Ship Accidents Like This Have Happened Before, Mister Starbuck

Ahab caught one glimpse of the compasses, his uplifted arm slowly fell. For a moment, he almost seemed to stagger. Standing behind him, starbuck looked and lo, the two compasses pointed east,. The pequod was, as infallably, going west. But ere the first wild alarm could get out abroad among the crew, the old man, with a rigid laugh, exclaimed: i have it it has happened before, mister starbuck. Last night's thunder turned our compasses. That's all thou hast before.