 We present Nigel Antony in The Hornblower Story, adapted from four of the C.S. Forrester novels by Val Gilgood, with Terence Skelton as William Bush. Part two from Lieutenant Hornblower, Sealed Orders. While renowned plowed her course westwards across the Atlantic to the West Indies Station, there were two questions which for her crew and more especially for her officers seemed to passing of each day more urgently to require answering. Following upon the accident to Captain Sawyer, Wood, first Lieutenant Buckland, taken upon himself formally to assume the responsibilities of taking command of the ship and what were the contents of those sealed orders from the Admiralty among the Captain's papers, the orders which defined the objectives of renowned mission when she reached her station. Swayed in a canvas straight jacket, the Captain lay in his cabin. And less reduced to insensibility by Lordenham and bleeding, he either screamed or sobbed. A crew that under the tyranny of a mind already deranged had been fast disintegrating could now again be made seaman. For the officers and for me the junior Lieutenant Buckland's decision was the vital thing. Only with Lieutenant William Bush did I find it possible to open the problem. How much longer before Mr. Buckland opens those orders Mr. Bush? God knows. If he takes the ship down to Antigua only to find out afterwards that he has to beat it back to windward, he'll get his knuckles wrapped finally by my lords. And if he reads secret orders, he's liable to be reprimanded for presumption. What's your reading Mr. Hornblaw? Greatest altitude I've ever measured. I've never been as fast as this before. And what's your result? I'm not certain. What's the difficulty? I can shoot the Sun. No trouble about that. It's the calculations that bother me. All those damn corrections. Well they're not so hard sir. Now check against mine. I've plot the position with parallel rulers. There's the point of interception. Now I can check against dead reckoning. I see. We're still being set to solid. We're not far enough east for the Gulf Stream to set us not. You said you'd never navigated these waters before. That's so. Then how? Well I suppose you've been studying. Well at any rate there we are. It's something to know that much. What do you think number one will do Mr. Hornblaw? He must make up his mind now or never. We lose ground to lured every day from now on. What would you do? I'd read the orders Mr. Bush. I'd rather be in trouble of having done something than for not doing anything. I wonder. Those orders made attaches on independent service. It's a chance in a thousand for Bucklin. I suppose it is. You wish it was yours. I must put these things away. I'm exercising the lower deck guns crews after Hans have had their dinner. Yes Mr. Hornblower. Permission to have the deck wash pump Rick sir. Men feeling the heat eh? I don't know about them but I am Mr. Roberts. I have 15 minutes plenty of time. Very well. Thank you sir. Captain of the Waston. Get the wash deck pump rigged at once. Form over the handles, roll over the hose and jump to it. Aye sir. Give away. Hornblower has some odd fantasies Mr. Bush. He seems to be enjoying himself sir. Well rather him than me. Drive out I hope. What's going on here Mr. Roberts? Mr. Hornblower wanted a bath Mr. Buckland. I don't know if it's good for discipline. We'll hope he doesn't get himself a fever checking the sweat like that. No sign of that sir. Well it may clear his head. Perhaps he could clear mine. Your sir. I need a clear head at this moment. Send Mr. Hornblower to my cabin when he comes back Mr. Roberts and ask the surgeon to join us. This thing's got to be settled. Aye aye sir. Mr. Bush find Mr. Clive and let him know that Mr. Buckland wants him in his cabin. Well Mr. Clive. He's done it. Read the orders. As far as I know. Yes Mr. Roberts. What do you mean by that? What was in them? They're secret orders Mr. Roberts. Even if Mr. Buckland had taken me into his confidence I couldn't tell you. No need to be pompous about it. What did the captain do? What didn't he do Mr. Bush? Poor devil we might have been fiends from the pit. You should have seen him car away when we went into his cabin. But I thought we were going to cut his throat instead of just finding the key of his desk. That man is suffering the terrors of hell. I suppose you would not be guilty of exaggeration Mr. Clive. I would not sir. I repeat the terrors of hell and all the sorrows of this world. And did you find this precious key? We did. Mr. Buckland opened the desk. Well Mr. Buckland found the orders. The usual linen envelope with the admiralty seal. So he's now read them and when he's done the wiser. Well God bless my soul. I don't imagine we can expect to know what's in store for us. We've only been at war