The Bachelor—another ship the Pequod encounters—celebrates the start of her journey home. The captain discusses the white whale with Ahab but expresses skepticism about it. Despite the captain's invitation to come aboard, Ahab declines and instructs the captain to continue on his way.

Shortly after, possibly due to the favorable fortune of the Bachelor, the Pequod successfully hunts and captures four whales. Ahab observes as the whale he personally targeted follows the natural pattern of dying sperm whales by turning its head towards the sun. As the whale’s corpse is too distant from the ship to be retrieved before nightfall, Ahab's crew remains with the captured whale throughout the night.

While keeping watch at night, Fedallah explains a dream that Ahab had. According to Fedallah's interpretation, Ahab must witness two hearses at sea before his death: one hearse will be made of American wood and the other of a material beyond human making. Fedallah also foretells that although he will die before Ahab, he will somehow appear to Ahab in his death throes. Fedallah concludes his predictions, saying that only hemp can kill Ahab.

While using a quadrant to determine the ship's position, Ahab becomes frustrated and destroys the instrument, throwing it overboard. He then changes the ship's direction without consulting his charts or plots. Later, the Pequod is struck by a typhoon, which causes extensive damage to the sails and rigging, and causes St. Elmo's fire to glow on the three-pronged lightning rods at the top of each of the three masts. Ahab seizes the opportunity to experience the lightning by grabbing the lower end of the rod. Stunned by his captain’s pattern of irrational decisions, Starbuck advises Ahab to abandon the voyage and return home; Ahab, now wielding a harpoon that resembles a forked flame, resists his half-mutinous crew’s words and orders them onward.

Ahab commands the crew to tie all objects down securely, demanding they lift the whaleboats onto their cranes. The typhoon is still swirling about the Pequod, destroying Ahab’s boat and the rear section of the ship where Ahab often stands. Starbuck and Stubb discuss the chaotic evening but ultimately do not attempt to stop Ahab.