I was mistaken.

The captain received him on the point of his lance, and the whale has such a dislike to pain, that even a small prick will sometimes turn him.
For some time we kept dodging round this fellow; but he was so old and wise, that he always turned his head to us, and prevented us from getting a chance to lance him.

At last he turned a little to one side, and the captain plunged the lance deep into his vitals.
"Ha! that's touched his life," cried Tom, as a stream of blood flew up from his blowholes, a sure sign that he was mortally wounded.

But he was not yet conquered.

After receiving the cruel stab with the lance, he pitched right down, head foremost, and once more the line began to fly out over the bow.