(As recounted at the Golden Inn)
The Cape of Good Hope and the vast ocean waters surrounding it are like the busy crossroads of a major highway. More sailors and travelers pass through here than anywhere else at sea.
Shortly after our ship the Pequod spoke with the Goney, we crossed paths with another whaling ship heading home—the Town-Ho. Most of her crew were Polynesian sailors.
During the brief chat between the two vessels, the crew of the Town-Ho told us striking news about Moby Dick. For many of us on the Pequod, our fascination with the white whale exploded into wild obsession after hearing their story.
The tale hinted at a strange, twisted act of divine retribution tied to Moby Dick—a supernatural punishment that had fallen on certain men. This hidden, tragic layer of the story never reached Captain Ahab or his first and second mates.
In fact, even the captain of the Town-Ho knew nothing of this secret side of the incident. It was a private secret shared by three white sailors on his ship.
One of those three men had told Tashtego the whole story, making him swear a solemn oath to keep it quiet. But that night, Tashtego talked in his sleep. He spilled enough of the secret that once he woke up, he could not keep the rest to himself.
Still, the few Pequod sailors who learned the full truth guarded the secret fiercely. Out of a strange, unspoken sense of honor, they never whispered a word of it to anyone forward of the main mast.
Now, I will weave this hidden, dark thread into the public story of the Town-Ho, and record the entire bizarre affair for good.
*(Author’s note: The old whaler’s cry used when spotting a whale from the masthead—still used today when hunting Galápagos sea turtles.)*
To keep the mood authentic, I’ll tell the story exactly as I told it once in Lima. It was on a saint’s holiday evening, sitting with a group of Spanish friends on the gilded tiled patio of the Golden Inn, smoking and chatting lazily.
Two young Spanish nobles, Pedro and Sebastian, were my closest companions that night. Their casual, interrupting questions—and my on-the-spot answers—are kept right here in the tale.
“Gentlemen,” I began, “about two years before I heard this story, the Nantucket sperm whaler Town-Ho was cruising the Pacific Ocean, just a few days’ sail east of this very Golden Inn. She was sailing north of the equator.”
“One morning, the crew went to work the daily pump routine. They quickly noticed the ship was taking on far more water than usual. The men assumed a swordfish had pierced the hull.”
“But the Town-Ho’s captain refused to leave the area. He had a superstitious feeling that great fortune waited for his ship in those waters. The leak didn’t seem dangerous at first, and even after searching the lower hold through rough seas, they couldn’t find the crack.”
“So the ship kept cruising. The crew pumped water at relaxed intervals, waiting for the lucky break the captain swore was coming. But no luck arrived. Day after day passed, the leak stayed hidden, and the flooding only got worse.”
“Eventually, the crew grew alarmed. The captain ordered all sails unfurled and steered for the nearest island harbor to dock and repair the hull.”
“The voyage to the harbor was long, but the captain had no fear of sinking. His pumps were top quality, and his thirty-six seasoned sailors could keep the ship afloat easily—even if the leak doubled in size.”
“Fair winds carried the Town-Ho most of the way. She would have reached port safely without a single disaster, if not for the cruel, bullying cruelty of her first mate Radney, and the furious, desperate revenge of a sailor named Steelkilt.”
“A Lakeman! From Buffalo?” Don Sebastian asked, leaning forward on his woven grass chair. “Pray tell, what is a Lakeman? And where is Buffalo?”
“Buffalo sits on the eastern shore of Lake Erie in America,” I replied. “Bear with me, and you’ll understand all of it soon.”
“Gentlemen, you know the large, sturdy square-rigged ships that sail from Callao to Manila? Steelkilt came from the landlocked heart of America’s Great Lakes, yet he had the wild, fearless soul of an ocean sailor.”
“Our five great freshwater lakes—Erie, Ontario, Huron, Superior, Michigan—are inland oceans. They stretch endlessly wide, with all the wild grandeur of the open sea. They have scattered island archipelagos like the Pacific, border two powerful nations like the Atlantic, and host endless maritime traffic.”
