constantly filled their nostrils.

Stubb was struck by a shower of outcries and anathemas proceeding from the Captain’s round-house abaft; and looking in that direction saw a fiery face thrust from behind the door, which was held ajar from within. This was the tormented surgeon, who, after in vain remonstrating against the proceedings of the day, had betaken himself to the Captain’s round-house (cabinet he called it) to avoid the pest; but still, could not help yelling out his entreaties and indignations at times.

Stubb was startled by a shower of cries and curses from the Captain’s round-house at the stern. He looked that way and saw a fiery face thrust through the partly open door, which was held from inside. It was the tormented surgeon. He had protested in vain against the day’s proceedings. Then he had gone to the Captain’s round-house (he called it a cabinet) to escape the pest. But even there, he could not help shouting his pleas and protests from time to time.

Marking all this, Stubb argued well for his scheme, and turning to the Guernsey-man had a little chat with him, during which the stranger mate expressed his detestation of his Captain as a conceited ignoramus, who had brought them all into so unsavory and unprofitable a pickle. Sounding him carefully, Stubb further perceived that the Guernsey-man had not the slightest suspicion concerning the ambergris. He therefore held his peace on that head, but otherwise was quite frank and confidential with him, so that the two quickly concocted a little plan for both circumventing and satirizing the Captain, without his at all dreaming of distrusting their sincerity. According to this little plan of theirs, the Guernsey-man, under cover of an interpreter’s office, was to tell the Captain what he pleased, but as coming from Stubb; and as for Stubb, he was to utter any nonsense that should come uppermost in him during the interview.

Noticing all this, Stubb saw good reason to pursue his scheme. He turned to the Guernsey-man and had a short chat with him. The other ship's mate expressed his hatred of his Captain, calling him a conceited fool. The Captain had landed them all in a foul and unprofitable mess. Stubb carefully questioned the Guernsey-man and realized that he suspected nothing about the ambergris. So Stubb said nothing about it. Otherwise, he was quite frank and took the Guernsey-man into his confidence. The two quickly devised a plan to outwit and mock the Captain. The Captain would never dream of doubting their sincerity. Under the plan, the Guernsey-man would act as interpreter. He would tell the Captain whatever he pleased, claiming the words came from Stubb. Meanwhile, Stubb would say whatever nonsense came into his head during the interview.

By this time their destined victim appeared from his cabin. He was a small and dark, but rather delicate looking man for a sea-captain, with large whiskers and moustache, however; and wore a red cotton velvet vest with watch-seals at his side. To this gentleman, Stubb was now politely introduced by the Guernsey-man, who at once ostentatiously put on the aspect of interpreting between them.

By now, their intended victim had appeared from his cabin. He was a small, dark man, rather delicate-looking for a sea captain, though he had large whiskers and a mustache. He wore a red cotton velvet vest, with watch seals at his side. The Guernsey-man politely introduced Stubb to the gentleman. He immediately made a show of acting as their interpreter.

“What shall I say to him first?” said he.

“What should I say to him first?” he said.

“Why,” said Stubb, eyeing the velvet vest and the watch and seals, “you may as well begin by telling him that he looks a sort of babyish to me, though I don’t pretend to be a judge.”

“Well,” said Stubb, eyeing the velvet vest, the watch, and the seals, “you might as well start by telling him he looks a little babyish to me, though I don’t claim to be a judge.”

“He says, Monsieur,” said the Guernsey-man, in French, turning to his captain, “that only yesterday his ship spoke a vessel, whose captain and chief-mate, with six sailors, had all died of a fever caught from a blasted whale they had brought alongside.”

“He says, Monsieur,” the Guernsey man said in French, turning to his captain, “that his ship spoke with another vessel only yesterday. Its captain and chief mate, along with six sailors, had all died of a fever. They caught it from a rotting whale they had brought alongside.”

Upon this the captain started, and eagerly desired to know more.

At this, the captain was startled and eagerly wanted to know more.

“What now?” said the Guernsey-man to Stubb.

“What now?” the Guernsey-man asked Stubb.

“Why, since he takes it so easy, tell him that now I have eyed him carefully, I’m quite certain that he’s no more fit to command a whale-ship than a St. Jago monkey. In fact, tell him from me he’s a baboon.”

“Why, since he’s taking it so calmly, tell him I’ve looked him over carefully. I’m quite certain he’s no more fit to command a whaling ship than a St. Jago monkey. In fact, tell him I say he’s a baboon.”

“He vows and declares, Monsieur, that the other whale, the dried one, is far more deadly than the blasted one; in fine, Monsieur, he conjures us, as we value our lives, to cut loose from these fish.”

“He insists, Monsieur, that the other whale, the dried one, is far more deadly than the blasted one. In short, Monsieur, he begs us to cut loose from these fish if we value our lives.”

Instantly the captain ran forward, and in a loud voice commanded his crew to desist from hoisting the cutting-tackles, and at once cast loose the cables and chains confining the whales to the ship.

The captain immediately ran forward and shouted to his crew. He ordered them to stop raising the cutting tackle and immediately release the cables and chains holding the whales to the ship.

“What now?” said the Guernsey-man, when the Captain had returned to them.

“What now?” said the Guernsey-man when the Captain returned to them.

“Why, let me see; yes, you may as well tell him now that—that—in fact, tell him I’ve diddled him, and (aside to himself) perhaps somebody else.”

