Chapter 7 Summary

The Sophie has approached Cape Nao and Jack complements Mr. Marshall, the navigator. It is time to practice exercising the guns. Stephen, who would have refrained from being near this painfully noisy and bad-smelling exercise, came up to the deck to take advantage of the elm-tree pump and was shanghaied by Jack's martial enthusiasm. When the gun crew was ready, each man hoped he would be a part of the team that hit the bobbing cast. The first hit was in two minutes and five seconds. Several more hits occurred and Jack was satisfied, and Jack and Stephen rest from the evening's activities by playing one of Dockyard Brown's pieces.

Dillon spots a group of four ships- the Gloire, a French privateer, protector of the other ships; the Xalac and Parlac, both with six guns, one of which bears an illicit cargo of...