“Their shores hold frontier villages and bustling cities, military forts and wild untamed forests. Violent storms batter their waters, sinking ships far from any coastline. They breed sailors as bold and reckless as any ocean whaler alive.”
“So Steelkilt, though an inland man, had the heart of a wild ocean rover—brave, unyielding, and fearless of danger.”
“Radney, on the other hand, was a born Nantucket sailor. Raised on the harsh Atlantic and calm Pacific, he’d spent his whole life at sea. Yet he was just as bitter, quarrelsome, and vengeful as any rough frontier sailor.”
“Radney had some decent qualities, and Steelkilt was no saint—he was wild and fierce. But as long as the crew treated Steelkilt with basic human respect, he stayed calm and obedient. That is, until Radney’s cruelty pushed him over the edge.”
“A day or two after the Town-Ho turned toward the island harbor, the leak grew worse. The crew now had to pump water for an hour or more every single day to stay afloat.”
“On calm, civilized oceans like the Atlantic, sailors often pump water nonstop across entire voyages. One careless night watchman could sink the whole ship in his sleep. On the remote, savage open seas, constant pumping is even more common—so long as land or safe harbor is nearby.”
“Only when a leaking ship is stranded in endless open water do captains truly panic. That was the Town-Ho’s exact predicament.”
“As the flooding worsened, several crewmen grew worried—especially First Mate Radney.”
“He ordered every upper sail hoisted tight and fully stretched to catch every breeze possible. Now, Radney was no coward. He feared nothing at sea or on land.”
“So when he grew anxious about the ship’s safety, the sailors whispered that his worry was selfish. He was a partial owner of the Town-Ho, and stood to lose money if the ship sank.”
“That evening, as the crew pumped water, they joked quietly among themselves. Clear, spring-fresh seawater sloshed over their feet, spilling steadily out the ship’s side scuppers.”
“Gentlemen, it is an old truth of human nature. When a petty superior meets a subordinate with stronger pride, nobler character, and greater dignity, they grow consumed by bitter, unreasonable hatred. They will do anything to tear that person down.”
“Steelkilt was exactly that kind of man. Tall, noble-featured, with a golden flowing beard and the bearing of a Roman noble. He had the mind, heart, and spirit of a born leader—great enough to be a king.”
“Radney, by contrast, was ugly, stubborn, harsh, and malicious. He hated Steelkilt deeply, and Steelkilt knew it well.”
“Steelkilt was pumping water with the rest of the crew when he saw Radney approaching. He ignored the mate’s presence entirely, joking and laughing with the other sailors.”
“‘This is some leak we’ve got here, lads!’ Steelkilt called cheerfully. ‘Someone grab a cup—this water’s good enough to bottle! Old Rad’s investment is going straight to the bottom.’”
“‘I bet that swordfish didn’t stop after poking one hole. He brought a whole crew of sawfish and filefish to carve up the hull! They’re remodeling the ship for us.’”
“‘If Rad was here, I’d tell him to jump overboard and chase them off. They’re ruining his property! Poor fool—they say all his other wealth is just mirrors. I wonder if he’d let me copy his ugly nose shape?’”
“‘Damn your mouths! Stop idling with that pump!’ Radney roared, pretending not to hear the insults. ‘Keep pumping!’”
“‘Aye aye, sir!’ Steelkilt answered, bright and mocking. ‘Keep it moving, boys!’”
“The pump clanged like dozens of fire engines. The men worked until their lungs burned, pushing their bodies to the absolute limit.”
“When the pumping shift ended, Steelkilt stumbled forward, gasping for air, and collapsed on the ship’s windlass. His face was flushed bright red, his eyes bloodshot, sweat pouring down his forehead.”
“I will never understand what possessed Radney to pick a fight with a man exhausted and overheated from hard labor. But pick a fight he did.”
“He stormed across the deck and ordered Steelkilt to grab a broom and shovel, then clean up filth left by a pig that had been roaming loose on the ship.”
“Gentlemen, sweeping the deck is routine evening work on every ship—even ships actively sinking. Sailors are obsessed with cleanliness.”
“But this job always falls to the young cabin boys, not the strong senior crew. What’s more, Steelkilt was the leader of one of the pump teams, exempted from trivial cleaning work just like the other senior sailors.”
