Horatio Hornblower - Horatio Captures The Natividad

With the American Express Platinum card, I can unlock experiences like no other.

Since I'm always booking my next trip, I'd love that I can earn points on travel.

Plus, I get a Rezi benefit, so you know I'm hitting the restaurants everyone's talking about.

And you can find out your welcome offer after you apply, which could be as high as 175,000 points.

For experiences like no other, there's nothing like Platinum.

Learn more at americanexpress.com slash explore dash Platinum, terms apply.

You're jamming your favorite song, and while you aren't missing a beat, you could be missing a signal from your body.

It's an SOS from your kidneys, and it doesn't sound like music at all. It's silent.

High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and other risk factors can quietly stress the kidneys,

leading to negative impacts on the heart.

That's what you should ask your doctor about a simple urine test called UACR.

Most miss the signal for hidden kidney disease and related heart risk.

You shouldn't.

Visit, detect the SOS.com today to learn more.

In a world of endless notifications, there could be an important one you're missing.

Your kidneys may be signaling in SOS.

With high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, your kidneys could be warning you of early signs of damage,

which may put you at higher risk for events like heart attack or stroke.

But there's a simple test that can help spot a hidden signal.

Your doctor about a urine test called UACR to help detect kidney disease and heart risk early.

To learn more, visit, detect the SOS.com today.

We present Nigel Anthony in the Hornblower story.

Adapted from four of the CS Forrester novels by Val Gilgood.

Part two from Mr. Mitchipman Hornblower, The Cargo of Rice.

You will hear some people talk as if all life in the Navy afloat is much the same thing.

You can take it from me that they don't know what they're talking about.

Service in a ship of the line, like the Justinian, in which I started my career as Mitchipman,

and service in a frigate, like the indefatigable, Captain Sir Edward Pelliew, was as different as chalk from cheese.

In a ship of the line, no Mitchipman could hope to be more than an unconsidered trifle.

In a frigate, there was usually the chance of taking prizes,

and a prize might mean an independent command, if one only had the luck, an independent command.

I thought of it all day and dreamt of it all night.

Indefatigable was pounding through biscuit in a heavy sea and under a strong breeze.

The waters of the bay were dotted with white sails.

The sails of the stragglers from a French convoy, trying to make their home ports.

Well, out in the Atlantic, their escorting fleet was at grips with our own.

Ship-path, a ship was overhauled, a shuttle too.

Their newfangled, trickle-air flag came down, and a prize crew was sent on board.

Captain Pelliew was not a man who wasted time, as I soon discovered.

An experienced captain and a young mid-Shipman can go well together.

The brig we were chasing was slowed as a render.

On that heaving sea, it was hard to bring our nine pounders accurately to bear.

I was beside Sir Edward on the quarter deck.

Not into our hull damage! I want a cripple, not sunk!

That's better!

The sligs are a four-top storyard. Now she must come up into the wind.

My speaking, trumpet, Mr Hornblower, if you please.

Hi, I, sir.

What?

Bigs?

Yeah!

What does the fellow say?

Marigalons of Bordeaux, twenty-four days out from New Orleans with rice.

Well, rice is a revolutionary france, eh?

That'll sell for a pretty penny when we get our home.

Two hundred tons, I say.

Crew, twelve at most.

If you need a prize crew of four, a mid-Shipman's command.

See what you can do, Mr Hornblower.

Me, sir.

Take four men of the cutters crew and board that rig.

Mr Sons will give you our position.

Take her into any English port you can make and report there for orders.

Hi, I, sir.

It was no joke jumping from the Misson James into the cutter with that sea running.

But it was no time to hesitate, and I said, Edward's I.

I had my jerk in a pistol, and the master gave me a paper with our latitude and longitude, hastily scrawled.

By nature, I was always ungainly and awkward.

But, better make an exhibition of myself than delay indefatigable any longer.

I jumped, and cannon clumsily into the lieutenant in the stand sheets.

What the youths do you want, Hornblower?

Sorry, sir.

Orders, would you take me to the brig, sir?

You're taking charge of her?

Yes, sir.

The captain requests I should take four of your men.

Are they better be top men? That topsel yard of theirs is all adrift.

Shall I pick them for you?

I'd be obliged, sir.

Jones?

I prefer.

Baker?

Grant and Matthews.

Keep them away from drink, and they'll be all right.

And watch the French crew.

Or they'll retake the ship, and then you in a French jail.

Aye, sir.

They threw their Matthews.

They too.

The first thing that struck my eyes as I boarded the French Brig was the profusion of bottles.

There was a pile of them around the hatch cover.

Others were rolling about the scuppers.

