Tom made a cut at him with his blubber-spade, but the shark rolled off in time to escape the blow.

And after all it would not have done him much damage, for it is not easy to frighten or take the life out of a shark.
"Hand me an iron and line, Bob," said Tom, looking up at me.

"I've got a spite agin that feller.

He's been up twice already.

Ah! hand it down here, and two or three of ye stand by to hold on by the line.
There he comes, the big villain!" The shark came close to the side of the whale at that moment, and Tom sent the harpoon right down his throat.
"Hold on hard," shouted Tom.
"Aye, aye," replied several of the men as they held on to the line, their arms jerking violently as the savage fish tried to free itself.
We quickly reeved a line through a block at the fore yard-arm, and hauled it on deck with much difficulty.