บทที่ บทที่ 63 · The Crotch.

Out of the trunk, the branches grow; out of them, the twigs. So, in

productive subjects, grow the chapters.

The crotch alluded to on a previous page deserves independent mention.

It is a notched stick of a peculiar form, some two feet in length,

which is perpendicularly inserted into the starboard gunwale near the

bow, for the purpose of furnishing a rest for the wooden extremity of

the harpoon, whose other naked, barbed end slopingly projects from the

prow. Thereby the weapon is instantly at hand to its hurler, who

snatches it up as readily from its rest as a backwoodsman swings his

rifle from the wall. It is customary to have two harpoons reposing in

the crotch, respectively called the first and second irons.

But these two harpoons, each by its own cord, are both connected with

the line; the object being this: to dart them both, if possible, one

instantly after the other into the same whale; so that if, in the

coming drag, one should draw out, the other may still retain a hold. It

is a doubling of the chances. But it very often happens that owing to

the instantaneous, violent, convulsive running of the whale upon

receiving the first iron, it becomes impossible for the harpooneer,

however lightning-like in his movements, to pitch the second iron into

him. Nevertheless, as the second iron is already connected with the

line, and the line is running, hence that weapon must, at all events,

be anticipatingly tossed out of the boat, somehow and somewhere; else

the most terrible jeopardy would involve all hands. Tumbled into the

water, it accordingly is in such cases; the spare coils of box line

(mentioned in a preceding chapter) making this feat, in most instances,

prudently practicable. But this critical act is not always unattended

with the saddest and most fatal casualties.

Furthermore: you must know that when the second iron is thrown

overboard, it thenceforth becomes a dangling, sharp-edged terror,

skittishly curvetting about both boat and whale, entangling the lines,

or cutting them, and making a prodigious sensation in all directions.

Nor, in general, is it possible to secure it again until the whale is

fairly captured and a corpse.

Consider, now, how it must be in the case of four boats all engaging

one unusually strong, active, and knowing whale; when owing to these

qualities in him, as well as to the thousand concurring accidents of

such an audacious enterprise, eight or ten loose second irons may be

simultaneously dangling about him. For, of course, each boat is

supplied with several harpoons to bend on to the line should the first

one be ineffectually darted without recovery. All these particulars are

faithfully narrated here, as they will not fail to elucidate several

most important, however intricate passages, in scenes hereafter to be

painted.