By comparison, the Surprise is a somewhat aged man-o-war. Am I not correct?
Would you call me an aged man-o-war, doctor? The Surprise is not old; no one would call her old. She has a bluff bow, lovely lines. She's a fine sea-boat: weatherly, stiff and fast … very fast, if she's well handled. No, she's not old; she's in her prime.
Sailing Master John Allen Well, we can patch up the main and mizzen, the foresail's too far gone, I'm afraid, so we'll bend our spare.
Lt. Thomas Pullings Mr. Lamb is confident, with basic repairs we can get home as we are--
We're not going home.
Sailing Master John Allen But, to refit, we need a port, and the Acheron may be still be looking for us.
We can refit at sea. Here. We're at shoals. As you said, Mr. Allen, she is taking the war to the south seas, and we are supposed to stop her.
Sailing Master John Allen But, Sir, with respect, she's a vastly heavier ship. She's out of our class. She could be halfway to Cape Horn by the time we're repaired and under way.
Well, then, there's not a moment to lose.
