Horatio Hornblower - Return To The Sea

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1:01And with great deals across the lineup, now's the time to find yours. But hurry, these deals won't last long. Toyota's easy choice sales event ends soon. We make it easy. Toyota, let's go places. We present Nigel Antony in the Hornblower story. Adapted from four of the CS Forrester novels by Val Gilgut, with Terence Skelton as William Bush. Part three from Lieutenant Hornblower, the landing. I've known bad moments, and see, calms when you wondered if the ship will ever move again. Hurricanes, a cannon going adrift with the realization

2:02that you're up against heavier metal than you can tackle. A half-mutinous crew, a captain you couldn't trust. Bad all of them. And 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 party 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 is sure, I'm ready to move Mr. Bush. Very goodness to home, Lord. Thank you. Should I start up the valley with the advanced guards, eh? I'll do so. Stab o'lings? Of it. Polly me closely. Every man is to keep in touch with the man ahead of him. Now, remember, your muskets aren't loaded,

3:03so it's no use snapping them. Cold steel if we run into the enemy. Oh, I understand. If anyone of you is full enough to load and fire, I promise you we'll get four dozen of the gangweights tomorrow. Walton, bring up the rear. I'll go. Polly me, starting on the right of the line. Your Marines kept in waiting? All presently, correct, eh? Ready to move all. Thank you. Then we may as well start. Sir. Mr. Abbott. All right. 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.

4:06How's it going? Yes, who's there? Well, I'm Mr. Bush. Mr. Homblo sent me back to act as guide and there's grassland beginning about here. I'm not the deaf nor blind, Mr. Wellard. Captain Whiteyne. Sir. We'll go forward. You're in touch with Mr. Abbott. Yes, sir. Very well, can you? Who goes there? Friend of Mr. Homblo. Mr. Bush is with me. Glad to see you, sir. My party has formed up just ahead. I've sent on two reliable men to act as scouts. Very good, Mr. Homblo. Captain Whiteyne. Sir. All the men in hand. All but one. Said his brain is anchored. I've left him back there. Then let your men rest, Captain Whiteyne. Sir. They hardly train for climbing cliffs than the tropics. Your report, Mr. Homblo. We're on the crest, sir. You can see into the bay from over there.

5:06How many miles from the fort do you think? Well, three or zero. The lesson for me has, anyway. Dawn in four hours from now and the moon rises in half an hour. There's some sort of track along the crest, sir. As I judge, it should lead to the fort. A treason of luck. If you'll permit me, sir, I'll push on ahead and see how the land lies. Very good, Mr. Homblo. It's a definite trail, sir. Crosses of galle just ahead. I'll have a serious obstacle. Then go forward with your party. If you're pleased. Aye, sir. Mr. Bush, sir. Here. Well, not again, sir. Mr. Homblo says another galle ahead, crossing the path. And this cattle, sir, will disturb them in their warming above. I understand, Mr. Wellett, I'll warn the men. Tell Mr. Homblo, I'm going to hop the advance for 15 minutes.

6:08Aye, sir. Hold there. Hold. Yes, captain, waiting. Trouble. But one of your Siemens drunk must have had spirits in this cad team. What have you done with him? He started to make a noise while my marines knocked him out. He's quiet now. I'll do a steady man to look after him, then we go on. Right. That, you, Mr. Homblo. It is a... I've sighted the fort. A mile ahead or thereabouts, there's another galle. 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 galle while I report about you. Half a mile from the galle to the fort, you say. I just make less than that, sir. Very well. I shall remain here under weight day light. Yes, Mr. Bush. May I go on and enjoy my party? You may. Shall I give permission to my mental load, sir? No, captain, waiting. Cold steel. Just as you say, sir. Now, listen. I want you to warn your men individually, sir. They may run into stray cattle. I don't want any silly mistakes.

7:09Meanwhile, they can rest, sleep, if they like. Ben, it's not to be fixed till you get my word to advance. 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. Very good, carry on. The sky is beginning to pale, but we still sometimes. I'm not sure if I can see it. 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, and axmen to hew their way through a wooden salivort into one of the best-tales. In a few minutes from earlier storm to tropical sunrise, the fort had been carried. Most of the garrison had bolted down the hillside from the wreaking bayonets of the Marines.

