Chapter 13 and 14 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 13—My Eldest Brother

The boat sails smoothly into the Pacific Ocean at a good pace, but later there are more periods of calm winds. Bernard examines letters he has from 15 sea captains about their passing of the Cape Horn, and the danger of icebergs. Cape Horn of South America is the furthest south of the three great capes. Captain Le Bourdais writes that he is sure that there are no icebergs on that route. There is one letter that warns of small ice floes and visible icebergs at the Horn on the way to Chile. An 88-year old former captain tells of ice found between Cape Horn, the Falklands Bank and the Falkland Islands to the east of Cape Horn. Bernard steers Joshua further south than necessary, at the 48th parallel, because the weather is warm and...