Моби Дик

The Line

           Inlength,thecommonspermwhale-linemeasuressomethingovertwohundredfathoms.Towardsthesternoftheboatitisspirallycoiledawayinthetub,notliketheworm-pipeofastillthough,butsoastoformoneround,cheese-shapedmassofdenselybedded"sheaves,"orlayersofconcentricspiralizations,withoutanyhollowbutthe"heart,"orminuteverticaltubeformedattheaxisofthecheese.Astheleasttangleorkinkinthecoilingwould,inrunningout,infalliblytakesomebody’sarm,leg,orentirebodyoff,theutmostprecautionisusedinstowingthelineinitstub.Someharpooneerswillconsumealmostanentiremorninginthisbusiness,carryingthelinehighaloftandthenreevingitdownwardsthroughablocktowardsthetub,soasintheactofcoilingtofreeitfromallpossiblewrinklesandtwists.

           IntheEnglishboatstwotubsareusedinsteadofone;thesamelinebeingcontinuouslycoiledinbothtubs.Thereissomeadvantageinthis;becausethesetwin-tubsbeingsosmalltheyfitmorereadilyintotheboat,anddonotstrainitsomuch;whereas,theAmericantub,nearlythreefeetindiameterandofproportionatedepth,makesaratherbulkyfreightforacraftwhoseplanksarebutone-halfinchinthickness;forthebottomofthewhale-boatislikecriticalice,whichwillbearupaconsiderabledistributedweight,butnotverymuchofaconcentratedone.WhenthepaintedcanvascoverisclappedontheAmericantubline,theboatlooksasifitwerepullingoffwithaprodigiousgreatwedding-caketopresenttothewhales.

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