The next day, a large Nantucket whaler called the Rachel approaches the Pequod. Its captain is an acquaintance of Ahab. In response to Ahab’s usual first question (“Hast seen the White Whale?”), the Rachel’s captain reports that his fastest whaleboat, with his own son aboard, has just recently been lost at sea due to an encounter with Moby Dick. He entreats Ahab to help in the search. The Pequod’s commander staunchly refuses and sets sail in pursuit of his only goal.
