"Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee.
Sink all coffins and all hearses to one common pool! and since neither can be mine, let me then tow to pieces, while still chasing thee, though tied to thee, thou damned whale!
Thus I give up the spear!"
The harpoon was darted; the stricken whale flew forward; with igniting velocity the line ran through the grooves; - ran foul. Ahab stooped to clear it; he did clear it; but the
flying turn caught him round the neck, and voicelessly as Turkish mutes bowstring their victims, he was shot out of the boat, ere the crew knew he was gone. Next instant the heavy
eye-splice in the rope's final end flew out of the stark-empty tub, and smiting the sea, disappeared in it's depths."
Chapter 135 - "The Chase- Third Day"
|