 Call all hands, speak to quarters. Right into it, if you please, Captain Bush. Pointes on target. Lint stops ready. Aye, aye, sir, ready. Hereby at C.S. Foresters, indomitable man of the sea, Horatio Hornblower. There was no sign of the flag before the Caligula bore up from Winwood, and Captain Bolton signaled his invitation to me to dine with him. The almost tropical heat he gave me a pea soup, red mullet, a saddle, a mutton, and stilted cheese. We sipped, stood up the port, and sweltered in his aftergabbing. I suppose we must wait in idleness for the arrival of so much old pomposo, a real admiral of the red. Must have thought of Sir Percy Layton in that light. Well, I have. He's a pompous fool. He got worse since he married Lady Barbara Welles there. I don't respect an admiral who's no seaman. Oh, there's no telling how long he might be before he gets here. What do you suggest we do? Well, perhaps one of us might push northward and harry the coast while the other waits for the flag ship. Yes, good suggestion, that. Who? You or me? There's nothing I'd like better, sir. But the decision must be yours. You're the senior officer of the station. Yes, well, I'd let you go for old time's sake if I didn't want to go myself. Hey, tell you what, Honbrough, I'll toss you for it. Oh, here's a guinea. King or Spade? Spade. Then up she goes. Good devil, Honbrough. Still, I'm glad you are, and you can speak Spanish. That may be an advantage. Now, don't be gone more than three days in case she's mightiness turns up. And good luck. Thank you, sir. Had I foreseen what the flick of that coin was to lead to, I might have been less pleased and excited as I stood on my quarter deck half an hour after dawn the following morning. The disaster was far in the future. The wind was fair, and Kate Crue, just south of the Spanish-French border, was clear on the lava'd beam. Spade! Yes, sir. I suppose the only way Bonaparte can get supplies to his army in Spain is by slipping them along the coast in briggs under the protection of shore battery. Yes. Spanish roads and Spanish armies afford too many obstacles to the land route. Mr. Gerard, hoist the colors. Aye, sir. Call all hands. Head to cut her off. Aye, sir. What's the matter with her, sir? She's making no attempt to escape. She must have seen us, though, Spade. Could she be an English briggs? Yes, have it. Take your glass and tell me what you can see from the main rigging. There's one thing, Mr. Bush. This is our best point of sailing. We should have the heels of her. Well, she's hence right enough, sir. She's wearing her colors. Are she signaling now, sir? Oh, it's a bit hard to read. I've got it, sir. Gee, what the devil's that? Is it in the signal's book, Vincent? No, sir. I've been rigging for it. It's not in our code. We'll know soon enough, sir. We're overhauling her. She's wearing around again. She's trying to get away now. It's no good, Monser. You'll be ours presently. A handsome bit of prize money for us there. If I can see now what's happened. She saw our red ensign and took it for the red of the tree color. Remember, ours was a Dutch ship before she was taken and refitted. Our round bows are fitting like a friendship. That envy must be the private French recognition signal. I'd search for what's remembering him. We'll fire a shot across our bows. Number two gun, a single shot across our bows. The master takes six hands with you and navigates her to port mine. Aye, aye, sir. A consternation which the French would experience when they knew that their sea routes were threatened by a British squadron, and that their lines of communication were in danger. I tend over in my mind to a new idea, which the Briggs failure to recognize our nationality had given me. I doubt if anyone on land saw us capture the amulet, sir. We can still take them by surprise along the coast. That fact did not escape my notice, Mr. Bush. Now, kind of pay attention. The blue masses on the horizon there are the peaks of the Pyrenees. The road from France to Spain runs along the coast between those mountains of the sea. And Potters made the French ensign have it hoisted instead of our own. This will sail down the coast where we can be seen from the road. Send the hands to breakfast. Aye, aye, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, I can see them from here now, sir. And look, sir. Isn't there a tricolor flying through a flagstaff at the point there? It is, Mr. Bush. That's what I've been looking for. That is a French battle there on top of the cliff. 