Melville, Herman

Ishmael, a young school teacher, signs up on a whaling ship to seek adventure. With his unexpected friend, Queequeg, a cannibal harpooner, he joins the Pequod, captained by the mysterious Ahab. But Ahab is only interested in seeking revenge upon the greatwhite whale, Moby Dick, who took off Ahab's leg on an earlier trip. It's a hair-raising whale hunt where Ishmael's search for adventrue turns into a desperate wish to survive.

A young sailor is sentenced to be hanged for inadvertently striking and killing an officer. He faces death with a blessing for the benevolent captain who is forced to carry out his execution.