Page 392 - moby-dick

fore hatchway; at which last place it was feared the insur-
gents might emerge, after breaking through the bulkhead
below. But the hours of darkness passed in peace; the men
who still remained at their duty toiling hard at the pumps,
whose clinking and clanking at intervals through the drea-
ry night dismally resounded through the ship.
‘At sunrise the Captain went forward, and knocking on
the deck, summoned the prisoners to work; but with a yell
they refused. Water was then lowered down to them, and
a couple of handfuls of biscuit were tossed after it; when
again turning the key upon them and pocketing it, the
Captain returned to the quarter-deck. Twice every day for
three days this was repeated; but on the fourth morning
a confused wrangling, and then a scuffling was heard, as
the customary summons was delivered; and suddenly four
men burst up from the forecastle, saying they were ready to
turn to. The fetid closeness of the air, and a famishing diet,
united perhaps to some fears of ultimate retribution, had
constrained them to surrender at discretion. Emboldened
by this, the Captain reiterated his demand to the rest, but
Steelkilt shouted up to him a terrific hint to stop his bab-
bling and betake himself where he belonged. On the fifth
morning three others of the mutineers bolted up into the
air from the desperate arms below that sought to restrain
them. Only three were left.
‘‘Better turn to, now?’ said the Captain with a heartless
jeer.
‘‘Shut us up again, will ye!’ cried Steelkilt.
‘‘Oh certainly,’ the Captain, and the key clicked.

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