“Shipmates, have ye shipped in that ship
?
”
Queequeg and I had just left the Pequod, and were sauntering away
from the water, … when the above words were put to us by a stranger,
who, pausing before us, leveled his massive forefinger at the vessel in
question.
With finger pointed and eye leveled at the Pequod, the beggar-like
stranger stood a moment, as if in troubled reverie; then starting a little,
turned and said: - “Ye’ve shipped, have ye? Names down on the papers?
Well, well, what’s signed, is signed; and what’s to be, will be; …Morning
to ye, shipmates, morning; the ineffable heavens bless ye; I’m sorry I
stopped ye.”
“Ah, my dear fellow, you can’t fool us that way - you can’t fool us.
It is the easiest thing in the world for a man to look as if he has a
great secret in him.”
“Morning to ye, shipmates, morning.”
“Morning, it is,” said I. “Come along, Queequeg, let’s leave this crazy
man. But stop, tell me your name, will you?”
“Elijah.” (Chapter 19
— The Prophet) |