Carry On, Mr. Bowditch

Nat thought he had learned to deal with his grief until he sees Cape Ann and realizes that in a few hours he will be home. Polly is waiting for him on the dock. She tells him Elizabeth died of consumption (tuberculosis). She remarks that the disease kills more people than accidents at sea. She wonders if they will ever find cure the way they discovered a vaccination for smallpox.

Elizabeth’s mother asks Nat to stay with her. When he goes to the room he shared with Elizabeth, he stands outside the door, unable to bring himself to go in alone. Polly tells him she prepared another bedroom for him so he wouldn’t have to sleep in his old room.

Captain Prince comes to see Nat; the Astrea’s new owners want Prince and Nat to sail her to Batavia to buy coffee. The only problem is the crew. Their old crew has broken up and are serving on other ships. They will have to find a better crew in Boston.

Nat and Captain Prince go to Boston where they find the Astrea deserted. The owners had hired a crew and given them a month’s pay in advance (which was common practice). Once they had the money, the crew deserted.