42 planters, probably over the good range. The furnaces I expect for heating the shot to set ships on fire. We can never fight that battery on equal terms. That seems to be a little coasting fleet huddled in the shelter of the guns. Captain Moise? Aye, sir. Tell your men to lie down, if you please. I don't want the red coats of the Marines to give us a wet. We're getting close in now, sir. You can see the pockets around the battery. Hope they haven't made an open fire now. They're well within range. Every yard nearer means more danger than getting out if they discover us. To lose a mast or to lose a ship. Mr. Vincent, hoist the signal and the item. Let's hope it means the right thing. Doesn't seem to mean the wrong thing anyway, sir. They haven't opened fire. They're signaling in replies. I can't read it. One of them's a swallowtail that we don't use. Well, the very fact that they're applying shows they can't be sure where the enemy is. They don't fire soon. We'll be too close under their guns for them to reach us. Do you see that battery on the cliff? Aye, aye, sir. Well, you take the longboat. Mr. Rayner will take the launch. You will land and storm the battery. By the marquette. At a bare quarter of a mile off, you can join our Mr. Bush. Back the mains up, sir. Aye, sir. Mr. Bush, wreck the battery if you can. But don't stay a moment longer with the message there. Aye, aye, sir. We're off now. Helmly. I'll be right back. Mr. Gerard, put the ship aboard. Down with that French flag and send up our own. Aye, sir. Open fire at last. Some will follow that, I think. Thank heaven they're firing at us. If they hit those boats, we'll be in a pretty fix. Mr. Gerard, see if your guns can reach the battery and be sure they aim carefully. It's no good unless the embrasures can be swept. Stubber guns. Fire at your guns, brad. Don't be sure, sir. They'll upset their gunners. Well, quickly, man, they're firing at our boats now. Hit the launch. No, there she is again. She was nearly swamped, but not hit. They're very crafty. The shot must have smashed her portals. They're safe now, sir. They're in the south. Look, sir, they're landing. Guns are doing better, too, now. That was a hit. And another. Right on the embrasures. Very good, Mr. Gerard, but you must cease fire now whilst our men are mounting that cliff. Storming party are hauling it down. They've taken the battery. What's the ship about? I'll send in the quarterboat to take possession of the craft in the bay. Aye, sir. Quarterboat away. Aye, sir. Fine haul. Ah, they'll go that cruise. Pulling from the shore and that dinghy. Till I chase all fire on it. Now, let them go. I've no wish to be burdened with prisoners or to damage our prices. Mr. Bush's party is toppling the guns over, sir. Look at that one. Down the cliff like an outer light. That's the end of the battery, Atlanta. And there's Mr. Bush, sir. I can see him waving his sword. Aye, very honest. 42 pounds of some permanent mounts, 50 feet above the water, and long service soldiers to man them. Yeah, I've seen them shoot worse all the same. It's a mile and a half, Mr. Yard. Well, more than that. I'd say it's very a mile. Nonsense, wife. Good morning, sir. Your attention, please, gentlemen. I shall also want Mr. Renner and Mr. Hooker. Quite the word for them. Now, will you all use your telescopes and study this place with care? That is Mount Canigo in the background. Where that spur of the pinnies runs down to the sea is Cape Chabera. That is where Spain ends and France begins. I suppose those white houses in the center around the head of the bay are important. Wrong, is there? Yes, Mr. Bush. They seem annoyed that the ship should flaunt British colors so close. They'll have greater cause for annoyance, sir, long. Now, gentlemen, take a look at that ship at anchor there. She's under the protection of the batteries at either side of the bay. You can see the batteries by the smoke, sir. Right, sir. One to the left, one to the right. Yes. Mark them well. I'm on her mistake, mate. You, Mr. Yard, note the battery on the left. Mr. Renner, note the one on the right. Mr. Hooker, you see how the bay curves? You must be able to take a boat straight up to that anchored ship tonight. Oh, I bet. Put the ship on the port deck, Mr. Bush. We must stand out to see, now. The moon rises at 1 o'clock. This will take good here to be back in our present position at midnight. Aye, aye, sir. The garrison there will think we're leaving. We'll give them a shock later on. Oh, sir. I want this to be a climax to the 24 hours in which we've taken the brig Amélie and destroyed the