“Everyone on a whaling ship knows this rule. Radney’s order was not just unfair—it was a deliberate, humiliating insult, like spitting in Steelkilt’s face.”
“Steelkilt stared steadily into Radney’s angry eyes. He saw the mate’s rage building like gunpowder waiting for a spark. Any brave man wronged feels a natural hesitation to ignite a terrible fight. For a moment, Steelkilt held back.”
“His voice was tired and rough from labor, but calm as he spoke. ‘Sweeping the deck isn’t my job. I won’t do it.’”
“He nodded to three young cabin boys who’d done no hard work all day. ‘Those are the usual sweepers.’”
“Radney cursed loudly, repeating his order in a brutal, domineering tone. He marched straight up to Steelkilt, grabbed a wooden hammer from a nearby barrel, and raised it threateningly.”
“Steelkilt was already overheated and irritable from pumping. He could barely tolerate Radney’s bullying. Still, he fought down his rage and sat perfectly still.”
“Radney grew angrier. He shook the hammer inches from Steelkilt’s face, screaming for him to obey.”
“Steelkilt stood slowly and stepped backward around the windlass, Radney advancing after him with the hammer. ‘I will not obey you,’ he repeated firmly.”
“Seeing his patience meant nothing, Steelkilt gestured sharply for Radney to back off. The fool refused. The two circled the windlass once more.”
“Finally, Steelkilt stopped on the hatch cover. He would not retreat another step.”
“‘Mr. Radney, I will not obey. Put that hammer down, or you’ll regret it.’”
“Radney kept coming closer, shaking the heavy hammer an inch from Steelkilt’s teeth, spewing endless vile insults.”
“Steelkilt did not flinch. He stared unblinkingly at the mate, clenched his fist behind his back, and warned him. ‘If that hammer touches my cheek, I will kill you.’”
“But Radney’s fate was sealed. The hammer grazed Steelkilt’s skin. In the next instant, Steelkilt struck back. He shattered Radney’s jaw.”
“Radney crumpled onto the hatch, bleeding profusely like a wounded whale.”
“Before anyone could scream, Steelkilt grabbed a ship’s rigging rope and signaled to two allies standing on the masthead—both fellow Great Lakes sailors, called Canallers.”
“‘Canallers?’ Don Pedro cut in. ‘We’ve seen countless whalers in our ports, but never heard that term. Who are they?’”
“‘Canallers are the boatmen who work America’s huge Erie Canal,’ I explained. ‘Surely you’ve heard of it.’”
“‘Never,’ Don Pedro said. ‘Our warm, quiet land knows nothing of your wild northern frontiers.’”
“‘Then refill my cup,’ I said. ‘I’ll tell you their story—it explains everything that happened.’”
“The Erie Canal stretches three hundred and sixty miles across New York State. It runs through crowded cities, thriving villages, dark empty swamps, and fertile farmlands. It passes saloons, deep forests, river bridges, and every kind of landscape imaginable.”
“Along its length runs a wild, lawless, Venice-style culture. Sin and vice thrive there, right beside churches and chapels. It is a place where corruption lives in the shadow of holiness.”
“‘Is that a monk walking by?’ Don Pedro joked, glancing down at the crowded patio.”
“‘Lima’s old inquisition has faded,’ Don Sebastian laughed. ‘Continue your story, sailor.’”
“‘Wait a moment!’ another man spoke up. ‘We Limeños appreciate your kindness—you compared corruption to Venice instead of our own city. Though we all know the saying: “Corrupt as Lima.”’”
“‘Our churches outnumber gambling tables, yet the rumor sticks. Go on with your tale.’”
““Canallers make perfect dramatic villains,” I continued. “On the canal, they laze about like nobles, carefree and indulgent. But on land, they turn brutal and dangerous.”
““They wear bold, flashy hats, walk with swagger, and terrorize small towns. I once received kindness from one—violent men often help strangers in trouble just as readily as they rob the wealthy.”
““Many of the wildest, most dangerous whalers come from canal stock. Only sailors from Sydney are distrusted more by whaling captains.”
