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 a 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.
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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 the
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.