The Rods, Cried Starbuck, to the Crew

Lightning rods are not always overboard, but generally made in long, slender links. The rod to a spire on shore is intended to carry off the perilous fluid into the soil. But as this conductor must descend to considerable depth that its end may avoid all contact with the hull,. if kept constantly towing there, it would be liable to many mishaps and impeding vessel's way in water. To sailors, oaths are household words. They wil swear in the trance of the calm and in the teeth of the tempest. In all my voyagings, seldom have i heard a common oath when god's burning finger has been laid on the ship. When his mean, mean