“Rig it, carpenter; do not look at me so — the coffin, I mean. Dost thou hear me?

Rig it.”

“And shall I nail down the lid, sir?” moving his hand as with a hammer.

“Aye.”

“And shall I caulk the seams, sir?” moving his hand as with a caulking-iron.

“Aye.”

“And shall I then pay over the same with pitch, sir?” moving his hand as with a pitch-pot.

“Away! What possesses thee to this? Make a life-buoy of the coffin, and no more.

— Mr. Stubb, Mr. Flask, come forward with me.”