Early Days on Nantucket 65 



it "to the hitches" into the body of the whale. 

 On the accuracy and strength of the harpooner 

 (and splendid courage was at the bottom of his 

 skill and strength) the ship depended, first of all, 

 for success in saving the whale. 



It is particularly notable that the harpooner held 

 the post of danger. The tossing flukes and the 

 open jaws of the wounded monsters reached the 

 man at the bow more frequently than any other 

 of the boat's crew. And as the whale fled, drag- 

 ging out the warp that was attached to the harpoon, 

 the flying coils of the line caught many a harpooner 

 and dragged him to death under the sea. 



It is noted in most descriptions of whale killing 

 that where the warp or harpoon line leaves the 

 boat it passes through a wooden Y standing at 

 the extreme bow. A small wooden peg was 

 inserted through holes in the arms of the Y to 

 keep the rope from flying out. This peg was a 

 mere sliver which any Yankee could whittle to 

 shape in two minutes; but the harpooners of 

 Nantucket, when on shore and dressed for society 

 (especially when dressed for a "squantum," as 

 a picnic was called), wore those pegs as medals of 



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