The Whale's Curse of the Harpoon

The upper end of the line is taken aft from the tub. It hangs in a slight festoon over the bows, and is then passed inside the boat again. All the oarsmen are involved in its perilous contortions. They seem as indian jugglers with the deadliest snakes sportively festooning their limbs. But habit strange thing. What cannot habit accomplish?