Not P but Moby-Dick (68)

[Mike Jing]

>From Chapter 87:

But not a bit daunted, Queequeg steered us manfully; now sheering off from
this monster directly across our route in advance; now edging away from
that, whose colossal flukes were suspended overhead, while all the time,
Starbuck stood up in the bows, lance in hand, pricking out of our way
whatever whales he could reach by short darts, for there was no time to
make long ones.

Here, was Starbuck throwing his lance at the whales, or was he just
thrusting without the lance leaving his hand?