BEN. Aw, he don't see nothin'. (_A trace of awe in his tones--he glances upward._) He just walks up and down like he didn't notice nobody--and stares at the ice to the no'th'ard. THE STEWARD (_the same tone of awe creeping into his voice_). He's always starin' at the ice. (_In a sudden rage, shaking his fist at the skylight_) Ice, ice, ice! Damn him and damn the ice! Holdin' us in for nigh on a year--nothin' to see but ice--stuck in it like a fly in molasses! BEN (_apprehensively_). Ssshh! He'll hear ye. THE STEWARD (_raging_). Aye, damn him, and damn the Arctic seas, and damn this stinkin' whalin' ship of his, and damn me for a fool to ever ship on it! (_Subsiding, as if realizing the uselessness of this outburst--shaking his head--slowly, with deep conviction_) He's a hard man--as hard a man as ever sailed the seas. BEN (_solemnly_). Aye. THE STEWARD. The two years we all signed up for are done this day. Blessed Christ! Two years o' this dog's life, and no luck in the fishin', and the hands half starved with the food runnin' low, rotten as it is; and not a sign of him turnin' back for home! (_Bitterly_) Home! I begin to doubt if ever I'll set foot on land again. (_Excitedly_) What is it he thinks he's goin' to do? Keep us all up here after our time is worked out till the last man of us is starved to death or frozen? We've grub enough hardly to last out the voyage back if we started now. What are the men goin' to do 'bout it? Did ye hear any talk in the fo'c's'le? BEN (_going over to him--in a half-whisper_). They said if he don't put back south for home to-day they're goin' to mutiny. THE STEWARD (_with grim satisfaction_). Mutiny? Aye, 'tis the only thing they can do; and serve him right after the manner he's treated them--'s if they weren't no better nor dogs. BEN. The ice is all broke up to s'uth'rd. They's clear water's far's you can see. He ain't got no excuse for not turnin' back for home, the men says. THE STEWARD (_bitterly_). He won't look nowheres but no'th'rd where they's only the ice to see. He don't want to see no clear water. All he thinks on is gittin' the ile--'s if it was our fault he ain't had good luck with the whales. (_Shaking his head_) I think the man's mighty nigh losin' his senses. BEN (_awed_). D' you really think he's crazy? THE STEWARD. Aye, it's the punishment o' God on him. Did ye hear ever of a man who wasn't crazy do the things he does? (_Pointing to the door in rear_) Who but a man that's mad would take his woman--and as sweet a woman as ever was--on a stinkin' whalin' ship to the Arctic seas to be locked in by the rotten ice for nigh on a year, and maybe lose her senses forever--for it's sure she'll never be the same again. BEN (_sadly_). She useter be awful nice to me before--(_his eyes grow wide and frightened_) she got--like she is.