第五十章 Ahab’s Boat and Crew. Fedallah.
This chapter examines the preparations for Ahab’s personal participation in the whale hunt, focusing on his modified whaleboat, secret crew, and the enigmatic figure Fedallah.
Stubb and Flask Discuss Ahab’s Leg
Stubb expresses amazement that the one-legged Captain Ahab would still venture into a whaleboat. Flask counters that since Ahab still has one knee and part of the other leg, he is not entirely disabled. Stubb admits he has never seen Ahab kneel.
The Captain’s Peril in the Chase
The chapter considers the debate among whalemen about whether a captain should risk his life in the active perils of the chase, given his paramount importance to the voyage’s success. The text draws parallels to Tamerlane’s soldiers arguing about carrying their leader into battle. However, Ahab sees this differently, recognizing that a maimed man in a whale-boat faces extraordinary dangers at every moment.
Ahab’s Private Boat Preparations
Ahab secretly prepares his own whaleboat without requesting permission from the Pequod’s owners. He fashions thole-pins with his own hands and cuts small wooden skewers used for pinning the line in the bow. He also ensures an extra coat of sheathing is applied to the boat’s bottom.
The Secret Boat Crew
Though Ahab knows the owners would never sanction assigning him a boat crew as a regular headsman, he takes private measures to assemble one. The sailors only realize something unusual is happening after Cabaco makes a discovery aboard the ship.
Mysterious Crew Members on Whalers
The narrative explains that whalers often pick up strange castaways and crew members from various corners of the earth. These “floating outlaws” include people found on planks, wreckage, canoes, and blown-off Japanese junks, so the crew does not become excessively excited about unusual new arrivals.
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