But having plenty of line yet in the tubs, and the whale not sounding
very rapidly, they paid out abundance of rope, and at the same
time pulled with all their might so as to get ahead of the ship.
For a few minutes the struggle was intensely critical;
for while they still slacked out the tightened line in one direction,
and still plied their oars in another, the contending strain
threatened to take them under. But it was only a few feet advance
they sought to gain. And they stuck to it till they did gain it;
when instantly, a swift tremor was felt running like lightning
along the keel, as the strained line, scraping beneath the ship,
suddenly rose to view under her bows, snapping and quivering;
and so flinging off its drippings, that the drops fell like
bits of broken glass on the water, while the whale beyond
also rose to sight, and once more the boats were free to fly.
But the fagged whale abated his speed, and blindly altering his course,
went round the stern of the ship towing the two boats after him,
so that they performed a complete circuit.
Meantime, they hauled more and more upon their lines, till close
flanking him on both sides, Stubb answered Flask with lance for lance;
and thus round and round the Pequod the battle went, while the multitudes
of sharks that had before swum round the Sperm Whale's body, rushed to
the fresh blood that was spilled, thirstily drinking at every new gash,
as the eager Israelites did at the new bursting fountains that poured
from the smitten rock.
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