- A few weeks after Ahab forges his demonic harpoon, the Pequod encounters another whaling ship, the Bachelor, which has had a very successful cruise, collected many barrels of sperm oil.
- The Bachelor is now engaged in sailing home while having one long party on board, with some native Polynesian girls who "eloped" with some of the sailors.
- As the Bachelor passes, the captain calls to Ahab to come and join their bash, but Ahab persists in his ruthless quest, sailing into the wind.