84 
MOBY DICK; OR 
derisive sort of laugh. “Look ye; when Captain Ahab is all right, 
then this left arm of mine will be all right ; not before.” 
“What do you know about him ?” 
“What did they tell you about him? Say that!” 
“They didn’t tell much of anything about him ; only I’ve heard that 
he’s a good whale-hunter, and a good captain to his crew.” 
“That’s true, that’s true: — -yes, both true enough. But yep must 
jump when he gives an order. Step and growl ; growl and go — that’s 
the word with Captain Ahab. But nothing about that thing that 
Happened to him off Cape Horn, long ago, when he lay like dead for 
three days and nights ; nothing about that deadly skrimmage with the 
Spaniard afore the altar in Santa? — heard nothing about that, eh? 
Nothing about the silver calabash he spat into? And nothing about 
his losing his leg last voyage, according to the prophecy? Didn’t ye 
hear a word about them matters and something more, eh? No, I 
don’t think ye did; how could ye? Who knows it? Not all Nan- 
tucket, I guess. But hows’ever, mayhap, ye’ve heard tell about the 
leg, and how he lost it ; ay, ye have heard of that, I dare say. Oh yes, 
that every one knows a’most — I mean they know he’s only one leg; 
and that a parmacetti took the other off.” 
“My friend,” said I, “what all this gibberish of yours is about, I 
don’t know, and I don’t much care; for it seems to me that you must 
be a little damaged in the head. But if you are speaking of Captain 
Ahab, of that ship there, the Pequod , then let me tell you, that I know 
all about the loss of his leg.” 
“All about it, eh — sure you do ? — all ?” 
“Pretty sure.” 
With finger pointed and eye levelled at the Pequod, the beggar-like 
stranger stood a moment, as if in a troubled reverie; then starting a 
little, turned and said — “Ye’ve shipped, have ye? Names down on 
the papers? Well, well, what’s signed, is signed; and what’s to be, 
will be; and then again, perhaps it won’t be, after all. Anyhow, it’s 
all fixed and arranged a’ready ; and some sailors or other must go with 
him, I suppose ; as well these as any other men, God pity ’em ! .Morn- 
ing to ye, shipmates, morning; the ineffable heavens bless ye; I’m sorry 
I stopped ye.” 
Took here, friend,” said I, “if you have anything important to tell 
