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Stubb saw him pause ; and perhaps intending , not vainly , though , to evince his own unabated fortitude , and thus keep up a valiant place in his Captain’s mind , he advanced , and eyeing the wreck exclaimed — “ The thistle the ass refused ; it pricked his mouth too keenly , sir ; ha ! ha ! ” “ 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 stun - sails , 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 . ”
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