Chapter 84: Moby Dick

pg341
"By great exertion, Tashtego at last succeeded in planting one iron; but the stricken whale, without at all sounding, still continued his horizontal flight, with added fleetness"

Once again the mighty beast pulls a boat full of men and equipment steadily through the sea even with a harpoon in its side. This explains why whalers consider themselves unequal to other men and why the whales have been so glorified. Though the motif of the whale being able to get away will most likely come into play again, considering its already impressive try at running.