Evening star., 1928-05-31
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
PITCHPOLINC
BY HERMAN MELVILLE


Herman Melville, 1s1o.1seI: was al, an
is "Moby Dick. or the whale from which
the present interesting episode is taken.)
To make them run easily and swiftly
the axles OF carriages are creased. ana
for much the same purpose some whal-
ers perform a similar operation on their
boat---they grease the bottom. Quee-
queg believed strongly in thus amounting
his boat. and one morning took more
than customary pains in that occupa-
tion. He crawled under Its bottom,
where 1t hung over the side, and rubbed
in the oil as though diligently seeking
to insure a crop of hair from the
crafts bald keel.
Queequeg, whaler that he was, SEEM
ed to be working in obedience to some
particular presentiment. Nor did 1t re-
main rnwarranted by the event.
Toward noon whales were raised.
But so soon as the ship sailed down
to them they turned and fed with
swift precipitancy--a disordered flight.
Nevertheless, the boats pursued and
Stubbs' was foremost. BY great exer-
ton Tashtego at last succeeded IN
planting one iron harpoon. but the
stricken whale, without at all sounding.
still continued his horizontal flight with
added fieetness.
Such uninterrupted strainings upon
the planted iron must sooner or later
inevitably pull 1t out. It became i'm
perative to lance the flying whale, or
be content to lose him. But to haul the
boat up to his flank was impossible. he
swan so fast and furious. What then
remained?
OF all the wondrous devices and dex-
terities, the sleights Of hand and count
less tricks to which the veteran whale
man Is so often forced, none exceed the
fine maneuver with the lance called
pitchpoling Small sword. or broad
sword. in all its exercises, boasts Moth
ing like it.
It is only indispensable with an in
veterate running whale. It's grand fact
to which the long spear Is accurately
darted from violently rocking, jark-
ing boat under extreme headway. Steel
and wood included, the entire spear Is
some 10 or IL feet In length: the staff
Is much slighter than that Of the har-
poon, and also of lighter material
pine. 1t Is furnished with small rope
called a warp. of considerable length,
by which 1t can be hauled back to the
hand after darting.
But before going further 1t Is impor-
tant to mention here that though the
harpoon may be pitchpoled In the same
way with the lance, yet 1t is seldom
done, and when done Is still less fire.
Quently successful on account of the
greater weight and inferior length Of
the harpoon compared with the lance,
which In effect become serious draw
backs. AS a general thing. therefore,
you must 6rst get fast to a whale be-
fore any pitchpoling comes into play.
Look now at Stubb-a man who from
his humorous, deliberate coolness and
equanimity in the direst emergencies.
was specially qualified to excel at pitch
polling.
Look at him. He stands upright in
the tossed bow of the flying boat
Wrapped In fieecy foam, the towing
whale Is 40 feet ahead. Handling the
long lance lightly, glancing twice or
thrice along It's length to see II 1t be
gathers up the coil Of the warp in one
hand, so as to secure its free end in
his grasp. leaving the rest unobstructed.
Then holding the lance full before
his wristbands middle, he levels 1t at
the whale. When, covering him with
1t, ne steadily depresses the butt end
In his hand thereby elevating the point
till the weapon stands fairly balanced
upon his palm, Is feet in the air. He
reminds you somewhat of q juggler bal
ancing long staff on his chin.
Next moment with rapid, nameless
impulse. In a superb lofty arch, the
bright steel spans the foaming distance
and quivvers In the life-spot of the
whale. Instead Of sparkling water, he
now spouts red blood.
THAT drove the spigot out Of him!"
cries Stubb, likening the burst Of red
fluid to the flow from q wine barrel
from which the stopper had been
sprung.
"Tis July's immortal Fourth" Stubb
went on in his own humorous vein, AL
fountains must run red todayi Would
now 1t were old Orleans whisky, or old
Ohio. or 1nspeakable old Monongai1eia