But ere that close limit was gained, and while yet all
three boats were plain as the ship's three masts to his eye;
the White Whale churning himself into furious speed, almost in
an instant as it were, rushing among the boats with open jaws,
and a lashing tail, offered appalling battle on every side;
and heedless of the irons darted at him from every boat,
seemed only intent on annihilating each separate plank
of which those boats were made. But skilfully manoeuvred,
incessantly wheeling like trained chargers in the field;
the boats for a while eluded him; though, at times, but by a
plank's breadth; while all the time, Ahab's unearthly slogan
tore every other cry but his to shreds.
But at last in his untraceable evolutions, the White Whale so
crossed and recrossed, and in a thousand ways entangled the slack
of the three lines now fast to him, that they foreshortened,
and, of themselves, warped the devoted boats towards the planted
irons in him; though now for a moment the whale drew aside
a little, as if to rally for a more tremendous charge.
Seizing that opportunity, Ahab first paid out more line;
and then was rapidly hauling and jerking in upon it again--
hoping that way to disencumber it of some snarls--when lo!--
a sight more savage than the embattled teeth of sharks!
Caught and twisted--corkscrewed in the mazes of the line,
loose harpoons and lances, with all their bristling barbs and points,
came flashing and dripping up to the chocks in the bows of Ahab's boat.
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