Моби Дик

The Grand Armada

           HadtheseLeviathansbeenbutaflockofsimplesheep,pursuedoverthepasturebythreefiercewolves,theycouldnotpossiblyhaveevincedsuchexcessivedismay.Butthisoccasionaltimidityischaracteristicofalmostallherdingcreatures.Thoughbandingtogetherintensofthousands,thelion-manedbuffaloesoftheWesthavefledbeforeasolitaryhorseman.Witness,too,allhumanbeings,howwhenherdedtogetherinthesheepfoldofatheatre’spit,theywill,attheslightestalarmoffire,rushhelter-skelterfortheoutlets,crowding,trampling,jamming,andremorselesslydashingeachothertodeath.Best,therefore,withholdanyamazementatthestrangelygalliedwhalesbeforeus,forthereisnofollyofthebeastoftheearthwhichisnotinfinitelyoutdonebythemadnessofmen.

           Thoughmanyofthewhales,ashasbeensaid,wereinviolentmotion,yetitistobeobservedthatasawholetheherdneitheradvancednorretreated,butcollectivelyremainedinoneplace.Asiscustomaryinthosecases,theboatsatonceseparated,eachmakingforsomeonelonewhaleontheoutskirtsoftheshoal.Inaboutthreeminutes’time,Queequeg’sharpoonwasflung;thestrickenfishdartedblindingsprayinfaces,andthenrunningawaywithuslikelight,steeredstraightfortheheartoftheherd.Thoughsuchamovementonthepartofthewhalestruckundersuchcircumstances,isinnowiseunprecedented;andindeedisalmostalwaysmoreorlessanticipated;yetdoesitpresentoneofthemoreperilousvicissitudesofthefishery.

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