The Whale-Boat’s Departure
The standard procedure involves the whale-boat pushing off from the ship, with the headsman serving as temporary steersman and the harpooneer positioned at the foremost oar, ready to pull while simultaneously preparing for the critical moment of the dart.
The Darting Process
The darting process requires the exhausted harpooneer to quickly abandon his oar, pivot his body, retrieve his weapon, and execute the throw with whatever diminished strength remains after the demanding chase.
The Harpooneer’s Struggle
The harpooneer must maintain intense physical exertion through rowing, shouting, and emotional intensity while simultaneously preparing for the sudden moment when he must drop everything and cast his harpoon. This combination of activities—bawling at the top of one’s compass while straining every muscle—creates an impossible burden.
The Change of Places
When the whale begins its desperate run after being struck, both the boatheader and harpooneer scramble fore and aft in the dangerous chaos of the moment. Only then do they change places, with the headsman finally assuming his proper station at the bow, where he should have been positioned from the start.
第六十三章 The Crotch.
The chapter introduces the “crotch,” a crucial piece of whaling equipment—a notched stick inserted into the ship’s bow that serves as a rest for harpoons. It explains the tactical purpose of keeping two harpoons ready simultaneously and describes the dangerous scenarios that can unfold when multiple boats hunt a single whale.
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