THE WHITE WHALE 
271 
But, as yet, Stubb heeded not the mumblings of the banquet that 
was going on so nigh him, no more than the sharks heeded the smacking 
of his own epicurean lips. 
“Cook, cook ! — where’s that old Fleece ?” he cried at length, widen- 
ing his legs still further, as if to form a mote secure base for his sup- 
per ; and, at the same time darting his fork into the dish, as if stabbing 
with his lance; “cook, you cook! — sail this way, cook!” 
The old black, not in any very high glee at having been previously 
roused from his warm hammock at a most unseasonable hour, came 
shambling along from his galley, for, like many old blacks, there was 
something the matter with his knee-pans, which he did not keep well 
scoured like his other pans ; this old Fleece, as they called him, came 
shuffling and limping along, assisting his step with his tongs, which, 
after a clumsy fashion, were made of straightened iron hoops ; this old 
Ebony floundered along, and in obedience to the world of command, 
came to a dead stop on the opposite side of Stubb’s sideboard; when, 
with both hands folded before him, and resting on his two-legged cane, 
he bowed his arched back still further over, at the same time sideways 
inclining his head, so as to bring his best ear into play. 
“Cook,” said Stubb, rapidly lifting a rather reddish morsel to his 
mouth, “don’t you think this steak is rather overdone? You’ve been 
beating this steak too much, cook ; it’s too tender'. Don’t I always say 
that to be good, a whale-steak must be tough? -There are those sharks 
now over the side, don’t you see they prefer it tough and rare ? What 
a shindy they are kicking up! Cook, go and talk to ’em; tell ’em 
they are welcome to help themselves civilly, and in moderation, but 
they must keep quiet. Hang me, if I can hear my voice. Away, 
cook, and deliver my message. Here, take this lantern,” snatching one 
from his sideboard; “now then, go and preach to ’em!” 
Sullenly taking the offered lantern, old Fleece limped across the 
deck to the bulwarks ; and then, with one hand dropping his light low 
over the sea, so as to get a good view of his congregation, with the 
other hand he solemnly flourished his tongs, and leaning far over the 
side in a mumbling voice began addressing the sharks, while Stubb, 
softly crawling behind, overheard all that was said. 
“Fellow-critters: I’se ordered here to say dat you must stop dat 
