Darwin’s Dragons
Chapter 1 and 2
In Chapter 1, Mr. Darwin and his assistant, Covington, observe giant tortoises, with Darwin praising Covington for his insights. They share a playful moment, riding the tortoises, before noticing an approaching storm. Darwin quickly shifts to serious mode, ensuring their collected specimens are packed and ready. As the storm intensifies, Darwin and Covington rush back to their rowboat, battling heavy rain and strong winds. With the help of sailors Robbins and Tanner, they row back to the Beagle, struggling against the rough sea, as the storm threatens their safe return.
In Chapter 2 we learn that Covington, Mr. Darwin, and the sailors struggle to row back to the Beagle during a violent storm. The waves grow stronger, causing Darwin to fall overboard. Covington immediately dives into the turbulent sea with a rope to save him. After a frantic struggle, he manages to reach Darwin and secure him to the rope. However, the powerful waves rip them apart just as they begin to be hauled in. Covington surfaces alone, with no sight of Darwin, the rowboat, or the Beagle, as the storm rages on.
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Chapter 3 and 4
In this chapter, Covington battles against a violent storm, struggling to stay afloat in the churning sea. He recalls a memory of his father teaching him to swim, which gives him the determination to keep fighting. After nearly drowning multiple times, he finally reaches land, crawling onto a rocky shore covered with iguanas. Exhausted, battered, and having lost Mr. Darwin, the ship, and his fiddle, Covington takes stock of his surroundings. Unsure of his exact location within the Galapagos Islands, he realises he may be stranded in an unfamiliar and desolate place as the storm continues to rage.
In Chapter 4 Covington grapples with fear and uncertainty after being stranded on the island, shivering and overwhelmed by thoughts of Mr. Darwin potentially being lost at sea. He recalls lessons from his father and steadies himself, determined to stay calm and survive until rescue. Recognizing the importance of observation, as Darwin had taught him, Covington drinks rainwater and begins searching for shelter. Suddenly, he is attacked by a mysterious creature that screeches and lifts him off the ground, leaving him shocked and terrified as he is carried into the air.
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Chapter 5 and 6
In this chapter, Covington is captured by a massive flying creature, its enormous claws gripping him tightly as it lifts him high into the sky. Terrified, he struggles but realizes he’s too high to break free safely. The beast carries him out to sea and suddenly releases him, causing him to plummet into the water. Despite the painful impact, Covington manages to swim back to shore. Just as he thinks he’s safe, the creature swoops down again, grabbing him and dropping him multiple times into the sea before he can fully recover, leaving him exhausted and bewildered.
Chapter 6 continues on when Covington is repeatedly dropped into the sea by the mysterious flying beast. Realising he can’t keep getting caught, he hides in a mass of seaweed and driftwood, using it as camouflage. As he watches the beast circle above, he questions why it hasn’t harmed him and considers that it might be toying with him. Observing its unusual appearance—reptilian with bat-like wings—he recalls fossil discoveries he made with Darwin, wondering if the creature could be a living fossil. After the beast finally flies inland toward the volcano, Covington remains hidden, contemplating the Galapagos as the perfect home for such an ancient, elusive creature.
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Chapter 7 and 8
In chapter 7, Covington finds himself washed ashore after a harrowing ordeal with a “sky beast.” Exhausted and barefoot, he stumbles along the rocky shoreline, grateful to find his old fiddle, “Scratch,” intact despite the circumstances. Seeking shelter under a cactus, he reflects on the uncertainty of rescue and the treacherous environment around him, including an active volcano in the distance. Despite the lack of basic survival tools like food or fire, he clings to hope, longing for the safety of the ship, the Beagle, and its crew, believing that help may eventually arrive.
Chapter 8 continues with Covington waking up to a strange sound, encountering an unfamiliar lizard-like creature. Initially frightened, he manages to confront the reptile, which surprisingly shows no aggression. As he studies the creature, he realises it is a new species, unlike anything he’s seen during his time serving under Mr. Darwin. Suddenly, the island trembles with volcanic activity, sending a spray of lava into the air. Covington is struck by the grim irony of his situation—stranded on an island with a volcano and strange creatures—wondering if he will survive long enough to witness the eruption.
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Chapter 9 and 10
Chapter 9 begins to Covington waking up to a calmer day, with the volcano emitting smoke and no sign of the sky beast. Hungry and thirsty, he reminisces about the comforts of the Beagle and sets out inland to search for food. While wandering, he comes across a lava field and some cactuses, but his attempt to harvest prickly pear fruit is unsuccessful, resulting in a few painful cactus spines. Although feeling increasingly hopeless, Covington senses something following him but dismisses it as nerves, continuing to press forward in search of survival essentials like food, water, and shelter.
In the next chapter Covington struggles with hunger and thirst but is momentarily uplifted when he finds his fiddle, “Scratch,” in good condition. After playing a tune, he feels a sense of comfort and escape from his dire situation. As he plays, the same green lizard from the previous night reappears, observing him curiously. This encounter reinforces the mysterious and eerie atmosphere on the island, with Covington now accompanied by both the music of his fiddle and the silent presence of the strange creature.
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