Part 3, Chapter 5 Summary

Thomas's old manager sends him to a man named Pappy who manages to get Thomas on a ship a week after he arrived in New York. Thomas likes the ship, likes to be on the bow of the ship. Thomas has refused to get involved in fights or to even socialize with his shipmates, and avoids the poker game like the plague. There is one man on the ship who has befriended Thomas, however. His name is Dwyer and the other men on board think he is homosexual because of his slight build and feminine voice. Dwyer, however, is a serious sailor who hopes to get be an officer one day. Thomas becomes interested in the idea of promotion and talks Dwyer into preparing him for the test that will get him his third mate papers.

The ship docks at Marseilles...