There’s another rendering now; but still one text.
All sorts of men in one kind of world, you see.
Dodge again!
here comes Queequeg—all tattooing—looks like the signs of the Zodiac himself.
What says the Cannibal?
As I live he’s comparing notes; looking at his thigh bone; thinks the sun is in the thigh, or in the calf, or in the bowels, I suppose, as the old women talk Surgeon’s Astronomy in the back country.
And by Jove, he’s found something there in the vicinity of his thigh—I guess it’s Sagittarius, or the Archer.
No: he don’t know what to make of the doubloon; he takes it for an old button off some king’s trowsers.
But, aside again!
here comes that ghost-devil, Fedallah; tail coiled out of sight as usual, oakum in the toes of his pumps as usual.
What does he say, with that look of his?
Ah, only makes a sign to the sign and bows himself; there is a sun on the coin—fire worshipper, depend upon it.
Ho!
more and more.
This way comes Pip—poor boy!
would he had died, or I; he’s half horrible to me.
He too has been watching all of these interpreters—myself included—and look now, he comes to read, with that unearthly idiot face.
Stand away again and hear him.
Hark!