CHAPTER 20

  All Astir

  A day or two passed, and there was great activity aboard the Pequod.

Not only were the old sails being mended, but new sails were coming on

board, and bolts of canvas, and coils of rigging; in short, everything

betokened that the ship's preparations were hurrying to a close.

Captain Peleg seldom or never went ashore, but sat in his wigwam

keeping a sharp look-out upon the hands: Bildad did all the purchasing

and providing at the stores; and the men employed in the hold and on

the rigging were working till long after night-fall.

  On the day following Queequeg's signing the articles, word was given

at all the inns where the ship's company were stopping, that their

chests must be on board before night, for there was no telling how

soon the vessel might be sailing. So Queequeg and I got down our

traps, resolving, however, to sleep ashore till the last. But it seems

they always give very long notice in these cases, and the ship did not

sail for several days. But no wonder; there was a good deal to be

done, and there is no telling how many things to be thought of, before

the Pequod was fully equipped.

  Every one knows what a multitude of things- beds, sauce-pans, knives

and forks, shovels and tongs, napkins, nut-crackers, and what not, are

indispensable to the business of housekeeping. Just so with whaling,

which necessitates a three-years' housekeeping upon the wide ocean,

far from all grocers, costermongers, doctors, bakers, and bankers. And

though this also holds true of merchant vessels, yet not by any

means to the same extent as with whalemen. For besides the great

length of the whaling voyage, the numerous articles peculiar to the

prosecution of the fishery, and the impossibility of replacing them at

the remote harbors usually frequented, it must be remembered, that

of all ships, whaling vessels are the most exposed to accidents of all

kinds, and especially to the destruction and loss of the very things

upon which the success of the voyage most depends. Hence, the spare

boats, spare spars, and spare lines and harpoons, and spare

everythings, almost, but a spare Captain and duplicate ship.

  At the period of our arrival at the Island, the heaviest storage

of the Pequod had been almost completed; comprising her beef, bread,

water, fuel, and iron hoops and staves. But, as before hinted, for

some time there was a continual fetching and carrying on board of

divers odds and ends of things, both large and small.

  Chief among those who did this fetching and carrying was Captain

Bildad's sister, a lean old lady of a most determined and

indefatigable spirit, but withal very kindhearted, who seemed resolved

that, if she could help it, nothing should be found wanting in the

Pequod, after once fairly getting to sea. At one time she would come

on board with a jar of pickles for the steward's pantry; another

time with a bunch of quills for the chief mate's desk, where he kept

his log; a third time with a roll of flannel for the small of some

one's rheumatic back. Never did any woman better deserve her name,

which was Charity- Aunt Charity, as everybody called her. And like a

sister of charity did this charitable Aunt Charity bustle about hither

and thither, ready to turn her hand and heart to anything that

promised to yield safety, comfort, and consolation to all on board a

ship in which her beloved brother Bildad was concerned, and in which

she herself owned a score or two of well-saved dollars.

  But it was startling to see this excellent hearted Quakeress

coming on board, as she did the last day, with a long oil-ladle in one

hand, and still longer whaling lance in the other. Nor was Bildad

himself nor Captain Peleg at all backward. As for Bildad, he carried

about with him a long list of the articles needed, and at every

fresh arrival, down went his mark opposite that article upon the

paper. Every once in a while Peleg came hobbling out of his

whalebone den, roaring at the men down the hatchways, roaring up to

the riggers at the mast-head, and then concluded by roaring back

into his wigwam.

  During these days of preparation, Queequeg and I often visited the

craft, and as often I asked about Captain Ahab, and how he was, and

when he was going to come on board his ship. To these questions they

would answer, that he was getting better and better, and was

expected aboard every day; meantime, the two captains, Peleg and

Bildad, could attend to everything necessary to fit the vessel for the

voyage. If I had been downright honest with myself, I would have

seen very plainly in my heart that I did but half fancy being

committed this way to so long a voyage, without once laying my eyes on

the man who was to be absolute dictator of it, so soon as the ship

sailed out upon the open sea. But when a man suspects any wrong, it

sometimes happens that if he be already involved in the matter, he

insensibly strives to cover up his suspicions even from himself. And

much this way it was with me. I said nothing, and tried to think

nothing.

  At last it was given out that some time next day the ship would

certainly sail. So next morning, Queequeg and I took a very early

start.