He had no intention of giving up the battle, however.

He merely sought relief for his wounds in deep water.
The boats now waited and watched for the result.

After waiting nearly twenty minutes the monster rose again, directly ahead of the captain's boat, and so near as to dash the spray into it.
"Take that!" said the old captain; "that iron'll stop your fightin'." And he hurled his lance, with quick and deadly aim, giving an order at the same time to "astern hard." But before sternway could be got on the boat, the infuriated monster made a sudden turn, dashed upon and stove it into fragments.
The famous old whale-killer had hurled his last lance, had killed his last whale.

The dying monster, in making a last struggle with his enemies, had struck the captain with his fluke, and he sunk never to rise again..