Зима тревоги нашей

           "Allright,"he’dsay,inavoicethatneedednomegaphonefromthebridge,"singoutthefullrig,andsingitloud.Ihatewhispering."

           AndIwouldsingout,andhe’dwhackthepilewithhisnarwhalstickateverybeat."Flyingjib,"I’dsing(whack),"outerjib"(whack),"innerjib,jib"(whack!whack!).

           "Singout!You’rewhispering."

           "Foreskys’l,foreroyal,foretopgal’n’ts’l,foreuppertops’l,forelowertops’l,fores’l"—andeveryoneawhack.

           "Main!Singout."

           "Mainskys’l"—whack.

           Butsometimes,ashegotolder,hewouldtire."Belaythemain,"hewouldshout."Gettothemizzen.Singoutnow."

           "Aye,sir.Mizzenskys’l,mizzenroyal,mizzent’gal’n’t,mizzenuppertops’l,mizzenlowertops’l,crossjack—"

           "And?"

           "Spanker."

           "Howrigged?"

           "Boomandgaff,sir."

           Whack—whack—whack—narwhalstickagainstthewater-loggedpile.

           Ashishearinggotfuzzier,heaccusedmoreandmorepeopleofwhispering."Ifathing’strue,orevenifitain’ttrueandyoumeanit,singout,"hewouldcry.

           OldCap’n’searsmayhavegonewonkytowardtheendofhislife,butnothismemory.Hecouldreciteyouthetonnageandcareerofeveryship,itseemedlike,thateversailedoutoftheBay,andwhatshebroughtbackandhowitwasdivided,andtheoddthingwasthatthegreatwhalingdayswerenearlyoverbeforehewasmaster.Kerosenehecalled"skunkoil,"andkerosenelampswere"stinkpots."