Horatio Hornblower - Return To The Sea

0:00We present Nigel Antony in the Hornblower story, adapted from four of the CS forest to novels by Val Gilgut with Terence Skelton as William Bush. Part three from Lieutenant Hornblower The Landing. I've known bad moments at sea. Cams when you wonder if the ship will ever move again. Hurricanes, a cannon going adrift with the realization that you're up against heavier metal than you can tackle. A half mutinous crew, a captain you couldn't trust. Bad all of them. Yet I think I'd take any of them rather than land at night on a beach I don't know. To tackle the storming of a fort with a

1:02party of men, every one of them depending on his offices to know what to do and to give him a lead. That was how it was when we went to shore, Lieutenant Bush and I, on the Semana Peninsula that night with 180 semen and marines from Ranaan. Knowing that the fort on the hills above us must be carried by dawn or we should all be dead or prisoners. My party all ashore made it to move Mr. Bush. Very goodness to home, Lord. Thank you. Shall I start up the valley with the advanced guards? Do sir. Stabbo lins. Polly me closely. Every man is to keep in touch with the man ahead of him. Now remember, your muskets aren't loaded so it's new you're snapping them. Cold steel if we run into the enemy. If anyone of you is full enough to load and fire I promise you will get four dozen of the gangway tomorrow. Walton, bring up the rear. Polly me, starting on the right of the line.

2:09Your marines kept in waiting. All presently correct. I read it in a move all. Thank you. Then we may as well start. Mr Abbott. I shall go with the marine detachment. Follow us and be sure to keep in touch. Aye, aye sir. The climb will miss not going to be easy. Absolute silence. You understand? Aye, aye sir. Yes, please, ma'am. This is well, Mr Bush. Mr Harmolo sent me back to get his guide and there's grassland beginning about here. I'm not the death nor blind, Mr Wellett. Captain Whiting. Sir. We'll go forward. You're in touch with Mr Abbott.

3:11Yes, sir. Very well, can you? Who goes there? Friend, Mr Harmolo. Mr Bush is with me. Oh, glad to see you, sir. My party has formed up just ahead. I've sent on two reliable men to act in scat. Very good, Mr Harmolo. Captain Whiting. Sir. All your men in hand. All but one. Said his brain is anchored. I've left him back there. Then let your men rest scat in Whiting. They hardly train for climbing cliffs and the tropics. Your report, Mr Harmolo. We're on the crests. You can see into the bay from over there. How many miles from the fort do you think? Well, three or zero. The lesson for my house anyway. Dawn in four hours from now and the moon rises in half an hour. There's some sort of track along the crests, sir. As I judge, it should lead to the fort. That's reasonable. If you'll permit me, sir, I'll push on ahead and see how the land lies. Very good, Mr Harmolo. It's a definite trail, sir. Crosses of galle just ahead.

4:12Not a serious obstacle. Then go forward with your party. If you please. Aye, sir. Mr Harmolo said there's another galley ahead crossing the path. And this cattle, sir, will disturb them in their warming abar. I understand, Mr Harmolo. I'll warn the men. Tell Mr Harmolo if I'm going to hop the advance for 15 minutes. Aye, sir. Oh, I'm going to hop the advance. I'm going to hop the advance. I'm going to hop the advance. I'm going to hop the advance. I'm going to hop the advance. I'll hop the... I'll hop the... Yes, Captain Whiting. Trouble. But one of your Siemens drunk must have had spirits in this camp team. What have you done with him? He started to make a noise while my marines knocked him out. He's quiet now.

5:13I'll do a steady man to look after him then we go on. Right. Uh, that's... Mr Harmolo. It is... I've sighted the fort. A mile ahead or thereabouts. There's another gully. The fort's beyond that. You can see it against the moon. Maybe half a mile, maybe less. I've left orders with my party to stand fast at the gully while I reported back to you. Half a mile from the gully to the fort, you say. I just make less than that, sir. Very well. That should remain here underweight daylight. Yes, Mr Bush. May I go on and enjoy my party? You may. Shall I give permission to my mentor Lota? No, Captain Whiting, cold steel. Just as you say, sir. Now listen. I want you to warn your men individually. They may run into stray cattle. I don't want any silly mistakes. Meanwhile, they can rest, sleep if they like. Ben, it's not to be fixed till you get my word to advance, sir. And when we do, I want us to reach the fort in one wave, not in scattered twos and threes. Is that clear? Quite a.

