Theshiphasbeenstuckinthedoldrumsforsometime,butassoonastheybreakfreeintomorepromisingwater,thewindblowsupsuddenly,damagingtheforemastandsendingtheshiprightbackintothestillwater.MrPrettimantakesahardfallandislaidupinhiscabin,MissGranhamtendstohimandthetwoannouncetheirengagement.
Ashipissightedinthedistance.AseveryonepreparesfortheencounterwiththeenemyEdmundhitshishead.Heisbadlyhurt,butstruggleson.Theshipsdrawclose,butinsteadofbringinganencounterwiththeenemy,itisTheAlcyone,aBritishshipcaptainedbySirHenrySomerset,theyannouncethatthewarisover.
Thetwoboatsaretiedtogetherforaball.EdmundmeetsSirHenry'sward,Marion,andimmediatelyfallsinlove.Buthisheadinjurytakesitstollandhefallsunconciousjustashewasgoingtobegforherhand.Aftersomedayshefinallyrecovers,butthetwoshipshavepartedandMarionisgone.
Edmund'sservantWheelerwasonboardtheAlcyone.Hehadspentfourdaysinthewateraftergoingoverboardandhadfinallybeenspotted,rescuedbythecrewandeventuallyreturnedtotheoriginalship.Astheysailon,thereisyetmoredamageaspartofthekeelfallsfromtheship.Thepassengersstarttopanic,convinceditwillsink.EdmundfindsWheelerinhiscabinwithagun,afterhislastscrapewithdeathheisterrifiedofdrowning,andheshootshimself.
一个有点可笑的年轻人在探索世界的同时自己也得到了成长。