for nearly ten years. We just obey orders. Helmer Lee let go and haul grape shot in the belly or champagne in a captured flagship. Who cares? We draw our four shillings a day wet all fine. Well I'll wager a week's pay on a change of course Mr. Buckland's read those orders. Mr. Clive? No takers. Officer of the watch? Yes sir. We're altering course two points. Steer south west. Course south west Mr. Robert. South west it is sir. Buy Paul hands to the braces. Another pull on that poor brace there. You're pardoned Mr. Buckland. Yes Mr. Robert. Can you tell us our mission now sir? No. It is still secret. Very good sir. But I can tell you where we're bound. San Domingo. Scotsman's Bay. San Domingo. His Spaniola. Haiti. Three names for the same island. I am obliged to you Mr. Bush. Hmm. Haiti that's where the blacks are in rebellion against the Spaniards. That is so I believe Mr. Roberts. Yes. You ask me Captain Sawyer's not the only one that's nervous. I didn't ask you Mr. Clive. I wonder is it of the blacks or is it because Captain Sawyer's still alive. I would suggest that as surgeon you go below and attend to him Mr. Clive. That is your business. Let us some company up here Mr. Hornblower. She's rolling damnably. Rolling? She's wallowing. Oh lord. Are yours must be a cast iron stomach Mr. Bush. Why the devil must be lying who too like this. Mr. Buckland seems to want time to study the lie of the land. He's been studying it through that telescope of his for a good half hour. Why can't he make up his mind. There's nothing to see at this range but the mountains of San Domingo. How much more does he want to see. We know there's a fort up there flying the Spanish colors and everyone on shore must know by now that the British ship of the lion is prowling about. The dons don't have to be clever to guess we're not here on a yachting trip. All we're doing is giving them the time they need to prepare a reception for us. What else good Buckland do. He could have come in with a sea breeze and a couple of darkness with a landing party ready. Put them ashore at dawn. Storm the place before they knew there was any danger. Oh damn this rolling. Hard luck. Mr. Robert. Sir. Portac Helmsman. Something. I could wish we were going into action. Not running away to think about it. Anxious to meet fire Mr. Hornblower. Nothing like that Mr. Bush sir. Quite the opposite of you must know. I wish for too much too quickly. I've been curious about my intentions. I propose to take the ball by the horns tomorrow morning. Satisfied now Hornblower. I trust you're all satisfied Mr. Bush. Your pardon sir. We'll round the Samana Point and force our way straight up the bay. Here gentlemen. It won't take many broadsides to wipe out any shipping at anchor. Particularly any privateers sir. Just so Mr. Roberts. We'll sink them or burn them. Then we can decide what to do next. Any questions. No trouble with the tide sir. As I understand none. What about the south shore of the bay Mr. Buckland. There is the fort. I have a plan to deal with the situation Mr. Roberts. I have you anything to ask Mr. Hornblower. No sir. And then that will be all for the presence gentlemen. Stomach still troubling you. No. Not happier at the prospect of action. Not this one Mr. Bush. Bush was in command of the lower gun deck and of the 1724 pounders on the starboard battery. Under him I commanded those of the port side. I saw a group of the surgeon's crew carrying the straight jacketed figure of Captain Sawyer to the safety of the cable tier. A pitiful wreck of a man writhing and weeping. There were ship's boys with buckets of sand to give firm foothold to the gun's crews. A ring of extra fire buckets round the main mast. Slow matches smoldering in tubs for the rekindling of lint stocks. A marine with fixed bed it posted at each hatchway. The gunners in list slippers standing by their tackles. The powder monkeys scurrying about the deck. Each carrying a charge for the guns. The breechings cast off and the gun crew was standing by. Ten men by every gun on the starboard side. Five on the port side. Bush would redistribute them when and if necessary. We don't run the guns out yet Mr. Hornblower. Very good sir. Sir. Yes Mr. Wellard. Mr. Butler's compliments. I'm pleased to run your guns out. Thank you Mr. Wellard. Up ports. Will you try a ranging shot at the bachelors when your guns bear sir? Your orders Mr. Wellard. No sir. Mr. Butler's. Then say so. My respects to Mr. Butler and it will be some time before my guns are in range. Aye aye sir. Yes Mr. Hornblower. There's a point running out ahead Mr. Bush. You see the shallows there sir. The channel must bend round them and there's a battery out there on the point. You see the smoke. Yeah. Now they must be heating for red hot shot. I dare say. Well we'll be under