Part 1 Summary

The story is told in first person from the point of view of the ship's captain, although his name is never stated. As the story opens, he is aboard the ship, looking around and describing the scenery. To one side, he sees small pieces of land or islets and to the other side, nothing but the stable, crisp, clear ocean. The tug that had brought the boat to its present location is now leaving, and there is a sense of a new beginning, of embarking on a new journey.

The captain briefly introduces his main officers who are the chief mate and second mate. The chief mate is described as having an abundant amount of whiskers and is characterized as a rather comical character; a person who finds it necessary to find a logical reason for every single occurrence that ever comes his...