Moby Dick

[Old Thunder]

The original iron entered nigh the tail, and, like a restless needle sojourning in the body of a man, travelled full forty feet, and at last was found imbedded in the hump.

 

[Old Thunder]

Crossing this dusky entry, and on through yon low-arched way -- cut through what in old times must have been a great central chimney with fireplaces all round -- you enter the public room.

 

[Old Thunder]

A still duskier place is this, with such low ponderous beams above, and such old wrinkled planks beneath, that you would almost fancy you trod some old craft's cockpits, especially of such a howling night, when this corner-anchored old ark rocked so furiously.

 

[Old Thunder]

On one side stood a long, low, shelf-like table covered with cracked glass-cases, filled with dusty rarities gathered from this wide world's remotest nooks.

 

[Old Thunder]

Projecting from the further angle of the room stands a dark-looking den -- the bar -- a rude attempt at a right whale's head.

 

[Old Thunder]

Be that how it may, there stands the vast arched bone of the whale's jaw, so wide, a coach might almost drive beneath it.

 

[Old Thunder]

Within are shabby shelves, ranged round with old decanters, bottles, flasks; and in those jaws of swift destruction, like another cursed Jonah* (by which name indeed they called him), bustles a little withered old man, who, for their money, dearly sells the sailors deliriums and death.

*Prophet swallowed by a whale but saved by God; see the Bible, Jonah 1-2.

 

[Old Thunder]

Abominable are the tumblers into which he pours his poison.

 

[Old Thunder]

Though true cylinders without -- within, the villainous green goggling glasses deceitfully tapered downwards to a cheating bottom.

 

[Old Thunder]

Parallel meridians rudely pecked into the glass, surround these footpads' goblets.