The Pequod's Harpooners

Starbuck, stubb and flask commanded three of the pequods boats as headsmen. They were armed with their long keen whaling spears,. even as the harpooners were flingers of javelins. First was queequeg, whom starbuck, the chief mate, had selected for his squire. Next was tashtigo, an unmixed indian from gayhead on Martha's Vineyard. The last remnant of a village of indians which supplied nantucket with many of her most daring harpooners in the fishery.