Chapter 19 The Second Day At dawn, the men in the mastheads changed shifts.
There was no telling how far the whale had traveled.
We didn't know if we were still on his trail.
Just when we were starting to lose hope, Moby Dick burst into view.
The great white whale leaped into the air and crashed back down into the water.
It was a majestic sight, but one that frightened many of the men.
We had already seen what Moby Dick could do.
I hope you know that you have met your doom, Captain Ahab shouted to the whale.
Our men are ready.
Our harpoon is ready.
This will be the end of you.
Three boats were lowered into the water this time.
Queequeg got into one and I got into another.
Starbuck remained on board the Pequod.
The ship is yours, Starbuck, Captain Ahab said.
Keep it away from the boats, but don't go too far.
The boats were in the water only a few moments, with Ahab taking the center, when Moby Dick charged toward us.
The whale picked up tremendous speed.
He swam with his mouth wide open and his tail lashing about.
All of the men in these boats were expert sailors.
Now that we knew what to expect, we understood how to keep away from the beast.
We twisted and turned the boats and kept our distance from the angry whale.
Ahab shouted encouragement to everyone.
He promised us we would win.
We would kill Moby Dick.
Ahab was not going to let the whale take charge again.
While the boats moved toward and away from the whale, the harpooners were able to strike him with their spears.
As each one sank in, we all cheered.
However, this did not slow the whale down.
Since a rope was attached to each harpoon, a lot of line passed among the boats.
As Moby Dick darted toward the boats and the boats darted away from him, the lines became tangled.
The situation was becoming more and more dangerous.
Ahab's boat was trapped amid all the lines.
It was locked into place and could not move.
Ahab did the only thing possible.
He began to cut some of the lines.
There was no other way to free his boat.
The white whale dove deep again, then shot up back to the surface.
This time, he caught the bottom of Ahab's boat with his nose and sent it flying.
Ahab and his crew crashed into the ocean.
Moby Dick once again dove under and swam away, leaving the sea quiet for the time being.
The Pequod moved in closer and pulled all the men to safety.
Captain Ahab needed help to walk around the deck.
Many of the men gasped when they saw him, but no one said a word.
His ivory leg had broken off.
He was left only with a small splinter.
Ahab paused long enough to demand a crutch.
After that, he began calling to the men to stand guard near their whale boats.
He shouted for the sails to be raised to move the Pequod faster through the water.
We're close, men.
We'll soon have that creature.
Starbuck had finally had enough.
He could not watch the crew be put into danger anymore.
They had been on high alert for almost two days, and they needed a rest.
The answer is never, old man.
Starbuck yelled, you will never catch the whale this way.
This chase has lasted two days.
We've lost two boats.
You've lost your leg again.
What are you waiting for?
Will you finally stop when every one of your men has been killed?
We were all amazed to hear Starbuck speak like this to his captain.
It was unheard of.
A sailor must never yell at his superior.
He must do exactly as he is told, or it is considered treason.
We all expected Ahab to punish Starbuck or order that we should take him into custody.
The captain, however, spoke calmly.
We can't stop now.
Ahab said, this is a matter of fate.
This whale is my destiny.
You are my crew, so this is your destiny, too.
The man keeping watch in the main masthead called out to everyone below.
He's swimming alongside us, he called.
He pointed to a white mass to the left of the ship.
Moby Dick kept pace with the Pequod for several miles.
He then disappeared below the waves again.
