“He goes aft.

That was sudden, now; but squalls come sudden in hot latitudes. I’ve heard that the Isle of Albemarle, one of the Gallipagos, is cut by the Equator right in the middle. Seems to me some sort of Equator cuts yon old man, too, right in his middle. He’s always under the Line — fiery hot, I tell ye! He’s looking this way — come, oakum; quick. Here we go again. This wooden mallet is the cork, and I’m the professor of musical glasses — tap, tap!”

(Ahab to himself.)

“There’s a sight!

There’s a sound! The greyheaded woodpecker tapping the hollow tree! Blind and dumb might well be envied now. See! That thing rests on two line-tubs, full of tow-lines. A most malicious wag, that fellow. Rat-tat! So man’s