All 6 Uses of

elude
in
Moby Dick

Of a retiring nature, he eludes both hunters and philosophers.†
Chpt 31-33 *

eludes = escapes understanding (is not understood by)

Perhaps they were; or perhaps there might have been shoals of them in the far horizon; but lulled into such an opium-like listlessness of vacant, unconscious reverie is this absent-minded youth by the blending cadence of waves with thoughts, that at last he loses his identity; takes the mystic ocean at his feet for the visible image of that deep, blue, bottomless soul, pervading mankind and nature; and every strange, half-seen, gliding, beautiful thing that eludes him; every dimly-discovered, uprising fin of some undiscernible form, seems to him the embodiment of those elusive thoughts that only people the soul by continually flitting through it.†
Chpt 34-36

As he thundered out this he made a rush at Bildad, but with a marvellous oblique, sliding celerity, Bildad for that time eluded him.†
Chpt 16-18

All four boats gave chase again; but the whale eluded them, and finally wholly disappeared.†
Chpt 52-54

Your only salvation lies in eluding it; but if it comes sideways through the opposing water, then partly owing to the light buoyancy of the whale boat, and the elasticity of its materials, a cracked rib or a dashed plank or two, a sort of stitch in the side, is generally the most serious result.†
Chpt 85-87 *

But skilfully manoeuvred, incessantly wheeling like trained chargers in the field; the boats for a while eluded him; though, at times, but by a plank's breadth; while all the time, Ahab's unearthly slogan tore every other cry but his to shreds.†
Chpt 133-135

Definitions:

(1) (elude as in: she eluded the police)
to avoid, or get away from
in various senses, including:
- "She eluded the police."
- "She eluded danger and finally arrived safely at home."
- "She always messes up, but some how eludes taking responsibility."
(2) (elude as in: your point eludes me)
to escape understanding, memory, or achievement
(3) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
meaning too rare to warrant focus:

All the meanings of elude are a variation (often metaphorically) of not being able to get a hold of something.