The Blacksmith

           Availinghimselfofthemild,summer-coolweatherthatnowreignedintheselatitudes,andinpreparationforthepeculiarlyactivepursuitsshortlytobeanticipated,Perth,thebegrimed,blisteredoldblacksmith,hadnotremovedhisportableforgetotheholdagain,afterconcludinghiscontributoryworkforAhab’sleg,butstillretaineditondeck,fastlashedtoringboltsbytheforemast;beingnowalmostincessantlyinvokedbytheheadsmen,andharpooneers,andbowsmentodosomelittlejobforthem;altering,orrepairing,ornewshapingtheirvariousweaponsandboatfurniture.Oftenhewouldbesurroundedbyaneagercircle,allwaitingtobeserved;holdingboat-spades,pikeheads,harpoons,andlances,andjealouslywatchinghiseverysootymovement,ashetoiled.Nevertheless,thisoldman’swasapatienthammerwieldedbyapatientarm.Nomurmur,noimpatience,nopetulancedidcomefromhim.Silent,slow,andsolemn;bowingoverstillfurtherhischronicallybrokenback,hetoiledaway,asiftoilwerelifeitself,andtheheavybeatingofhishammertheheavybeatingofhisheart.Andsoitwas.Mostmiserable!

           Apeculiarwalkinthisoldman,acertainslightbutpainfulappearingyawinginhisgait,hadatanearlyperiodofthevoyageexcitedthecuriosityofthemariners.Andtotheimportunityoftheirpersistedquestioningshehadfinallygivenin;andsoitcametopassthateveryonenowknewtheshamefulstoryofhiswretchedfate.

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