Quote Originally Posted by Earl of Purple View Post
Sea

Many of the harpoons bounce off, though a few lodge in the great crab's leg joints and one hits the eye-stump dead-on. The crab flinches in rage before diving under the water and continuing its attack from beneath the waterline, where the harpoons and cannonballs are slowed by water resistance and distortion causes the carcinos to appear in the wrong place.
Sea

The crab will have a hard time pulling down, because as soon as the harpoons are confirmed hits, several men begin pulling on the chains attached to the harpoons, trying to hoist the crab out of the water. They pull in a rhythmic HEAVE, hand over hand.

The captain begins his order for the next phase of his plan. "Get that chain around the mast and attached to the anchor! Keep pulling yah bilge rats! No slacking!" A few crewmen follow his orders, but if the crab is too strong for the pulling crew they can't be succesful.