6:13Very good, Carrie Amitabh. The sky is beginning to pale, but we still sometimes. As things turned out, the waiting had been the worst part of the business. The Spanish centuries were careless or sleepy. Bush brought up his men and fine style, using my grapnoles to heist them up to the ramparts, an axman to hew their waith, who a wooden salibort into one of the best tales. In a few minutes from earliest dawn to tropical sunrise, the fort had been carried. Most of the garrison had bolted down the hillside from the wreaking bayonets of the Marines. Remain the business of calling men drunk with fighting back to discipline. The fort had been carried. Most of the garrison had bolted down the hillside from the wreaking bayonets of the Marines. Remain the business of calling men drunk with fighting back to discipline, to decide with Bush and Captain Whiting on our next move. To the left, the peninsula dropped sharply in a series of jagged headlands

7:14to the deep blue of the ocean. Further, I am still was the sapphire surface of Scotsman's bay, and there, with her backed, Miss Ntopsil catching the rising sun, lay renowned. Looking at that distance like some lovely toy. Good morning, Mr. Humbler. Congratulations, sir. Thank you. We've got possession, sir. I've posted a petty officer in some men in charge of the guns. If you've got away, the Marines are after them now. Not enough to trouble, as I fancy. No, sir. I've 40 prisoners under guard at the main gate. Captain Whiting's collecting the rest. Very well. What's the building there at the foot of the ramp? Prevision store, sir. I've put centuries on guard. There's liquor there. Double those centuries. In their present state, if the men get it liquor, there'll be no controlling them. Mr. Abbott? Mr. Abbott? What the hell do you think you've been doing? I've not seen you since the attack began. Sorry, sir. Very sorry. A bit of trouble crossing the ditch, Mr. Bush. That's no excuse. Take a leaf out of Young Weller's book here.

8:15He stayed beside Mr. Humbler. You should have stayed beside me. Yes, sir. Get ready to signal the ship. You should have been ready for that five minutes ago. Clear three guns, and find the man who was carrying our colour and bend it over the Spanish flag. And jump to it. Aye, aye, sir. Mr. Humbler, try to find out who was in command of the Don. Yes, sir. Come with me, Mr. Weller. Aye, aye, sir. Sir, it is me, sir. Yes, Mr. Morgan. You need a party to help carry the wounded into the shade. See to it, if you please. Until someone has stopped at Dan Bell. It's the living I'm worried about. They can say I must for the dead of sundown. Guns, Gracer. My eye draw a part of charges from the four magazines. How else do you imagine you can fire your guns, Mr. Abbott? You should come and sense. Sir, sir. Yes, Mr. Weller, what now? Can't you see I'm busy? Mr. Humbler sends his respects, and could you please join him up on the tower there? He said his urgent, sir. Oh, very well. But Mr. Humbler should know that I have a good many things on my mind at the moment. Sir.

9:24Swap the guns and reload. Why, sir? Well? Ah, sir. Might I borrow your telescope, Mr. Bush? Telescope. Is that all you want, a bit, for? Here. I merely want to see if renowned has heard our signal, Guns, sir. Well, have they? Yes, sir. She's bracing a mishanded topsoap. So far so good. She'll make the long beat back along the coast of the peninsula. What else? Out there, Mr. Bush. Up the bay, beyond the battery. Now, there's the town. Savannah, I think they call it. And you can see the shipping. Now, they'll up and care any minute now. You'll wish to see this for yourself, sir. By... I see them. Four small craft. No sales hoisted. Hard to tell what they are. Eat it a guess, sir. They didn't need big men of war here. A few handy craft with a couple of long guns. Good lie up there. Dash out and snap up prizes.

10:25Then retire to the protection of the bay and the crossfire of the fort in the battery. And we know what that meant. Just so, sir. Those ships are no by now that we've got this port. And they'll guess that as a result, we'll be coming in after them as soon as you can get around the headland. They can sweep, tow and kege. And we'll be out of the bay before we can say, Jack Robinson. What's more, they'll have a fair win for Martin Eek. Likely enough. It'll take a nine hours to make that long beat back on the starboard tie. She must get well out to see if she's to weather the cape. No need to teach your grandmother, Mr. Homeblower. Oh, sorry, sorry, sir. Wouldn't it be as well to man the guns here? We won't have them under fire for long. They'll be shallow draft, and they can hug that opposite shore. But it won't take much to sink them. Particularly if we use red hot shots. That's what you mean. Repair them in their own coin for what they did to renown. Well, that's the idea, sir. Buh, well, people try. If those privateers get away, they might be devol'tupay. Can you do it, Mr. Homeblower? Do you know how to heat shots?

