at the outset of this adventure filled with disaster and delight jack aubrey and stephen maturin pursue an american privateer through the great south sea the strange color of the ocean reminds stephen of homers famous description and portends an underwater volcanic eruption that will create a new island overnight and leave an indelible impression on the readers imaginationtheir ship the surprise is now also a privateer the better to escape diplomatic complications from stephens mission which is to ignite the revolutionary tinder of south america jack will survive a desperate open boat journey and come face to face with his illegitimate black son stephen caught up in the aftermath of his failed coup will flee for his life into the high frozen wastes of the andes and patrick obrians brilliantly detailed narrative will reunite them at last in a breathtaking chase through stormy seas and icebergs south of cape horn where the hunters suddenly become the hunted