 Call all hands, speak the quarters. Let us tell the battery. One broadside into it, please, Captain Bush. Pointes on target. Print stops ready. I see as foresters, indomitable man of the sea, a ratio hornblower. Africa, Sweden, Iberia. But in those days, I was young midshipman hornblower on his majesty's ship into Fatigable. It was then that I first set foot on any soil other than my native England. My midshipman Jack Brace and I stood on shore at Primers Harbor. Had no idea of what was to come. An expeditionary force was about to embark against France, and Brace and I were being properly superior about the files of soldiers who stood drawn up awaiting orders. I remember how we nodded gravely to each other, Jack Brace and I, but even while we did, Lieutenant Mason turned and called to me. I crossed the key and reported with no idea of what might be in store. Sir, hornblower, there's a special duty for you, sir. This is Lord Edrington, major commanding his Britannic majesties, 43rd foot. And this is... You don't mind, Lieutenant Mason, I'll handle this myself. You, sir, your name's hornblower? Yes, sir. It'll be more proper if you address me as my lord. Aye, aye, sir. My lord. Hornblower. What's your name, hornblower? Family name? My lord. The name hornblower? No, no, don't get you back up. If it's your name, it's your name and you're settled with it. Make the best of all things, eh? Lieutenant Mason here tells me we'll speak French. Well, a little, sir. A little, eh? A little bit of that. You can speak a word of it yourself, leave that to the French themselves. Mr. Hornblower, there's a problem of communication between Lord Edrington commanding this expedition and the French forces. Sir? This gentleman here, allow me. The maquis de Poussoge, Brigadier-General in the service of his most Christian majesty, Louis XII. Sir, may I present to Midshipman Hornblower? Ah. Midshipman Hornje. Midshipman Maquis. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever their folder all. Long with them, he had chattering, long moodlefakies to get on our way. There's a matter of tides or some such, eh, Mason? Ah yes, my lord. The transport ships are standing by. We must sail on the tide, of course. Exactly. And separate transports are my battalion and the French. Weeks of coast of France together, go ashore together, work together, all that sort of rubbish. Well, Mason, can the Navy spare Midshipman Hornblower? I'm certain there will be no difficulty, my lord. But sir, you mean, you mean I'm not to remain on board the inter-fatigable, sir? You speak French, Hornbauer. You'll be detached. As you'll go on board the transport which carries the French troops. Well, sir, yes. Don't look so startled, Mr. Hornbauer. It's a great opportunity. You'll only go on board. You'll land with them in France. If a cross-channel invasion may make history. Don't you know that England wants the Bourbons back on the French throne? The convoy sailed on the evening tide. From the deck of the transport, I could see the inter-fatigable leading the line. I felt not very lost. But at least I preferred the French to Lord Edrington. I would never admit it, but almost, I believe, he'd make a botch of the whole expedition. We are not the only expeditionary force, monsieur. The main body will land at Kibo, a 5,000 man. Well, that's a little better, sir, but I beg your pardon, monsieur. I overreach my... No, no, no. Please continue. Well, even 7,000 men, even 10 or 15... The French Republic has 100,000. But observe, the main army of the revolutionaries, where are they situated? They are here, in the south of France, to come north to attack our main force, by which way must they travel? I see, brother, by way of this road. Precisely, the coast to road, and observe where we land. The small force of British and French royalists. There is a bridge, monsieur. And if the bridge is destroyed, the revolutionaries can be held back. Even so, held back. Small force, while our main body raises the standard of his most Christian majesty, Louis the 17th. Yes, I see. First, through all of Brittany, and then on, on to Paris. We shall save France, monsieur. We, the few men who hold the bridge at Moussiac. The convoy rounded Belle Eul, and dropped anchor. There was Moussiac. And beyond it, lay the Villain River. And there was the bridge. The invasion drive went ashore without a single shot being fired. My feet were wet with salt water, but for the first time in my young life, I was standing on foreign soil. Onder, I want you to get yourself a horse. A horse? Yes, one of these. The French are going to set up their troops at the bridge. Yes. Blow it up and stay there. Yes, sir. My troops, the 43rd, will be down the river half a mile. There's