 Call all hands beat the quarters and broadside into it to please Captain Bush point is on target As C.S. foresters indomitable man of the sea a ratio hornblower Young midshipman hornblower. I was a prisoner on board a French privateer Saddest birthday I ever had and here's the way it began a week before my birthday I was a drift on the Bay of Biscay in an open boat with four British sailors and ten captured Frenchman Midshipman hornblower had lost his first command Don't take it to our mr. Hornblower, sir. We're bound to get picked up sometime Might even be by our own ship the Indefatigable sir wish we'd never left the Indefatigable Matthews It wasn't your fault that blasted rush ship floundered under us I don't remember to patch up that hole in the hull Matthews if I'd remembered in time It was below the waterline sir the lower above I should have had my wits about me It was that cargo arise done the damage sir so can up every drop of water that come in by the time we realized it It swelled all up spit that cargo ship apart like it was a pee part the marry galant my first command I didn't think that happened to anybody the old man Big apart captain blue won't blame you for it. I blame myself But don't you see Matthews it I was ordered to take over the marry galant after the Indefatigable stopton She she was a prize of war I had orders to sail it to England not to the bottom I Blame myself and I shall tell captain pull you so when I make my report. Yes, sir Mr. Hornblower sir for it come the winds back in yes, I noticed Matthews We better take in the sea anchor noise sales and if it holds we may manage to clear ushant and set a true course for England All in that sea anchor Hunter call our prisoners to attention you're still rated my petty officer, you know What is what is our name? We're hoisting sale have your men stand by the Halliards Don't she to want to sir they're arguing with their officers. So I noticed here he comes now Now that's far enough star. Mr. Oh, sir. I I asked father In this small open boat is our feet from where you are. I ordered your men to make sale We may eat up here. You are setting a strange course. What's strange about it? You have turned the killer to a west That is no way to reach the coast it is the coast of England Monsieur monsieur to wait for England. This is insane a small open boat It is hundreds of miles. Yes, it is French coast is no more than 30 or 40 miles I'm not a lieutenant. I'm a midshipman. Yeah, yeah, but keep your distance. This is madness. My man will not obey Oh, how old are you? 16 70 I should be 18 next week a child a near child. How can you give orders? I am more than twice your age a seasoned minor There is only one cross to it for sure Answer what they're right. That does not one step further than this pistol will go up. Are you You you should one step and I'll pull the trigger you order your men to hoist sale the first one the disobeys will be shot I mean with you give that order a proper ferocious. You look for that pistol Mind if I make one suggestion sir just someone next time. You better cock the pistol, sir Wait is now it wouldn't even fire Yes, many things I had to learn when I was young midshipman hornblower. I Remember how my knees shook as I sat in the stern sheets and Furious I was with myself forgetting to cock a pistol Well the tiny open boat sailed westward and for two days. There was no sign of a sail anywhere except mine Then a dawn of the third day, Mr. Ornbaus Oh There's a sailor there and down on the sail where off the port quarter Well, it might be our own ship Matthews. I I dreamt that the Indefatigable pick us up. I Yes, sir Still far from full daylight at the top and for that vessel is clear to make out. Yes It ain't the Indefatigable sir. Oh, sorry. No, it's not still and all It might be other British ships standing blockade off this coast might be French. All right, sir. It might We'll know soon enough. It's coming right down on us Welcome aboard sir to the French play about here peeker. I am Captain Newville and you I am midshipman hornblower This is the Britannic Magistrate ship Indefatigable. You were in an open boat. We captured a prize I was put aboard in command It sank regrettable now the tables are turned then the queue of your prize are free It is you are prisoners. No, no, no your pistols, please and that dirt I shall show you to your quarters. Will you come? Well now this ain't bad mr. O'blower, sir, you like the quarters Matthews come in Oh captain of you you are surprised mr. Hornblower. There is a reason for my quick return Two of your crew are proving difficult Carson and Hunter perhaps whatever their names they have been ordered to do work aboard the peak and they refuse a wine Bridesgate shouldn't they refuse? That's enough matters captain. No, Bill My men and I are prisoners by the international code governing treatment of prisoners I am not concerned with the code You forget I am a privateer. I Set my own rule but there are no buts my dear young man They shall work or I will have them thrown over the side of wouldn't there. I assure you it is highly probable And this man also his name Matthews Matthews Well, mr. Hornblower own Matthews You will go between decks and tell Hunter Carson and Smith to comply And you also I Make an exception only in the case of officer. It's my thanks. How old are you? What's that? I never mind very young I am certain but you will become more ardent with age Is there any courtesy I can extend I don't know what perhaps some What reading matter my fear of any professional books Ranjans principles of navigation and liberals and book on seamanship. They're French. You're gonna read French Badly, but well, I might as well learn. Yeah, you shall have them and you shall also have the freedom of the ship mr. Hornblower, but do not attempt anything My crew have most sharp eyes The lamp sir Might as well read Yes, I despair was as deep as the pit Wide and endless as all the solos of use And I felt most particularly low-spirited on that one special day Today's date sir. I did July the fourth. Well, congratulate me Matthews. It's my birthday now born 18 years ago July the 4th 1776 Do you ever have a birthday cake Matthews