64 MOBY DICK; OR 
“Is this the Captain of the PequodV ’ said I, advancing to the door 
of the tent. 
“Supposing it be the Captain of the Pequod, what dost thou want 
of him ?” he demanded. 
“I was thinking of shipping.” 
“Thou wast, wast thou? I see thou art no Nantucketer — ever been 
in a stove boat ?” 
“No, sir, I never have.” 
“Dost know nothing at all about whaling, I dare say—eh V 9 
“Nothing, sir; but I have no doubt I shall soon learn. I’ve been 
several voyages in the merchant service, and I think that ” 
“Marchant service be damned. Talk not that lingo to me. Dost 
see that leg ? — I’ll take that leg. away from thy stern, if ever thou 
talkest of the marchant service to me again. Marchant service, in- 
deed ! I suppose now ye feel considerable proud of having served in 
those marchant ships. But flukes ! man, what makes thee want to go 
a- whaling, eh ? — it looks a little suspicious, don’t it, eh ? — Hast not 
been a pirate, hast thou ? — Didst not rob thy last Captain, didst thou ? 
— Dost not think of murdering the officers when thou gettest to .sea?” 
I protested my innocence of these things. I saw that under the 
mask of these half-humorous innuendoes, this old seaman, as an in- 
sulated Quakerish Nantucketer, was full of his insular prejudices, and 
rather distrustful of all aliens, unless they hailed from Cape Cod 
or the Vineyard. 
“But what takes thee a-whaling? I want to know that before I 
think of shipping ye.” 
“Well, sir, I want to see what whaling is. I want to see the world.” 
“Want to see what whaling is, eh ? Have ye clapped eye on Captain 
Ahab ?” 
“Who is Captain Ahab, sir?” 
“Aye, aye, I thought so. Captain Ahab is the Captain of this ship.” 
“I am mistaken then. I thought I was speaking to the Captain 
himself.” 
“Thou ail; speaking to Captain Peleg — that’s who ye are speaking 
to, young man. It belongs to me and Captain Bildad to see the 
Pequod fitted out for the voyage, and supplied with all her needs, in- 
cluding crew. We are part owners and agents. But as I was going 
