Moby Dick by Herman Melville Chapter 9 Page 9

coins for the apprehension of a parricide, and containing a description of his person.

He reads, and looks from Jonah to the bill; while all his sympathetic shipmates now crowd round Jonah, prepared to lay their hands upon him. Frighted Jonah trembles, and summoning all his boldness to his face, only looks so much the more a coward. He will not confess himself suspected; but that itself is strong suspicion. So he makes the best of it; and when the sailors find him not to be the man that is advertised, they let him pass, and he descends into the cabin.

“‘Who’s there?’ cries the Captain at his busy desk, hurriedly making out his papers for the Customs — ‘Who’s there?’ Oh!

How that harmless question mangles Jonah! For the instant he almost turns to flee again. But he rallies.