Shake yourself; you're Aquarius,
or the water-bearer, Flask; might fill pitchers at your
coat collar. Don't you see, then, that for these extra
risks the Marine Insurance companies have extra guarantees?
Here are hydrants, Flask. But hark, again, and I'll answer
ye the other thing. First take your leg off from the crown
of the anchor here, though, so I can pass the rope; now listen.
What's the mighty difference between holding a mast's
lightning-rod in the storm, and standing close by a mast
that hasn't got any lightning-rod at all in a storm?
Don't you see, you timber-head, that no harm can come
to the holder of the rod, unless the mast is first struck?
What are you talking about, then? Not one ship in a hundred
carries rods, and Ahab,--aye, man, and all of us,--were in no
more danger then, in my poor opinion, than all the crews in ten
thousand ships now sailing the seas. Why, you King-Post, you,
I suppose you would have every man in the world go about with a small
lightning-rod running up the corner of his hat, like a militia
officer's skewered feather, and trailing behind like his sash.
Why don't ye be sensible, Flask? it's easy to be sensible;
why don't ye, then? any man with half an eye can be sensible.
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