 Call all hands, speak to quarters. Aye, there's time at bat-a-ay. One broadside into it, if you please, Captain Bush. Point is on target. Limps top's ready. C.S. Foresters, Indomitable Man of the Sea, or ratio, hornblower. None was worse than the days when I found myself captured by the Spaniards and clapped into their prison at Ferro. What is that you ask, senor hornblower? A possible exchange of prisoners? That's it. No, no, no. It is not for that reason that I have requested senor O'Brien to bring you to my office. Oh, well, I just had hopes. You are young, senor. Those who are young are forever hopeful. But if I cannot set you free, my young enemy, I can at least make you more comfortable, eh? More comfortable? You are now a lieutenant. Under the articles governing treatment of prisoners, you are entitled to certain privileges. Oh, well, yes, it had slipped my mind. You shall no longer be quartered with the midshipmen. Senor O'Brien will see to it that you are transferred to the prison rooms reserved for captured officers. More like cells than rooms to my way, I think. Perhaps so, senor O'Brien, yet more comfortable. Also, senor hornblower, you will receive the half-pay of your anchor. Thank you, sir. And your parole will be accepted. You will be at liberty to visit the town and the neighborhood. Thank you, sir. Understand for only two hours each day. Yes, I understand, sir. I have your word then, as an officer and a gentleman, I promise to make no attempt to escape. You have my word, sir. Senor, you should be more happy. Oh, I was on parole. Two hours of freedom each day. And while it was small comfort against the fact that I was still a prisoner, I must admit that there was pleasure in it. Well, no. If it ain't, Mr. Holdlore... Hello, O'Brien. Look there now, across Federal Bay to the entrance. Do you see that long, wicked reef that guards the entrance? The dientes del diablo, the Spaniards call it. The devil's teeth. They've taken the bottom out of any a ship. Ah, there's rough weather coming. Is there no? By tomorrow or the next day, the wind's shifting. So it is. You'd rather be alone, wouldn't you, Mr. Holdlore? Well, since you ask me, O'Brien, yes I would. Ah, no, that's a pity. Because you're back in prison, Mr. Holdlore. Your two hours parole is over. Well, that's how it went. The same deadly round. The same sick misery of captivity day after day and month after month. And the only time I felt free was during those precious hours when I stood above the harbour and watched the ocean. And then came a day when the ocean heaved up before the southwest gale. When the waves came crashing in white thunder against Diente's del diablo, the devil's teeth. I stood there watching them. And suddenly... Señor! Señor, your ship! There is a ship, señor! Do you see it? Yes, senora, yes. Ah, captain's a fool heading this way in a gale. Yet, in a sense, he'd heave too and stay out to sea until the wind slackens. It is a Spanish ship, señor. Ah, must be. No British captain would be so insane. The devil's teeth will tear his ship to ribbons. Alharita! Alharita! Carlos, what is the matter? The ship that now approaches. There is another behind it. An enemy. I must inform the commandant. What's that? A British ship? Señor, it cannot be seen from here, but from the very top of the headland. British ship? It must be a man of war. Look, there's the commandant for you. He's climbing up here now. I've got another hour of my parole. I must stay here and watch. Straight towards the teeth of the devil. Yes, if your captain had him. Do not miss. The channel. He will manage it. No, señor. No, she remains afloat. Afloat? Is it your fault? First, on the devil's teeth, you mean. Every mask gone from the shock and the deck swept clean. And there out to sea goes that kingship that drove her there. Will it last on the rocks? How long? A long and harita. An hour, two hours. Look! Look another wave! Ah! What, Arbis? If they were not wondering we could do no good. There's no earthly ways to get them off the teeth. Señor O'Brien is right. There is no way a boat could get through the way from here. It would pounder and sink. Yes, it would from here, sir. But look across the water there. Look at that little bay. Do you see? It's partly sheltered and a boat might