Lancer battery, gentlemen. That ship sheltering in Port Mount Vez is to be cut out and taken tonight. An hour of darkness should suffice to effect a surprise. If we're successful, the rising moon will give enough light to bring out the captured ship. If we're unsuccessful, we should be able to see the rally and escape. Mr. Bush, you will remain in charge of this ship. Well, sir, please, no, Mr. Bush. You may not join the attack. I shall lead it myself. Very dark, but the stars were glowing clearly in the Sutherland with steaming landwards like a ghost. The crew was resting on the gangways in the main deck. And the subdued voices of their officers called them. They mustered silently each division assembling for its particular duty. I checked the position of the ship with Bush and strained my eyes through my night class for a glimpse of the shore. Longboat crew, yeah? Longboat crew, yes, sir. You can leave too now, Mr. Bush. I trust this expedition will be a success for your sake. For my sake, sir? Yes. I'm taking 250 men. If we don't return, you will have barely sufficient crew to navigate the ship to the rodable. Your return, sir, and with the friendship. All the same. I wish you'd let me go in your place. Our duty is here, Bush. See to it. On the boat, sir. Aye, aye, sir. Here's your barge. Goodbye, sir. Good luck. Thank you. Move aside, Brian. I shall sit in the stern. Are the oars muffled? Yes, sir. Keep worried, sir. The two cutters behind us, Brian. Right is down, sir. But listen, sir, the French are rowing a guard around their precious ship. Ready at the oars, there? Already, sir. Remember, men? Cold steel. If any man fires before I do, I'll shoot him with my own hand. Keep away. Time the longboat and the launch began their attack. But, sir, my orders, I want the gunner's distracted at the vital moment. There's the gunner's boat. I'm treatment. I believe I've seen it, sir. See the gunner! Straight into her, men. Sit, oars. No prisoners, throw them overboard. Wait, I don't want to go through the water. This face. I think that's a lot, sir. We took them by surprise. They're all dead or unconscious or outside. It's warm work, well, it lasted. Yes, sir. Right, back into the barge, everyone. Your nicks, sir. It's covered with blood. It just lit me up. There's no time to waste. There's nothing. Go on. Give way. That'll be the cutters. They've reached the anchor chip. Pull, man, they'll need our help. They don't seem to have carried the ship at their first rush, sir. Those musket flashes are steady along their bullocks. That means the crew are defending her. Yes, they must have been awakened of rigged netting to repulse any surprise attack. You know, quietly now, we'll keep on to her disengaged side. Right, one strong pull. Ship oars, now take hold there. Now, all up the side together and give a cheer. I want them to think we're a big boarding party. Ready? Now! Blast the staff. It's like being a fly in a web. Now, come in with your dirk, boy. Don't just hang there. Can you, can you reach that bit with your sword, sir? That bit there. It may party enough for us to get through. Hold tight. Coming away, we'll be in the sea in a minute. There's still time for boats to come from shore with reinforcements. But if Rainer and Gerard have failed to take the guns, we'll have a gauntlet to run. Put that rocket to let the landing parties know that the ship is taken. All right. Please, off the land, we'll take us out. Here comes the moon to light us, sir. What of the French crew, Mr Hooker? Killed, wounded, or captured, sir. Some jumped over to swim ashore. I'm just enjoying it. They're still fighting on land, sir. Oh, that could be Gerard and Rainer calling the men off. Very successful operation. How's your boat's crew, sir? Well, I haven't checked yet, sir. But I think the casualty's a light. It was a surprise, and we swapped them. It's my opinion that all the important places is that. Excuse me, sir. There's half a dozen frogs. I'm in French, sir, with an officer hiding in the folksel. Oh, is that all? Soon we'll kill them, huh? Oh, wait. Wait, Hooker, follow me. Monsieur, your ship is captured and is in my hands. It's useless to resist. I call on you to surrender. We come. If we do not surrender, yes? Have the barge crew ready to roam into the Southerland. We shall raise her presence. Aye, aye, sir. You're wounded. Your neck, your hand. Oh, don't fuss, Mr Bush. I'd like some coffee and, um, frogs for all hands. Immediately, sir. What is her? Good scrap, sir. What? Oh, oh, mere bickering, Mr Bush. Directed by Sidney Torch.