After the sermon, Ishmael returns to the Spouter-Inn. He finds Queequeg flipping through the pages of an old tome, and the two fall to talking. They share a smoke from Queequeg’s tomahawk pipe, and Queequeg exclaims that Ishmael is now a close friend for whom he would give his life. After Queequeg tells Ishmael about Yojo, the idol he worships, Ishmael joins in as Queequeg praises the statue, rationalizing his worship by explaining that he wishes to do unto others as he would wish others to do unto him. 

Later, Queequeg tells Ishmael about his background. As the son of a renowned chief of Kokovoko, Queequeg felt driven to better understand Christianity and share this knowledge with his community in hopes of improving their well-being. However, after joining a ship and learning more, he realized that Christianity has little value for his tribe.

On Monday morning, the two men check out of the Spouter-Inn, transporting their belongings with a wheelbarrow onto a small schooner, Moss, that will transport them to Nantucket. Aboard Moss, a group of men mocks Queequeg, but before he can respond, a loose boom knocks one of the men into the water. Despite their cruel words, the harpooner graciously saves him from drowning. 

After they arrive in Nantucket, Ishmael and Queequeg rent a room at the Try Pots Inn, which is run by Mr. and Mrs. Hosea Hussey, Mr. Coffin’s cousins. They are served clam and fish soup, then retire for bed.