8:17Remain the business of calling men drunk with fighting back to discipline, to decide with Bush and Captain Whitey on our next move. To the left, the peninsula dropped sharply in a series of jagged headlands to the deep blue of the ocean. Further round still was the sapphire surface of Scotsman's Bay, and there, with her backed mishandle, catching the rising sun, lay renowned. Looking at that distance like some lovely toy. Good morning, Mr. Hombler. 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 off from now. Not enough to trouble, as I fancy. No, sir. I've 40 prisoners under guard at the main gate. Captain Whitey is collecting the rest. Very well. What's the building there at the foot of the ramp? Provision, sir. I've put centuries on guard. There's liquor there. Double those centers. In their present state of the men get it liquor, there'll be no controlling them.

9:17Mr. Abbott! Mr. Abbott! What the hell do you think you've been doing? I've not seen you since the attack began. Sorry, sir. Sorry, sorry. A bit of trouble crossing the ditch, Mr. Bush. That's no excuse. Take a leaf out of Young Weller's book here. He's stayed beside Mr. Hombler. 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. Hombler, try to find out who was in command of the Don. Yes, sir. Come with me, Mr. Weller. Aye, aye, sir. There it is, mate. There it is, sir. 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. Aye, aye, sir. Guns, glaser. 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 as sense. Sir, sir.

10:17Yes, Mr. Weller, what now? Can't you see I'm busy? Mr. Hombler's sensitive inspection. And could you please turn him up on the tower there? He said his surgeon, sir. Oh, very well. But Mr. Hombler should know that I have a good many things on my mind at the moment. Swap the guns and reload. Aye, sir. Well? Ah, sir. Might I borrow your telescope, Mr. Bush? Tell us, scope. Is that all you want, a bit, for? Here. I merely want to see if Renown has heard our signal, Guns. Well? Have they? Yes, sir. She's brazing her mish and tops off. 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.

11:17They'll up, anchor any minute now. You'll wish to see this for yourself, sir. By... I see them. Four small craft. No sales hoisted. Aren't you 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. They're retired to the protection of the bay and the crossfire of the fort and the battery. And we know what that meant. Just so, sir. Those ships are know by now that we've got this fort and they'll guess that as a result, Rennah and we'll be coming in after them as soon as she can get around the headland. I think we can sweep, toe and cage and we'll be out of the bay before we can say Jack Robinson. What's more, they'll have a fair win for Martinique. Likely enough. It'll take Rennah and ours to make that long beat back on the starboard tie. She must get well out to see if she's the weather of the cape. No need to teach your grandmother, Mr. Hombler. Oh, sorry, sorry, sir. How, wouldn't it be as well to man the guns here?

12:19We 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 she would you mean. Repair them in their own coin for what they did to renown. Well, that's the idea, sir. Well, people try. If those privateers get away, they might be devil to pay. Can you do it, Mr. Hombler? Do you know how to heat shot? I've seen fine ads, sir. None of our men will know. They're semen. And you can't heat shot at sea for fear of fire. I expect I can find out, sir. Now there's the furnace and all the gear the don's used down there. By the way, had any breakfast yet? I know, Mr. Bush. Have you? Other things to see too. Now mine that you do. And that's on order. Oh, yes, sir. May I have the telescope again, sir, before I get 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,

13:19smoke 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. All four were part of an iron grating, the center of which rested above the blazing furnace and the center of which rested above the blazing fuel. Lying on that grating were rows of black shot. The 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. There, getting pretty warm. Try your spit almost a wellard. Spit little sir. You can spit wellard on that cannonball. A sharpish lad, sharpish. Hi, I saw. Ah, that boiled off quick enough.