11:26I feel fine, sir. None of our men will know. They're semen, and you can't heat shots at sea for fear of fire. I expect I can find out, sir. Now, there's the furnace and all the gear the dons use down there. By the way, had any breakfast yet? I know, Mr. Bush. Have you? Other things to see too. Now mind that you do, and that's on order. No, yes, sir. Well, may I have the telescope again, sir, before I go down? Thank you. Yes, I was right by George. That two masters warping out already. Less than an hour I reckon before she's within range. I'll get the guns, man. Once down in the body of the fort, smoke was soon rising from the furnace in one corner and allowed crackling from inside it. Two long handles projected from the far side of the furnace, balancing two the projected from the near side, or four were part of an iron grating, the center of which rested above the blazing fuel. Lying on that grating were rows of black shot.

12:28A seaman was plying a pair of billows. Other men in relays brought wood from where it had been piled by the Spaniards against their ramparts. Open her up. Let's see how she goes. Yeah, getting pretty worn. Try your spittle, Mr. Wellard. Spittle, sir. You can spick Wellard on that cannonball. A sharpish lad, sharpish. Hi, I say. Ah, that boiled off quick enough. Did you see, Wilton? Eyes are real cry to devil. The tongs and bearers for the shot. Ready? Have rags round your hands, you don't want to be skimmed. Now, work the shots onto the bearers with the tongs. Carefully, then roll them into the guns.

13:28Attaboy water by each gun. Now bring the shots over to your guns. Ready? Ready there, steady. Salazar, are you others? Run the guns back. We'll clear the embrasures. Drive wards in. Then in with your wet wards, you rammer. Two to a gun. Thanks, sir. It's not so easy, sir. Now the doms could manage it to judge by the practice they made against us yesterday. We can better them surely. Oh, I, sir. That's better, man. Now, run off your guns.

14:35Oh, man. Aim for that point over there. And... Fire! Well, Mr. Hormlar. A prospect's fare, Mr. Bush. His gentleman over on the point will be puzzled. I wonder what they're firing at. And how long will it be, do you think, before a hot shot burns through one of those wards and explodes the gun? Ah, that I don't know. I shouldn't be surprised if we found out during the course of today. Probably. And what do you think you're doing, Walton? I'm bringing up fresh charges, sir. And get back away from my order. I understand. I understand. Swab out now. There can't be too careful. You don't want to need a chance of live charges and red hot shots coming together on this platform, do you? Oh, no, sir. Eh, very well then.

15:37Now, fresh charges. These cartridges are English. I wear them, Mr. Bush. English? What makes you say that? Well, I know. West Country's surge, choked in stitch like that. They'll have got them out of English prizes. Well, now we'll hope that'll teach those privateers to leave our ships alone. If we can cut off their supplies, the doms will be in a bad way against the blacks. Let's hope, sir. That rammed those wards hands of me there. That no powder in that bore, Simmons. What have you is discharged dead in the ship's books? Oh! They're standing down the bay, Mr. Homebler. If they're intent on making a bolt for it, it means they're not feeling too secure. I'd have expected them to try to recapture the fort.

16:38They could land a force up the peninsula and come down to attack. I wonder why they don't try it. It'll be long range, make sure of your aim. It will turn. Take a ranging shot. Gun captains, make sure of your aim. Fire only when each gun bends. Number one crew. Fire. Make your aim more carefully. Gun crews, fire only when you're sure. My telescope, Mr. Abbott. Thank you. You're hitting, I think. Yes, by God, I can see smoke. Fresh charges. And she just swore about those guns, probably.

