{"id":"01KF7FPTD5P9MQ6T13MFEQ2SWR","cid":"bafkreig2pf74acki2oztynsjzuclxhtwn7ggjrmclbjzubasnbnebf2ssq","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":17998,"extracted_at":"2026-01-18T02:42:21.444Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 0","source_file":"01KESYVB66H8YEVTN88DWE9W8D","start_line":17960,"text":"Like all sea-going ship carpenters, and more especially those belonging\r\nto whaling vessels, he was, to a certain off-handed, practical extent,\r\nalike experienced in numerous trades and callings collateral to his\r\nown; the carpenter’s pursuit being the ancient and outbranching trunk\r\nof all those numerous handicrafts which more or less have to do with\r\nwood as an auxiliary material. But, besides the application to him of\r\nthe generic remark above, this carpenter of the Pequod was singularly\r\nefficient in those thousand nameless mechanical emergencies continually\r\nrecurring in a large ship, upon a three or four years’ voyage, in\r\nuncivilized and far-distant seas. For not to speak of his readiness in\r\nordinary duties:—repairing stove boats, sprung spars, reforming the\r\nshape of clumsy-bladed oars, inserting bull’s eyes in the deck, or new\r\ntree-nails in the side planks, and other miscellaneous matters more\r\ndirectly pertaining to his special business; he was moreover\r\nunhesitatingly expert in all manner of conflicting aptitudes, both\r\nuseful and capricious.\r\n\r\nThe one grand stage where he enacted all his various parts so manifold,\r\nwas his vice-bench; a long rude ponderous table furnished with several\r\nvices, of different sizes, and both of iron and of wood. At all times\r\nexcept when whales were alongside, this bench was securely lashed\r\nathwartships against the rear of the Try-works.\r\n\r\nA belaying pin is found too large to be easily inserted into its hole:\r\nthe carpenter claps it into one of his ever-ready vices, and\r\nstraightway files it smaller. A lost land-bird of strange plumage\r\nstrays on board, and is made a captive: out of clean shaved rods of\r\nright-whale bone, and cross-beams of sperm whale ivory, the carpenter\r\nmakes a pagoda-looking cage for it. An oarsman sprains his wrist: the\r\ncarpenter concocts a soothing lotion. Stubb longed for vermillion stars\r\nto be painted upon the blade of his every oar; screwing each oar in his\r\nbig vice of wood, the carpenter symmetrically supplies the\r\nconstellation. A sailor takes a fancy to wear shark-bone ear-rings: the\r\ncarpenter drills his ears. Another has the toothache: the carpenter out\r\npincers, and clapping one hand upon his bench bids him be seated there;\r\nbut the poor fellow unmanageably winces under the unconcluded\r\noperation; whirling round the handle of his wooden vice, the carpenter\r\nsigns him to clap his jaw in that, if he would have him draw the tooth.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 0"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KF7FPP1K74QF2G14RWB0J855","peer_label":"Ahab’s Leg","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KF7FPP1K74QF2G14RWB0J855","peer_label":"Ahab’s Leg","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"partOf"},{"peer":"01KF7FPKDT5SHSH1ZQV6ABHQCA","peer_label":"Moby Dick; Or, The Whale","peer_type":"book","predicate":"partOf"},{"peer":"01KESYJX0Z6XE0HWTS5N3SDG0B","peer_label":"The Classics","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KF7FPTFGNCB3JMT8PCEY95XY","peer_label":"Chunk 1","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-18T02:42:22.035Z","ts":"2026-01-18T02:42:28.975Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KF7FCDA7SCSJ6A30TDPDSJQV"}}