Moby Dick; Or, The Whale

The Ivory Stride

Ahab’s familiar footsteps have worn permanent dents into the deck planks, so thoroughly has he walked these boards. His pace leaves marks like geological stones, evidence of his constant movement. More significantly, his face shows the marks of his one unsleeping thought—his relentless obsession with the white whale—that has shaped every feature and movement. The dents in the deck deepen as his nervous step that morning leaves a more pronounced mark than usual, indicating that something is coming to a head.

The Chick Pecks the Shell

Stubb whispers to Flask, noting the intensity within Ahab, saying “the chick that’s in him pecks the shell”—that his inner thought is about to emerge into action. The hours wear on with this tension building, Ahab shuttling between his cabin and the deck, his expression showing intense bigotry of purpose.

The Summons Aft

Near the close of day, Ahab halts by the bulwarks, inserts his bone leg into an auger-hole for stability, and orders Starbuck to send everybody aft. Starbuck is astonished at this unusual order, as such commands are given only in extraordinary circumstances. Ahab repeats the command, calling down the mast-heads as well. When the entire ship’s company assembles, they regard him with curious and somewhat apprehensive faces, for his appearance resembles a weather horizon before a storm.

The Interrogation

Ahab stands apart, ignoring the assembled crew and resuming his heavy pacing with bent head and half-slouched hat. After allowing them to whisper in wonder, he stops abruptly and asks what they do when they see a whale. The crew responds with enthusiasm that they sing out and then lower away to pursue it. He asks what tune they pull to, and they answer “A dead whale or a stove boat!” The more strange and fierce the questions become, the more glad and approving Ahab becomes, his countenance growing more animated with each response, to the mariners’ own surprise at their own excitement.