The Maid of Sker · Chapter
Dog Eats Dog explained
Davy accompanies Captain Rodney Bluett to confront Parson Chowne, who has been slandering the Bampfylde family.
What happens
Davy accompanies Captain Rodney Bluett to confront Parson Chowne, who has been slandering the Bampfylde family. Along the way, they encounter a shipwright who identifies a boat as the Wild-Duck, built for Captain Bampfylde, and later hear a woman's screams from Chowne's house, spurring them to action.
Themes in this chapter
Morality and Hypocrisy
Parson Chowne's slander and cruelty contrast with his clerical role, highlighting hypocrisy.
Truth and Narrative Reliability
Davy emphasizes the importance of multiple witnesses to establish truth, and the boat identification serves as evidence.
Maritime Life and Adventure
The chapter features shipwrights, boat identification, and the use of a boat for smuggling, reflecting maritime culture.
Characters to notice
- Davy Llewellyn
Narrates the chapter, accompanies Rodney Bluett to confront Chowne, and expresses reluctance and fear.
- Captain Rodney Bluett
Determined to horsewhip Parson Chowne for slandering the Bampfylde family; leads the confrontation.
- Sir Philip Bampfylde
Gazing at the ebb of the Tawe; discusses the situation with Davy and the boat identification.
- Parson Chowne
The target of the confrontation; accused of spreading lies about the Bampfylde family and causing distress.
- Captain Drake Bampfylde
Mentioned as having landed a chest of plate and linen, not an arm-chest, contrary to Chowne's slander.
Key passages
“To a man, whose time of life begins to be a subject of some consideration to him, when the few years still in hope can be counted on a hand, and may not need a finger; and with the tide of this world ebbing to the inevitable sea—to him there is scarcely any sweet and gentle pastime more delightful than to sit on a bank of ancient moss, beside a tidal river, and watch the decreasing waters, and prove his own eternity by casting a pebble into them.”
For an aging man, with few years left, there is no greater pleasure than sitting by a tidal river, watching the water recede, and contemplating his own immortality by tossing a pebble into it.
Davy reflects on Sir Philip's contemplative mood by the river.
“But out of the mouths of many witnesses shall a thing be established.”
The truth is confirmed by the testimony of multiple witnesses.
Davy emphasizes the importance of corroborating evidence.
“It is not man’s business to worry his head about righting of wrongs in this world, unless they are done to himself; and if so, revenge is its name, and an ugly one.”
It is not our duty to correct every injustice in the world, only those done to us; and even then, seeking revenge is unseemly.
Davy reflects on the futility of revenge as he approaches Chowne's house.