Matthews, evidently the accepted leader of the men from the cutter, regarded bottles and Frenchmen alike.

With the contempt he did not try to conceal.

Why are they holy?

They made the best of their time, sir.

Wish we were as happy.

That'll do, Matthews.

Jones, Grant.

Brace the afteryard, Salabad.

Aye, sir.

I'll take the wheel myself.

Your rated petty officer, Matthews.

Get to work at once and clear away that raffle for it.

Aye, aye, sir.

Get that jib in before it floods itself to pieces.

Aye, sir.

We'll need more hands than we have, sir.

Can I put some of the Frenchies to work?

If you think you can and they're sober enough.

I'll work them all right.

Drunk or sober, sir.

Very good, carry on.

We're square away.

What's your course, sir?

For England.

Nor East by North.

Oh, Matthews.

Sir?

One of those shots we fired.

Looked as if it'd hold her.

What's the damage?

Don't rightly know, sir.

We must take a closer look as soon as we can.

Better sound the well now.

Aye, aye, sir.

I'll need a sounding line in the light.

I'll get it, sir.

All right, then, I can see, sir.

Not a drop.

Joy is yesterday, this panicking.

You're certain.

Sure as I'm alive, sir.

Very good, Matthews.

Call that rope again.

Aye, aye, sir.

You'll pardon me, Mr. Hornblow.

But we can't keep that course as you said much longer

with the wind coming up gusty light.

Thank you, Matthews.

Some in all hands, and where should I go?

I couldn't wear the Russian on this tank

with things as they are.

I was to get no sleep that night.

Short-handed, I did not dare to continue in the hope

that the wind might back.

I remembered my reading and instructions

warning me of the terrors of a Lee Shore.

The thought of taking help from my French prisoners

stuck in my gullet.

But I could see no help for it.

I sent below for their captain.

I did not care for the look of him when he appeared.

I'm shaven.

Very eyed.

But for a nom, Monsieur.

I speak English five years.

I spent it one of your fourth mortals during the last war.

My name is Julie Leblanc, Lieutenant.

I'm Horatio Hornblow, midshipman.

Mr. Hornblow, my men are angry.

No doubt.

Myner, I am.

I have a cook, I bought.

Fortunate.

Then we can come to terms.

Terms?

Simple enough.

Your cook will provide food for everyone on board

the Marie-Galant.

You undertake that you and your men will make no attempt

to recapture the ship.

When you set file for Elon, Monsieur.

That fact has not entirely escaped me.

And we ride a little heavily.

Is it not so?

Maybe.

A leak, perhaps.

Her well has been sounded.

Not a drop of water in her.

One shot from your figure.

You know that you carry a cargo of rice, Monsieur.

I do.

You won't also.

Should there be a leak.

Every drop of water, taken into other ship,

would be absorbed by the rice.

Sonny of the well will tell you nothing.

Where do you think the shot hit her?

On the port side, follow.

You are close hauled and healing over when we hit you.

If there is a leak, it must be below the water line.

I'll go and see.

You're not sent one of your men.

I prefer to see for myself.

Oh, turns.

They are agreed, Monsieur Leblanc.

You have my hand on it.

Good enough.

Matthews.

Huh?

Get a line, Reid.

I'm going over the side.

You'll take charge, Mr. Matthews.

Aye, aye, sir.

If I find as a whole, you must follow a sail

and get it over somehow to plug the leak.

Monsieur Leblanc here has promised that his cook will feed us.

Better take advantage of his offer.

The wave closed over my head like a momentary death.

And there it was.

Two feet below the water line.

A splintered jagged hole.

Square rather than round.

And at least a foot across.

At that moment, I fence it.

I could hear the sea bubbling into the ship.

Are you all right, sir?

The Frenchman was right, Matthews.

That leak must be plugged and we've little time to spare.

I doubt it. We've time at all, sir.

What do you mean?

Look there, sir.

That deck seam and the pit's bulging out of it.

Mondeur.

The cargo it increases its air.

What the devil do you mean?

It's the rice, sir.

The water's got into it and it's swelling.

It'll burst the ship's seams, I would say.

And the sooner we get a sail over the leak, the better, Matthews.

If it's possible, sir.

Of course it's possible.

As Edgy was riding heavily, Monsieur.

Now you can see she's already much lower in the water.

You keep an eye on your own people, Monsieur Leblanc.

We cannot afford any panic.

Hurry with that sail, Matthews.

Hi, I'm Pat.

And have a lad on the starboard tack.

But on this present tack, we can easily make four doles.

Surely you will not risk all our lives.

That'd be damned for a tale.

It's a bigger pardon, sir.

Don't like the feel of her.

