Like a flash he grasped his iron, and with every ounce of his strength darted it “up to the hitches.”
Then the second iron if possible.
If the second could not be used, it was at once thrown overboard, out of the way, to be retrieved later.
SOUNDING
The instant command was “Stern all!!”—and the boat was backed out of range of the great flaying tail.
Many things might happen in the next few moments.
The whale might “run”—he might turn and attack the boat with open jaws, or “sound.”
The boatsteerer and the officer exchanged places.
The line ran out at such speed that water had to be thrown into the tub to prevent the line setting fire to the loggerhead.