And though all hands commonly disdained
the capture of those inferior creatures; and though the Pequod
was not commissioned to cruise for them at all, and though she had
passed numbers of them near the Crozetts without lowering a boat;
yet now that a Sperm Whale had been brought alongside and beheaded,
to the surprise of all, the announcement was made that a Right Whale
should be captured that day, if opportunity offered.
Nor was this long wanting. Tall spouts were seen to leeward;
and two boats, Stubb's and Flask's, were detached in pursuit.
Pulling further and further away, they at last became almost
invisible to the men at the masthead. But suddenly in the distance,
they saw a great heap of tumultuous white water, and soon after
news came from aloft that one or both the boats must be fast.
An interval passed and the boats were in plain sight, in the act
of being dragged right towards the ship by the towing whale.
So close did the monster come to the hull, that at first it seemed
as if he meant it malice; but suddenly going down in a maelstrom,
within three rods of the planks, he wholly disappeared from view,
as if diving under the keel. "Cut, cut!" was the cry from
the ship to the boats, which, for one instant, seemed on the point
of being brought with a deadly dash against the vessel's side.
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