a ford, you see. Yes, sir. Shallow place where the enemy might try to get across. We'll have to keep both places secure, of course. Yes. But what do I do with the horse, sir? Ride it, man. You'll be with the French. But I can't say I trust them. Undisciplined troops, you know. Yes, sir. I want you to ride back and forth and keep me informed. Keep your eye on them. Let me know the moment they consider running a bucket fix. If they don't know what they'll do next. Milord, I've never been on a horse before. And it should be quite an experience. Yeah. What does the name of Satan's that? What, Milord? It's down the beach. What are the French unloading at those suppliers? I'm sort of obsessed. It's a guillotine, sir. Guillotine? Yes, Milord. They're taking it to Muziak and setting it up in the town square, I've heard. Use it to knock the heads off the people, don't they? I must say it startled me too, Milord. But the Marcus says some of the people in Muziak deserve it. Does he know? The revolutionaries began it, he says. And it's only fair that the royalists should give them a taste of their own medicine. I can't say it. I like it myself, sir. I liked it not at all. That afternoon, after the bridge was blown up and the troops disposed, the French set up their headquarters in Muziak in the village inn. The guillotine, too, was set up. I was in the kitchen where a French woman was preparing food. And the window was opened. What is it? It's only a drum. It comes from the village square. No, it's only a drum, ma'am, sir, really. You can see it from the window here. It's the guillotine. We must use it. They're about to use it, too. Five men with their hands tied behind their backs, marching on up towards the stairs leading up. I'd rather not hear it, and I'll see it. Ma'am, sir, thanks for the water, but... Have you got something stronger? What was that? Gentlemen, quiet. He comes from the village. Gentlemen, we must enter our property first. We must saddle up at once and join our troops. It would appear the battle has been joined. It's worse than any heaving deck. I clung to his mane and was carried back and forth between the bridge and the ford, between the so-called frogs and Lord Edrington's lobsters. At every musket shot, the animal started like a frightened stag. It's suddenly so warm, though. There's no noise about a horse. No, no. You saw it on the raiders as they were tiller-roofed, girl. I wish they hadn't been worse. Get down, ma'am. Get down before I need to camp to death. Yes, ma'am. That's better. To my mind, a sailor on a horse deck is more dangerous than a regiment of roly crooks. Well, what news from our friend, the Benchman? Was there a little happening, sir? No attack of any size? A few attempts, ma'am. Made by less than a single company of the enemy. Beaten off, of course. Several shots from our cannons scattered them like pitons, ma'am. The markers said they were a rabble on it. The cannon fire was accurate? Oh, sir. The cannon, a manned by British seamen. It's Shipman Jack Brace directed the fire, I know. Oh, yes, yes, of course. Your own cannon rolled ashore, of course. Well, it's a comfort to have one's own compartment directing fire instead of those roly crooks of puzzage. How well are they holding up on the... Well, there's no sign of panic among them, sir. I just hope not. Opposed by only half a company? Hard on the... Extremely odd. What's odd, my lord? But there aren't more of them. You've had no trouble here, either, sir. The company of the enemy no more. They'll attempt to cross the fall in four. I thought they were burning powder unnecessarily, sir. They're not fool, Hornblower. At any rate, there's no harm in assuming they're not. Hmm. Hornblower, do the French have any rear guard out towards Criberon? Towards Criberon, sir? Blast it. Don't you hear a plain question? Is there always a... Not a rear guard, Hornblower. But that's behind us to the north. There can't be any... A rear guard on the north. I don't know, frankly. Then find out, Hornblower. Find out the one. Aye, sir. There wasn't a rear guard out towards Criberon. When I arrived at the bridge, I rained up for a moment beside Jack Brace's position. Ah, Commander of the Hoffman and his Hornblower. Ah, Mr. Brace, I presume, huh? No, no. I put him for a field marshal or a radio. Notice of what positive genius I've disposed my artillery. And how stands matters of our red coat, then? Oh, the lobster's still standing. Oh, they're fine at the standing. Jolly fine. The question is, can they unbend enough to fight? There's not been enough fighting to tell. True enough. The same thing here. Though I'll tell you this, my friend. It may be treason, but I'm inclined to believe these Frenchies could give