Yes, here were
a set of sea-dogs, many of whom without the slightest bashfulness
had boarded great whales on the high seas--entire strangers to them--
and duelled them dead without winking; and yet, here they
sat at a social breakfast table--all of the same calling,
all of kindred tastes--looking round as sheepishly at each other
as though they had never been out of sight of some sheepfold
among the Green Mountains. A curious sight; these bashful bears,
these timid warrior whalemen!
But as for Queequeg--why, Queequeg sat there among them--
at the head of the table, too, it so chanced; as cool as an icicle.
To be sure I cannot say much for his breeding. His greatest
admirer could not have cordially justified his bringing his harpoon
into breakfast with him, and using it there without ceremony;
reaching over the table with it, to the imminent jeopardy
of many heads, and grappling the beefsteaks towards him.
But that was certainly very coolly done by him, and every one
knows that in most people's estimation, to do anything coolly
is to do it genteelly.
We will not speak of all Queequeg's peculiarities here;
how he eschewed coffee and hot rolls, and applied his undivided
attention to beefsteaks, done rare.
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