There, then, he sat, holding up that imbecile candle in the heart
of that almighty forlornness. There, then, he sat, the sign
and symbol of a man without faith, hopelessly holding up hope
in the midst of despair.
Wet, drenched through, and shivering cold, despairing of ship or boat,
we lifted up our eyes as the dawn came on. The mist still spread
over the sea, the empty lantern lay crushed in the bottom of the boat.
Suddenly Queequeg started to his feet, hollowing his hand to his ear.
We all heard a faint creaking, as of ropes and yards hitherto muffled
by the storm. The sound came nearer and nearer; the thick mists were
dimly parted by a huge, vague form. Affrighted, we all sprang into
the sea as the ship at last loomed into view, bearing right down upon
us within a distance of not much more than its length.
Floating on the waves we saw the abandoned boat, as for one
instant it tossed and gaped beneath the ship's bows like a chip
at the base of a cataract; and then the vast hull rolled over it,
and it was seen no more till it came up weltering astern.
Again we swam for it, were dashed against it by the seas,
and were at last taken up and safely landed on board.
Ere the squall came close to, the other boats had cut loose
from their fish and returned to the ship in good time.
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