They are explaining that Captain Ahab is no were to be found. They are also setting the scene of how cold it is and how the shipmates are running the ship.
CHAPTER 28
The ship is sailing for a few days and no one has seen Captain Ahab. The ship hands are in charge. Ishmael is constantly looking for Captain Ahab. Ishmael is nervous because Elijah had given some weird prophecies. The ship is sailing south. It is winter and it’s very cold.
Ahab appears and he look awful. He stands on deck with his pegleg made of ivory. He steadies his walking on the boat with holes that fit the peg leg. As the weather gets nicer he becomes more pleasant. They continue sailing on into May.