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Preparations

           Asimplerudder,infact,wouldnothaveapromptenoughaction,andincasethesideoarsshouldbedisabled,thesternoar,wellhandled,couldputthewhale-boatbeyondthereachofthemonster’sblows.

           TherewasonlyCaptainHullbesides.Hehadreservedtohimselfthepostofharpooner,and,ashehadsaid,thiswouldnotbehisfirstattempt.Itwashewhomustfirstthrowtheharpoon,thenwatchtheunrollingofthelonglinefastenedatitsend;then,finallyfinishtheanimalwithspears,whenitshouldreturntothesurfaceoftheocean.

           Whalerssometimesemployfirearmsforthiskindoffishing.Bymeansofaspecialinstrument,asortofsmallcannon,stationedeitheronboardtheshiporatthefrontoftheboat,theythroweitheraharpoon,whichdrawswithittheropefastenedtoitsend,orexplosiveballs,whichproducegreatravagesinthebodyoftheanimal.

           Butthe"Pilgrim"wasnotfurnishedwithapparatusofthiskind.Thiswas,besides,aninstrumentofhighprice,ratherdifficulttomanage,andfishermen,butlittlefriendlytoinnovations,seemtoprefertheemploymentofprimitiveweapons,whichtheyuseskilfullythatistosay,theharpoonandspear.

           Itwasthenbytheusualmethod,attackingthewhalewiththesword,thatCaptainHullwasgoingtoattempttocapturethejubartesignaledfivemilesfromhisship.

           Besides,theweatherwouldfavorthisexpedition.Thesea,beingverycalm,waspropitiousfortheworkingofawhale-boat.

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