Summarize the activities of the first day of the chase.

That night, Ahab suddenly declares that the whale must be near, and he orders the crew to prepare for the chase despite the fact that nobody can actually see Moby Dick. Finally Ahab spies the whale, and Tashtego affirms Ahab's vision. Soon all of the boats except for Starbuck's are in the water, and Ahab's boat leads them. The whale seems to possess a gentle joyousness, and it surpasses even "the whtie bull Jupiter swimming away with ravished Europa." A flock of white birds flies around Ahab's boat as it reaches Moby Dick's open mouth and scrolled jaw. Ahab struggles with the whale, which seems to predict every move that Ahab will make. When Moby Dick attacks Ahab's boat, causing it to sink, Ahab narrowly escapes to Stubb's boat, where he asks whether or not his harpoon survived before asking if there were any casualties. The boats rush back toward the Pequod, and Ahab remains on deck watching for more glimpses of Moby Dick. Starbuck claims that today's loss of Ahab's boat is an ill omen, but Ahab simply claims that if the gods think of communicating to man, "they will honorably speak outright, not shake their heads and give an old wives' darkling hint." Ahab orders Starbuck to begin the search for Moby Dick again, but not to find him until morning.