And thereby whalemen distinguish this
fish from other tribes of his genus.
"There go flukes!" was now the cry from Tashtego;
and the whales disappeared.
"Quick, steward!" cried Ahab. "Time! time!"
Dough-Boy hurried below, glanced at the watch, and reported the exact
minute to Ahab.
The ship was now kept away from the wind, and she went gently
rolling before it. Tashtego reporting that the whales
had gone down heading to leeward, we confidently looked
to see them again directly in advance of our bows.
For that singular craft at times evinced by the Sperm Whale when,
sounding with his head in one direction, he nevertheless,
while concealed beneath the surface, mills around, and swiftly
swims off in the opposite quarter--this deceitfulness of his
could not now be in action; for there was no reason to suppose
that the fish seen by Tashtego had been in any way alarmed,
or indeed knew at all of our vicinity. One of the men selected
for shipkeepers--that is, those not appointed to the boats,
by this time relieved the Indian at the main-mast head.
The sailors at the fore and mizzen had come down; the line
tubs were fixed in their places; the cranes were thrust out;
the mainyard was backed, and the three boats swung over
the sea like three samphire baskets over high cliffs.
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