Captain Jack Aubrey is ashore on half-pay without a command - until his friend Stephen Maturin, arrives with secret orders for Aubrey to take a frigate to the C... » 

Captain Jack Aubrey is ashore on half-pay without a command - until his friend Stephen Maturin, arrives with secret orders for Aubrey to take a frigate to the Cape of Good Hope, under a Commodore's pennant. The difficulties of carrying out his orders are compounded by two of his own captains. «