"Clear away the boats! Luff!" cried Ahab. And obeying his own order,
he dashed the helm down before the helmsman could handle the spokes.
The sudden exclamations of the crew must have alarmed the whale; and ere
the boats were down, majestically turning, he swam away to the leeward,
but with such a steady tranquillity, and making so few ripples as he swam,
that thinking after all he might not as yet be alarmed, Ahab gave orders
that not an oar should be used, and no man must speak but in whispers.
So seated like Ontario Indians on the gunwales of the boats,
we swiftly but silently paddled along; the calm not admitting of
the noiseless sails being set. Presently, as we thus glided in chase,
the monster perpendicularly flitted his tail forty feet into the air,
and then sank out of sight like a tower swallowed up.
"There go flukes!" was the cry, an announcement immediately
followed by Stubb's producing his match and igniting his pipe,
for now a respite was granted. After the full interval of his
sounding had elapsed, the whale rose again, and being now in advance
of the smoker's boat, and much nearer to it than to any of the others,
Stubb counted upon the honor of the capture.
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