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.
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