“My captain, you must have ere this perceived, respected sir”⁠—said the imperturbable godly-looking Bunger, slightly bowing to Ahab⁠—“is apt to be facetious at times; he spins us many clever things of that sort. But I may as well say⁠— en passant , as the French remark⁠—that I myself⁠—that is to say, Jack Bunger, late of the reverend clergy⁠—am a strict total abstinence man; I never drink⁠—”

“Water!” cried the captain; “he never drinks it; it’s a sort of fits to him; fresh water throws him into the hydrophobia; but go on⁠—go on with the arm story.”