Moby Dick; Or, The Whale

Other Boats Return to Ship Early

Before the squall struck, the other boats had cut loose from their fish and returned to the ship in good time, escaping the storm’s worst.

Ship Cruises for Missing Crew

Having given up the missing crew for lost, the ship had nonetheless continued cruising in hope of finding some token of their fate, such as a drifting oar or lance pole, which is what led to their timely rescue.

第四十九章 The Hyena.

The passage explores the philosophical mindset that develops in extreme danger, particularly among whalemen. When facing mortality, the narrator describes how one may perceive the entire universe as a practical joke, swallowing all adversities with the resignation of an ostrich digesting bullets. These grimly humorous perspectives emerge during moments of intense tribulation, transforming even the gravest concerns into parts of a cosmic jest. The narrator applies this “desperado philosophy” to the Pequod’s voyage and the pursuit of the White Whale.

第四十九章 The Hyena.

The narrator recounts a conversation with Queequeg and Stubb after being dragged onto the deck, seeking confirmation about the dangerous practices of whaling. When questioning whether it is truly standard practice for oarsmen to row headfirst into danger, Stubb casually confirms that such recklessness is expected, recalling launches from leaking ships in Cape Horn gales. Flask adds dark humor about the impossibility of backing water toward a whale’s face. Considering the frequency of disaster, the unreliability of boat steering, and Starbuck’s driving the boat into a squall despite his reputation for prudence, the narrator decides to draft his will below. Sailors, it seems, are particularly fond of this pastime. Completing the will brings relief—a rolled-away stone from the heart. The narrator feels renewed, as if Lazarus after resurrection, his own death already “locked up in chest,” ready to proceed with a collected resolve toward danger.