compass meanwhile, lo! A good sign! The wind seemed coming round astern; aye, the foul breeze became fair!

Instantly the yards were squared, to the lively song of “Ho! The fair wind! Oh-ye-ho, cheerly men!” the crew singing for joy, that so promising an event should so soon have falsified the evil portents preceding it.

In compliance with the standing order of his commander — to report immediately, and at ANYONE of the twenty-four hours, any decided change in the affairs of the deck, — Starbuck had no sooner trimmed the yards to the breeze — however reluctantly and gloomily, — than he mechanically went below to apprise Captain Ahab of the circumstance.

Ere knocking at his state-room, he involuntarily paused before it a moment. The cabin lamp —