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Chapter 81

The Pequod Meets

The Virgin.

he predestinated day arrived, and we duly met the ship
TJungfrau, Derick De Deer, master, of Bremen.
At one time the greatest whaling people in the world, the
Dutch and Germans are now among the least; but here and
there at very wide intervals of latitude and longitude, you
still occasionally meet with their flag in the Pacific.
For some reason, the Jungfrau seemed quite eager to pay
her respects. While yet some distance from the Pequod, she
rounded to, and dropping a boat, her captain was impelled
towards us, impatiently standing in the bows instead of the
stern.
‘What has he in his hand there?’ cried Starbuck, pointing
to something wavingly held by the German. ‘Impossible!—
a lamp-feeder!’
‘Not that,’ said Stubb, ‘no, no, it’s a coffee-pot, Mr. Star-
buck; he’s coming off to make us our coffee, is the Yarman;
don’t you see that big tin can there alongside of him?—that’s
his boiling water. Oh! he’s all right, is the Yarman.’
‘Go along with you,’ cried Flask, ‘it’s a lamp-feeder and
an oil-can. He’s out of oil, and has come a-begging.’