The Deck Towards the End of the First Night Watch — Moby-Dick

Toward the end of the first night watch of the typhoon, Ahab stands by the helm. Starbuck comes to him with urgent news. The band on the main-top-sail yard is working loose. The lee lift is half worn through. Starbuck asks if he should strike the yard, meaning send it down to reduce danger.

Ahab refuses. He says strike nothing, only lash it. He even says he would raise sky-sails if he had the poles. Starbuck cries out in God's name because the anchors are also working loose on deck. Ahab still will not reduce anything. He orders strike nothing, stir nothing, lash everything. He mocks Starbuck as a timid coastal captain afraid of wind that has not reached his table-lands yet.

Ahab says his mind is like the highest mast truck sailing in the clouds. Only cowards would lower their brain-trucks in a storm. He will not send down the yard or his pride. The roaring aloft might sound sublime, he jokes, if he did not know colic is a noisy stomach ache. He tells Starbuck to take medicine and ignores every prudent plea while the ship reels. The whole chapter is one long refusal. Every safe reduction Starbuck asks for is turned away.