14:19Did you see, Wilton? Eyes hurt. Will you try the devil? The tongs and barres for the shot. Ready? I'll hold it. And wrap rags around your hands so you don't want to be skimmed. Now, work the shots onto the barres with the tongs. Carefully. Then roll them into the guns. Attaboy water by each gun. Now, bring the shots over to your guns. Oh, they're there. There's Teddy. Teddy there, Teddy. Salis there. Are you others? Run the guns back. We'll clear the imprasures. We'll clear them. Salis there. Ah, there. There they go. Drive wards in. Then in with your wet wards, you rammer.

15:20Two to a gun. It's not so easy, sir. Now, the dums could manage it to judge by the practice they made against us yesterday. We can better them surely. Oh, eyes hurt. That's better, man. Now, run off your guns. Aim for that point over there. And... McDonz is putting value back on the menu. We'll clear the imprasures. We'll clear the imprasures. We'll clear the imprasures. We'll clear the imprasures. Aim for that point over there. And... McDonz is putting value back on the menu. Whether you're craving a Big Mac, McNuggets, or sausage, egg, and cheese McGridels, make it a meal and save. Your favorite is now your wallet's favorite, too. Extra value meals are back. Get a big something extra. With a Big Mac or 10-piece McNuggets, fries, and a medium Coke, all for just $9.

16:24Limited time only, promotion pricing may be lower than meal pricing. Ba-da-ba-ba-ba. Fire! Fire! Well, Mr. Homelar. A prospect's fair, Mr. Bush. There's gentlemen over on the point of the puzzle. 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 a 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? Not bringing up fresh charges, sir. Get back away from my order. Understand? I have, I should. Swab out now! All right. Now, be careful. You don't want to need a chance of live charges and red hot shot coming together on this platform, do you? Oh, no, sir. Very well then. Now, fresh charges.

17:32These cartridges are English. I'll wear them, Mr. Bush. English? What makes you say that? Well, I know. West Country's surge. Choked from stitch like that. They'll have got them out of English prizes. Well, now I will hope that'll teach those privates to leave our ships alone. If we can cut off their supplies, the dons will be in a bad way against the blacks. Let's hope so, sir. Dad! Ram those wards handsomely there! That no powder in that borsumans will have you as discharged dead in the ship's books! They're standing down the bay, Mr. Homebler. If their intent on making a boat for it, it means they're not feeling too secure. I'd have expected them to try to recapture the fort. They could land a force up the peninsula and come down to attack. I wonder why they don't try it.

18:32It'll be long range, make sure of your aim. Yes, sir. Yes. Take a ranging shot. Gun captains? Yes. Make sure of your aim. Fire only when each gun dies. Fire, I'll do it. Yes, sir. Number one, sir. Fire! Make your aim more carefully. Gun crews? Yes. Fire only when you're sure. Fire, sir. My telescope, Mr. Rabbit. Sir. Thank you. You're hitting, I think. Yes, by God, I can see smoke. Fresh charges. Fire, sir. And she just swore about those guns, probably. Oh, my God. Damn it. She's getting away from us. Rain shortening, though.

19:32Gun captains? Fire. 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. Fire! Fire! She's blown up. Blow to pieces. I can't have had hands to spare to fight the fire when we hit him. Probably a shot through her deck and into the powder magazine. Poor devil. You don't sound too pleased about it. Well, as I think you know, Mr. Bush, sir. I have a weak stomach. Here comes the next vessel. Nearly in range. And by Jupiter, they have the spanny scoone as they're turning back to anchor. You bring up more shot, bear, man. Gun captains? Run up. Train.

20:32And fire. As you get the aid. Right, right, right. The spanish had no stomach for more. As renowned, the hove incite 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. Then we could take stock of what we'd achieved. And we could have a look at the ship. And we could have a look at the ship. And put out from the battery across the bay. Then we could take stock of what we'd achieved. The boat came in under a white flag. And off some minor point, Renown lay. Waiting for the first puffs of sea breeze to bring it up the bay. And into touch with her landing party. Bush would not let the spanish invite, who arrived, enter the fort.

