Chapter 3 Summary

Leopard weathers a lengthy northwestern gale in the Bay of Biscay, clawing to the north and then northwest to avoid the lee shore of Spain. During the days of toil the prisoners are fairly prostrated by seasickness but they do take the time to murder their warden and his assistant. As the weather finally moderates, Leopard wears to the southeast and continues her voyage. Aubrey takes this first opportunity to examine his ship and finds the forepeak, where the prisoners have been ensconced, a vile pit of vomit, excrement, blood, and rotting straw. He orders immediate improvements and then visits the female prisoners, kept in separate lodgings. He finds Wogan much disheveled but in good enough spirits—she has been subsisting on her personal store of foodstuffs. She has also killed a rat, and Aubrey kicks it out into the passageway. Maturin...