Moby Dick

[Old Thunder]

It was an exceedingly long lay that, indeed; and though from the magnitude of the figure it might at first deceive a landsman, yet the slightest consideration will show that though seven hundred and seventy-seven is a pretty large number, yet, when you come to make a teenth of it, you will then see, I say, that the seven hundred and seventy-seventh part of a farthing is a good deal less than seven hundred and seventy-seven gold doubloons; and so I thought at the time.

 

[Old Thunder]

"Why, blast your eyes, Bildad," cried Peleg, "thou dost not want to swindle this young man! he must have more than that."

 

[Old Thunder]

"Seven hundred and seventy-seventh," again said Bildad, without lifting his eyes; and then went on mumbling -- "for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."*

*The quotation is from the Bible (KJV), Matthew 6:21.

 

[Old Thunder]

"I am going to put him down for the three hundreth," said Peleg, "do ye hear that, Bildad! The three hundreth lay, I say."

 

[Old Thunder]

Bildad laid down his book, and turning solemnly towards him said, "Captain Peleg, thou hast a generous heart; but thou must consider the duty thou owest to the other owners of this ship -- widows and orphans, many of them -- and that if we too abundantly reward the labours of this young man, we may be taking the bread from those widows and those orphans. The seven hundred and seventy-seventh lay, Captain Peleg."

 

[Old Thunder]

"Thou, Bildad!" roared Peleg, starting up and clattering about the cabin.

 

[Old Thunder]

"Blast ye, Captain Bildad, if I had followed thy advice in these matters, I would afore now had a conscience to lug about that would be heavy enough to founder the largest ship that ever sailed round Cape Horn."

 

[Old Thunder]

"Captain Peleg," said Bildad steadily, "thy conscience may be drawing ten inches of water, or ten fathoms, I can't tell; but as thou art still an impenitent man, Captain Peleg, I greatly fear lest thy conscience be but a leaky one; and will in the end sink thee foundering down to the fiery pit, Captain Peleg."

 

[Old Thunder]

"Fiery pit! fiery pit! ye insult me, man; past all natural bearing, ye insult me. It's an all-fired outrage to tell any human creature that he's bound to ****. Flukes and flames! Bildad, say that again to me, and start my soul-bolts, but I'll--I'll--yes, I'll swallow a live goat with all his hair and horns on. Out of the cabin, ye canting, drab-coloured son of a wooden gun -- a straight wake with ye!"

 

[Old Thunder]

As he thundered out this he made a rush at Bildad, but with marvellous oblique, sliding celerity, Bildad for that time eluded him.