She's settling down.

We'll see about that.

I have jettisoned the cargo.

Get all the Frenchmen for it.

Tail onto those tackles and sway up the hatch.

We'll settle the fight, people will win over.

Yes, this is madness.

Of course we'll do our best, sir.

But it seems to me she's settling for last.

And don't have to tell you twice to obey orders, Matthews.

Are we going to be beaten by some rats and a few tons of rice?

And you, Monsieur Leblanc.

If your men don't want to drown, let me see them start working.

Matthews drove the French seamen to work with a rope's end.

He and my other three strained and heaved like heroes.

But not at least 50 tons of cargo had been hoisted out and flung overside.

The brig was a full six inches lower in the water.

Now she was leaking like a basket.

The water pouring in through the gaping seams

only to be sucked up immediately by the thirsty rice.

There was only one thing to do.

Matthews, prepare to abandon ship.

Aye, aye, sir.

Pass that to you.

Best find yourself some warm clothes, Mr. Allblanc, sir.

I've been once in an open boat for ten days.

Thank you.

Think of yourself.

And Matthews, see what you can find.

Navigating instruments, charts, a compass.

Aye, aye, sir.

Monsieur Leblanc.

What can I do?

We shall be seventeen in all.

Heavy manning for your wretched little boat.

See that your men lay hands on all the food and water they can manage.

That's your service, Monsieur.

Yeah?

You'll take the telem at you.

You'll handle an overloaded boat, better than I can.

I shall leave the ship last, of course.

Too bad we couldn't save her, sir.

Just so.

Now, get along.

Aye, aye, sir.

The brig was now so waterlogged that it was almost easy to step down from her deck into the boat.

I looked back as we pulled away.

The Marie Galant and acquired a sudden list.

Then she'd write it herself.

Her deck nearly leveled with the sea.

And sank almost on an even keel.

Her masts slowly disappearing.

For instance, her sails gleamed under the green water.

She's gone, Mr Hornblower.

Yes, she's gone.

And I'm thinking.

Yes, sir.

My first independent command.

It's the Luxor.

You're right, Matthews.

It's the Luck.

What's the use of thinking about it?

She's gone.

And any rate we're still alive.

That's about it, sir.

We're alive.

There's usually a funny side to things.

Funny, Mr Hornblower.

A begging pardon, but what's so funny about this lot?

I'm going to be sick.

Shift out of my way, Matthews, will you?

It was a bad time in that open boat.

As bad a time as I can remember in all my years at sea.

The Frenchman huddled in the bars.

Monsieur Le Blanc, a midships by himself.

My four men with me in the stern.

Two nights without sleep.

Wet, cold, and that damned sea sickness of mine.

Not to speak of the thoughts which nagged me of how I'd lost my first command.

At 70, you let these things get under your skin.

A biscuit of hard bread and half of panicking of water

didn't offer much in the shape of a consolation.

Last step, sir.

Luck's outbent.

I'm ready to hoist.

Wind's backing west to lay a little Matthews.

We'll make sail.

You'll keep the tiller.

Baker, take the sheet.

Close hold on the port, tack.

Close hold, it'll be, sir.

Where do we go, Monsieur?

North.

But the wind is fair for Bordeaux.

At tomorrow we could be there.

Why should we go north?

Because we're bound for England.

England?

It'll be a week, a whole week, even if the wind stays fair.

This old crowded boat.

It is madness.

Should there be a storm?

Then we shall drown together.

Let me tell you once again, Monsieur Le Blanc,

that I do not intend to rot for years in a French prison.

But I insist that you head for Bordeaux.

It would be hard to miss you at about five feet.

There is a second pistol in my belt over my left hip.

Take it, Matthews.

Got it, sir.

Began your pardon.

But end your better cock yours.

You will please point that pistol another way.

I only want to make it quite plain that if you,

or any of your men, makes a threatening move,

my petty officer or I will shoot.

It's your own lover.

I thank you.

But listen to me.

As I told you, I was in prison in England during the last war.

It is not an experience I wish to repeat.

Let us come to an agreement and sail to France.

We will land anywhere you choose.

Then you can continue your journey freely.

Or I will use all my influence to have you and your men

sent back to England without stipulation for exchange or ransom.

This I swear.

No.

Is it not a fair offer?

Your government would never part with train semen like mine

on representation from you.

They're too valuable.

I assure you.

It is also my duty to see that your train semen

do not return to France.

That is your final word?

Yes.

Shall I cloud his jaw and shut him up?

That will not be necessary, I think, Mr. Matthews.

At least, put your pistol away.

It's dangerous.

You give me your word that you will do nothing to interfere

with my command of this boat.

