Moby Dick

[Old Thunder]

On, on we flew; and our offing gained, the Moss did homage to the blast; ducked and dived her bows as a slave before the Sultan.

 

[Old Thunder]

Sideways leaning, we sideways darted; every ropeyarn tingling like a wire; the two tall masts buckling like Indian canes in land tornadoes.

 

[Old Thunder]

So full of this reeling scene were we, as we stood by the plunging bowsprit, that for some time we did not notice the jeering glances of the passengers, a lubber-like assembly, who marvelled that two fellow-beings should be so compationable; as though a white man were anything more dignified than a white-washed negro.

 

[Old Thunder]

But there were some boobies and bumpkins there, who, by their intense greenness, must have come from the heart and centre of all verdure.

 

[Old Thunder]

Queequeg caught one of these young saplings mimicking him behind his back.

 

[Old Thunder]

I thought the bumpkin's hour of doom was come.

 

[Old Thunder]

Dropping his harpoon, the brawny savage caught him in his arms, and by an almost miraculous dexterity and strength sent him high up bodily into the air; then slightly tapping his stern in mid-somerset, the fellow landed with bursting lungs upon his feet, while Queequeg, turning his back upon him, lighted his tomahawk pipe and passed it to me for a puff.

 

[Old Thunder]

"Capting! Capting!" yelled the bumpkin, running towards that officer; "Capting, Capting, here's the devil."

 

[Old Thunder]

"Hallo, you sir," cried the Captain, a gaunt rib of the sea, stalking up to Queequeg, "what in thunder do you mean by that? Don't you know you might have killed that chap?"

 

[Old Thunder]

"What him say?" said Queequeg, as he mildly turned to me.