O, Thou Omniscient

Ahab's harpoon, the one forged at perth's fire, remained firmly lashed in its conspicuous crotch so that it projected beyond his whale boat's bow. But the sea that had stove its bottom had caused the loose leather sheaf to drop off. And from the keen steel barb there now came a levelled flame of pale forked fire as the silent harpoon burned there like a serpent's tongue. Petrified by his aspect and still more shrinking from the fiery dart that he held, the men fell back in dismay. Starbuck grasped ahab by the arm. God, god is against thee, old man. Forbear tis an ill voyage ill begun, ill continued.