Ahab and Starbuck in the Cabin — Moby-Dick

The next morning the crew pumps the ship the way they always do. This time a lot of oil comes up with the water. The casks in the hold must have sprung a bad leak. Everyone is worried. Starbuck goes down to the cabin to tell Captain Ahab.

Ahab sits with charts of Formosa, the Bashee Isles, and Japan spread on his table. His new white ivory leg is braced against the table leg. He has a long jack-knife like a pruning hook in his hand. He hears a footstep and tells whoever it is to get back on deck. Starbuck says the oil is leaking and they must hoist Burtons and break out the cargo. Ahab refuses. They are nearing Japan and he will not stop for a week to fix old hoops. Starbuck warns they could waste in one day more oil than they make in a year. Ahab says let it leak. He is all aleak himself. Leaky casks sit in a leaky ship. He will not plug his own leak in life's gale. When Starbuck mentions the owners, Ahab rages. He says the captain owns the ship and his conscience is in the keel. He grabs a loaded musket and points it at Starbuck.

Starbuck stays calm even though the musket is aimed at him. As he leaves he says Ahab outraged him, not insulted him. He tells Ahab to beware of Ahab himself, not of Starbuck. Ahab murmurs about that warning and paces with the musket like a walking stick. Then he goes on deck. He softly tells Starbuck he is too good a fellow. He orders the crew to reef sails and hoist Burtons after all. The needed break-out begins.