Chapter 51-53 Summary

As they continue on their voyage, the crew of the Pequod begins to see a whale spout once nightly every so often. The whale is never caught and its spout never seen twice on the same night, so rumors circulate among the crew the whale is Moby Dick, luring them on. As the ship enters the Cape of Good Hope, the waters become rough and stormy. Strange fishes circle the boat, and birds try to roost on the stays of the Pequod. Even through the storms and rough seas, Ahab keeps his watch windward and does not sleep. He is also seen studying his logs and charts.

For the first time, Ishmael records the meeting with another whaling ship. Captain Ahab calls out to the crew of the vessel asking them if they have seen the White Whale. The captain of...