Underwater, Skiff tries to return to the surface but struggles because the keg line is still caught around his wrist. Eventually, he reaches the surface, and his head bumps into the keg. The tuna also surfaced, having inadvertently saved him after almost killing him. However, the fog is so thick that Skiff can’t find his boat or harpoon. If he stays in the water too long, he could freeze to death, so he holds onto the keg until the skiff comes back into view.

Back in the boat, Skiff puts his life jacket on. He no longer sees the tuna, but the keg is bobbing nearby. He starts coiling the keg line, and it jerks: The tuna is still attached to it, under the skiff. The fish starts pulling the skiff behind it. Skiff feels a bit guilty, as the fish saved his life. Taking his father’s advice, he wraps rope around the thrashing fish’s tail to control it. As the fish can’t fit in the boat, he drags it. Skiff finds west on his compass, then starts the 30-mile journey home.