““For countless young northern men, the lawless canal life is the only bridge between quiet farm work and the brutal chaos of open-ocean whaling.”
“‘I see now!’ Don Pedro exclaimed, spilling his drink. ‘The whole world is Lima! I thought your northern lands were cold and pure like your mountains—but go on with the story!’”
“When Steelkilt signaled his allies, the ship’s three junior mates and four harpooners swarmed him, shoving him toward the deck.”
“The two Canallers slid down the rigging like falling comets, charging into the fight to pull Steelkilt free. Other sailors joined the fray, turning the deck into a chaotic brawl.”
“The captain stayed safely out of the crowd, waving a whale spear and screaming for his men to seize the mutineers. He darted at the edges of the fight, jabbing his spear to wound the rebels.”
“But Steelkilt and his allies fought them off. They retreated to the forecastle, dragged several heavy barrels into a line, and built a makeshift barricade to defend themselves.”
“‘Come out, you pirates!’ the captain roared. A steward had just handed him two pistols, one in each hand. ‘Come out, you murderers!’”
“Steelkilt climbed atop the barricade, pacing boldly and daring the captain to shoot. ‘If you kill me, every man on this ship will mutiny and kill you all,’ he warned clearly.”
“The captain feared the threat was true. He hesitated, but still ordered the rebels back to work immediately.”
“‘Swear you won’t punish us, and we’ll comply,’ Steelkilt demanded.”
“‘Get back to work! I make no promises!’ the captain shouted, raising one pistol again. ‘You’ll sink the ship with this nonsense!’”
“‘Let the ship sink!’ Steelkilt yelled. ‘Not one of us works another stroke unless you swear no retribution. What do you say, men?’”
“His crew answered with a fierce, unified cheer.”
“Steelkilt kept pacing the barricade, watching the captain closely. ‘This isn’t our fault. He started it over childish work. We warned him not to push me.’”
“‘We’re ready to work if you treat us like men. But we will not be flogged.’”
“‘Back to work!’ the captain repeated stubbornly. ‘No deals.’”
“Steelkilt spoke calmly. ‘We could kill you right now and hang for it. We won’t attack first—but we won’t work until you guarantee no punishment.’”
“‘Get down into the forecastle!’ the captain snapped. ‘I’ll lock you up until you beg for mercy!’”
“Steelkilt turned to his men. ‘Shall we go?’”
“Most refused, but they obeyed their leader. The ten rebels trundled down into the dark forecastle, growling like bears retreating to their cave.”
“The second Steelkilt’s head cleared the deck, the captain and his officers leaped the barricade. They slammed the forecastle hatch shut and held it down.”
“The captain ordered a heavy brass lock brought over. He cracked the hatch slightly, whispered a threat down into the dark, then locked it tight, trapping ten men below. Twenty neutral sailors remained on deck.”
“All night, every officer stood guard. They watched the forecastle hatch constantly, fearing the rebels would break through the bulkhead and storm the deck.”
“The neutral crew pumped water nonstop through the dark hours, the steady clink and clang of the pumps echoing gloomily across the quiet ship.”
“At sunrise, the captain banged on the deck and ordered the prisoners out to work. The men yelled their refusal.”
“He lowered water and hard biscuit into the forecastle, then locked them back in. He repeated this routine twice daily for three days.”
“On the fourth morning, shouting and fighting erupted below. Four men burst up from the forecastle, surrendering and agreeing to work.”
“Stifling heat, starvation, and fear of eventual punishment had broken their resolve. The captain pressed the remaining six rebels to surrender.”
“Steelkilt shouted a furious warning, telling him to be quiet and leave them be.”
“On the fifth morning, three more men broke free and surrendered. Only Steelkilt and his two Canaller allies remained defiantly trapped below.”
“‘Ready to work now?’ the captain jeered heartlessly.”
“‘Lock us back up, then!’ Steelkilt snapped.”
“‘Gladly.’ The captain clicked the lock shut again.”
“Betrayed by seven of their comrades, tormented by the captain’s mockery, and driven mad by days trapped in pitch-black confinement, Steelkilt hatched a desperate plan.”
