February 9th, 1873, Petropavlovsk, Queen Charlotte Sounds. 2100 Hours.

The officers and crew of the Petropavlovsk had a busy day. They had sailed overnight deep into Queen Charlotte Sounds, seeking a safe and secluded bay, free from the prying eyes of whalers and other boats that had come to the assistance of the stricken ship Rangitoto. Once anchored, the crew began to prepare the ship for her urgently needed repairs.

The chief engineer of the ...