"mr. stubb," said i, turning to that worthy, who, buttoned up in his oil-jacket, was now calmly smoking his pipe in the rain; "mr. stubb, i think i have heard you say that of all whalemen you ever met, our chief mate, mr. starbuck, is by far the most careful and prudent. i suppose then, that going plump on a flying whale with your sail set in a foggy squall is the height of a whaleman’s discretion?"