truth as touching thyself, O Parsee; but, Ahab, there thy shot fell short.

Good-bye, mast-head — keep a good eye upon the whale, the while I’m gone. We’ll talk to-morrow, nay, to-night, when the white whale lies down there, tied by head and tail.”

He gave the word; and still gazing round him, was steadily lowered through the cloven blue air to the deck.

In due time the boats were lowered; but as standing in his shallop’s stern, Ahab just hovered upon the point of the descent, he waved to the mate, — who held one of the tackle-ropes on deck — and bade him pause.

“Starbuck!”

“Sir?”

“For the third time my soul’s