228 MOBY DICK; OR 
tion with his twisted hand he warned off the foolish and infatuated man ; 
but it was to no purpose. And in this way the two went once slowly 
round the windlass; when, resolved at last no longer to retreat, be- 
thinking him that he had now forborne as much as comported with 
his humour, the Lakeman paused on the hatches and thus spoke to 
the officer : 
“ ‘Mr. Badney, I will not obey you. Take that hammer away, 
or look to yourself.’ But the predestinated mate coming still closer 
to him, where the Lakeman stood fixed, now shook the heavy hammer 
within an inch of his teeth; meanwhile repeating a string of insuffer- 
able maledictions. Entreating not the thousandth part of an inch; 
stabbing him in the eye with the unflinching poniard of his glance, 
Steelkilt, clenching his right hand behind him and creepingly draw- 
ing it back, told his persecutor that if the hammer but grazed his cheek 
he (Steelkilt) would murder him. But, gentlemen, the fool had been 
branded for the slaughter by the gods. Immediately the hammer 
touched the cheek; the next instant the lower jaw of the mate was 
stove in his head ; he fell on the hatch spouting blood like a whale. 
“Ere the cry could go aft Steelkilt was shaking one of the backstays 
leading far aloft to where two of his comrades were standing their 
mastheads. They were both Canallers. 
“ ‘Canallers !’ cried Don Pedro. ‘We have seen many whale ships in 
our harbours, but never heard of your Canallers. Pardon; who and 
what are they V 
“Canallers, Don, are the boatmen belonging to our Grand Erie 
Canal. You must have heard of it, 
“ ‘Hay, Senor; hereabouts in this dull, warm, most lazy, and heredi- 
tary land, we know but little of your vigorous Horth.’ 
“Aye ? Well then, Don, refill my cup. Your chicha’s very fine; and 
ere proceeding further I will tell ye what our Canallers are; for such 
information may throw sidelight upon my story. 
“For three hundred and sixty miles, gentlemen, through the entire 
breadth of the State of Hew York; through numerous populous cities 
and most thriving villages ; through long, dismal, uninhabited swamps, 
and affluent, cultivated fields, unrivalled for fertility; by billiard-room 
and bar-room; through great forests; on Eoman arches over Indian 