a better account of themselves than the 43rd foot. I don't hold with these spit and polish lobster backs. One attack and they'd cave in, I'm sure of it. Edrington's worried about an attack on our rear. Is he now? I told the markers about it. Who's ours? What did he say? He just shrugged. Answer enough, eh? One gesture from a Frenchman tells more than a thousand words. Ask me, Lord Edrington, that silly fool. I'm not quite so sure of that, eh? Clear as a bony nose on his face. Rear guard. How can the enemy possibly attack from the rear? Now, look here, Hornblower. Here we are up on a good, high hill. Gives elevation, excellent spot for cannon. Here we are, I say. We can see the entire country behind us. If there's any sign of, um... Hornblower, what are you staring at? I don't believe it. I simply can't believe it. Just? It's just a cloud of dogs. It's the enemy. The Enforced behind us. Brace. They're ready to attack us from the rear. Look out here, gunstep. I will. But I don't warn Lord Edrington. Come on. Up, up, you consulty man. Come on, a tanker. The enemy, they're coming. I expected nothing else. From the direction of Cripple, eh? I didn't believe it was possible. Same world, all things are possible. Cripple of them, they must say. A diversionary action in front of us. That, meanwhile... Yes, but our main forces of Cripple, eh, sir? It was, Hornblower. Must have been overwhelmed, eh? How's the marquee's force holding out for us? It looked bad, sir. Panic? Well, they seem badly disorganized when I left. No fading, no discipline. I expect they'll run like rabbits. Oh, no, no, sir, they won't. What's to stop them? Undisciplined troops. No type of training. Some attack from unexpected quarters. They're their brave soldiers, sir, sir. I've observed that. What's bravery got to do with it? Discipline, Hornblower. That's the requirement. Discipline. What did I tell you? Here they come running like rabbits. These will have to come with their retreat. Retreat, sir? Of course, man, to the shore. Back to your ships. We shall never make it, sir. We'll be overwhelmed. I think not. So began what was to me an incredible experience. Alandus streamed the rusted royalists, frantic with fear. The enemy launched attack after attack. A troop of cavalry bore down upon us. But meanwhile, the British soldiers formed ranks as calmly as if on parade. Mr. Trellors, the 43rd foot will form a square, if you please. Yes, sir. What have you done? How? What have you done? There were movements, and yet in a moment it seemed. There we were, inside a hollow square of red coated backs. And the cavalry came on. They came? What a time being, eh? The 43rd will resume columns and advance. Each attack was beaten off. But each was followed by another attack, and another. The sun beat down hot and heavy as a hammer on an anvil. It seemed as if we would never gain the shore waiting ship. Well, there it is, in sight at last. The beach, Mr. Hornbauer. Yes, ma'am, down below us. I see your boats are busy taking off the boilers. Well, we'd best get down there at once, ma'am. Nonsense, Mr. Hornbauer. If we do, we shall have the Frenchies on top of everyone. He's up to the 43rd to contain the enemy until the beach is cleared of everyone else. I see, and then, sir, then we shall see about getting ourselves off. Mr. Corralo, if you please. Ma'am. Good spot for a stand, would you say, Mr. Corralo? Yes, ma'am. It's the only clear approach to the beach. And stand, they did. The enemy attacked, wave after wave, until only two break and shatter on the firm lines of the 43rd. Men went down, and the ranks closed up and stayed closed. Behind us on the beach, the evacuation proceeded. Finally, the last of the royalists was taken off in our ship's boats. One foot with their heavy knapsacks and the regimental colors and our country's flags streaming above them. My lord edging to the night, and his staff on horse, soaring at the reins to keep our beasts from falling down on the steep slope and the crumpled stretch of sandy beach. And then everywhere at last, at the water's edge. And we were in it, scrambling through the surf towards the ship's boats. Oh, there. We stay on the compounded shore forever. Oh, there. Aye, sir, my lord. Give way on the oars. Way on. Aye, sir. Look at him. Oh, I've followed his lordship. He got his coattails ringing wet. Expensive coattails too, you can be sure. And so he did. But he got us all off. Royalists and all. Oh, Jack, you should have seen it. The whole battalion marching, never out of step. Form square, aim and fire, you know. March again. Form square and fire. And over and over again. Said like a rocket. Yes. You know, Jack, those lobsters of ours, they're not bad in a pinch. Not bad at all.