I swear it.

And your men?

I undertake for them.

Very well.

It was after breakfast the next morning that we sighted the sail.

Naturally, we rejoiced.

Until Matthew suggested she might be French.

She was flush decked with the look of speed about her

and a line of gunports.

And as Matthews pointed out, she hadn't all possible sail set

as a ship traveling on peaceful business

would normally have had in such a breeze.

Matthews was right.

She was a French privateer.

She came tearing down on us,

past her at half a cable's length,

hurled to and cut off our escape.

We could only curse and submit.

When we stepped onto her deck,

I was greeted by a young man in a plum-colored coat

with a lace stock.

I am captain Newville, your privateer, Pete.

May I inquire?

Midship and Homeblower of his Britannic Majesty's Navy.

I do not distress yourself.

The fortunes of war until we make

what you will be accommodators in the peak,

with all comfort possible,

but those histories in your belt,

they must surely discommodule.

Let me relieve you of the weight.

Here.

And that deck you were,

in petuous youth offering leads to some rationalness,

there would be a pity.

Take it.

A thousand thanks.

Mother, show you to the bird

that is prepared for you below.

I should appreciate the company of my petty officer.

As you wish.

If you will follow me.

I'm not eating sand or mingo

as being forged by recent events.

I converted the peak into a poverty

so that I'm at stills all my dividends.

Also under a Nobel Committee of Public Safety,

a family and unhealthy spot for a gentleman.

So I choose to command myself.

I expect you know your own business.

Nothing so.

Year are your cuts.

Should the ship go into action?

The hatches above will be battled on.

As you are free to move about as you will.

I would only add that any attempt

by prisoners to interfere with the working or welfare of the peak

might be deeply resented by a crew.

They serve with me on shares you understand.

Anyone seeking to endanger their freedom or their dividends

might easily find himself overboard.

You are very frank.

It is where we understand one another.

Now, is there anything further I can provide for your comfort?

Apart from the society,

if you're excellent petty officer.

Where?

This is deep inside.

Thank you.

Something to read?

If you can refresh.

I can.

I have some professional books.

I commend to you.

LeRone's handbook on seamership.

That will do very well in seamership.

I may rely on your care for the welfare of my three other men.

Of course.

If not, your guess takes a turn at pumping out the ship.

I protest, sir.

That sort of menial work.

We will not discuss easy if you're pleased.

Damned, mincing fellow.

I'll get my hands on him, by and by, sir.

You will keep your hands to yourself, Matthews,

unless I tell you to the contrary.

Aye, aye, sir.

Begging your pardon, Mr. Ormblur.

But being in here with you like this, sir.

I like company.

Don't you?

You an officer, sir.

It is perfectly fitting, Matthews.

And it is my responsibility.

Very good, sir.

This is the, uh, soft of the two cons, sir.

And I'll take the other.

Damn it, Matthews.

If only I had the sense to get that shot hole in the marigal

on plenty of bit earlier.

We shouldn't be in this pickle.

Oddly your fault, Mr. Ormblur.

Incompetent is always a fault.

And it looks as if I shall pay for it

by celebrating my 18th birthday in a French prison.

It was a damnable situation.

With little to do, but brewed on my failure,

which had brought me to this fix.

For days we cruised in the channel approaches

and saw nothing but a tossing waste of water.

And in one morning, Matthews and I were both on deck.

They came a hail from the mast head of a ship

visible to Windward.

She halted course towards us.

And the peak stood towards her.

All sailed set for pursuit.

Or flight.

I wonder what you're going to do.

I wonder, Matthews.

I've got some.

It's the old indefatigable no less.

We are on the edge of her cruising ground.

Oh, same. It's long odds again.

I'm not mistaken, sir.

I swear to it.

You may be right, Matthews.

There. She's losing her royals.

We'll be back aboard in time for grog.

She must first catch us.

Did I hear you, Petty Officer, or what happened, Mr. Ormblur?

That is your headship.

She may be.

In her case, you can tell me what is her best point of sealing?

I think not.

Such nobility or attitude is out of place.

I could induce you to give me the information.

But fortunately for you, it is not necessary.

There is not one of his Britannic majesty's clumsy fridges

that cannot sail the peak running before the wind.

However, in the circumstances, I fancy you and your companion

would be more comfortable below.

I prefer fresh air.

Yet.

You will obey my orders.

Below, Mr. Ormblur.

You will please go below.

Matthews.

Hi, Arthur.

That door in the after bulkhead.

Did you see it when it was unlocked?

No, I...

It gives onto the boasting store.

Paint, Matthews.

Paint.

That door's two solid slabs of wood, sir.

