{"id":"01KFNR89J4AYJAT8KW1GNMXX2M","cid":"bafkreiejzrjoc3l6qv5mlytpbldnaimpcynblqttxowmnbniwt5vzthv4i","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":11086,"extracted_at":"2026-01-23T15:41:04.719Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 0","source_file":"01KFNR0Z394A878Y5AQ63MQEM2","start_line":11020,"text":"CHAPTER 59. Squid.\r\n\r\nSlowly wading through the meadows of brit, the Pequod still held on her\r\nway north-eastward towards the island of Java; a gentle air impelling\r\nher keel, so that in the surrounding serenity her three tall tapering\r\nmasts mildly waved to that languid breeze, as three mild palms on a\r\nplain. And still, at wide intervals in the silvery night, the lonely,\r\nalluring jet would be seen.\r\n\r\nBut one transparent blue morning, when a stillness almost preternatural\r\nspread over the sea, however unattended with any stagnant calm; when\r\nthe long burnished sun-glade on the waters seemed a golden finger laid\r\nacross them, enjoining some secrecy; when the slippered waves whispered\r\ntogether as they softly ran on; in this profound hush of the visible\r\nsphere a strange spectre was seen by Daggoo from the main-mast-head.\r\n\r\nIn the distance, a great white mass lazily rose, and rising higher and\r\nhigher, and disentangling itself from the azure, at last gleamed before\r\nour prow like a snow-slide, new slid from the hills. Thus glistening\r\nfor a moment, as slowly it subsided, and sank. Then once more arose,\r\nand silently gleamed. It seemed not a whale; and yet is this Moby Dick?\r\nthought Daggoo. Again the phantom went down, but on re-appearing once\r\nmore, with a stiletto-like cry that startled every man from his nod,\r\nthe negro yelled out—“There! there again! there she breaches! right\r\nahead! The White Whale, the White Whale!”\r\n\r\nUpon this, the seamen rushed to the yard-arms, as in swarming-time the\r\nbees rush to the boughs. Bare-headed in the sultry sun, Ahab stood on\r\nthe bowsprit, and with one hand pushed far behind in readiness to wave\r\nhis orders to the helmsman, cast his eager glance in the direction\r\nindicated aloft by the outstretched motionless arm of Daggoo.\r\n\r\nWhether the flitting attendance of the one still and solitary jet had\r\ngradually worked upon Ahab, so that he was now prepared to connect the\r\nideas of mildness and repose with the first sight of the particular\r\nwhale he pursued; however this was, or whether his eagerness betrayed\r\nhim; whichever way it might have been, no sooner did he distinctly\r\nperceive the white mass, than with a quick intensity he instantly gave\r\norders for lowering.\r\n\r\nThe four boats were soon on the water; Ahab’s in advance, and all\r\nswiftly pulling towards their prey. Soon it went down, and while, with\r\noars suspended, we were awaiting its reappearance, lo! in the same spot\r\nwhere it sank, once more it slowly rose. Almost forgetting for the\r\nmoment all thoughts of Moby Dick, we now gazed at the most wondrous\r\nphenomenon which the secret seas have hitherto revealed to mankind. A\r\nvast pulpy mass, furlongs in length and breadth, of a glancing\r\ncream-colour, lay floating on the water, innumerable long arms\r\nradiating from its centre, and curling and twisting like a nest of\r\nanacondas, as if blindly to clutch at any hapless object within reach.\r\nNo perceptible face or front did it have; no conceivable token of\r\neither sensation or instinct; but undulated there on the billows, an\r\nunearthly, formless, chance-like apparition of life.\r\n\r\nAs with a low sucking sound it slowly disappeared again, Starbuck still\r\ngazing at the agitated waters where it had sunk, with a wild voice\r\nexclaimed—“Almost rather had I seen Moby Dick and fought him, than to\r\nhave seen thee, thou white ghost!”\r\n\r\n“What was it, Sir?” said Flask.\r\n\r\n“The great live squid, which, they say, few whale-ships ever beheld,\r\nand returned to their ports to tell of it.”\r\n\r\nBut Ahab said nothing; turning his boat, he sailed back to the vessel;\r\nthe rest as silently following.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 0"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KFNR84CSNMJ1BR3V0420YVNY","peer_label":"59","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KFNR84CSNMJ1BR3V0420YVNY","peer_label":"59","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":"01KFNR89J8AE37AA7WMA9QF9ZV","peer_label":"Chunk 1","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-23T15:41:05.010Z","ts":"2026-01-23T15:41:16.733Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}