No use sterning all, then; but as I was groping at midday,
with a blinding sun, all crown-jewels; as I was groping, I say,
after the second iron, to toss it overboard--down comes the tail
like a Lima tower, cutting my boat in two, leaving each half
in splinters; and, flukes first, the white hump backed through
the wreck, as though it was all chips. We all struck out.
To escape his terrible flailings, I seized hold of my harpoon-pole
sticking in him, and for a moment clung to that like a sucking fish.
But a combing sea dashed me off, and at the same instant,
the fish, taking one good dart forwards, went down like a flash;
and the barb of that cursed second iron towing along near me
caught me here" (clapping his hand just below his shoulder);
"yes, caught me just here, I say, and bore me down to
Hell's flames, I was thinking; when, when, all of a sudden,
thank the good God, the barb ript its way along the flesh--
clear along the whole length of my arm--came out nigh my wrist,
and up I floated;--and that gentleman there will tell you the rest
(by the way, captain--Dr. Bunger, ship's surgeon: Bunger, my lad,--
the captain). Now, Bunger boy, spin your part of the yarn."
The professional gentleman thus familiarly pointed out,
had been all the time standing near them, with nothing
specific visible, to denote his gentlemanly rank on board.
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