Ahab's White Whale, a White Whale of the Sea, Snarled in the Mazes of the Line.

Ahab's unearthly slogan tore every other cry but his to shreds. The white whale so crossed and recrossed the slack of the three lines that they foreshortened and of themselves, warped the devoted boats towards the planted irons in him. Loose harpoons and lances came flashing and dripping up to the chokes in the bows of ahab's boat. Only one thing could be done. Seizing the boat knife, he critically reached within, through and then, without the rays of steel dragged in the line beyond, passed it inboard to the bowsman. And then, twice, sundering the rope near the chalks, dropped the intercepted steel