In Chapters 17–21 of Moby-Dick, Ishmael witnesses Queequeg observing a private religious ritual, leading him to reflect on tolerance and respect for different beliefs. The two then officially join the Pequod, with Queequeg quickly accepted for his proven skill as a harpooner. Soon after, a mysterious man named Elijah warns them about Captain Ahab and hints at dark events ahead, though Ishmael dismisses him as a madman. As the ship prepares to depart, the harbor grows busy with anticipation, and when Ishmael finally boards under a dim and eerie atmosphere, he senses something unsettling, reinforcing the growing feeling that this voyage will be far more than an ordinary journey.