The mysterious spout
The next day and the next week brought smooth sailing. We had passed by a famous whaling area off the coast of Africa, but not a spout had we seen. On we went toward the tip of Africa and the Cape of Good Hope.
One peaceful and moonlit night a silvery jet rose up far in front of the ship. Fedallah was the first to see it. His weird cry rang out. "There she blows!"
Every sleeping sailor leaped from his bed. Ahab flew from his cabin. The rapid tapping of his dead stump sounded like nails being hammered into a coffin. He ordered a sharp watch, but they mysterious spout was seen no more that night.
Some days later, at the same, silent midnight hour, it returned. Again, all swore they saw it, but as soon as we turned to chase it, it was gone as if it had never been there.
The same thing happened for the next few nights. We could never catch this ghost. It was as if a spirit were tempting us, pulling us toward it.
There are many mysteries in this world that can never be explained. I thought Fedallah might know the meaning of the mysterious spout, but the strange man said nothing.
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Moby Dick by Herman Melville
AdventureHold on to your hats and harpoons, ye landlubbers, and set your sails for the greatest sea yarn since Jonah. * A tale of daring, devils, and death, Moby Dick is one whale story! Come aboard the Pequod, hoist the anchor, and r...
