Chapter 8 Summary

Mr. Stourton joins the ship as 1st lieutenant. Several hours later Maturin boards the ship in the late afternoon his countenance is so horrific that Aubrey does not berate him as planned, and the ship sails from the harbor on the tail-end of flood. During the first day Aubrey meets privately with Stourton and instructs him as to the running of the ship—there will be relatively few floggings and startings; Aubrey discountenances corporal punishment and expects Stourton to run the ship by example, not tyranny. Stourton seems rather to agree though he exhibits a marked preference for a spotless ship; Aubrey enjoys this but does not value it more than naval efficiency.

Aubrey then writes a lengthy letter to Sophie which he realizes will not be delivered for many months. He relates the extent and nature of the repairs, reviews the...