Chapter 5 Nantucket Nantucket is a unique place.
I have never seen another like it.
It's a place made for sailors.
I'm almost sure that everyone who lives there is a sailor, or is married to one, or is a sailor's widow.
When you live in Nantucket, the sea is your home.
We arrived in the evening.
Mr. Coffin, the landlord at the Spouter Inn, had recommended his cousin's hotel called the Tri-Pots.
This was the name of the large kettles used on whaling ships to prepare the whale oil.
This hotel was in better shape than Mr. Coffin's.
We had a delicious supper of clam chowder and cod made our way to our room.
We started to make a plan for the next day.
Queequeg insisted that I be the one to find the ship.
He said that's what his gods told him.
I did not think this was a good plan.
I'd never taken a job on a whaling ship before.
How would I know if I found the right one?
Queequeg, you have much more experience than I do, I said.
We should look together.
I trust your opinion.
Queequeg shook his head.
"'You must do it yourself,' he said.
"'I knew there was no point in arguing.
I resolved to set out the next day and find the best ship possible.
After another good night's sleep, I made my way down to the docks.
I looked at the list of vessels shipping out.
I had no way to determine which might be better than the other.'
I decided to investigate the Pequod because I recognized the name.
It was the same name as a tribe of Native Americans.
I went to the ship to find the captain.
If he seemed like the right man, then I would sign us on to join the crew.
The captain was not on board.
Instead, I found another man named Peleg.
He was in charge of hiring the crew and buying all the supplies.
I told him that I was looking for work.
"'You're not from Nantucket, are you?' he said.
I'm not sure how he knew.
It must have been his instincts.
I told him, "'No.
This is my first time on a whaling ship,' I said.
"'I've been to sea many times, though.'
There's nothing like a whaling ship, he told me with a scowl.
It makes no difference that you've been to sea before.
Have you ever seen Captain Ahab?
No, I said.
Who's that?
Why, he's the captain of this ship, he said.
He's the captain of the Pequod.
When you see him, you'll understand why whaling is different.
Captain Ahab has lived the hard life of a whaler.
He's suffered a great deal.
Captain Ahab only has one leg.
One leg, I exclaimed.
How did that happen?
He lost it to a whale, Peleg said.
In fact, Peleg almost shouted this.
I was a little surprised by his energy.
He was very excited.
This is a dangerous business, Peleg said.
Are you prepared to get close to a whale?
So close that you can throw a harpoon into the whale's side.
Will you be brave enough to fight against the waves in the water as the whale rolls against your boat as it tries to dive back under the ocean?
You have to be willing to give up your life, or maybe your leg, to work aboard a whaling ship.
I realized that Peleg was trying to scare me, but it did not work.
I am not easily frightened.
I only saw this as a challenge.
I am ready for it all, I said.
Very well, then, he replied.
He signed me up then and there.
I also have a friend who wants to sail, I said.
He's a very experienced harpooner.
He knows what to expect.
Peleg said I should bring him back with me.
Later that day, Queequeg and I signed our employment papers.
Captain Peleg was impressed with all of Queequeg's experience.
He said he was happy to hire him as a harpooner.
Afterward, we walked along the pier.
A man in very dirty clothes and rumpled hair came up to us.
I had never seen him before.
"'Are you sailing on that ship?' he asked.
"'The Pequod?'
I told him yes, and he began to laugh.
"'Have you set your eyes on Old Thunder yet?' he said.
"'Old Thunder?'
I asked.
"'Who is that?'
"'Why, Captain Ahab, of course,' the man said.
He laughed again.
"'Did they tell you all about your new captain?'
What is there to tell, I asked.
This man annoyed me.
I like people to be direct and say what they mean.
He was speaking in riddles.
There's plenty to tell, he cackled.
There are so many things that you should know.
We know about his leg, I said.
We know that he lost a leg to a whale. the man said.
You know all about it, do you?
He laughed once again, then started to turn away.
I'll leave you to your new ship and captain then, he said.
If you have something you want to say, then say it, I shouted after him.
No, the man said.
You've signed your papers, so there's no turning back now.
I'll leave you to your own doom.
I wish you the best of luck.