“He told his two remaining allies that at the next guard check, they would burst out violently. Armed with their heavy crescent-bladed knives, they would storm the entire ship from bow to stern and seize control.”
“He would do it alone if he had to—he would not spend another night trapped in the dark hole.”
“The two Canallers agreed instantly. They would die fighting rather than surrender. But both men secretly harbored a treacherous thought.”
“Each planned to rush out first, surrender immediately, and beg the captain for mercy—betraying Steelkilt to save themselves.”
“When they realized they shared the same cowardly plan, they whispered a quick agreement while Steelkilt dozed exhausted. They tied their leader’s hands and feet tight, gagged his mouth, and screamed for the captain at midnight.”
“The captain and his armed officers rushed forward, fearing murder. The hatch opened, and the bound, struggling Steelkilt was shoved onto the deck by his two traitorous allies.”
“The two Canallers claimed credit for capturing the dangerous ringleader. But the captain had no mercy for any of them.”
“He had all three men dragged across the deck and strung up side-by-side in the ship’s rigging, hanging like meat carcasses until morning.”
“‘Even vultures wouldn’t eat your rotten flesh!’ the captain paced and shouted at them.”
“At sunrise, the captain gathered the entire crew. He separated the surrendered mutineers from the neutral sailors.”
“He announced he was fully justified in flogging every rebel, but would spare the seven who’d surrendered, only scolding them harshly.”
“Then he turned to the three men hanging in the rigging. ‘As for you three scum, I’ll flog you within an inch of your lives.’”
“He beat the two traitorous Canallers savagely until they hung limp and silent, unconscious and half-dead.”
“‘My wrist is sprained from whipping you!’ the captain growled. ‘But I’ve still got enough rope for you, Steelkilt. Take his gag out—let him speak for himself.’”
“Steelkilt’s cramped jaw trembled. He twisted his head slowly and hissed a warning. ‘If you flog me, I will murder you.’”
“‘You think you scare me?’ The captain pulled back the rope to strike again.”
“‘Don’t,’ Steelkilt whispered faintly.”
“‘I will.’ The captain raised the rope once more.”
“Steelkilt breathed a single quiet sentence only the captain could hear.”
“To every man’s shock, the captain froze. He stumbled backward, paced the deck rapidly three times, then threw down his rope.”
“‘I won’t do it. Cut him down.’”
“As the officers hurried to obey, a weak voice stopped them. First Mate Radney, his head bandaged and face mangled from his earlier injury, had dragged himself out of his bunk to watch.”
“He could barely speak, but he mumbled that he would do what the captain dared not. He snatched the rope and advanced on the bound Steelkilt.”
“‘You’re a coward,’ Steelkilt hissed.”
“‘Maybe so—but take this.’”
“Radney raised the rope. Steelkilt whispered another warning, but Radney ignored it and lashed him brutally.
“The three men were cut down. The crew returned to their pumping duties, sullen and silent, the iron pumps clanging once again across the deck.”
“That night after dark, the two traitorous Canallers fled up from the forecastle and banged frantically on the captain’s cabin door.”
“They begged for protection, screaming they dared not stay with the angry crew. No amount of scolding or kicking would send them back. The captain finally locked them in the ship’s storage hold for safety.”
“No further mutiny broke out. Instead, Steelkilt convinced the entire crew to maintain perfect obedience for the rest of the voyage. They would follow every order, then all desert the ship the moment they reached port.”
“They agreed on one more critical rule: no matter what whales they spotted, no one would shout the whale cry or lower boats to hunt.
“Despite its leak and troubles, the Town-Ho still kept watch for whales. The captain and the recovered, bandaged Radney remained eager to chase any whale they sighted.”
“Though Steelkilt had forced the crew into passive obedience, he kept his own deadly revenge plan secret. He would settle his score with Radney once and for all.
“Steelkilt served in Radney’s night watch. Foolishly, against the captain’s advice, Radney insisted on resuming his night watch duties after the mutiny.”
“Radney had a bad habit: he would sit on the quarter-deck railing at night, leaning his arm on the suspended whaleboat’s gunwale, often dozing off. A wide empty gap separated the boat from the ship, dropping straight to the dark ocean below.”