17:41Damn it. She's getting away from us. Rain shortening, though. Gun captains. Get your coins in. Ah, she's swinging around, sir. What the hell? She's taken ground. A fire. And run ashore deliberately, I think. That's done it then. The first one anyway. She's blown up. Blow to pieces. fella can't have had hands to spare to fight the fire when we hit him. Probably a shot through her deck and into the padamack, is he? Poor devil. You don't sound too pleased about it. How does I think you know, Mr. Bush? Have a week's time. Here comes the next vessel. Nearly in range. Ah, I jupiter. They have the spanish scoone as they're turning back to anchor. Bring up more shot, bear, men.

18:41Gun captains. Run up. Train. And fire as you get the aid. The spanish had no stomach for more as renowned, hoving sight in a wind that was fortunately freshening. Bush had his prisoners sorted out and ordered a watch to be set. It was only next morning when we saw a boat put out from the battery across the bay that we could take stock of what we'd achieved. The boat came in under a white flag and off some minor point renowned lay. Waiting for the first puffs of sea breeze to bring it up the bay and into touch with her landing party.

19:44Bush would not let the spanish envoy who arrives into the fort. He feared some ruse or an attempt by the enemy to gain intelligence of our actual strength. As I had a fair knowledge of spanish, I was sent outside the ramparts to meet him with a small guard of our marines and orders to report back on the interview. Well, Mr. Ombler. He's a Colonel or Tegan, Mr. Bush. His credentials are signed by the captain general, there's across the bay. What does he want? I'll first to know about the prisoners, the women of the garrison, especially. You're trolling them, they weren't hurt. Yes, sir. I added that I would ask your permission to release the women to him. It would make matters easier, yes, sir. Also, I thought that if I appeared agreeable, he would speak more freely. Yes, yes, sir. Don't you think he might take away the wounded as well, sir? It would free some of our hands and we can't give him proper treatment here. If we released to him all the prisoners, he would give us his promise that none of them would serve

20:45again while Renan is in spanish waters. Needs thinking about. Sounds fishy to me. No, he'd keep his words, so he's a spanish gentleman. He is, is he? And we can't pack a hundred prisoners or more aboard Renan, sir. Diagree, they'd be an infernal nuisance. Anything else? He ended at the possibility of arranging a capitulation, sir. To doose. And what did he mean by that? Surrender, sir. The evacuation of all this end of the island by the dawns. My God. I hope you didn't. Of course not, sir. I tell him I couldn't bargain with him, but you could, Mr Bush. No, Mr Hombler, I could not. That's a matter for Mr Buckland to deal with, if anyone. But if I might suggest something, go on. It would take some time to make any arrangement about prisoners, Mr Bush. There's the question of their parole, and I could argue about its wording. Yes. Then it would take more time to ferry the prisoners across the bay. Now, such a roose would give Renan time to work up.

21:47She can anchor down there like a cook in a bottle. This scooners won't be able to get out, and Mr Buckland can take over the negotiation should he wish to do so. Very well. You mean negotiate with the return of the prisoners on parole, but nothing else if you value your commission. I warn you formally. I understand, sir. Suspension of hostilities during negotiations? I suppose so. And you'll send a boat to Renan to make sure she doesn't open fire in a boat filled with Spaniards crossing the bay. Colonel Ortega will make a boat available to us. It seems to me you're being mighted tender with these dons, Mr Hombler. Then, in fact, you're taking too much upon yourself. Sir. I'd be glad if you'd remember that I'm in command here. Yes, sir. Oh, Helen damnation. Have it your own way. Whom will you send to Renan? Well, I could do myself, sir. I could tell Mr Buckland everything necessary. Very well. You better go, I suppose. But mark my words, Mr Hombler. You are to make it quite clear that I've not authorised negotiations. I take no responsibility for anything of the kind.

22:48Is that quite clear? Yes, sir. And kindly bring Mr Buckland here as soon as possible. If I may say so, Mr Buckland. I don't doubt that Colonel Ortega was sent by the Captain General to negotiate for the prisoners so that he might have a chance to put out a feeler regarding capitulation. But you cannot be sure of that, Mr Bush. In his position, sir, would you mention a matter of such importance if not expressly authorised to do so? I would not. Then I suggest that the Captain General had capitulation in mind from the moment he knew we had taken the force and Renan Granca in the bay in Concentralis. So, if he's prepared for such a negotiation, it must mean he's either a Paul Trun or in red, he's serious danger. You talk like a sea lawyer, Mr Hombler. Sir, I meant no disrespect. Of course, it is for you to decide where your duty lies. Quite. Now I'm sure you wish to tell me what's behind all this. The Spaniards have been holding this end of the island against the blacks for months, Nasser.

