Chương Chương 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.