The Onslaught
Wild screams answer Stubb’s commands from his diverse crew—an African giant, a Gay-Header, and a码头 Indian. The keels cut through the sea with oars and yells while Stubb retains his position in the van, encouraging the onset and puffing smoke. Like desperadoes, they tug and strain until Tashtego hurls the harpoon with the cry “Stern all!”
The Harpoon Strike
The oarsmen back water as the magical line instantly grows hot and hisses along their wrists. Stubb catches two additional turns with it around the loggerhead, causing blue hempen smoke to jet up mingling with his pipe fumes. The line blazes through both of Stubb’s hands, which have accidentally lost their protective hand-cloths, like holding an enemy’s two-edged sword by the blade.
The Line Burns
The line burns against Stubb’s hands as he holds it, resembling a sharp two-edged sword that the enemy constantly tries to wrench away. He must maintain his grip despite the searing pain as the whale runs with the line.
Wetting the Line
Stubb cries “Wet the line!” to the tub oarsman, who snatches off his hat and dashes seawater onto it. More turns are taken around the loggerhead until the line begins holding its place, with the boat now flying through the water like a shark with all fins.
Riding the Line
The vibrating line extends the entire length of the boat, tighter than a harpstring, giving the craft the appearance of having two keels—one cleaving water, the other the air. A continual cascade plays at the bows while a ceaseless whirling eddy forms in the wake. Even the slightest motion causes the cracking craft to cant over its gunwale into the sea. Tashtego crouches almost double at the steering oar to lower his center of gravity as they rush across the water.
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