“Let me see. Yes, you might as well tell him now that, that, in fact, tell him I’ve cheated him. (To himself) And perhaps someone else.”

“He says, Monsieur, that he’s very happy to have been of any service to us.”

“He says, Monsieur, that he’s very happy he could help us.”

Hearing this, the captain vowed that they were the grateful parties (meaning himself and mate) and concluded by inviting Stubb down into his cabin to drink a bottle of Bordeaux.

Hearing this, the captain insisted that he and his mate were the ones who were grateful. He then invited Stubb down to his cabin to drink a bottle of Bordeaux.

“He wants you to take a glass of wine with him,” said the interpreter.

“He wants you to have a glass of wine with him,” said the interpreter.

“Thank him heartily; but tell him it’s against my principles to drink with the man I’ve diddled. In fact, tell him I must go.”

“Thank him warmly, but tell him I don’t believe in drinking with a man I’ve cheated. In fact, tell him I must go.”

“He says, Monsieur, that his principles won’t admit of his drinking; but that if Monsieur wants to live another day to drink, then Monsieur had best drop all four boats, and pull the ship away from these whales, for it’s so calm they won’t drift.”

“He says, Monsieur, that his principles do not allow him to drink. But if Monsieur wants to live another day to drink, he had better lower all four boats and row the ship away from these whales. It is so calm that the ship and whales will not drift apart.”

By this time Stubb was over the side, and getting into his boat, hailed the Guernsey-man to this effect,—that having a long tow-line in his boat, he would do what he could to help them, by pulling out the lighter whale of the two from the ship’s side. While the Frenchman’s boats, then, were engaged in towing the ship one way, Stubb benevolently towed away at his whale the other way, ostentatiously slacking out a most unusually long tow-line.

By this time, Stubb was climbing over the side and into his boat. He called out to the Guernsey man that he had a long towline in his boat. He would do what he could to help by pulling the lighter of the two whales away from the ship’s side. So, while the Frenchman’s boats towed the ship one way, Stubb kindly towed his whale the other way. He made a show of letting out an unusually long towline.

Presently a breeze sprang up; Stubb feigned to cast off from the whale; hoisting his boats, the Frenchman soon increased his distance, while the Pequod slid in between him and Stubb’s whale. Whereupon Stubb quickly pulled to the floating body, and hailing the Pequod to give notice of his intentions, at once proceeded to reap the fruit of his unrighteous cunning. Seizing his sharp boat-spade, he commenced an excavation in the body, a little behind the side fin. You would almost have thought he was digging a cellar there in the sea; and when at length his spade struck against the gaunt ribs, it was like turning up old Roman tiles and pottery buried in fat English loam. His boat’s crew were all in high excitement, eagerly helping their chief, and looking as anxious as gold-hunters.

Soon a breeze sprang up, and Stubb pretended to leave the whale. The Frenchman hoisted his boats and soon sailed farther away, while the Pequod slipped between him and Stubb’s whale. Stubb then quickly rowed to the floating body. He called out to the Pequod to announce his intentions and immediately set about enjoying the rewards of his dishonest trick. He seized his sharp boat-spade and began digging into the body, just behind the side fin. You might almost have thought he was digging a cellar there in the sea. When his spade finally struck the bare ribs, it was like turning up old Roman tiles and pottery buried in rich English soil. All his crew were highly excited, eagerly helping their chief and looking as anxious as gold hunters.

And all the time numberless fowls were diving, and ducking, and screaming, and yelling, and fighting around them. Stubb was beginning to look disappointed, especially as the horrible nosegay increased, when suddenly from out the very heart of this plague, there stole a faint stream of perfume, which flowed through the tide of bad smells without being absorbed by it, as one river will flow into and then along with another, without at all blending with it for a time.

All the while, countless birds were diving, ducking, screaming, yelling, and fighting around them. Stubb was beginning to look disappointed, especially as the horrible bouquet of smells grew stronger. Then, suddenly, a faint stream of perfume drifted from the very heart of this plague. It flowed through the tide of bad smells without being absorbed. It was like one river flowing into and then alongside another, without blending with it for a time.

“I have it, I have it,” cried Stubb, with delight, striking something in the subterranean regions, “a purse! a purse!”

“I have it, I have it!” cried Stubb, delighted as he struck something deep below. “A purse! A purse!”

Dropping his spade, he thrust both hands in, and drew out handfuls of something that looked like ripe Windsor soap, or rich mottled old cheese; very unctuous and savory withal. You might easily dent it with your thumb; it is of a hue between yellow and ash colour. And this, good friends, is ambergris, worth a gold guinea an ounce to any druggist. Some six handfuls were obtained; but more was unavoidably lost in the sea, and still more, perhaps, might have been secured were it not for impatient Ahab’s loud command to Stubb to desist, and come on board, else the ship would bid them good bye.

He dropped his spade, thrust in both hands, and pulled out handfuls of something that looked like ripe Windsor soap or rich, mottled old cheese. It was very greasy and sweet-smelling, too. You could easily dent it with your thumb. Its color was somewhere between yellow and ash gray. And this, good friends, is ambergris, worth a gold guinea an ounce to any druggist. They recovered about six handfuls, but more was unavoidably lost in the sea. They might perhaps have recovered still more, but impatient Ahab loudly ordered Stubb to stop and come aboard. Otherwise, the ship would leave them behind.