“Steelkilt calculated his timing perfectly. His next helm watch fell on the third night after his betrayal, at two o’clock in the morning—Radney’s most vulnerable hour.”
“During his free time below deck, Steelkilt wove a heavy weighted cord with careful, deliberate precision.”
“‘What’re you making?’ a shipmate asked.”
“‘You tell me. What does it look like?’ Steelkilt replied.”
“‘Looks like a bag lanyard—but an odd one.’”
“‘It’ll work for what I need. I’m short on twine, though. You got any?’”
“The forecastle had none left.”
“‘Then I’ll ask old Rad.’ Steelkilt stood to walk aft.”
“‘You’re going to beg him for favors?’ the sailor asked in disbelief.”
“‘Why not? This helps him in the end.’”
“Steelkilt calmly asked Radney for twine to repair his hammock. Radney gave it to him without suspicion.”
“No one saw the twine or lanyard again. But the next night, a heavy iron ball wrapped in tight netting slipped out of Steelkilt’s jacket pocket as he settled into his hammock.”
“Twenty-four hours later, his midnight helm watch arrived—the hour he’d planned to kill Radney. In his mind, the mate was already a dead man.”
“But fate intervened. A foolish, accidental twist of destiny stole Steelkilt’s revenge from his hands and handed it straight to heaven.”
“Early the next morning, between dawn and sunrise, the crew was washing the decks. A careless sailor from Teneriffe was hauling water by the main chains when he suddenly screamed.”
“‘There she blows! There she blows!’”
“Jesus, what a whale it was. It was Moby Dick.”
“‘Moby Dick?’ Don Sebastian leaned forward sharply. ‘Do whales have names, sailor? Who is this Moby Dick?’”
“‘A gigantic, pure white, infamous, and deadly immortal sea monster,’ I said. ‘But that tale is far too long to tell now.’”
“‘Tell us! Tell us!’ all the young Spanish men cried, crowding closer.”
“‘Not yet. Let me catch my breath.’”
“‘More chicha!’ Don Pedro ordered. ‘Our friend looks faint—fill his cup!’”
“‘I’m fine,’ I said. ‘Let me finish the story.’”
“The sailor spotted the white whale less than fifty yards from the ship. In the sudden, wild excitement, he forgot the crew’s pact of silence and shouted the whale’s cry.”
“The three masthead lookouts had already seen Moby Dick for some time. The entire ship erupted into chaos.”
“‘The white whale! The white whale!’”
“The captain, mates, and harpooners shouted in unison. Terrifying rumors of the beast did not stop them—they craved the glory and fortune of hunting the famous whale.”
“The sullen crew stared bitterly at the enormous milky-white shape glowing in the morning sun. It shifted and shimmered like a living opal on the blue ocean surface.”
“Gentlemen, every part of this tragedy unfolded by unescapable fate—as if written into the world’s design long before it happened.”
“Steelkilt was assigned as Radney’s oarsman in the first whale boat. When chasing a whale, he sat directly behind the standing mate, managing the harpoon line on command.”
“All four boats lowered at once. Radney’s boat pulled ahead of the rest. Steelkilt rowed harder than anyone, roaring with ferocious, bitter joy.”
“The harpooner struck true and locked onto the whale. Radney stood in the bow, spear in hand. He was always ruthless and reckless in a whale boat.”
“Bandaged face and all, he screamed to drive the boat straight onto the whale’s back. Steelkilt hauled him forward through blinding white foam, merging the boat’s white spray with the whale’s pale skin.”
“Suddenly, the boat crashed hard as if hitting a submerged rock. It lurched sideways, throwing the standing Radney straight into the ocean.”
“The boat righted itself and was swept away by the waves. Radney floated alone in the water, right beside the massive white whale’s flank.”
“He thrashed through the spray, trying desperately to swim away from Moby Dick’s gaze.”
“But the whale spun in a violent whirlpool, seized the drowning man in its giant jaws, lifted him high into the air, and dove straight back down into the dark sea.”
“At the first jolt of the whale’s dive, Steelkilt had deliberately slackened the harpoon line, letting the boat drift clear of the whirlpool.”
