Crew Deserts at the Savage Island
The Town-Ho reaches a remote, uninhabited savage island to repair hull leaks. Led by Steelkilt, all but five or six of the foremastmen deliberately desert the ship, seizing a large local war canoe to sail to another harbor.
Captain Sails to Tahiti for Reinforcements
With only a tiny crew remaining, the captain anchors the ship far offshore, arms himself, and sails 500 miles to Tahiti in a whaleboat to recruit new crew members, as the remaining men are too weakened by hard labor to sail the heavy vessel on their own.
Steelkilt Confronts the Captain at Sea
On the fourth day of his sail to Tahiti, the captain encounters Steelkilt and his group in a large war canoe. Steelkilt hails the captain, threatens to sink his boat if he does not heave to, forces the captain to hand over his pistol, and makes him swear an oath to beach his boat on a nearby island and remain there for six days before continuing to Tahiti.
Steelkilt Escapes to Tahiti
After forcing the captain to take the oath, Steelkilt swims back to his canoe, sails to Tahiti, and boards two French ships about to depart for France, escaping any potential legal retribution from his former captain.
Captain Returns to His Whaling Ship
Ten days after the French ships sail, the captain arrives in Tahiti, enlists a small number of Tahitians with seafaring experience, charters a native schooner, returns to the Town-Ho, finds the ship secure, and resumes his whaling cruise.
The Story’s Truth Is Questioned
After finishing his account, the narrator is asked by Don Sebastian and the other listeners if the story of the Town-Ho is factually true, and if he received it from an unquestionable source, as they find the tale extremely extraordinary.
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