Forthwith Flashes of Actual Flame

<p>Flutter, flutter, went the flag, first to the right, then to the left. It was too far for me to recognise anyone there, but afterwards I learned that Ogilvy, Stent, and Henderson were with others in this attempt at communication. This little group had in its advance dragged inward, so to speak, the circumference of the now almost complete circle of people, and a number of dim black figures followed it at discreet distances.</p> <p>Suddenly there was a flash of light, and a quantity of luminous greenish smoke came out of the pit in three distinct puffs, which drove up, one after the other, straight into the still air.</p> <p>This smoke (or flame, perhaps, would be the better word for it) was so bright that the deep blue sky overhead and the hazy stretches of brown common towards Chertsey, set with black pine trees, seemed to darken abruptly as these puffs arose, and to remain the darker after their dispersal. At the same time a faint hissing sound became audible.</p> <a class="left" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQnm_E8zpR-qvCoDS1hO9CKWWGecvAiNJ6RPXxTpbleHVwvu8RaIUoYTZuSPIYYGmE70n6ZqkShMtW7AxAKotg6eDkxpAfYrJT1i2Gsf6YUhMuCn26Ejw-Slk02OP6iXhZDqrYiaSVqI/s1600/thomas07-synthetic-bass.jpg"><img height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQnm_E8zpR-qvCoDS1hO9CKWWGecvAiNJ6RPXxTpbleHVwvu8RaIUoYTZuSPIYYGmE70n6ZqkShMtW7AxAKotg6eDkxpAfYrJT1i2Gsf6YUhMuCn26Ejw-Slk02OP6iXhZDqrYiaSVqI/s320/thomas07-synthetic-bass.jpg" width="320"></a> <p>Beyond the pit stood the little wedge of people with the white flag at its apex, arrested by these phenomena, a little knot of small vertical black shapes upon the black ground. As the green smoke arose, their faces flashed out pallid green, and faded again as it vanished. Then slowly the hissing passed into a humming, into a long, loud, droning noise. Slowly a humped shape rose out of the pit, and the ghost of a beam of light seemed to flicker out from it.</p> <p>Forthwith flashes of actual flame, a bright glare leaping from one to another, sprang from the scattered group of men. It was as if some invisible jet impinged upon them and flashed into white flame. It was as if each man were suddenly and momentarily turned to fire.</p> <p>Then, by the light of their own destruction, I saw them staggering and falling, and their supporters turning to run.</p> <p>I stood staring, not as yet realising that this was death leaping from man to man in that little distant crowd. All I felt was that it was something very strange. An almost noiseless and blinding flash of light, and a man fell headlong and lay still; and as the unseen shaft of heat passed over them, pine trees burst into fire, and every dry furze bush became with one dull thud a mass of flames. And far away towards Knaphill I saw the flashes of trees and hedges and wooden buildings suddenly set alight.</p>

Flutter, flutter, went the flag, first to the right, then to the left. It was too far for me to recognise anyone there, but afterwards I le...

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Lazarus Lived after His Resurrection

