The First Lowering

           Thephantoms,forsotheythenseemed,wereflittingontheothersideofthedeck,and,withanoiselesscelerity,werecastingloosethetacklesandbandsoftheboatwhichswungthere.Thisboathadalwaysbeendeemedoneofthespareboats,thoughtechnicallycalledthecaptain’s,onaccountofitshangingfromthestarboardquarter.Thefigurethatnowstoodbyitsbowswastallandswart,withonewhitetoothevillyprotrudingfromitssteel-likelips.ArumpledChinesejacketofblackcottonfunereallyinvestedhim,withwideblacktrowsersofthesamedarkstuff.Butstrangelycrowningthisebonnesswasaglisteningwhiteplaitedturban,thelivinghairbraidedandcoiledroundandrounduponhishead.Lessswartinaspect,thecompanionsofthisfigurewereofthatvivid,tiger-yellowcomplexionpeculiartosomeoftheaboriginalnativesoftheManillas;aracenotoriousforacertaindiabolismofsubtilty,andbysomehonestwhitemarinerssupposedtobethepaidspiesandsecretconfidentialagentsonthewaterofthedevil,theirlord,whosecounting-roomtheysupposetobeelsewhere.

           Whileyetthewonderingship’scompanyweregazinguponthesestrangers,Ahabcriedouttothewhite-turbanedoldmanattheirhead,"Allreadythere,Fedallah?"

           "Ready,"wasthehalf-hissedreply.

           "Lowerawaythen;d’yehear?"shoutingacrossthedeck."Lowerawaythere,Isay."

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