“He watched calmly, letting fate take its course. When the boat lurched downward, he sliced the harpoon line clean with his knife, setting Moby Dick free.”
“Moments later, the white whale resurfaced in the distance. Shreds of Radney’s red wool shirt were tangled in its deadly teeth.”
“All four boats chased the whale, but Moby Dick outran them easily and vanished completely.”
“In time, the damaged Town-Ho reached a remote, savage island with no civilized inhabitants.”
“Led by Steelkilt, nearly all the foremast crew deserted the ship among the palm trees. They seized a massive native war canoe and sailed for another harbor.”
“Left with only a handful of men, the captain tried to hire island natives to help repair the ship’s leak.
“The small white crew had to stand constant guard over the dangerous natives, day and night. They worked themselves to exhaustion repairing the hull.”
“Once the ship was seaworthy again, the captain’s men were too weak to sail it. He anchored the ship far from shore, loaded his deck with cannons and muskets, and warned the islanders to stay away.
“Taking one sailor with him, he set sail in his fastest whale boat for Tahiti, five hundred miles away, to recruit new crew members.”
“On the fourth day of his voyage, the captain spotted a large native canoe near a small coral island. He tried to steer away, but the canoe chased him down.”
“Steelkilt’s voice boomed across the water. ‘Heave to, or I’ll run you under!’”
“The captain raised a pistol. Steelkilt stood balanced between the two connected war canoes and laughed him to scorn.”
“‘If that pistol so much as clicks, I’ll drown you where you sit.’”
“‘What do you want from me?’ the captain shouted.”
“‘Where are you going, and why? No lies.’”
“‘I’m sailing to Tahiti to hire more sailors.’”
“‘Fine. Let me board for one moment. I come in peace.’”
“Steelkilt leaped into the ocean, swam to the whale boat, and climbed aboard to face the captain eye to eye.”
“‘Cross your arms. Tilt your head back. Swear this: the moment I leave, you will beach this boat on that island and wait six full days. If you break this oath, let lightning strike you dead.’”
“‘You’re a clever scholar,’ Steelkilt mocked. ‘Farewell, sir.’”
“He dove back into the sea and rejoined his crew.”
“The captain obeyed. He beached the boat and waited six days. Steelkilt and his men sailed freely for Tahiti.”
“Lucky for them, two French ships were preparing to sail home and needed exactly their number of crewmen. Steelkilt and his allies signed on at once, escaping forever from the captain’s reach.”
“Ten days later, the captain finally reached Tahiti. He recruited a handful of mild, sea-familiar native islanders, chartered a small schooner, and returned to his ship.”
“Finding everything undisturbed, he resumed his whaling voyage.”
“No one knows where Steelkilt ended up. But back in Nantucket, Radney’s widow still stares out at the unyielding sea. She still dreams of the monstrous white whale that killed her husband.”
“‘Are you finished?’ Don Sebastian asked quietly.”
“‘I am.’”
“‘Then I must ask—do you truly believe this story is real? It is almost too incredible to believe. Is your source unquestionable? Forgive my insistence.’”
“‘We all wish to know!’ the other men echoed, leaning in.”
“‘Does the Golden Inn have a copy of the Holy Gospels?’ I asked.”
“‘No,’ Don Sebastian said. ‘But I will fetch one from a nearby priest. Are you certain? This will grow very serious.’”
“‘Bring the priest as well, if you would.’”
“‘Lima has no public inquisitions anymore,’ one man muttered to another. ‘But our sailor friend risks a holy oath. Let us step back from the moonlight.’”
“‘And please,’ I added, ‘bring the largest copy of the Gospels you can find.’”
“Moments later, Don Sebastian returned with a tall, solemn priest holding the holy book.”
“I removed my hat and stepped into the light.”
“‘Venerable father, hold the scripture before me so I may touch it.’”
“I placed my hand on the holy text and spoke clearly.”
“‘I swear before heaven and on my honor: every major detail of this story is true. I know it is true. It happened on this earth. I sailed on that ship. I knew that crew. And I have seen and spoken with Steelkilt, long after Radney died at the hands of Moby Dick.’”