Well, he was at home, and asked the devil what he wanted.
The devil, switching his hoofs, up and says, 'I want John.' 'What for?'
says the old governor. 'What business is that of yours,' says the devil,
getting mad,--'I want to use him.' 'Take him,' says the governor--
and by the Lord, Flask, if the devil didn't give John the Asiatic cholera
before he got through with him, I'll eat this whale in one mouthful.
But look sharp--ain't you all ready there? Well, then, pull ahead,
and let's get the whale alongside."
"I think I remember some such story as you were telling," said Flask,
when at last the two boats were slowly advancing with their burden
towards the ship, "but I can't remember where."
"Three Spaniards? Adventures of those three bloody-minded soldadoes?
Did ye read it there, Flask? I guess ye did?"
"No: never saw such a book; heard of it, though. But now,
tell me, Stubb, do you suppose that that devil you was speaking
of just now, was the same you say is now on board the Pequod?"
"Am I the same man that helped kill this whale? Doesn't the devil
live for ever; who ever heard that the devil was dead?
Did you ever see any parson a wearing mourning for the devil?
And if the devil has a latch-key to get into the admiral's
cabin, don't you suppose he can crawl into a porthole?
Tell me that, Mr.
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