i, ishmael, was one of that crew; my shouts had gone up with the rest; my oath had been welded with theirs; and stronger i shouted, and more did i hammer and clinch my oath, because of the dread in my soul. a wild, mystical, sympathetical feeling was in me; ahab’s quenchless feud seemed mine. with greedy ears i learned the history of that murderous monster against whom i and all the others had taken our oaths of violence and revenge.