The Whaleboat, a Halter Round Every Neck

All men live enveloped in whale all are born with halters round their necks. It is only when caught in the swift, sudden turn of death that mortals realize the silent, subtle, ever present perils of life. The graceful repose of the line as it silently serpentines around the oarsmen before being brought into actual play carries more of true terror than any other aspect of this dangerous affair. If you be a philosopher, though seated in the whaleboat, you would not at heart, feel one whit more of terror than though seated before your evening fire with a poker and not a harpoon by rside.