Queequeg’s Prophecy
While honing his harpoon in the raised boat, Queequeg tells Ishmael that when you see the squid, you will soon see the param whale. This prophecy connects to Starbuck’s earlier portents concerning the Squid, suggesting an inevitable encounter with the sperm whale lies ahead.
The Enchanted Atmosphere
The following day proves exceedingly still and sultry. The Indian Ocean proves a vacant stretch, offering few signs of marine life. With nothing to engage them, the crew succumbs to a spell of sleep induced by the tranquil sea. Ishmael, standing at the foremast-head, leans against the royal shrouds and idly sways in what seems enchanted air, losing all consciousness as his soul departs from his body while his body continues to swing like a pendulum.
The Masthead Watch
Before losing complete awareness, Ishmael notices the seamen at the main and mizzen-mast-heads have already become drowsy. All three men lifelessly swing from the spars while the slumbering helmsman below nods with each swing. The waves themselves nod their indolent crests, and across the wide trance of the sea, east nods to west with the sun presiding over all.
The Sperm Whale Sighting
Suddenly bursting bubbles beneath Ishmael’s closed eyes restore him to life. His hands grasp the shrouds as if by gracious agency, and he awakens to find a gigantic Sperm Whale not forty fathoms off, rolling in the water like a capsized frigate. The whale’s broad, glossy, Ethiopian-hued back glistens in the sun, and lazily spouting vapor, the whale resembles a portly burgher smoking his pipe—a pipe that proves to be his last. The entire ship and all sleepers start awake simultaneously, and voices cry out at the whale’s spouting.
Ahab’s Command
Ahab cries “Clear away the boats! Luff!” and dashes the helm down before the helmsman can act. The sudden exclamations alarm the whale, and before the boats reach the water, it majestically swims away to leeward with tranquil steadiness. Ahab, believing the whale may not yet be alarmed, orders complete silence—no oars and only whispers. The boats swiftly but silently paddle along, unable to set the noiseless sails due to the calm.
The Silent Chase
As they glide in pursuit, the monster perpendicularly flings his tail forty feet into the air, then sinks from sight. “There go flukes!” comes the cry, followed by Stubb lighting his pipe, indicating a respite has been granted. When the whale rises again, it is ahead of Stubb’s boat and much nearer than to the others, giving Stubb the honor of the likely capture.
The Whale’s Flukes
The whale becomes aware of its pursuers, and silence is no longer useful. Paddles drop and oars come into loud play. Stubb, still puffing at his pipe, cheers on his crew. The fish has undergone a mighty change, now going “head out”—elevating its massive head in the air, transforming from a bluff-bowed sluggish galliot into a sharp-pointed New York pilot-boat.
Stubb’s Respite
Stubb orders his men to start the boat with thunder-clap intensity while maintaining cool composure, instructing them to move like “grim death and grinning devils” raising the buried dead. His Gay-Header crewmember responds with wild war-whoops, while Daggoo yells “Kee-hee!” and Queequeg howls “Ka-la! Koo-loo!” as the oarsmen strain forward with one tremendous leading stroke.
The Onslaught
Wild screams answer Stubb’s commands from his diverse crew—an African giant, a Gay-Header, and a码头 Indian. The keels cut through the sea with oars and yells while Stubb retains his position in the van, encouraging the onset and puffing smoke. Like desperadoes, they tug and strain until Tashtego hurls the harpoon with the cry “Stern all!”
The Harpoon Strike
The oarsmen back water as the magical line instantly grows hot and hisses along their wrists. Stubb catches two additional turns with it around the loggerhead, causing blue hempen smoke to jet up mingling with his pipe fumes. The line blazes through both of Stubb’s hands, which have accidentally lost their protective hand-cloths, like holding an enemy’s two-edged sword by the blade.
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