{"id":"01KFNR88A9DSW9ANBX8A3YZMC8","cid":"bafkreigod4rbtfbkvy47retcrzwyrqgd24k7abkcuw5jmvv4mj3cjxyrfq","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":8800,"extracted_at":"2026-01-23T15:41:03.431Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 0","source_file":"01KFNR0Z394A878Y5AQ63MQEM2","start_line":8741,"text":"CHAPTER 48. The First Lowering.\r\n\r\nThe phantoms, for so they then seemed, were flitting on the other side\r\nof the deck, and, with a noiseless celerity, were casting loose the\r\ntackles and bands of the boat which swung there. This boat had always\r\nbeen deemed one of the spare boats, though technically called the\r\ncaptain’s, on account of its hanging from the starboard quarter. The\r\nfigure that now stood by its bows was tall and swart, with one white\r\ntooth evilly protruding from its steel-like lips. A rumpled Chinese\r\njacket of black cotton funereally invested him, with wide black\r\ntrowsers of the same dark stuff. But strangely crowning this ebonness\r\nwas a glistening white plaited turban, the living hair braided and\r\ncoiled round and round upon his head. Less swart in aspect, the\r\ncompanions of this figure were of that vivid, tiger-yellow complexion\r\npeculiar to some of the aboriginal natives of the Manillas;—a race\r\nnotorious for a certain diabolism of subtilty, and by some honest white\r\nmariners supposed to be the paid spies and secret confidential agents\r\non the water of the devil, their lord, whose counting-room they suppose\r\nto be elsewhere.\r\n\r\nWhile yet the wondering ship’s company were gazing upon these\r\nstrangers, Ahab cried out to the white-turbaned old man at their head,\r\n“All ready there, Fedallah?”\r\n\r\n“Ready,” was the half-hissed reply.\r\n\r\n“Lower away then; d’ye hear?” shouting across the deck. “Lower away\r\nthere, I say.”\r\n\r\nSuch was the thunder of his voice, that spite of their amazement the\r\nmen sprang over the rail; the sheaves whirled round in the blocks; with\r\na wallow, the three boats dropped into the sea; while, with a\r\ndexterous, off-handed daring, unknown in any other vocation, the\r\nsailors, goat-like, leaped down the rolling ship’s side into the tossed\r\nboats below.\r\n\r\nHardly had they pulled out from under the ship’s lee, when a fourth\r\nkeel, coming from the windward side, pulled round under the stern, and\r\nshowed the five strangers rowing Ahab, who, standing erect in the\r\nstern, loudly hailed Starbuck, Stubb, and Flask, to spread themselves\r\nwidely, so as to cover a large expanse of water. But with all their\r\neyes again riveted upon the swart Fedallah and his crew, the inmates of\r\nthe other boats obeyed not the command.\r\n\r\n“Captain Ahab?—” said Starbuck.\r\n\r\n“Spread yourselves,” cried Ahab; “give way, all four boats. Thou,\r\nFlask, pull out more to leeward!”\r\n\r\n“Aye, aye, sir,” cheerily cried little King-Post, sweeping round his\r\ngreat steering oar. “Lay back!” addressing his crew.\r\n“There!—there!—there again! There she blows right ahead, boys!—lay\r\nback!”\r\n\r\n“Never heed yonder yellow boys, Archy.”\r\n\r\n“Oh, I don’t mind ’em, sir,” said Archy; “I knew it all before now.\r\nDidn’t I hear ’em in the hold? And didn’t I tell Cabaco here of it?\r\nWhat say ye, Cabaco? They are stowaways, Mr. Flask.”\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 0"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KFNR84DWNMZE862AT9EMY2FD","peer_label":"48","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KFNR84DWNMZE862AT9EMY2FD","peer_label":"48","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"partOf"},{"peer":"01KFNR81RMVAX2BBMMBW51V97D","peer_label":"Moby Dick; Or, The Whale","peer_type":"novel","predicate":"partOf"},{"peer":"01KFNR0H0Q791Y1SMZWEQ09FGV","peer_label":"Moby Dick","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KFNR88CFMHS2ETGY0DEZYRR7","peer_label":"Chunk 1","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-23T15:41:03.936Z","ts":"2026-01-23T15:41:16.685Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}