The Second Lowering
Upon the second lowering, the boat paddled upon the whale. When the fish received the darted iron, it gave its customary rap, which in this instance occurred directly under poor Pip’s seat, setting the tragic sequence in motion.
The Line Entanglement
The involuntary consternation of the moment caused Pip to leap, paddle in hand, out of the boat. Part of the slack whale line came against his chest, and he breasted it overboard with him, becoming entangled when he plumped into the water. Instantly the whale started on a fierce run, the line straightened, and poor Pip was dragged foaming up to the chocks of the boat, the line having taken several turns around his chest and neck.
Tashtego’s Command
Tashtego stood in the bows, full of the fire of the hunt, despising Pip as a poltroon. Snatching the boat-knife, he suspended its sharp edge over the line, turning toward Stubb and exclaiming interrogatively, “Cut?” Meantime Pip’s blue, choked face plainly looked, “Do, for God’s sake!” In less than half a minute, the entire decision was made.
Stubb’s Rebuke
Stubb roared “Damn him, cut!” and the whale was lost while Pip was saved. Afterward, the poor little negro was assailed by yells and execrations from the crew. Permitting these cursings to evaporate, Stubb then cursed Pip in a business-like but half-humorous manner, followed by unofficially giving him wholesome advice—essentially, never jump from a boat except under indefinite circumstances. Concluding with a peremptory command, Stubb declared that he would not pick Pip up if he jumped again, noting that a whale would sell for thirty times what Pip was worth. This hinted that though man loves his fellow, man is also a money-making animal.
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