THE WHITE WHALE 01 
“Ay, ay, ye are going in her, be ye ? She sails to-day. The Cap- 
tain came aboard last night.” 
“What Captain?— Ahab?” 
“Who but him indeed ?” 
I was going to ask him some further questions concerning Ahab, 
when we heard a noise on deck. 
“Holloa! Starbuck’ s astir,” said the rigger. “He’s a lively chief 
mate, that ; good man, and a pious ; but all alive now, I must turn 
to.” And so saying he went on deck, and we followed. 
It was now clear sunrise. Soon the crew came on board in twos 
and threes ; the riggers bestirred themselves ; the mates were actively 
engaged ; and several of the shore people were busy in bringing various 
last things on board. Meanwhile Captain Ahab remained invisibly 
enshrined within his cabin. 
CHAPTEE XXII 
MERRY CHRISTMAS 
At length, towards noon, upon the final dismissal of the ship’s riggers, 
and after the Pequod had been hauled out from the wharf, and after 
the ever-thoughtful Charity had come off in a whaleboat, with her last 
gift — a nightcap for Stubb, the second mate, her brother-in-law, and a 
spare Bible for the steward — after all this, the two captains, Peleg and 
Bildad, issued from the cabin, and turning to the chief mate, Peleg 
said — 
“How, Mr. Starbuck, are you sure everything is right? Captain 
Ahab is all ready — just spoke to him — nothing more to be got from 
shore, eh? Well, call all hands, then. Muster ’em aft here — blast 
’em !” 
“Ho need of profane words, however great the hurry, Peleg,” said 
Bildad ; “but away with thee, friend Starbuck, and do our bidding.” 
How now! Here upon the very point of starting for the voyage, 
Captain Peleg and Captain Bildad were going it with a high hand on 
the quarter deck, just as if they were to be joint-commanders at sea, as 
well as to all appearances in port. And, as for Captain Ahab, no 
