Chapter Two Summary

Chapter Two is also a letter written by Sebastian Rodrigues. It appears that approximately two months have passed since his last letter. For eight days after leaving Macao the priests' vessel sailed through good weather. Then a storm blew up that ripped a hole in the boat. The Chinese sailors, Garrpe, and Rodrigues spend a long night bailing water and trying to plug the hole, while Kichijiro hides behind a pile of luggage and is sick. As Kichijiro sits in his own filth and moans he murmurs the phrases "gratia" and "Santa Maria." The mention of the Christian words once again prompts Garrpe to interrogate Kichijiro's faith; but the man refuses to admit any association with the religion.

As the group sits exhausted from their night's work, one of the sailors sees a bird flying overhead and then notices twigs floating...