me sir? No, I did every year that I can remember until I joined the Navy a cake now Better than ship's biscuit anytime. I'd say Was it a good cake sir? Oh, always my mother baked it must have been then and one year she put candles on it Candles it's on top small candles and lighted them one by one for each birthday. Oh You don't sound impressed Matthews don't know as I am sir. Who can enjoy a cake with candle drippings all over No, you blew them all out before they dripped it. It was good luck Matthews lighted candles meant good luck Well, no candles today. No, sir. No cake either Mr. Ombler, it's it's awful stuff. It cooped up in this cabin. Why don't you spend some time on deck? I will Matthews tomorrow On deck today. Hey, mr. Ombler. Yes, sir. And how do you like our good ship peak? Oh, well your ship's better. Yeah. Yeah. Yes, sir. It means she handles well captain So she does mr. Ombler extremely well Fast and light and there is none better before the wind Now make yourself at liberty Morning Matthews morning, sir No, no keep on working aboard this vessel you take orders from them Ah, holy stone the deck and pick oakum. Well, you had the same duties aboard the interpaticable I used to swear about them. I wouldn't swear now even though our ship's got twice the deck this has At least you're kept busy. I don't know which is worse being busy or just Matthews look how it's pointing towards the starboard bound. I saw the apple of the sods quick man Is it British? It's heading this way. It's the interpaticable sir or I'm a blind man. I swear it's the interpaticable It is now than I care to count but I remember that moment well myself as a midshipman one day beyond my 18th birthday A prisoner and aboard the french privateer peak I blame myself for being a prisoner but My heart jumped at the prospect of rescue A sailor been cited it was only a speck on that distant horizon, but it was instantly recognizable as a glimpse of home The interpaticable it's caught sight of us and set course this way it's her own ship Matthews Sir, I might have been mistaken all the changes the top. Yeah, you're not mistaken Matthews I recognize that cut anywhere at any distance you can make out more of her now. Yes Yes, captain Polly was loosing her royals all sail set. Oh, Matthews. We'll we'll be back on board in time for grog Do not set your hopes too high in this your honor Captain Melville way Your late ship I understand. Yes, I possibly a frigate or she not a british frigate without guns You three to one first. It must come within range. What is our best point of sailing? I refuse to answer that question Please do not look so noble mr. Rambler. I could induce you to give the information there are ways Unfortunately for you. It is unnecessary There is no ship on earth Especially none of his britannic magises clumsy frigates that can out sail the peak running before the wind I don't believe it then you shall see We're ship Mr. Rambler Yes, already your indefatigable is falling paris turn. Yes, I can see yes two more hours and we shall have one or more states under It's very likely for certain Close that door quick. That's those mattresses off the cots the mattresses Aye, aye, sir Paper paper. I need paper. Well the books. I hate to tear up grand chance principles of navigation Now don't stand there Matthew was over here here. Aye, sir Mr. Rambler, I know I haven't taken leave of my senses if that's what you're thinking just now rip those mattresses open Rippon yes, yes here man come on pile pile the store up here on top of the paper, huh? Now fetch me the lap. I'm careful of it sir. It's fair art. Yes the heart of the better There's grease inside hot grease and luckily it's lighted And the grease goes over the store like that Now Matthews will take one page from principles of navigation and make a taper of it So by the Lord Harry sir fire You know what's behind that wall. Yes, sir the paint locker There's nothing burnt like paint like paint or dry wood or cordage soaked with pitch and tile that taper I gave you quick here, sir The peak is sailing before the wind and this cabin's in the stern well below decks If it gets started the wind will blow the flames for it. They don't discover it first. Yeah, we'll not talk of that You better start it, sir. Yes Looks like a candle doesn't it sir a small flickering candle for a birthday cake Well, it'll make a brighter flame by fire. I hope All right Matthews, we'll get that one deck you have started a bonfire, sir Leave leave the door open and stay behind it might help them to spot the fire, sir Well can't have fire without a decent draft and either way it's a gamble now Come on up on deck now and do your best to act as if nothing were to miss It was a reckless sortie, but Well, completely hopeless the bow gun was well attended As I lived the way I came full face against captain Nerviel Sir, you cannot shoot us in cold blood cold. I boil with despair of my beautiful ship peak You shall be thrown over side. You shall be I advise you to put up that pistol and surrender captain Nerviel Those are the guns of the indefatigable The peak lay idle Wallowing in smoke and ruin and bearing down with all sail setter A wave creaming white under her byspurt came the indefatigable She rounded to her cable's length to windward her gun ports open at the ready First came launches to fight the fire and then Swarming over the side came an armed party with lieutenant Mason in charge I shall never forget the amazement in his eyes when he fought side of us You hornblower, what are you doing here? Well, sir, you should never mind now You'll make your report to captain Nerviel Now where's the captain of this wreck? I am the captain, sir Ah, extremely bad luck, sir Lieutenant Mason of his majesty's ship, indefatigable I will accept your surrender, sir It's not entirely clear What, sir? You devote most of your report to the right ship The marry galant Yes You appear to blame yourself for losing her It was my fault, sir I will assess responsibility You mean I, I'm not to blame, sir I believe I have already so stated Go along It's based on the novels of C. S. Forester Music composed and conducted by Sydney Torch Produced by Harry Allen Towers