crossfire. Not for too long I hope. That's the fort sir. No doubt. And here it comes. Good Mr. Bush. Too good. I might just reach the battery on this side now sir. Then try what you can do. Can't you open fire yet Mr. Bush. This minute sir. How hot they all reach it. Carry on then Mr. Hornblower. Hot shot had begun to strike home on renown. Smoke was curling up from a deep gash in the deck beams by my head. From above I could hear the rush of feet and the clank of pumps which told me that on the main deck tour they were fighting fires. I realized something strange in the feel of the deck under my feet. A perceptible slope, a queer sense of rigidity and permanence. We had run aground smoothly on a mud bank. Doomed to be shocked to pieces by that accursed fort. If the battery had failed to roast us alive where we lay. Tide's still rising Mr. Hornblower. It's an hour before high water and we're pretty hard to ground. Steady there. Swab that gun out properly. High water you say Mr. Bush. Yes God help us. You keep their embrasures swept sir. I'll slow their rate of fire even if I don't silence them. But the fort's still out of range. Yes. Give your mouth shut Mr. Wellard. I'll leave you in charge down here Mr. Hornblower. Aye aye sir. You want to meet Mr. Buckland? We have to kedge off this confounded sand bank Mr. Bush. Aye aye sir. Get a cable out half through a stern port. Very good sir. And Roberts sir. You must take the stream anchor off in the launch. Aye aye sir. And shall I take the men from my gun sir? Do that. Shifting the weight would help. Tell Hornblower to take some of the foremost guns and run them off. There might be an alternative sir. What? If I fired all my guns at once it might just break the suction. Worth trying by God. I'll have them loaded and ready in three minutes sir. I'll tell them the captain. Thank you sir. Lay them in double shut your guns. Try them and run out. Await my order. There you go sir. I'm sure it's our best chance Mr. Buckland. No need to explain. We'll try it. It's a pretty pickle Mr. Bush. Poor Roberts is dead. Roberts. Cutting two by a shot as he entered the launch. It makes you my number two Mr. Bush. Settle at the capstone bars there. Brace your feet. Tell Mr. Hornblower to fire his guns when ready Mr. Bush. Aye aye sir. Take the strain. Heave there. Heave. Also good Mr. Bush. We're off ground but we've lost the flood. If we touch again, ketching off may be impossible. Yes sir. We could get out with the land breeze sir. I know that as well as you do Mr. Hornblower. But do you know what that means? It means defeat. My first command. In on the spring cable Mr. Bush. Head around to sea. Aye aye sir. Be Mr. Buckland. Yes sir. When the tropic night closed down upon the battered renown. Buckland sent for Bush and me. His cabin was like an oven. Its two lanterns seemed to give out an intolerable heat. We sat staring at the chart upon the table. While the sweat trickled under our uniforms. Question is, what's to do? Should we bear up for Jamaica? I wouldn't go so far as to advise that sir. What else can we do Mr. Bush? Tell me that. If we head for Jamaica sir. We go with our tail between our legs. Through. All the same there's Captain Sawyer to be thought of. Captain Sawyer? With a success to our record there might be a less diligent inquiry into the matter of Captain Sawyer's supercession. If we limp in defeated I'm likely to be asked why I took upon myself the responsibility of attacking Semana Point. What do you think Mr. Hornblower? I agree sir. You do, do you? Yes sir. We did our best dammit. Anyone could run aground in the channel. Nothing could get up the bay under such a crossfire. We might still make a landing on the seaward side sir. A landing and a surprise attack. Mr. Bush? Well sir. Go on. Mr. Hornblower didn't mention to me. He thought a surprise landing might have more chance of success than bombardment of the Fortrum Battery. But that was before the dons knew there was a ship of the line in the neighborhood. Why didn't you suggest this masterly plan to me who Mr. Hornblower? It was hardly my business Mr. Buckland. That responsibility for success or failure is mine. Have you changed your mind? I think something might still be tried sir. As long as it was tried at once. You mean tonight? It would be the best time sir. The dons have seen us driven off. Excuse me sir but that's how it'll look to them. The last they saw of us was beating out of the bay it's unsaid. They'll be pleased with themselves. But an attack at dawn from another quarter over land that would be the last thing they'd expect. Might well be. Adjust how would you make this attack Mr. Hornblower? Well the wind's fair for Scotsman's base sir. We could be there in less than two hours. We could have a landing party told off and prepare by