Moby Dick

Chapter 4

"The Counterpane"

Upon awakening, Ishmael found that Queequeg had reached out and embraced him some time during the night. It reminded him of an odd incident of his youth, when he had done something wrong, and been sent to bed to lie there from 2 o'clock in the afternoon until the following morning. Though he had pleaded with his stepmother, she merely sent him back to bed. He dozed off eventually, and awoke in the middle of the night with the sensation of a phantom sitting next to his bed, holding his hand. He was sure that, if he could merely move his hand at all, he would break the lock, but he could not.
 Moving back to the present, Ishmael, after recalling the events of the night before, began to try to dislodge the arm, but failed. He eventually awoke Queequeg, who got out of bed, and offered to dress first. He was very confused about the proper procedure for dressing, due to his half-civilized state. He first donned his hat, then, under the bed, his boots. He capered about in that state for a while, and then Ishmael convinced him to finish. After he did, Ishmael dressed and went downstairs.

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References:
"were in a horse-collar": part of the harness; made of leather and stuffed with straw.
"this is using Roger's best cutlery with a vengeance": Roger is the name of a cook in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales"