"Give him to me," Mr. Ham said.
Willis shook his head. "I'd like to handle him. Get me the line from Mr. Tobey's boat. He's mine."
Mr. Ham grinned. "All right; if you're minded to work...." He swung quickly to where Dan'l and his men floated to their waists in water, the boat under them. "Takin' a swim?" he asked, grinning.
Dan'l nodded. "Just that. You cut, I see. Why was that, now?"
Mr. Ham stopped grinning and looked angry. "Pass over your tubs," he ordered; and Dan'l's men obeyed. Mr. Ham took the fresh line to Willis....
He was no more than just in time. "The black devil's still going," Willis said. "Second tub's all but gone...."
"Bound for hell, more'n like," Mr. Ham agreed. "Hold him."
Dan'l's line was running out by this time; for Willis had worked quickly.... And still the whale went down.... Mr. Ham stood by, waiting.... The line ran out steadily; the whale showed no signs of rising. The bow of Willis's boat was held down within inches of the water by the strain he kept upon the line. One tub was emptied; he began to look anxious.... And the whale kept going down.
Mr. Ham said abruptly: "There.... Pass over your line. He'll be gone on you, first you know."
Willis looked at the smoking line.... And reluctantly, he surrendered. With no more than seconds to spare, the end of his line was made fast to the cut end of Mr. Ham's, and the whale continued to go down. He had taken all the line of two boats—and wanted more.