meantime, overseeing the other part of the ship, captain peleg ripped and swore astern in the most frightful manner. i almost thought he would sink the ship before the anchor could be got up; involuntarily i paused on my handspike, and told queequeg to do the same, thinking of the perils we both ran, in starting on the voyage with such a devil for a pilot. i was comforting myself, however, with the thought that in pious bildad might be found some salvation, spite of his seven hundred and seventy-seventh lay; when i felt a sudden sharp poke in my rear, and turning round, was horrified at the apparition of captain peleg in the act of withdrawing his leg from my immediate vicinity. that was my first kick.