Description: Part of portfolio of 26 lithographs and accompanying book by Lawrance Thompson. Text from accompanying book by Lawrance Thompson, 14: The Burning Harpoon:
As the silent harpoon burned there like a serpent's tongue, Starbuck grasped Ahab by the arm [and said], "God, God is against thee, old man; forbear! 'tis an ill voyage! ill begun, ill continued; let me square the yards while we may, old man, and make a fair wind of it homewards, to go on a better voyage than this." Overhearing Starbuck, the panic-stricken crew instantly ran to the braces - though not a sail was left aloft. For the moment all the aghast mate's thoughts seemed theirs; they raised a half mutinous cry... But Ahab, snatching the burning harpoon, waved it like a torch among them; swearing to transfix with it the first sailor that but cast loose a rope's end. Petrified by his aspect, and still more shrinking from the fiery dart that he held, the men fell back in dismay.
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