Chapters 5 and 6 Summary

HMS Nutmeg of Consolation continues to search for Cornélie and one day encounters the Dutch ship Alkmaar. The Alkmaar's captain provides information on Cornélie, noting that the French captain planned on watering at an island known as Nil Desperandum. Aubrey modifies his plans and proceeds to Nil Desperandum. As the days pass by Maturin spends much time brooding about being poor. He finds that poverty does not much alter his personal life but worries about the effects of poverty on his wife and marriage. As the ship draws close to Nil Desperandum Aubrey theorizes and contemplates the impending combat. He spends much time explaining his thoughts to Maturin and explaining his ideas to Pullings. The French ship has many heavy cannon, which are accurate at long range, while the British ship has fewer guns, and they are carronades&mdash...