Curse thee, thou quadrant!"
dashing it to the deck, "no longer will I guide my earthly way
by thee; the level ship's compass, and the level deadreckoning,
by log and by line; these shall conduct me, and show me my place
on the sea. Aye," lighting from the boat to the deck, "thus I
trample on thee, thou paltry thing that feebly pointest on high;
thus I split and destroy thee!"
As the frantic old man thus spoke and thus trampled with his live
and dead feet, a sneering triumph that seemed meant for Ahab,
and a fatalistic despair that seemed meant for himself--
these passed over the mute, motionless Parsee's face.
Unobserved he rose and glided away; while, awestruck by the aspect
of their commander, the seamen clustered together on the forecastle,
till Ahab, troubledly pacing the deck, shouted out--"To the braces!
Up helm!--square in!"
In an instant the yards swung round; and as the ship half-wheeled
upon her heel, her three firm-seated graceful masts erectly poised
upon her long, ribbed hull, seemed as the three Horatii pirouetting
on one sufficient steed.
Standing between the knight-heads, Starbuck watched the Pequod's
tumultuous way, and Ahab's also, as he went lurching along the deck.
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