Ahab, Captain Ahab's Harpoon

Captain ahab asked Perth to forge 12 rods for the harpoon's shank. Ahab stayed his hand and said he would weld his own iron as then, with regular gasping hems, he hammered on the anvil. When at last the 12 rods were made, ahab tried them one by one by spiralling them with his own hand round a long, heavy iron bolt. The scalding steam shot up into ahab's bent face. Wouldst thou brand me perth? Then pray god, not that yet. For i now neither shave sup nor pray till but here to work."