Chapter 3 Summary

Maturin and some of the more seriously wounded sailors are taken ashore at Gibraltar so that the wounded can be treated on stable earth. When Maturin arrives back to Surprise, Aubrey requests his presence. Aubrey tells Maturin that Captain Pomfret of the Pomone had been cleaning his pistols and one was loaded; he has shot and killed himself. A new captain, John Vaux, has already been assigned and the squadron has been ordered out to sea immediately since the Admiral of the fleet is quite concerned about the attitude of the Balkan Muslims. Thus, Aubrey and his ships head for Mahon for further outfitting and setting in of supplies and to gather intelligence. Some of the crew gather around the "smoke" stove and discuss the death of Captain Pomfret, which one sailor, "Old Groan," believes is a suicide rather than an accident and that it is a...