Chapters 2 and 3 Summary

After a good night's sleep aided by a surreptitiously administered dose of laudanum, Aubrey and the crew flood the ballast and then pump out the seawater every morning. This cleans out the ballast and effectively washes the inside bottom of the ship. After pumping Aubrey goes swimming and eats breakfast. Norfolk Island is closed and Aubrey sends Bonden to scout out the shore and determine if a landing is possible. Maturin notes that Aubrey and Bonden seem to have a private understanding before Bonden sets off. The crew watches Bonden navigate along the shore and through the surf. When he returns he reports that a safe landing is not at all possible: Oakes and Clarissa will not be put ashore and Surprise will not stop at Norfolk Island. Shortly thereafter a sail is sighted, and Aubrey quickly determines Surprise is being...