THAT GREAT LEVIATHAN. 41 



Nevertheless, in the midst of so crazed a mood, 

 I did, without so much as considering it, my 

 appointed duty which, for all that, was not diffi- 

 cult ; being, as long beforehand I had been in- 

 structed, to remain on board and do nothing. 

 That was a simple task, but by no means agree- 

 able. 



It was certainly a vivid contradiction, as I have 

 often since reflected, that while I, who was least in 

 the struggle, went clean daft for the moment, the 

 whale, who was of all concerned most gravely 

 implicated, lay spouting contentedly only a small 

 way from the Swift, and as wholly free from worry 

 or care as a comfortable cow nibbling pink and 

 white clover-tops. 



" Boy," said the cooper, for he stood next to me 

 and together we watched the chase, " I'll bet my 

 go-ashore shirt and pantaloons they'll set you 

 a-turning that 'ar grin-stun ! " 



This sage observation was the expression of a 

 splendid optimism, for when a whale is being cut 

 in, the cabin-boy turns the grindstone while the 

 cooper sharpens the cutting-spades. 



" Oh, by Reuben Ranzo ! " yelled the cooper, 

 grabbing me by the collar, " They'll galley him ! " 



Then, tightening his grip on my neck till I 

 thought he would strangle me, he emphasized his 



