CHAPTER 20
All Astir
A day or two passed, and there was great activity aboard the Pequod. Not
only were the old sails being mended, but new sails were coming on board,
and bolts of canvas, and coils of rigging; in short, everything betokened that
the ship’s preparations were hurrying to a close. Captain Peleg seldom or
never went ashore, but sat in his wigwam keeping a sharp look-out upon the
hands: Bildad did all the purchasing and providing at the stores; and the
men employed in the hold and on the rigging were working till long after
night-fall.
On the day following Queequeg’s signing the articles, word was given at
all the inns where the ship’s company were stopping, that their chests must
be on board before night, for there was no telling how soon the vessel might
be sailing. So Queequeg and I got down our traps, resolving, however, to
sleep ashore till the last. But it seems they always give very long notice in
these cases, and the ship did not sail for several days. But no wonder; there
was a good deal to be done, and there is no telling how many things to be
thought of, before the Pequod was fully equipped.
Every one knows what a multitude of things—beds, sauce-pans, knives
and forks, shovels and tongs, napkins, nut-crackers, and what not, are
indispensable to the business of housekeeping. Just so with whaling, which
necessitates a three-years’ housekeeping upon the wide ocean, far from all
grocers, costermongers, doctors, bakers, and bankers. And though this also
holds true of merchant vessels, yet not by any means to the same extent as
with whalemen. For besides the great length of the whaling voyage, the
numerous articles peculiar to the prosecution of the fishery, and the
impossibility of replacing them at the remote harbors usually frequented, it
must be remembered, that of all ships, whaling vessels are the most exposed
to accidents of all kinds, and especially to the destruction and loss of the
very things upon which the success of the voyage most depends. Hence, the
spare boats, spare spars, and spare lines and harpoons, and spare
everythings, almost, but a spare Captain and duplicate ship.
At the period of our arrival at the Island, the heaviest storage of the
Pequod had been almost completed; comprising her beef, bread, water, fuel,
and iron hoops and staves. But, as before hinted, for some time there was a
continual fetching and carrying on board of divers odds and ends of things,
both large and small.
Chief among those who did this fetching and carrying was Captain
Bildad’s sister, a lean old lady of a most determined and indefatigable spirit,
but withal very kindhearted, who seemed resolved that, if she could help it,
nothing should be found wanting in the Pequod, after once fairly getting to
sea. At one time she would come on board with a jar of pickles for the
steward’s pantry; another time with a bunch of quills for the chief mate’s
desk, where he kept his log; a third time with a roll of flannel for the small
of some one’s rheumatic back. Never did any woman better deserve her
name, which was Charity—Aunt Charity, as everybody called her. And like
a sister of charity did this charitable Aunt Charity bustle about hither and
thither, ready to turn her hand and heart to anything that promised to yield
safety, comfort, and consolation to all on board a ship in which her beloved
brother Bildad was concerned, and in which she herself owned a score or
two of well-saved dollars.
But it was startling to see this excellent hearted Quakeress coming on
board, as she did the last day, with a long oil-ladle in one hand, and a still
longer whaling lance in the other. Nor was Bildad himself nor Captain
Peleg at all backward. As for Bildad, he carried about with him a long list of
the articles needed, and at every fresh arrival, down went his mark opposite
that article upon the paper. Every once in a while Peleg came hobbling out
of his whalebone den, roaring at the men down the hatchways, roaring up to
the riggers at the mast-head, and then concluded by roaring back into his
wigwam.
During these days of preparation, Queequeg and I often visited the craft,
and as often I asked about Captain Ahab, and how he was, and when he was
going to come on board his ship. To these questions they would answer, that
he was getting better and better, and was expected aboard every day;
meantime, the two Captains, Peleg and Bildad, could attend to everything
necessary to fit the vessel for the voyage. If I had been downright honest
with myself, I would have seen very plainly in my heart that I did but half
fancy being committed this way to so long a voyage, without once laying
my eyes on the man who was to be the absolute dictator of it, so soon as the
ship sailed out upon the open sea. But when a man suspects any wrong, it
sometimes happens that if he be already involved in the matter, he
insensibly strives to cover up his suspicions even from himself. And much
this way it was with me. I said nothing, and tried to think nothing.
At last it was given out that some time next day the ship would certainly
sail. So next morning, Queequeg and I took a very early start.
