Moby Dick

[Old Thunder]

I then took off my coat, and thought a little more in my shirt-sleeves.

 

[Old Thunder]

But beginning to feel very cold now, half undressed as I was, and remembering what the landlord said about the harpooner's not coming home at all that night, it being so very late, I made no more ado, but jumped out of my pantaloons and boots, and then blowing out the light tumbled into bed, and commended myself to the care of heaven.

 

[Old Thunder]

Whether that mattress was stuffed with corn-cobs or broken crockery, there is no telling, but I rolled about a good deal, and could not sleep for a long time.

 

[Old Thunder]

At last I slid off into a light doze, and had pretty nearly made a good offing towards the land of Nod, when I heard a heavy footfall in the passage, and saw a glimmer of light come into the room from under the door.

 

[Old Thunder]

Lord save me, thinks I, that must be the harpooner, the infernal head-pedlar.

 

[Old Thunder]

But I lay perfectly still, and resolved not to say a word till spoken to.

 

[Old Thunder]

Holding a light in one hand, and that identical New Zealand head in the other, the stranger entered the room and without looking towards the bed, placed his candle a good way off from me on the floor in one corner, and then began working away at the knotted cords of the large bag I before spoke of as being in the room.

 

[Old Thunder]

I was all eagerness to see his face, but he kept it averted fr some time while employed in unlacing the bag's mouth.

 

[Old Thunder]

This accomplished, however, he turned round -- when, good heavens! what a sight!

 

[Old Thunder]

Such a face!