The mate, awaiting the moment when he could reach the “life,” made repeated thrusts with his lance in order to weaken the victim.
The success of the final stroke was proclaimed by “spouting red”—and the dying whale went into a “flurry,” which consisted of swimming round in a gradually diminishing circle until with a final thrashing of his giant flukes he rolled over on his side “fin out.”
TOWING TO THE SHIP
If more whales were in the vicinity, the dead one was “waifed” with a small red flag and the pursuit resumed.
A whale usually ran to windward—leaving the ship far to leeward, shorthanded, and faced with a long beat to pick up her boats.
A line was made fast by a hole cut in the flukes, the boats were connected, and all hands put their backs into the arduous task of towing back to the ship.
CUTTING-IN DIAGRAM
A—Jaw of the Sperm whale