But when he was helped to the deck, all eyes were fastened upon him;
as instead of standing by himself he still half-hung upon the shoulder
of Starbuck, who had thus far been the foremost to assist him.
His ivory leg had been snapped off, leaving but one short sharp splinter.
"Aye, aye, Starbuck, 'tis sweet to lean sometimes, be the leaner
who he will; and would old Ahab had leaned oftener than he has."
"The ferrule has not stood, sir," said the carpenter, now coming up;
I put good work into that leg."
"But no bones broken, sir, I hope," said Stubb with true concern.
"Aye! and all splintered to pieces, Stubb!--d'ye see it.--
But even with a broken bone, old Ahab is untouched; and I account
no living bone of mine one jot more me, than this dead one
that's lost. Nor white whale, nor man, nor fiend, can so much
as graze old Ahab in his own proper and inaccessible being.
Can any lead touch yonder floor, any mast scrape yonder roof?--
Aloft there! which way?"
"Dead to leeward, sir."
"Up helm, then; pile on the sail again, ship keepers! down
the rest of the spare boats and rig them--Mr. Starbuck away,
and muster the boat's crews."
"Let me first help thee towards the bulwarks, sir.
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