Accordingtotheinvariableusageofthefishery,thewhale-boatpushesofffromtheship,withtheheadsmanorwhale-killerastemporarysteersman,andtheharpooneerorwhale-fastenerpullingtheforemostoar,theoneknownastheharpooneer-oar.
Nowitneedsastrong,nervousarmtostrikethefirstironintothefish;foroften,inwhatiscalledalongdart,theheavyimplementhastobeflungtothedistanceoftwentyorthirtyfeet.
Buthoweverprolongedandexhaustingthechase,theharpooneerisexpectedtopullhisoarmeanwhiletotheuttermost;indeed,heisexpectedtosetanexampleofsuperhumanactivitytotherest,notonlybyincrediblerowing,butbyrepeatedloudandintrepidexclamations;andwhatitistokeepshoutingatthetopofone’scompass,whilealltheothermusclesarestrainedandhalfstarted-whatthatisnoneknowbutthosewhohavetriedit.
Inthisstraining,bawlingstate,then,withhisbacktothefish,allatoncetheexhaustedharpooneerhearstheexcitingcry-“Standup,andgiveittohim!”
Henowhastodropandsecurehisoar,turnroundonhiscentrehalfway,seizehisharpoonfromthecrotch,andwithwhatlittlestrengthmayremain,heessaystopitchitsomehowintothewhale.
Nowonder,takingthewholefleetofwhalemeninabody,thatoutoffiftyfairchancesforadart,notfivearesuccessful;nowonderthatsomanyhaplessharpooneersaremadlycursedanddisrated;nowonderthatsomeofthemactuallybursttheirblood-vesselsintheboat;nowonderthatsomespermwhalemenareabsentfouryearswithfourbarrels;nowonderthattomanyshipowners,whalingisbutalosingconcern;foritistheharpooneerthatmakesthevoyage,andifyoutakethebreathoutofhisbodyhowcanyouexpecttofindittherewhenmostwanted!
Again,ifthedartbesuccessful,thenatthesecondcriticalinstant,thatis,whenthewhalestartstorun,theboatheaderandharpooneerlikewisestarttorunningforeandaft,totheimminentjeopardyofthemselvesandeveryoneelse.
Itisthentheychangeplaces;andtheheadsman,thechiefofficerofthelittlecraft,takeshisproperstationinthebowsoftheboat.
Theheadsmanshouldstayinthebowsfromfirsttolast;heshouldbothdarttheharpoonandthelance,andnorowingwhatevershouldbeexpectedofhim,exceptundercircumstancesobvioustoanyfisherman.
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