Mr Midshipman Hornblower

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Hornblower translates the conversation between Pellew and the Spanish Captain, who states that Spain has made peace with France and that Indefatigable will be fired upon unless she leaves within six hours. There's plenty of suspense and adventure; and the grim, understated humor that liberally seasons the yarns keep the reader's spirits up and the pages turning.

Not long before the three weeks was up, Caroline landed in Spain with a raiding party for second time to obtain water, and was clawing off when a Spanish guarda-costa began chase. Still, this story (the longest yet) provides insight into the inner workings and behaviors of soldiers and sailors alike. Soon we note the arrival of Simpson: "embittered and humiliated by his failure to pass his examination for his commission, he was a worse tyrant, and his ingenuity had multiplied itself.Hornblower was assigned to command the jolly-boat and to board Papillon and to aloft to set sail while the other boats are engaged in a battle to take the ship. In this story, Midshipman Hornblower again faces his fears with courage, yet he’s also forced to kill someone along the way! The chapter ends with Foster, impressed by Hornblower's actions, telling Hornblower that, since the attack prevented him from failing the examination, he should "Be thankful for small mercies. The tenth and final chapter is more than twice the length of the others, but probably the worse of the tales, where Hornblower is too much the saintly hero.

His course to weather Ushant was nor'–east by north, he knew, and the boat close hauled would not lie closer than eight points off the wind—he had lain–to to the sea anchor all night because the wind had been coming from too far north to enable him to steer for England.Not long afterward, Hornblower and his crew are caught by a privateer named Pique which was converted from a slave ship.