He added,
that he shuddered at the thought of being buried in his hammock,
according to the usual sea-custom, tossed like something vile
to the death-devouring sharks. No: he desired a canoe like those
of Nantucket, all the more congenial to him, being a whaleman,
that like a whale-boat these coffin-canoes were without a keel;
though that involved but uncertain steering, and much lee-way
adown the dim ages.
Now, when this strange circumstance was made known aft,
the carpenter was at once commanded to do Queequeg's bidding,
whatever it might include. There was some heathenish,
coffin-colored old lumber aboard, which, upon a long previous voyage,
had been cut from the aboriginal groves of the Lackaday islands,
and from these dark planks the coffin was recommended to be made.
No sooner was the carpenter apprised of the order, than taking
his rule, he forthwith with all the indifferent promptitude
of his character, proceeded into the forecastle and took
Queequeg's measure with great accuracy, regularly chalking
Queequeg's person as he shifted the rule.
"Ah! poor fellow! he'll have to die now," ejaculated the
Long Island sailor.
Going to his vice-bench, the carpenter for convenience sake
and general reference, now transferringly measured on it
the exact length the coffin was to be, and then made the transfer
permanent by cutting two notches at its extremities.
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