be launched from there. Señor, we do not have a boat there. And I, Carlos, ask how we first get a boat to there, eh? How can we get a boat there without crossing the water? By land, Carlos. By land? Señor? Come on down. A boat can be put up on wheels and there must be a drain somewhere in the town. And we can hoist a boat up onto the drain, hitch up a team of horses, and go over land. And once we're at the bay, we can launch it, don't you see? It can be done. Señor, come on down. He's right. It is possible. It is dangerous, of extreme danger. Sir, come on down. Let me command the boat. You? Yes, sir. Let me take six fishermen with me. Men who know how to handle oars. Men like you know, like Carlos here. You see, I will go with you. Yes, sir. Silence! Silence! Very well, Lieutenant Hornblower. This possibility of saving Spanish lives was your thought. And I cannot in all conscience deny you the chance to carry it out yourself. Remember only that I have your parole. Yes, you have my parole, sir. And I trust you will come back alive. We shall all of us pray. Ground upon which we'd stood and watched the Spanish schooner drive to destruction. There she lay, upon the jagged reef called Dientes del Diablo. The devil's team. And yet, as a handful of fishermen and I attempted to rescue the survivors, I was filled with a great elation to be at sea. Even such a wicked sea. I'd been on shore too long. I was young, filled with such excitement that fear was driven completely out of me. Paul, that's Paul! Señor, become closer to the reef. Careful, Carlos! There's a broken mast directly in our cork. Aye, nobody do you, sir, see it. Paul! Paul! Señor, there are four of them. Four, not three. Observe. Yes, I see. Oh, closer, Carlos. The waves are very strong. Oh, closer. Get in the way. Above the schooner! Above the schooner! We'll come in after the next wave. Here, Señor. They are cutting the ropes that hold them to the mast. Ready, Carlos? See, Señor. Now, after the next wave. And then we went through a welter of spray and foam. The survivors jumped. One of them sank like a stone, never to reappear. But the other three landed safely. Danger here, Señor. At least there are no rocks. Yes. But it grows dark. It becomes hard even to make out the shoreline. But we'll rig the sail, Carlos. We can beat across the wind and stay clear of the reef. See, Señor. And the sea anchor, Carlos. We'll need a sea anchor. That also. Señor, it could be a very long night, no? Ah, the wind may die down. Oh, as to that. Always the wind dies down sooner or later, no? But until this happens... Well, we're safe enough out in the open water. But it is very cold. Well, have the men lie close together. The warmth of our own bodies will keep us all alive. See, Señor, when the wind dies, we get back to shore, no? Well, what other course is there? I've given my parole to return, haven't I? She's the parole. Señor, one thing more. Well, now what? I... Nothing, Señor. Only that you have risked your life to help these countrymen of mine. You are a good man, Señor. So the night came down on us. A nightmare night. The shrieking wind and waves that rode the black water like white death. We tried to sleep. During the night, one of the survivors died. Wind died down. The waves came at us still mountain high, but smoother now. Less dangerous. Señor, Señor, please to wake up. Pedro, José, amigos! I see, amigos! I see! Hey, careful there. Stay on the ships. You want us to turn turtle? Where is it? Where, Carlos? Wait, amigos! Another action to see. Wait, the next wave! What's the matter, Carlos? What is it? It is not one of ours, Señor. It is British. British? Yes, yes. We are fishermen. Our eyes are sharp. It is a British frigate. The one which forced the schooner onto the devil's teeth. Frigates! One of ours, blockading the coast. One of our... Señor, what do you do? Taking off my shirt. It's white. It's the only white shirt on the boat. Put it on the mast head. Make a distress signal. No. What? We do not wish to be picked up. We are Spaniards, Señor. That is the enemy. Better to wait. Now, don't be fools. Wait for what? For more cold and wind, for waves that are bound to pour over the gunnels sooner or later? But, Señor, you mustn't do that. Am I in charge of this vessel or am I