“What soulless thing is this that laughs before a wreck?  Man, man! did I not know thee brave as fearless fire (and as mechanical) I could swear thou wert a poltroon.  Groan nor laugh should be heard before a wreck.”

“Aye, sir,” said Starbuck drawing near, “’tis a solemn sight; an omen, and an ill one.”

“Omen? omen?—­the dictionary!  If the gods think to speak outright to man, they will honorably speak outright; not shake their heads, and give an old wives’ darkling hint.—­Begone!  Ye two are the opposite poles of one thing; Starbuck is Stubb reversed, and Stubb is Starbuck; and ye two are all mankind; and Ahab stands alone among the millions of the peopled earth, nor gods nor men his neighbors!  Cold, cold—­I shiver!—­How now?  Aloft there!  D’ye see him?  Sing out for every spout, though he spout ten times a second!”

The day was nearly done; only the hem of his golden robe was rustling.  Soon it was almost dark, but the look-out men still remained unset.

“Can’t see the spout now, sir;—­too dark”—­cried a voice from the air.

“How heading when last seen?”

“As before, sir,—­straight to leeward.”

“Good! he will travel slower now ’tis night.  Down royals and top-gallant stunsails, Mr. Starbuck.  We must not run over him before morning; he’s making a passage now, and may heave-to a while.  Helm there! keep her full before the wind!—­Aloft! come down!—­ Mr. Stubb, send a fresh hand to the fore-mast head, and see it manned till morning.”—­Then advancing towards the doubloon in the main-mast—­“Men, this gold is mine, for I earned it; but I shall let it abide here till the White Whale is dead; and then, whosoever of ye first raises him, upon the day he shall be killed, this gold is that man’s; and if on that day I shall again raise him, then, ten times its sum shall be divided among all of ye!  Away now! the deck is thine, sir!”

And so saying, he placed himself half way within the scuttle, and slouching his hat, stood there till dawn, except when at intervals rousing himself to see how the night wore on.

CHAPTER 134

The Chase — Second Day

At day-break, the three mast-heads were punctually manned afresh.

“D’ye see him?” cried Ahab after allowing a little space for the light to spread.

“See nothing, sir.”

“Turn up all hands and make sail! he travels faster than I thought for;—­ the top-gallant sails!—­aye, they should have been kept on her all night.  But no matter—­’tis but resting for the rush.”