<a class="left" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4rUwCE2eAqPKrBkkR7VQtG2I_gVJANt1Ck9o_ijI5ms1ZUWANSp9hK__iLmN9sgHrgMHbjuKMdjamJ6faGZDyyfyPGNoySYHud2MWxm1_7TWxdXNzKmdw6mL1ZlCI3B4dOMm3IYfUzo/s1600/32+(2).jpg"><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4rUwCE2eAqPKrBkkR7VQtG2I_gVJANt1Ck9o_ijI5ms1ZUWANSp9hK__iLmN9sgHrgMHbjuKMdjamJ6faGZDyyfyPGNoySYHud2MWxm1_7TWxdXNzKmdw6mL1ZlCI3B4dOMm3IYfUzo/s320/32+(2).jpg" width="268" /></a><p>Here then, from three impartial witnesses, I had a deliberate statement of the entire case. Considering, therefore, that squalls and capsizings in the water and consequent bivouacks on the deep, were matters of common occurrence in this kind of life; considering that at the superlatively critical instant of going on to the whale I must resign my life into the hands of him who steered the boat—oftentimes a fellow who at that very moment is in his impetuousness upon the point of scuttling the craft with his own frantic stampings; considering that the particular disaster to our own particular boat was chiefly to be imputed to Starbuck's driving on to his whale almost in the teeth of a squall, and considering that Starbuck, notwithstanding, was famous for his great heedfulness in the fishery; considering that I belonged to this uncommonly prudent Starbuck's boat; and finally considering in what a devil's chase I was implicated, touching the White Whale: taking all things together, I say, I thought I might as well go below and make a rough draft of my will. "Queequeg," said I, "come along, you shall be my lawyer, executor, and legatee."</p><p>It may seem strange that of all men sailors should be tinkering at their last wills and testaments, but there are no people in the world more fond of that diversion. This was the fourth time in my nautical life that I had done the same thing. After the ceremony was concluded upon the present occasion, I felt all the easier; a stone was rolled away from my heart. Besides, all the days I should now live would be as good as the days that Lazarus lived after his resurrection; a supplementary clean gain of so many months or weeks as the case might be. I survived myself; my death and burial were locked up in my chest. I looked round me tranquilly and contentedly, like a quiet ghost with a clean conscience sitting inside the bars of a snug family vault.</p><a class="right" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPlBmP1e3vEuZEqBHXLcwGa7huiHkbtZcZBZw8-9xFWv0pMUYpxIHcSiKXVp0tpogOQ2U-iQQOlMUc8uduIaFE2G75LBCWD0B-0yUYZbXf_PJNoHyopsPxPLYN0nvaHWsIWOBDdMXOtQ/s1600/19.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPlBmP1e3vEuZEqBHXLcwGa7huiHkbtZcZBZw8-9xFWv0pMUYpxIHcSiKXVp0tpogOQ2U-iQQOlMUc8uduIaFE2G75LBCWD0B-0yUYZbXf_PJNoHyopsPxPLYN0nvaHWsIWOBDdMXOtQ/s1600/19.jpg" /></a><p>Now then, thought I, unconsciously rolling up the sleeves of my frock, here goes for a cool, collected dive at death and destruction, and the devil fetch the hindmost.</p> <p>"Who would have thought it, Flask!" cried Stubb; "if I had but one leg you would not catch me in a boat, unless maybe to stop the plug-hole with my timber toe. Oh! he's a wonderful old man!"</p> <p>"I don't think it so strange, after all, on that account," said Flask. "If his leg were off at the hip, now, it would be a different thing. That would disable him; but he has one knee, and good part of the other left, you know."</p> <blockquote>I don't know that, my little man; I never yet saw him kneel.</blockquote> <p>Among whale-wise people it has often been argued whether, considering the paramount importance of his life to the success of the voyage, it is right for a whaling captain to jeopardize that life in the active perils of the chase. So Tamerlane's soldiers often argued with tears in their eyes, whether that invaluable life of his ought to be carried into the thickest of the fight.</p> <p>But with Ahab the question assumed a modified aspect. Considering that with two legs man is but a hobbling wight in all times of danger; considering that the pursuit of whales is always under great and extraordinary difficulties; that every individual moment, indeed, then comprises a peril; under these circumstances is it wise for any maimed man to enter a whale-boat in the hunt? As a general thing, the joint-owners of the Pequod must have plainly thought not.</p>

Here then, from three impartial witnesses, I had a deliberate statement of the entire case. Considering, therefore, that squalls and capsizi...

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The Other Plan Must be Carried Out

<a class="left" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2B-6vSkSur1WxW9OtRB-PVglyy2EQkpcUzGJ8wqW7-lRiaYvcT5WSrg-loBfDAUdXJPqUxb7F1ApQAO6awor68k7P28nOZVZeuLogIAksSVWn72WtqWGLagdoFYgwddlM027mBRirg15/s1600/ComputerDesktopWallpapersCollection369_030.jpg"><img height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2B-6vSkSur1WxW9OtRB-PVglyy2EQkpcUzGJ8wqW7-lRiaYvcT5WSrg-loBfDAUdXJPqUxb7F1ApQAO6awor68k7P28nOZVZeuLogIAksSVWn72WtqWGLagdoFYgwddlM027mBRirg15/s320/ComputerDesktopWallpapersCollection369_030.jpg" width="320" /></a><p>The time seemed long; the guide ever and anon left them to take an observation on the edge of the wood, but the guards watched steadily by the glare of the torches, and a dim light crept through the windows of the pagoda.</p> <p>They waited till midnight; but no change took place among the guards, and it became apparent that their yielding to sleep could not be counted on. The other plan must be carried out; an opening in the walls of the pagoda must be made. It remained to ascertain whether the priests were watching by the side of their victim as assiduously as were the soldiers at the door.</p> <p>After a last consultation, the guide announced that he was ready for the attempt, and advanced, followed by the others. They took a roundabout way, so as to get at the pagoda on the rear. They reached the walls about half-past twelve, without having met anyone; here there was no guard, nor were there either windows or doors.</p> <p>The night was dark. The moon, on the wane, scarcely left the horizon, and was covered with heavy clouds; the height of the trees deepened the darkness.</p> <p>It was not enough to reach the walls; an opening in them must be accomplished, and to attain this purpose the party only had their pocket-knives. Happily the temple walls were built of brick and wood, which could be penetrated with little difficulty; after one brick had been taken out, the rest would yield easily.</p>

The time seemed long; the guide ever and anon left them to take an observation on the edge of the wood, but the guards watched steadily by t...

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