not? There's one man dead already and more of us nearly, so. Now make signal to her, I say. She's bound to see us. She'll pick us up. All right, me bucko. You all turn now. You come over the side. He'd never shirk to you back, do you? Blue is a mackerel. Have you Spaniards ever licked her since? What ship is this? He's Majesty's ship, Sirty's, that's... Lammy, you speak English. I'm a King's officer. No, Lammy. I want these men well cared for. Them Spaniards? Yes, well cared for. I want the dead man to give him decent burial. Here, here, now. I'll just lie here and get on with it. Big board, Sir. He says he's British. British? Lieutenant Hornblower, Sir. Later, His Majesty's frigate intrefatigable. Well, now I see. And what are you doing in an open craft for the mob of Spaniards? I beg your pardon, Mr. Hornblower. Welcome aboard the service. As soon as you're clothed and warm, I'm certain you'll want to speak to Captain Crone. As you mentioned it, Hornblower, you're quite right. I couldn't possibly have him taken prisoner. Oh, I shall have to set him as short the earliest possible opportunity. Now, as regards yourself, I understand you hold a commission as an attendant. Yes, sir. I came through when I was in prison. You were under Captain Pellew with the intrefatigable. Yes, sir. Well, I don't know if the intrefatigable is still in these waters, Hornblower. I don't think it is. But you were probably still carried on in books. Oh, I believe so, sir. The admiral of the feat you'll have to decide. But until we meet him, you can do duty aboard this ship. I can, sir. You mean a... I'm sorry, sir. It was almost forgotten. I can't do that. What's that? Well, sir, I'd welcome the opportunity. Well, I'd give half the years ahead of me to be out of that Spanish prison and back on duty. You're not in prison. No, sir, but I was. Oh, I see. But role, eh? Well, that all is the case. Puts the decision squarely up to you. Yes, sir. Does it? Oh. I must go back, I'm afraid, sir. As soon as it's convenient for you to dispatch a boat. I was back the next day. It turned calm and clear, and the service stood in toward Ferole and sent a cutter in under a white flag. I remember how all the others, Carlos and the rest, were laughing and talking gaily as this was said down on the bottom. A Brian was there, and half the time with him. Well, no, if it isn't young, Mr. Holmblure. Hello, Brian. Never did we expect to see you again. Hey, not wait to see once again our homes. Hey, amigos, when we are driven out to sea, we commit ourselves to God's mercy. Carlos, Carlos, come back now. Carlos, you come back. And for this, we thank the senor, no? Hey, Pedro, good to be home again, no? Carlos, Carlos! We're down in the mouth, Mr. Holmblure. Yes, perhaps I am. Ah, now, no need to tell me the way your heart's in your eyes looking after that cutter now and looking out beyond the devil's teeth to that British shipy yours. You're a fool. Excuse me, I'm going back to my prison quarters. Prisons seemed much more confining now. There were many times when I cursed myself for coming back to them. And even the comfort I'd formerly gained from my two hours each day in the open air had lost its flavor. It was comfort no longer, not after that precious taste of freedom. I was like a man who, after having blimped a huge, wonderful meal, then finds himself living on only a crust of bread. This is the mood I was in when one day I was sent for by the commandant. Sit down, Lieutenant Holmblure. If you please, sit down. Yes, sir. You wonder why I sent for you, eh? You see this dispatch I hold in my hand, sir? It is a personal order for me to take immediate steps to set you at liberty. At liberty, sir? I am to restore you under a flag of truth to your fellow countrymen. Restore me? I'm being set free, sir. In recognition of... Allow me to read. In recognition of his courage and self-sacrifice in saving life at the peril of his own... Oh, commandant! You are overwhelmed, eh? Yes, a little. A little. Ah, you English. Senor, I... I tell you that to a Spaniard that deed such as yours makes us cry and laugh and be happy. Senor, to be enemies is a bad thing. To be a man of honor is a good thing. Senor, I am most happy. Most happy indeed. You have been set free. Something I'll remember all my life.