Chapters 7 and 8 Summary

Farquhar is established as the Governor of La Reunion and begins to look forward to also governing Mauritius. Meanwhile Aubrey confers with other military advisors. Maturin determines to proceed to Mauritius and joins Clonfert for the voyage. During the trip the bumbling Maturin is accidentally dropped overboard, sustaining a light concussion and nearly drowning. He is placed under the care of McAdam and begins a long but successful recovery, complicated by pneumonia. The two men while the hours discussing Clonfert and arguing about which drug—alcohol or opium—is more onerous. During the voyage Maturin sees a dugong—the crew refers to it as a mermaid and McAdam calls it a manatee. Meanwhile, Pym has led a successful but bloody raid against a fortress near Ponte du Diable. Upon hearing of Pym's success, Clonfert immediately becomes agitated and...