Midnight, Forecastle — Moby-Dick

This chapter is written like a play. Sailors from many countries gather in the forecastle at midnight and sing, dance, and talk.

They start with a song saying goodbye to Spanish ladies. Then they sing whale-hunting songs and call for more noise and dancing. Pip is told to strike eight bells and play his tambourine.

Some sailors praise Captain Ahab and say they are ready to hunt the white whale. Others talk about home, girls, and memory. Tashtego watches quietly and says white men call this fun while he saves his energy.

The old Manx sailor wonders what the happy dancers are dancing over. He thinks of graves and green ships at the bottom of the sea.

The sky grows dark and the wind rises. Sailors talk about storms, lightning, and brave captains who sail straight into squalls. Daggoo says he is not afraid of darkness because he comes from it.

A Spanish sailor insults Daggoo's race. The two men almost fight with knives. The crew shouts for a brawl until officers order them to reef sails for the coming storm.

The squall hits hard. Ropes crack and yards swing overhead. Men scatter to work while Pip hides under the windlass, terrified.

He remembers hearing the white whale mentioned only once tonight. He thinks of Ahab swearing the crew to hunt Moby Dick. Alone in the storm, the small boy prays to God to protect him from fearless dangerous men.