Chapter 10 Summary

Aubrey sails Surprise toward Arica to await Maturin. He returns the ship to standard order. Prior to making port, however, Surprise spots a small awkward craft coming out from the shore. It proves to be Maturin, alone, in a strange craft laden with specimens. Maturin fumbles his way to Surprise, explaining he has come out to avoid Surprise visibly picking him up in port—he has not wanted further to implicate Surprise in his own failed attempt at political intrigue. Later, Maturin recounts his adventures and misadventures to his shipmates, recalling how he struck off three of his own frostbitten toes with a chisel so stop the spread of gangrene. Maturin also delivers the news to Aubrey of a trio of American merchant ships sailing south around the southern tip of Argentina; Maturin has surprisingly accurate timetables and descriptions. Aubrey at once...