Don't make difficulties, Matthews.

Take off your jersey.

My jersey, sir.

And don't ask damn-fool questions.

Now, unravel it.

Then, slash open that cot's mattress and scoop out the ticking.

And here's a use at last for Mr. Le Bruns treat us on team and ship.

The grease from the lamp.

Spread it abroad.

We'll be good like herrings, Mr. Ormblur.

We've got to risk that.

Get up on deck again.

The wood was ordered below.

Get on deck!

Do what you like or what you can but stay there.

What about you, sir?

Do is your toad.

I'll join you in a minute or two.

Don't do it, Matthews.

I was committed.

I grabbed the lamp and smashed it onto the torn paper and scattered store.

The flame caught.

Spread and fled.

I followed Matthews.

On deck, no view was watching the Helmsman with occasional glances at loft to see that every sale was doing its work.

The men were at the guns.

Two hands heaving the log.

How much longer would I have?

As it turned out, it was long enough.

Nothing was so feared in our wooden ships as fire.

A rush of flame shot through a cabin skyline.

No view brought the peak about and head to wind.

It kept the fire from the magazine.

The other sales did not catch.

For all that, the peak was helpless.

She could neither fight nor run.

Captain Pillow had seen the smoke and drawn his conclusions.

The indefatigable tore down.

The white wave firming underneath her bicep,

and hoisted out her boat's acable's length to windward.

The trickle of flag fluttered down.

It remained for me to face.

Captain Zered would pill you.

And as I went aboard indefatigable,

I could have wished myself elsewhere.

Glad to see you aboard again, Mr. Hornblower.

Thank you, sir.

At that private year, I know something of the self-style,

Captain Novel, and of his record.

A private menace and a public danger, Mr. Hornblower.

Yes, sir.

You agree with me?

I was his prisoner, sir.

How did he treat you?

I have no complaints for myself.

Your men?

You might have treated them better.

Quite so.

I should have expected as much.

Well, with a little hard work,

the peak can be repaired,

sent to England and then to see again.

What is more important,

she's no longer available in French hands

to pray on English commas.

Yes, for your self, Mr. Hornblower.

I cannot excuse myself, sir.

The Mary Galant had been holed below the waterline

when I boarded her.

I should have missed her.

Mr. Hornblower, pray do not make a great fuss

about very little.

I beg your pardon, sir.

The Mary Galant was damaged by gunfire before she surrendered.

No one can establish now whether that damage was small or great.

I sent you aboard with a prize crew of four.

They were all I could spare.

You did what you could to save her.

You failed.

The responsibility was mine, sir.

It was also mine.

Furthermore, Mr. Hornblower,

it was more important that France should be deprived of that cargo of rice

than England should benefit by it.

You are indulgent, too, sir.

How am I indeed?

That is a matter for my lords of the admiralty, sir.

In reporting the matter, I shall, of course,

bring to their Lordship's attention the circumstances of the taking of the peak.

In that case, also her capture is of considerable benefit to our country.

If you say so, sir.

I do say so.

Fortunately, she caught fire like that.

She was running away from us and would have been out of sight in an hour.

Providence, Mr. Hornblower,

or have you any idea how it happened?

Well, speak up.

I think it must have been a case of spontaneous combustion in the paint locker.

I can't account for it otherwise.

Really, Mr. Hornblower.

How very fortunate.

Tell me, are you sure that you did not,

and let us say, not fortune's elbow.

I should be glad to include in my report to my lords anything which might serve to favour your future career.

It was the time and my opportunity to answer truthfully and with proper modesty.

I might reasonably have expected monochrome of praise,

a mention in the gazettes, even perhaps my appointment is acting attendant.

I could not do it.

So Edward Pellu did not know the full details of the loss of the malice and her cargo of rice.

I alone knew how and when I had failed.

I alone could decide and had decided on the punishment my failure deserved.

Well, then anything else, I had to reestablish myself in my own eyes.

I can't account for itself.

I can't account for it.

I repeat it too, Sir Edward.

And when I had spoken the words, I was conscious of a sudden and enormous relief of not a single twinge of regret.

In part two of the Hornblower story, you heard Nigel Antony as Lord Hornblower, the narrator,

with Nicholas Fry in the role of Horatio as a youth.

Captain Sir Edward Pellu was played by Ronald Hirdman, Abel Seaman Matthews, David Miller,

Captain Le Blanc, Ron Davis, Captain Nerville Peter Bell, and a Lieutenant Joe Cook.

Location recordings were made by Christopher Hayton Webb and David Fleming Williams aboard the catch IP torso.

The Hornblower story is directed by Trevor Hill.

The Hornblower story.