Chapter 9 Summary

Polychrest guards a convoy—she is the slowest ship in the batch and makes entirely amazing leeway. The merchant ships are happy to see her leave, as she turns to detached cruising. Aubrey musters the crew and observes that he is very shorthanded and that much of the crew are lubberly fellows. With eighty-seven men and boys, he is thirty-three short of complement, or nearly 1/3 short of crew. After the disappointing and sobering muster, Aubrey, Goodridge, and Parker set about to redesign the ship's sail and rigging plan. For several days, various complicated operations are carried out which result in a peculiar and atypical sail plan. Aubrey is pleased when Polychrest's new rigging greatly improves handling. One day Maturin is watching a great shark circle the boat when Bolton, a crewman, falls from the rigging and enters the sea. Without thinking Aubrey...