374 MOBY DICK; OR 
“Well, then, my Bouton-de-Eosebud, have you seen the White 
Whale ?” 
“What whale ?” 
“The White Whale — a Sperm Whale — Moby Dick, have ye seen 
him ?” 
“Never heard of such a whale. Cachalot Blanche ! White Whale — 
no.” 
“Very good, then; good-bye now, and I’ll call again in a minute.” 
Then rapidly pulling hack towards the Pequod, and seeing Ahab 
leaning over the quarter-deck rail awaiting his report, he moulded his 
two hands into a trumpet and shouted — “No, sir ! No !” IJpon which 
Ahab retired, and Stubb returned to the Frenchman. 
He now perceived that the Guernsey man, who had just got into the 
chains, and was using a cutting-spade, had slung his nose in a sort of 
hag. 
“What’s the matter with your nose, there ?” said Stubb. “Broke it ?” 
“I wish it was broken, or that I didn’t have any nose at all,” answered 
the Guernsey man, who did not seem to relish the job he was at very 
much. “But what are you holding yours for ?” 
“Oh, nothing! It’s a wax nose; I have to hold it on. Fine day, 
ain’t it ? Air rather gardenny, I should say ; throw us a bunch of posies 
will ye, Bouton-de-Eose ?” 
“What in the devil’s name do you want here ?” roared the Guernsey 
man, flying into a sudden passion. 
“Oh ! keep cool — cool ? yes, that’s the word ; why don’t you pack those 
whales in ice while you’re working at ’em? But joking aside, though ; 
do you know, Eosebud, that it’s all nonsense trying to get oil out of such 
whales ? As for that dried up one there, he hasn’t a gill in his whole 
carcase.” 
“I know that well enough ; hut d’ye see, the captain here won’t believe 
it ; this is his first voyage ; he was a Cologne manufacturer before. But 
come aboard, and mayhap he’ll believe you, if he won’t me ; and so I’ll 
get out of this dirty scrape.” 
“Anything to oblige ye, my sweet and pleasant fellow,” rejoined 
Stubb, and with that he soon mounted to the deck. There a queer 
scene presented itself. The sailors, in tasselled caps of red worsted, 
>vere getting the heavy tackles in readiness for the whales, But they 
