THE WHITE WHALE 87 
At the period of our arrival at the island, the heaviest stowage of the 
P equod had been almost completed ; comprising her beef, bread, water, 
fuel, and iron hoops and staves. But, as before hinted, for some time 
there was a continual fetching and carrying on board of divers odds 
and ends of things, both large and small. 
Chief among those who did this fetching and carrying was Captain 
Bildad’s sister, a lean old lady of a most determined and indefatigable 
spirit, hut withal very kindhearted, who seemed resolved that, if she 
could help it, nothing should be found wanting in the P equod, after 
once fairly getting to sea. At one time she would come on board 
with a jar of pickles for the steward’s pantry; another time with a 
bunch of quills for the chief mate’s desk, where he kept his log ; a third 
time with a roll of flannel for the small of some one’s rheumatic back. 
Never did any woman better deserve her name, which was ’Charity — 
Aunt Charity, as everybody called her. And like a sister of charity 
— did this charitable Aunt Charity bustle about hither and thither, 
ready to turn her hand and heart to anything that promised to yield 
safety, comfort, and consolation to all on board a ship in which her be- 
loved brother Bildad was concerned, and in which she herself owned a 
score or two of well-saved dollars. 
But it was startling to see this excellent hearted Quakeress coming 
on board, as she did the last ’day, with a long oil-ladle in one hand, and 
a still longer whaling-lance in the other. Nor was Bildad himself nor 
Captain Peleg at all backward. As for Bildad, he carried -about with 
him a long list of the articles needed, and at every fresh arrival, down 
went his mark opposite the article upon the paper. Every once in a 
while Peleg came running out of his whalebone den, roaring at the men 
down the hatchways, roaring up to the riggers at the masthead, and 
then concluded by roaring back into his wigwam. 
During these days of preparation, Queequeg and I often visited the 
craft, and as often I asked about Captain Ahab, -and how he was, and 
when he was going to come on board his ship. To these questions they 
would answer, that he was getting better and better, and was expected 
aboard every day ; meantime, the two captains, Peleg and Bildad, could 
attend to everything necessary to fit the vessel for the voyage. If I had 
been downright honest with myself, I would have seen very plainly in 
my heart that I did but half fancy being committed this way to so long 
