whale Hunting 235 



that almighty forlornness ; — there, then, he sat, 

 the sign and symbol of a man without faith, 

 hopelessly holding up hope in the midst of despair. 



Wet, drenched through, and shivering cold, 

 despairing of ship or boat, we lifted up our eyes 

 as the dawn came on. The mist still spread over 

 the sea, the empty lantern lay crushed in the 

 bottom of the boot. Suddenly Oueequeg started 

 to his feet, hollowing his hand to his ear. We all 

 heard a faint creaking, as of ropes and yards hitherto 

 muffled by the storm. The sound came nearer 

 and nearer ; the thick mists were dimly parted 

 by a huge, vague form. Affrighted, we all sprang 

 into the sea as the ship at last loomed into view, 

 bearing right down upon us within a distance of 

 not much more than its length. 



Floating on the waves we saw the abandoned 

 boat, as for one instant it tossed and gaped beneath 

 the ship's bows like a ship at the base of a cataract ; 

 and then the vast hull rolled over it, and it was seen 

 no more till it came up weltering astern. Again 

 we swam for it, were dashed against it by the 

 seas, and were at last taken up and safely landed on 

 board. Ere the squall came close to, the other 

 boats had cut loose from their fish and returned 

 to the ship in good time. The ship had given us 

 up, but was still cruising, if haply it might light 

 upon some token of our perishing, — an oar or a 

 lance-pole. 



Herman Melville. 



Killing the Whale e> ^^ ^^ 



THE next day was exceedingly still and sultry, 

 and with nothing special to engage them, the 

 Pequod\ crew could hardly resist the spell of sleep 



