The Line — Moby-Dick

Before the next whaling scene, Ishmael explains the whale-line. It is the rope that connects the harpoon to the boat. It can be magical and horrible at the same time.

Old whale lines were hemp with a little tar. Now American boats mostly use Manila rope. It is stronger, softer, and easier to coil. The line is only two-thirds of an inch thick, but it can hold nearly three tons. A sperm whale line is more than two hundred fathoms long.

It is coiled in a tub like a round cheese. One twist can take off an arm, a leg, or a whole body when the line runs out. Harpooneers may spend a whole morning stowing it carefully.

The lower end hangs free in a loop on purpose. That lets another boat attach its line if the whale dives deep. It also keeps a sounding whale from dragging the whole boat and crew under the sea.

Before a chase the upper end is run through the boat. It goes around the loggerhead, across every oarsman's oar, through chocks in the bow, and on to the harpoon. The rope wraps the whole boat and every man in dangerous coils.

New men shudder to sit there, knowing the line may snap into motion at any instant. Habit changes everything. Veteran crews joke while they row inside what Ishmael calls halters around their necks.

When the line runs out, it moves like flying machinery. You cannot sit still while the boat rocks. Men are sometimes pulled overboard and lost.

Ishmael says the quiet coiled line is more frightening than the storm. It is like a rifle holding powder and ball. In the end he says all people live inside whale-lines. Everyone is born with a halter around the neck. Most only feel the danger when death snaps tight.