472 
MOBY DICK; OR 
ous than a caged tiger, then. I could not endure the sight; could not 
possibly fly his howlings; all comfort, sleep itself, inestimable reason 
would leave me on the* long intolerable voyage. What, then, remains ? 
The land is hundreds of leagues away, and locked Japan the nearest. 
I stand alone here upon an open sea, with two oceans and a whole 
continent between me and law — Aye, aye, ’tis so — Is heaven a mur- 
derer when its lightning strikes a would-he murderer in his bed, tin- 
dering sheets and skin together? — And would I be a murderer, then, 
if ” and slowly, stealthily, and half sideways looking, he placed the 
loaded musket’s end against the door. 
“On this level, Ahab’s hammock swings within: his head this way. 
A touch, and Starbuck may survive to hug his wife and child again. 
— Oh, Mary! Mary! — boy! boy! boy! — But if I wake thee not to 
death, old man,, who can tell to what unsounded deeps Starbuck’s 
body this day week may sink, with all the crew! Great God, where 
art thou ? Shall I ? shall I ! The wind has gone down and shifted, 
sir; the fore and main topsails are reefed and set; she heads her 
course.” 
“Stern all ! Oh, Moby Dick, I clutch thy heart at last !” 
Such were the sounds that now came hurtling from out the old 
man’s tormented sleep, as if Starbuck’s voice had caused the long 
dumb dream to speak. 
The yet levelled musket shook like a drunkard’s arm against the 
panel ; Starbuck seemed wrestling with an angel ; but turning from the 
door, he placed the death-tube in its rack, and left the place. 
“He’s too sound asleep, Mr. Stubb; go thou down, and wake him, 
and tell him. I must see to the deck here. Thou know’st what to 
say.” 
CHAPTER CXXIII 
THE NEEDLE 
Hext morning the not yet subsided sea rolled in long slow billows of 
mighty bulk, and striving in the Pequod’s gurgling track,, pushed her 
on like giants’ palms outspread. The strong, unstaggering breeze 
abounded so that sky and air seemed vast outbellying sails ; the whole 
