Ishmael speculates on Ahab’s motivation for continuing to look for whales other than Moby Dick. As Queequeg and Ishmael work on a mat to lash to the boat, Tashtego spots a school of sperm whales and sounds the alarm, “There she blows!” Almost immediately, the men spring into action and begin lowering boats. Suddenly, “five dusky phantoms” surround Ahab. Ishmael’s boat is swamped in the ensuing whale chase, but all aboard escape with their lives.
