Moby Dick

[Old Thunder]

"Has he ever whaled it any?" turning to me.

 

[Old Thunder]

"Killed more whales than I can count, Captain Peleg."

 

[Old Thunder]

"Well, bring him along then."

 

[Old Thunder]

And, after signing the papers, off I went; nothing doubting but that I had done a good morning's work, and that the Pequod was the identical ship that Yojo had provided to carry Queequeg and me round the Cape.

 

[Old Thunder]

But I had not proceeded far, when I began to bethink me that the captain with whom I was to sail yet remained unseen by me; though, indeed, in many cases, a whale-ship will be completely fitted out, and receive all her crew on board, ere the captain makes himself visible by arriving to take command; for sometimes these voyages are so prolonged, and the shore intervals at home so exceedingly brief, that if the captain have a family, or any absorbing concernment of that sort, he does not trouble himself much about his ship in port, but leaves her to the owners till all is ready for the sea.

 

[Old Thunder]

However, it is always as well to have a look at him before irrevocably committing yourself into his hands.

 

[Old Thunder]

Turning back I accosted Captain Peleg, inquiring where Captain Ahab was to be found.

 

[Old Thunder]

"And what dost thou want of Captain Ahab? It's all right enough; thou art shipped."

 

[Old Thunder]

"Yes, but I should like to see him."

 

[Old Thunder]

"But I don't think thou wilt be able to at present. I don't know exactly what's the matter with him; but he keeps close inside the house; a sort of sick, and yet he don't look so. In fact, he ain't sick; but no, he isn't well either. Anyhow, young man, he won't always see me, so I don't suppose he will see thee. He's a queer man, Captain Ahab -- so some think -- but a good one. Oh, thou'lt like him well enough; no fear, no fear. He's a grand, ungodly, god-like man, Captain Ahab; doesn't speak much; but, when he does speak, then you may well listen. Mark ye, be forewarned; Ahab's above the common; Ahab's been in colleges, as well as 'mong the cannibals; been used to deeper wonders than the waves; fixed his fiery lance in mightier, stranger foes than whales. His lance! aye, the keenest and the surest that out of all our isle! Oh! he ain't Captain Bildad; no, and he ain't Captain Peleg; he's Ahab, boy, and Ahab of old, thou knowest, was a crowned king!"