Chapter One. Summary

Chapter one opens with the Surprise, commanded by Jack Aubrey and the Berenice, commanded by Heneage Dundas, making their way to their home ports in England. Berenice comes upon the Ringle and the Surprise, who which is badly damaged by a fight with an American frigate and then bad weather. Berenice assists Surprise in making the necessary repairs for her to gain her home port. On their way home, the two faster ships must in gratitude and courtesy be paced by the clumsy Berenice, though Captain Dundas has suggested several times that they part ways so that the other vessels might make home port quicker.

During some rather bad weather, Dundas is aboard Surprise reviewing old times with Aubrey, a longtime friend who had served together as young midshipmen. One such story they rehash is when Dundas beats Aubrey at a backgammon game and Aubrey...