CHAPTER 14 Nantucket

Nothingmorehappenedonthepassageworthythementioning;so,afterafinerun,wesafelyarrivedinNantucket.

Nantucket!Takeoutyourmapandlookatit.Seewhatarealcorneroftheworlditoccupies;howitstandsthere,awayoffshore,morelonelythantheEddystonelighthouse.Lookatit—amerehillock,andelbowofsand;allbeach,withoutabackground.Thereismoresandtherethanyouwoulduseintwentyyearsasasubstituteforblottingpaper.Somegamesomewightswilltellyouthattheyhavetoplantweedsthere,theydon'tgrownaturally;thattheyimportCanadathistles;thattheyhavetosendbeyondseasforaspiletostopaleakinanoilcask;thatpiecesofwoodinNantucketarecarriedaboutlikebitsofthetruecrossinRome;thatpeoplethereplanttoadstoolsbeforetheirhouses,togetundertheshadeinsummertime;thatonebladeofgrassmakesanoasis,threebladesinaday'swalkaprairie;thattheywearquicksandshoes,somethinglikeLaplandersnow-shoes;thattheyaresoshutup,beltedabout,everywayinclosed,surrounded,andmadeanutterislandofbytheocean,thattotheirverychairsandtablessmallclamswillsometimesbefoundadhering,astothebacksofseaturtles.ButtheseextravaganzasonlyshowthatNantucketisnoIllinois.

Looknowatthewondroustraditionalstoryofhowthisislandwassettledbythered-men.Thusgoesthelegend.InoldentimesaneagleswoopeddownupontheNewEnglandcoast,andcarriedoffaninfantIndianinhistalons.Withloudlamenttheparentssawtheirchildborneoutofsightoverthewidewaters.Theyresolvedtofollowinthesamedirection.Settingoutintheircanoes,afteraperilouspassagetheydiscoveredtheisland,andtheretheyfoundanemptyivorycasket,—thepoorlittleIndian'sskeleton.

Whatwonder,then,thattheseNantucketers,bornonabeach,shouldtaketotheseaforalivelihood!Theyfirstcaughtcrabsandquohogsinthesand;grownbolder,theywadedoutwithnetsformackerel;moreexperienced,theypushedoffinboatsandcapturedcod;andatlast,launchinganavyofgreatshipsonthesea,exploredthiswateryworld;putanincessantbeltofcircumnavigationsroundit;peepedinatBehring'sStraits;andinallseasonsandalloceansdeclaredeverlastingwarwiththemightiestanimatedmassthathassurvivedtheflood;mostmonstrousandmostmountainous!ThatHimmalehan,salt-seaMastodon,clothedwithsuchportentousnessofunconsciouspower,thathisverypanicsaremoretobedreadedthanhismostfearlessandmaliciousassaults!

AndthushavethesenakedNantucketers,theseseahermits,issuingfromtheirant-hillinthesea,overrunandconqueredthewateryworldlikesomanyAlexanders;parcellingoutamongthemtheAtlantic,Pacific,andIndianoceans,asthethreepiratepowersdidPoland.LetAmericaaddMexicotoTexas,andpileCubauponCanada;lettheEnglishoverswarmallIndia,andhangouttheirblazingbannerfromthesun;twothirdsofthisterraqueousglobearetheNantucketer's.Fortheseaishis;heownsit,asEmperorsownempires;otherseamenhavingbutarightofwaythroughit.Merchantshipsarebutextensionbridges;armedonesbutfloatingforts;evenpiratesandprivateers,thoughfollowingtheseaashighwaymentheroad,theybutplunderotherships,otherfragmentsofthelandlikethemselves,withoutseekingtodrawtheirlivingfromthebottomlessdeepitself.TheNantucketer,healoneresidesandriotsonthesea;healone,inBiblelanguage,goesdowntoitinships;toandfroploughingitashisownspecialplantation.Thereishishome;therelieshisbusiness,whichaNoah'sfloodwouldnotinterrupt,thoughitoverwhelmedallthemillionsinChina.Helivesonthesea,asprairiecocksintheprairie;hehidesamongthewaves,heclimbsthemaschamoishuntersclimbtheAlps.Foryearsheknowsnottheland;sothatwhenhecomestoitatlast,itsmellslikeanotherworld,morestrangelythanthemoonwouldtoanEarthsman.Withthelandlessgull,thatatsunsetfoldsherwingsandisrockedtosleepbetweenbillows;soatnightfall,theNantucketer,outofsightofland,furlshissails,andlayshimtohisrest,whileunderhisverypillowrushherdsofwalrusesandwhales.