Moby Dick

[Old Thunder]

"It's unfort'nate Stiggs done over again -- there goes another counterpane -- God pity his poor mother! -- it will be the ruin of my house. Has the poor lad a sister? Where's that girl? -- there, Betty, go to Snarles the Painter, and tell him to paint me a sign, with -- 'no suicides permitted here, and no smoking in the parlour;' -- might as well kill both birds at once. Kill? The Lord be merciful to his ghost! What's that noise there? You, young man, avast there!"

 

[Old Thunder]

And running up after me, she caught me as I was again trying to force open the door.

 

[Old Thunder]

"I don't allow it; I won't have my premises spoiled. Go for the locksmith, there's one about a mile from here. But avast!" putting her hand in her side-pocket, "here's a key that'll fit, I guess; let's see."

 

[Old Thunder]

And with that, she turned it in the lock; but, alas! Queequeg's supplemental bolt remained unwithdrawn within.

 

[Old Thunder]

"Have to burst it open," said I, and was running down the entry a little, for a good start, when the landlady caught at me, again vowing I should not break down her premises; but I tore from her, and with a sudden bodily rush dashed myself full against the mark.

 

[Old Thunder]

With a prodigious noise the door flew open, and the knob slamming against the wall, sent the plaster to the ceiling; and there, good heavens! there sat Queequeg, altogether cool and self-collected; right in the middle of the room; squatting on his hams, and holding Yojo on the top of his head.

 

[Old Thunder]

He looked neither one way nor the other way, but sat like a carved image with scarce a sign of active life.

 

[Old Thunder]

"Queequeg," said I, going up to him, "Queequeg, what's the matter with you?"

 

[Old Thunder]

"He hain't been a sittin' so all day, has he?" said the landlady.

 

[Old Thunder]

But all we said, not a word could we drag out of him; I almost felt like pushing him over, so as to change his position, for it was almost intolerable, it seemed so painfully and unnaturally constrained; especially, as in all probability he had been sitting so for upwards of eight or ten hours, going too without his regular meals.