Part 2: Cochrane, Chapter 2 Summary

Cochrane's rebels and the captured crew of the Espiritu Santo work to keep the ship from sinking. Even Sharpe and Harper take turns operating the bilge pumps. While the crew works endlessly to keep the ship from sinking, Sharpe and Cochrane have the opportunity to talk. Cochrane had been a Naval officer for the British and even a member of parliament. But his reckless and impulsive ways got him into trouble with the British government. Cochrane came to Chile to fight as a paid naval officer.

So far the rebel Chilean government has had difficulty paying Cochrane. In fact, they are so far behind in paying Cochrane, that many in the rebel government wish for a way to avoid paying at all. This is the reason Cochrane believes the rebel government has ordered him to attack Valdivia. They know...