If you have never seen that sight, then suspend your decision
about the propriety of devil-worship, and the expediency of
conciliating the devil.
But, as yet, Stubb heeded not the mumblings of the banquet
that was going on so nigh him, no more than the sharks heeded
the smacking of his own epicurean lips.
"Cook, cook!--where's that old Fleece?" he cried at length,
widening his legs still further, as if to form a more secure
base for his supper; and, at the same time darting his fork
into the dish, as if stabbing with his lance; "cook, you cook!--
sail this way, cook!"
The old black, not in any very high glee at having been previously
routed from his warm hammock at a most unseasonable hour,
came shambling along from his galley, for, like many old blacks,
there was something the matter with his knee-pans, which he did
not keep well scoured like his other pans; this old Fleece,
as they called him, came shuffling and limping along, assisting his
step with his tongs, which, after a clumsy fashion, were made
of straightened iron hoops; this old Ebony floundered along,
and in obedience to the word of command, came to a dead stop
on the opposite side of Stubb's sideboard; when, with both hands
folded before him, and resting on his two-legged cane, he bowed
his arched back still further over, at the same time sideways
inclining his head, so as to bring his best ear into play.
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