21:35He feared some ruse, or an attempt by the enemy to gain intelligence of our actual strength. As I heard of 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. Omblah. He's a Colonel or Tegan, Mr. Bush. His credentials are signed by the Captain General, who is across the bay. What does he want? First to know about the prisoners, the women of the garrison, especially. You're trolling them they weren't hurt. 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 release to him all the prisoners, he would give us his promise that none of them would serve again while Renown is in spanish waters.

22:35Needs thinking about. Sounds fishy to me. No, he'd keep his words, say his Spanish gentleman. He is, is he? And we can't pack a hundred prisoners or more aboard Renown, sir. Diagree, they'd be an infernal nuisance. Anything else? He hinted at the possibility of arranging a capitulation, sir. To doose. And what did he mean by that? Surrender. The evacuation of all this end of the island by the dawn. My God. I hope you'll get it. Of course, sir. I tell him I couldn't bargain with him, but you could, Mr. Bush. No, Mr. Hombler, I could not. It'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 ruse would give Renown time to work up. She can anchor down there like a cook in a bottle.

23:35This scoomers 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 Renown 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 guns, Mr. Hornblower. 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 Renown? 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. Hornblower. You are to make it quite clear that I've not authorized negotiations. I take no responsibility for anything of the kind. Is that quite clear?

24:35Yes, 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 feal 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 authorized to do so? I would not. And I suggest that the Captain General had capitulation in mind from the moment he knew we had taken the force and Renown Granca in the bay in Concentrism. So, if he's prepared for such a negotiation, it must mean he's either a Paul Trun or in red is serious danger. You talk like a sea lawyer, Mr. Hornblower. 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.

25:35Pada, led, flints, soos, they're probably a need of all of them. That's true, sir. To judge from the condition of the prisoners we took. Thank you, Mr. Bush. And now Renown 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. Never mind that. If we stay, sir, you'll have to surrender. You'd 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, sir. Very well. Colonel or Tegor, I believe. Sir. Captain Buckland. I am Lieutenant Buckland. At present commanding his Britannic Majesty's ship, Renown. I am on our Lieutenant Buckland. I understand you have terms for your Captain General surrender in mind.

26:36That is 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 order. 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, Vomitonegro 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...

27:37My captain general could ally himself with the rebels, senior. They do not look upon the English as their friends. He could bring an army against you. That is my last word, senior. 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 thumbscues 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 at the rest of the bay. And we'll see what happens next. But we can run past it on this side. Yes, and 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. The secondary pulse.

28:37No, by God. Mr. Hornblur? It'd be risky to take renown into the upper end of the bay. We might get it from the peninsula, here, sir. How the devil? Now, I'm going to guard on the upper tip of the peninsula, and you'd have the fire end of the bay under fire. And they'll need for hot shot. We'd have all day to knock into pieces even if they shitted their anchorage. So we would buy juice. Could you get her gun along there? We could use one from the ship. Not too heavy. A nine pounder bar, Jason. Send it round to where we landed yesterday with takelem cables. Big trees to attach the cables. Just way the gun up easily. After that, not more than half a mile uphill, but not too steep. There's nine pounders way less than a tonne. And then we'd have those ships under fire, sir. And those ships are the dawn's only way of escape. Or takeer was only bluffing when he spoke of our lying with the blacks. If the rebels had a chance and they'll cut a third of every white man and woman in this island. And those ships would be our prizes, sir.

29:38It might be worth trying. But I would like to say, sir, I think Mr. Hornblur deserves every credit. Of course, Mr. Bush. And we'll start some other morning as soon as the hands of had breakfast. I'll leave the details to you to arrange Mr. Hornblur. I joke if it did work. In part three of Lieutenant Hornblur, you heard Nigel Antony in the title role and as the narrator, with Terence Skeleton as William Bush. Mr. Buckland was played by David Piedt, Wellard, Mark Hudson, Mr. Midshipman Abbott, Keith Ladd,

30:39Walton DeGonna, Herbert Smith, Captain Whiting, Randall Hurley, and Colonel Ortego by Graham Tent. The Hornblur story is directed in Manchester by Trevor Hill, assisted by Christopher Hayton Webb.