At Yojo’s behest, Queequeg asks Ishmael to select their whaling vessel. Ishmael agrees, selecting the Pequod, a ship captained by a man named Ahab. The owners of the vessel—Bildad and Peleg—negotiate with the two men about the terms of their contract; they are happy to take on Queequeg, an accomplished harpooner and begrudgingly willing to take on the inexperienced Ishmael. After some argument, they allocate Ishmael a pittance, unwilling to offer him a larger share of their profits. 

Ishmael asks when they might meet Ahab, their captain; Peleg informs him that they will not meet Ahab for some time, as he is still at his residence. During their conversation, Ishmael learns that a whale took one of Ahab’s legs and that their captain has both a wife and children. Peleg alludes to a typhoon that he and Ahab survived but says little else about the elusive man. 

Upon returning to his room, Ishmael discovers that the door is locked. Worried about Queequeg, he forcibly enters the room and finds his friend sitting in a quiet trance in the center of the room, with Yojo atop his head. The ritual comes to a close at sunrise, and Queequeg awakens.

Bildad and Peleg are hesitant to recruit a pagan onto the Pequod. Queequeg demonstrates his proficiency as a harpooner by accurately hitting a tiny tar spot on the water. Peleg ultimately hires him under the name of Quohog, and Queequeg confirms the agreement with his signature, which is the symbol tattooed on his arm.