the time we arrive. Say the hundred seamen and the marines. There's a good landing beach there. In land the country may be marshy. Um oh that's here sir. Just be the hills of the peninsula. But we can land on the peninsula side of the marsh. I marked a spot yesterday. You did did you. Go on. Well a landing party should reach the crest without difficulty. They can't lose their way with the sea on one side and Samana Bay on the other. They simply move along the crest then rush the fort at dawn. Now what with the marsh and the cliffs the dons are liable to keep a poor lookout on that side. You make it all sound very easy Mr. Hornblower. With a hundred and eighty men. Enough I think sir. What makes you so sure? There were six guns firing at us from the fort. I counted them. Ninety men at most. Sixty maybe near the mark. Add an ammunition party and men to heat their furnaces. A hundred and fifty men all together. More likely as few as a hundred. Do you think such an attempt might succeed Mr. Bush? It might sir but time is getting on. A secondary pulse would be ruined. Yet once the fort is in our hands we can deal with the privateers up the bay. They could never use it as an anchorage again. That's true sir. Dammit let's try it. Very good sir. Now who's to command? It would have been Robert's duty sir if he'd left. Mr. Bush you will take command. Yes sir. Who do you want to take with you? Do you require me any more Mr. Buckland if not sir? Do we need Mr. Hornblower any more Mr. Bush? I'd like Mr. Hornblower to come with the landing party sir. Very well. It will leave me with only one lieutenant aboard. Several of the master's mates are good watchkeeping officers sir. Very well. You look troubled Mr. Hornblower what is it? I was wondering about altering course sir. We could head for Scottsman's Bay at once and save a little time. We'd better get it before the wind. We'll set course in a few minutes. Any further suggestions Mr. Hornblower? Only one sir. We might take with us some grappinals with lines attached. They might be useful if we have to scale the walls. I agree. Remember to see the issued. Yes sir. Will you need a runner? The hate won't be as well sir. Anyone particular? A young wellard. He is reasonably cool headed and thinks quickly. Then all is settled? Yes sir. And it only remains to set course and issue the orders. You will see to it Mr. Bush if you please. Aye aye sir. Oh Mr. Hornblower I've been meaning to ask you. How in your opinion did Captain Sawyer come to fall down the hatchway? Well I fancy he must have overbalanced Mr. Buckland. The ship was lively that night if you remember. Yes I suppose she was. Hello there Mr. Bush. Carry on if you please. Good of you to ask for me Mr. Bush. You deserved it. It was your notion in the first instance. I'm glad you picked young wellard. He needs a change from the ship. After what he's had to put up with from Sawyer. That's true enough. Any more news of the Captain? Ask Clive. All he does is shrug his shoulders and wink and look the other way. But I can't believe Sawyer will last much longer. I'd not be in Buckland shoes. Unless this landing comes off. No certainly should help him. I don't look forward to the inquiry for all that. No. Well if you'll have course set for Scotsman's Bay I'll give the orders for the landing party. You'll not forget the grappinals Mr. Bush sir. Do you ever forget anything home blower? Where the Samana Peninsula began a small water course had worn a wide gully in the cliff at the easterly end of the beach. That night sea and surf and beach seemed to be a fire with the phosphorescence of the water vividly lighting up the ore blades as the launchers pulled ashore. Carrying the landing party. We landed thigh deep in water and it seemed thigh deep too in liquid fire. Our weapons and cartridge boxes held high to make sure they were not wetted. Bush was excited and tense. It was all I could do within the bounds of discipline to hold him back from plunging a head at once in violent action. I might have sounded confident enough in Buckland's cabin. It was another matter on that beach in the darkness with the conviction growing that on the success of our enterprise depended not only the lives of myself and Bush in 180 men but also the reputation of renown and first Lieutenant Buckland's professional future. Part two of Lieutenant Hornblower. You heard Nigel Anthony in the title role and as the narrator with Terence Skelton as William Bush. Mr. Buckland was played by David Peart Mr. Roberts Paul Hertzberg Wellard the boy Mark Hudson and Mr. Clive the surgeon John Jardine. Location recordings were made by Christopher Hayton Webb and David Fleming Williams aboard the IP torso. The musical score is by Johnny Pearson. The Hornblower story is directed from Manchester by Trevor Hill.