After looking around I came upon the Spouter Inn which was run by a man named Peter Coffin. Peter Coffin said that I would have to share a bed with a harpooner. This harpooner was not in when I arrived; he was walking around the streets of New Bedford trying to sell his collection of human heads. There was no other inn that I could afford, so I accepted.
When I went up to my room, my companion for the night had not arrived. Finally he arrived. He was a giant cannibal and was tattooed from head to foot and he smoked a pipe. I saw him before he saw me. When he got into bed he was so surprised that he tried to kill me with his tomahawk.
“Landlord, for God’s sake, Peter Coffin! Save me!” I shouted.
“Speak-ee! Tell-ee! me who you be or kill-ee you!” shouted the cannibal.
Just then Peter Coffin ran into the room.
“Why didn’t you tell me I had to sleep with a cannibal!” I shouted. “Don’t be afraid,” he said smiling. “Queequeg here wouldn’t harm a hair of your head.”
