"
Hurriedly turning, with averted face, he descended into
his cabin, leaving the strange captain transfixed at this
unconditional and utter rejection of his so earnest suit.
But starting from his enchantment, Gardiner silently hurried
to the side; more fell than stepped into his boat, and returned
to his ship.
Soon the two ships diverged their wakes; and long as the strange
vessel was in view, she was seen to yaw hither and thither at every
dark spot, however small, on the sea. This way and that her yards
were swung around; starboard and larboard, she continued to tack;
now she beat against a head sea; and again it pushed her before it;
while all the while, her masts and yards were thickly clustered
with men, as three tall cherry trees, when the boys are cherrying
among the boughs.
But by her still halting course and winding, woeful way, you plainly saw
that this ship that so wept with spray, still remained without comfort.
She was Rachel, weeping for her children, because they were not.
CHAPTER 129
The Cabin
(Ahab moving to go on deck; Pip catches him by the hand to follow.)
Lad, lad, I tell thee thou must not follow Ahab now.
The hour is coming when Ahab would not scare thee from him,
yet would not have thee by him.
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