Derick’s Request for Oil Supplies
Derick explains he has come to borrow oil: his ship is completely out of oil (technically called a “clean” ship in the Fishery, a fitting name for the Jungfrau, or Virgin) and he has no flying-fish to use as a substitute for light at night, so he requests lamp oil and a lamp-feeder from the Pequod’s crew.
Whale Pod Sighted, Chase Begins
After receiving the supplies he needs, Derick heads back toward his ship, but whale spouts are almost immediately spotted from the mastheads of both vessels; so eager is Derick for the chase that he does not stop to return to the Jungfrau, instead turning his boat directly toward the pod of whales.
The Slow, Injured Bull Whale
A huge, aged bull whale lags far behind the fast-moving pod of eight whales: he moves slowly due to apparent illness or injury, has yellowish growths crusted over his skin, a damaged muzzle, labored, choking spouts, and is missing his starboard fin, leaving a faltering, devious wake as he struggles to keep pace with the pod.
Race for the Wounded Whale
All competing whaling boats from both the Pequod and Jungfrau target the slow, large injured bull whale, as he is the most valuable quarry and closest to them, while the rest of the pod moves too quickly to pursue; Derick’s boat initially leads the race, and he taunts the Pequod’s crews by shaking his now-empty lamp-feeder and tossing his oil can to slow his rivals as they close the gap.
Pequod Overtakes Derick, Harpoons Whale
The Pequod’s three boats, spurred on by Derick’s taunts, gain ground after Derick’s midship oarsman catches a crab that nearly capsizes the German boat; Queequeg, Tashtego, and Daggoo simultaneously harpoon the whale, and their boats slam into Derick’s craft, spilling the German captain and his harpooneer into the sea as they pass.
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