23:50Pada led flints, shoes, they're probably a needable of them. That's true, sir, to judge from the condition of the prisoners we took. Thank you, Mr Bush. And now Renan has arrived and you've cut the Captain General off from the sea. He doesn't know how long we should be staying here. He doesn't know your order, sir. I never mind that. If we stay, sir, he'll have to surrender. He'll rather bargain with us, sir, where he has something to bargain with, then wait and have to surrender without conditions to the blacks. That I can understand. Better bring in this Colonel or Tegor fellow. You say he speaks English. He does it. Very well. Colonel or Tegor, I believe. Sir. Captain Buckland. I am Lieutenant Buckland. At present, commanding his Britannic majesty's ship, Renan. Oh no, Lieutenant Buckland. I understand you have terms with your Captain General surrender in mind.

24:51Did I say so? You will surrender all to you intact. Military stores, the battery across the bay, everything. In return, he asks only for a free passage for the garrison. Men, ships, civilians, and passports for our ships while on passage to any Spanish possession. Cuba or Puerto Rico. And if I refuse, then we will fight in the Oran. We will fight to the end rather than submit to this honour. Fine words, Colonel. If you compel us, they shall become deeds. What more can you do to us than you have already done? And there is another thing. You dare not stay longer in this island. There is the yellow fever. Vomito Negro, we call it. Yes, I have heard of it, Colonel. Our troops have lived with it all their lives. Many of them have had it already. But yours? There is something in that. Mr. Bush, will you kindly?

25:51My Captain General could ally himself with the rebels, Senor. They do not look upon the English as their friends. He could bring an army against you. That is my last word, Senor. Very well, Colonel. I will consider the matter. You may leave us. What do you think, Mr. Bush? He had some good arguments. On the other hand, we might turn the thumb school's on him. How? Bring renown up the bay. You saw how tricky that channel was yesterday. And we'd still be under the fire of the battery on that side. But we can run past it on this side. Yes, and nice fools. We'll look if we come. We'll see what happens. We'll see what happens. We'll see what happens. We'll see what happens. We'll see what happens. Nice fools. We'll look if we come in, find a matter of range, and we have to run out again under fire. It would only stiffen their resolve to go back on the terms that fellow offered. Second repulse. No, by God.

26:53Mr. Hornblur? It'd be risky to take renown into the upper end of the bay. We might get it from the peninsula, here, Senor. How the devil? No, I'm going to go on the upper tip of the peninsula, and you'd have the far end of the bay under fire. No need for hot shot. We'd have all day to knock into pieces even if they shitted their anchorage. So we would buy Joe. Could you get a gun along there? We could use one from the ship. Not too heavy, a nine pounder bar chaser. Send it round to where we landed yesterday with take-limb cables. Big trees to attach the cables. Sway the gun up easily. After that, not more than half a mile uphill, but not too steep. There's nine punders, way less than a tonne. And then we'd have those ships under fire. And those ships are the dons only way up his cape. Or take-go is only bluffing when he spoke of our lying with the blacks. If there's a chance and they'll cut us out of every white man and woman in this island. And those ships would be our prizes, sir. It might be worth trying.

27:55What like to say, sir, I think Mr. Hombler deserves every credit. Of course, Mr. Bush. And we'll start tomorrow morning as soon as the hands of Hadbreakfast. I'll leave the details to you to arrange, Mr. Hombler. I'd show if it did work. In part three of Lieutenant Hombler, you heard Nigel Anthony in the title role and as the narrator, with Terence Skelton as William Bush. Mr. Bucklin was played by David Piedt, Wellard, Mark Hudson, Mr. Midshipman Abbott, and Mr. Hombler. In part three of Lieutenant Hombler, you heard Nigel Anthony in the title role and as the narrator, with Terence Skelton as William Bush. Mr. Bucklin was played by David Piedt, Wellard, Mark Hudson, Mr. Midshipman Abbott, Keith Ladd, Walton DeGonna, Herbert Smith,

28:56Captain Whiting, Randall Hurley, and Colonel Ortego by Graham Tent. The Hombler Story is directed in Manchester by Trevor Hill, assisted by Christopher Hayton Webb. The Hombler Story is directed in Manchester by Trevor Hill,