Itisanotchedstickofapeculiarform,sometwofeetinlength,whichisperpendicularlyinsertedintothestarboardgunwalenearthebow,forthepurposeoffurnishingarestforthewoodenextremityoftheharpoons,whoseothernaked,barbedendslopingprojectsfromtheprow.
Therebytheweaponisinstantlyathandtoitshurler,whosnatchesitupasreadilyfromitsrestasabackwoodsmanswingshisriflefromthewall.
Butthesetwoharpoons,eachbyitsowncord,arebothconnectedwiththeline;theobjectbeingthis:todartthemboth,ifpossible,oneinstantlyaftertheotherintothesamewhale;sothatif,inthecomingdrag,oneshoulddrawout,theothermaystillretainahold.Itisadoublingofthechances.
Butitveryoftenhappensthatowingtotheinstantaneous,violent,convulsiverunningofthewhaleuponreceivingthefirstiron,itbecomesimpossiblefortheharpooneer,howeverlightning-likeinhismovements,topitchthesecondironintohim.
Nevertheless,asthesecondironisalreadyconnectedwiththeline,andthelineisrunning,hencethatweaponmust,atallevents,beanticipatinglytossedoutoftheboat,somehowandsomewhere;elsethemostterriblejeopardywouldinvolveallhands.
Tumbledintothewater,itaccordinglyisinsuchcases;thesparecoilsofboxline(mentionedinaprecedingchapter)makingthisfeat,inmostinstances,prudentlypracticable.
Furthermore:youmustknowthatwhenthesecondironisthrownoverboard,itthenceforthbecomesadangling,sharp-edgedterror,skittishlycurvettingaboutbothboatandwhale,entanglingthelines,orcuttingthem,andmakingaprodigioussensationinalldirections.
Consider,now,howitmustbeinthecaseoffourboatsallengagingoneunusuallystrong,active,andknowingwhale;whenowingtothesequalitiesinhim,aswellastothethousandconcurringaccidentsofsuchanaudaciousenterprise,eightortenloosesecondironsmaybesimultaneouslydanglingabouthim.
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