Chapters 6 and 7 Summary

Aubrey remains discontent in command and writes several letters home. He develops a persistent cold during the period. An old shipmate, Awkward Davis, rejoins Aubrey's command. Aubrey had once rescued Davis from drowning and Davis therefore views Aubrey's companionship as something of a guaranteed privilege. Davis is not much of a sailor but is fierce in combat. Eventually Aubrey's monotonous blockade duty is interrupted by different orders, delivered by Harte. Aubrey is to proceed to Barka and there deliver a political delegation. Harte emphasizes that the delicate political situation in the region requires Aubrey to scrupulously observe the neutrality of various minor regions. Aubrey proceeds with Dryad and Polyphemus, a lightly armed transport. They deliver the politicians and then Dryad encounters, and escapes from, a French squadron composed of a 74-gun ship and a 36-gun consort. The French ships are anchored in a neutral harbor...