p.27 'They looked on;or worked beside him in awe and in silence.They seemed hypnotized by his grand,stony presence.'

Hi, your lines do not match any version of Moby Dick that I have, there are many translations, but I'm thinking this quote has to do with how the ships crew view Captain Ahab. Ahab seems an enigma, even to seasoned seamen. They are in awe of his stoic mesmerizing presence.