There's a
most special, a most cunning, oh, a most malicious difference!
And yet, I say again, and swear it now, that there's something
all glorious and gracious in the wind. These warm Trade Winds,
at least, that in the clear heavens blow straight on, in strong
and steadfast, vigorous mildness; and veer not from their mark,
however the baser currents of the sea may turn and tack,
and mightiest Mississippies of the land swift and swerve about,
uncertain where to go at last. And by the eternal Poles!
these same Trades that so directly blow my good ship on;
these Trades, or something like them--something so unchangeable,
and full as strong, blow my keeled soul along! To it! Aloft there!
What d'ye see?"
"Nothing, sir."
"Nothing! and noon at hand! The doubloon goes a-begging! See
the sun! Aye, aye, it must be so. I've over-sailed him.
How, got the start? Aye, he's chasing me now; not I, him--
that's bad; I might have known it, too. Fool! the lines--
the harpoons he's towing. Aye, aye, I have run him by last night.
About! about! Come down, all of ye, but the regular look outs!
Man the braces!"
Steering as she had done, the wind had been somewhat on the
Pequod's quarter, so that now being pointed in the reverse direction,
the braced ship sailed hard upon the breeze as she rechurned
the cream in her own white wake.
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