Chapter 39, "A Love Letter" Summary

Long after midnight, Willie closes Keefer's manuscript, goes to the ship's office, bolts the door, and types a long letter to May again asking her to marry him. Willie admits he wants to go back to school and eventually teach. He talks about the mutiny, the typhoon, the contents of Keefer's novel, and his love for May. The Pluto patches up the deckhouse damage but cannot mend the boiler. The Caine is sent further into exile at an anchor berth far up the harbor. Two boilers still work and the old ship is still functional. A couple of days before the Caine's scheduled minesweeping operation, the Moulton comes alongside and Willie's old friend Keggs comes to the Caine. He is Captain Keggs now. Willie is merely Exec Keith. As they drink coffee, Keggs assures him...