What was odd about the stranger's asking where the ship was going before he consented to come on board

This time, however, there is a regular-sized human there, asking to where the ship is bound. He boards the ship, nearly frozen and completely fatigued. When he is a bit recovered, Walton asks what he is doing up here. The stranger says he was tracking someone who fled from him. Apparently, it was the large figure Walton and his men saw earlier. This guy is nearly frozen to death and asks where the ship is heading.