whale Hunting 237 



burgher smoking his pipe of a warm afternoon. 

 But that pipe, poor whale, was thy last. As if 

 struck by some enchanter's wand, the sleepy ship 

 and every sleeper in it at once started into wakeful- 

 ness ; and more than a score of voices from all 

 parts of the vessel, simultaneously with the three 

 notes from aloft, shouted forth the accustomed cry, 

 as the great fish slowly and regularly spouted the 

 sparkling brine into the air. 



" Clear away the boats ! Luff! " cried Ahab. 

 And obeying his own order, he dashed the helm 

 down before the helmsman could handle the spokes. 



The sudden exclamations of the crew must have 

 alarmed the whale ; and ere the boats were down, 

 majestically turning, he swam away to the lee- 

 ward, but with such a steady tranquillity, and 

 making so few ripples as he swam, that thinking 

 after all he might not as yet be alarmed, Ahab 

 gave orders that not an oar should be used, and 

 no man must speak but in whispers. So, seated 

 like Ontario Indians on the gunwales of the boats, 

 we swiftly but silently paddled along : the calm not 

 admitting of the noiseless sails being set. Presently, 

 as we thus glided in chase, the monster perpen- 

 dicularly flitted his tail forty feet into the air, and 

 then sank out of sight like a tower swallowed up. 



" There go flukes ! " was the cry, an announce- 

 ment immediately followed by Stubb's producing 

 his match and lighting his pipe, for now a respite 

 was granted. After the full interval of his sounding 

 had elapsed, the whale rose again, and being now 

 in advance of the smoker's boat, and much nearer 

 to it than any of the others, Stubb counted upon 

 the honour of the capture. It was obvious, now, 

 that the whale had at length become aware of his 

 pursuers. All silence or cautiousness was therefore 



