The third morning after our battle with Moby Dick had begun we did not see anything. By noon, there was still no sign of the White Whale.
“We must have sailed past him,” said Captain Ahab. “Now he is chasing me; not I him – that’s bad. Turn the ship around.”
After about one hour Ahab sighted the White Whale again and once again the boats were lowered for the hunt.
Before the boats left the ship, Ahab stopped for a moment.
“Starbuck!” called Ahab
“Sir?” responded Starbuck.
“For the third time I start out on this voyage,” said Ahab.
“Aye, sir, that is what you want,” said Starbuck.
“Some ships sail from their ports and are never seen again, Starbuck!” said Ahab.
“Truth, sir: saddest truth,” responded Starbuck.
“Starbuck,” continued Ahab, “I am old – shake hands with me, man.”
Their hands met; their eyes were fixed together.
“Oh, my captain, my captain! – noble heart – don’t go – don’t go!”
“Lower away!” cried Ahab.
