i
- In the middle of this battle is the British ship Marlborough, on which Midshipman Plunkett serves.
- Plunkett is below decks on the order of his admiral when he feels the hull turning hard—they're about to crash.
ii
- The Marlborough skids up to the French vessel called Ville de Paris, and Plunkett observes the ship as The Marlborough tries to avoid being cracked up by impact.
- But the ships collide, the sides split, and water rushes in to Plunkett's hold. He's still gripping his sword.
iii
- Plunkett tries to climb the ladder to the upper deck with his sword drawn, but it doesn't go well for him, and his body is found floating in the belly of the ship.
- From the Ville de Paris, a pyrite-covered wine bottle (the same one that winds up in the museum in Book I) falls to the sea floor.