CHAPTER 20 All Astir

Adayortwopassed,andtherewasgreatactivityaboardthePequod.Notonlyweretheoldsailsbeingmended,butnewsailswerecomingonboard,andboltsofcanvas,andcoilsofrigging;inshort,everythingbetokenedthattheship'spreparationswerehurryingtoaclose.CaptainPelegseldomorneverwentashore,butsatinhiswigwamkeepingasharplook-outuponthehands:Bildaddidallthepurchasingandprovidingatthestores;andthemenemployedintheholdandontheriggingwereworkingtilllongafternight-fall.

OnthedayfollowingQueequeg'ssigningthearticles,wordwasgivenatalltheinnswheretheship'scompanywerestopping,thattheirchestsmustbeonboardbeforenight,fortherewasnotellinghowsoonthevesselmightbesailing.SoQueequegandIgotdownourtraps,resolving,however,tosleepashoretillthelast.Butitseemstheyalwaysgiveverylongnoticeinthesecases,andtheshipdidnotsailforseveraldays.Butnowonder;therewasagooddealtobedone,andthereisnotellinghowmanythingstobethoughtof,beforethePequodwasfullyequipped.

Everyoneknowswhatamultitudeofthings—beds,sauce-pans,knivesandforks,shovelsandtongs,napkins,nut-crackers,andwhatnot,areindispensabletothebusinessofhousekeeping.Justsowithwhaling,whichnecessitatesathree-years'housekeepinguponthewideocean,farfromallgrocers,costermongers,doctors,bakers,andbankers.Andthoughthisalsoholdstrueofmerchantvessels,yetnotbyanymeanstothesameextentaswithwhalemen.Forbesidesthegreatlengthofthewhalingvoyage,thenumerousarticlespeculiartotheprosecutionofthefishery,andtheimpossibilityofreplacingthemattheremoteharborsusuallyfrequented,itmustberemembered,thatofallships,whalingvesselsarethemostexposedtoaccidentsofallkinds,andespeciallytothedestructionandlossoftheverythingsuponwhichthesuccessofthevoyagemostdepends.Hence,thespareboats,sparespars,andsparelinesandharpoons,andspareeverythings,almost,butaspareCaptainandduplicateship.

AttheperiodofourarrivalattheIsland,theheavieststorageofthePequodhadbeenalmostcompleted;comprisingherbeef,bread,water,fuel,andironhoopsandstaves.But,asbeforehinted,forsometimetherewasacontinualfetchingandcarryingonboardofdiversoddsandendsofthings,bothlargeandsmall.

ChiefamongthosewhodidthisfetchingandcarryingwasCaptainBildad'ssister,aleanoldladyofamostdeterminedandindefatigablespirit,butwithalverykindhearted,whoseemedresolvedthat,ifshecouldhelpit,nothingshouldbefoundwantinginthePequod,afteroncefairlygettingtosea.Atonetimeshewouldcomeonboardwithajarofpicklesforthesteward'spantry;anothertimewithabunchofquillsforthechiefmate'sdesk,wherehekepthislog;athirdtimewitharollofflannelforthesmallofsomeone'srheumaticback.Neverdidanywomanbetterdeservehername,whichwasCharity—AuntCharity,aseverybodycalledher.AndlikeasisterofcharitydidthischaritableAuntCharitybustleabouthitherandthither,readytoturnherhandandhearttoanythingthatpromisedtoyieldsafety,comfort,andconsolationtoallonboardashipinwhichherbelovedbrotherBildadwasconcerned,andinwhichsheherselfownedascoreortwoofwell-saveddollars.

ButitwasstartlingtoseethisexcellentheartedQuakeresscomingonboard,asshedidthelastday,withalongoil-ladleinonehand,andastilllongerwhalinglanceintheother.NorwasBildadhimselfnorCaptainPelegatallbackward.AsforBildad,hecarriedaboutwithhimalonglistofthearticlesneeded,andateveryfresharrival,downwenthismarkoppositethatarticleuponthepaper.EveryonceinawhilePelegcamehobblingoutofhiswhaleboneden,roaringatthemendownthehatchways,roaringuptotheriggersatthemast-head,andthenconcludedbyroaringbackintohiswigwam.

Duringthesedaysofpreparation,QueequegandIoftenvisitedthecraft,andasoftenIaskedaboutCaptainAhab,andhowhewas,andwhenhewasgoingtocomeonboardhisship.Tothesequestionstheywouldanswer,thathewasgettingbetterandbetter,andwasexpectedaboardeveryday;meantime,thetwocaptains,PelegandBildad,couldattendtoeverythingnecessarytofitthevesselforthevoyage.IfIhadbeendownrighthonestwithmyself,IwouldhaveseenveryplainlyinmyheartthatIdidbuthalffancybeingcommittedthiswaytosolongavoyage,withoutoncelayingmyeyesonthemanwhowastobetheabsolutedictatorofit,sosoonastheshipsailedoutupontheopensea.Butwhenamansuspectsanywrong,itsometimeshappensthatifhebealreadyinvolvedinthematter,heinsensiblystrivestocoveruphissuspicionsevenfromhimself.Andmuchthiswayitwaswithme.Isaidnothing,andtriedtothinknothing.

Atlastitwasgivenoutthatsometimenextdaytheshipwouldcertainlysail.Sonextmorning,QueequegandItookaveryearlystart.