Supper concluded, we received a lamp, and directions
from Mrs. Hussey concerning the nearest way to bed;
but, as Queequeg was about to precede me up the stairs,
the lady reached forth her arm, and demanded his harpoon;
she allowed no harpoon in her chambers. “Why
not? said I; “every true whaleman sleeps with
his harpoon— but why not?” “Because
it’s dangerous,” says she. “Ever
since young Stiggs coming from that unfort’nt
v’y’ge of his, when he was gone four years
and a half, with only three barrels of ile, was found
dead in my first floor back, with his harpoon in his
side; ever since then I allow no boarders to take sich
dangerous weepons in their rooms at night. So,
Mr. Queequeg” (for she had learned his name),
“I will just take this here iron, and keep it
for you till morning. But the chowder; clam or
cod to-morrow for breakfast, men?”
“Both,” says I; “and let’s
have a couple of smoked herring by way of variety.”
The Ship
In bed we concocted our plans for the morrow.
But to my surprise and no small concern, Queequeg
now gave me to understand, that he had been diligently
consulting Yojo—the name of his black little
god— and Yojo had told him two or three
times over, and strongly insisted upon it everyway,
that instead of our going together among the whaling-fleet
in harbor, and in concert selecting our craft; instead
of this, I say, Yojo earnestly enjoined that the selection
of the ship should rest wholly with me, inasmuch as
Yojo purposed befriending us; and, in order to do
so, had already pitched upon a vessel, which, if left
to myself, I, Ishmael, should infallibly light upon,
for all the world as though it had turned out by chance;
and in that vessel I must immediately ship myself,
for the present irrespective of Queequeg.
I have forgotten to mention that, in many things,
Queequeg placed great confidence in the excellence
of Yojo’s judgment and surprising forecast of
things; and cherished Yojo with considerable esteem,
as a rather good sort of god, who perhaps meant well
enough upon the whole, but in all cases did not succeed
in his benevolent designs.
Now, this plan of Queequeg’s or rather Yojo’s,
touching the selection of our craft; I did not like
that plan at all. I had not a little relied on
Queequeg’s sagacity to point out the whaler
best fitted to carry us and our fortunes securely.
But as all my remonstrances produced no effect upon
Queequeg, I was obliged to acquiesce; and accordingly
prepared to set about this business with a determined
rushing sort of energy and vigor, that should quickly
settle that trifling little affair. Next morning
early, leaving Queequeg shut up with Yojo in our little
bedroom—for it seemed that it was some sort
of Lent or Ramadan, or day of fasting, humiliation,
and prayer with Queequeg and Yojo that day; how it
was I never could find out, for, though I applied
