| Hornblower And The Atropos |
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The novel begins with Hornblower taking his very pregnant wife and their son down the river to London. He is excited about getting his new orders and obtaining his first command as a post-captain. During the trip down river, a boat hand becomes sick, thus allowing Hornblower the opportunity to learn much of canal boat operation. Upon their arrival, Hornblower is given command of the Atropos and the unique orders of being in charge of Admiral Nelson 's funeral. The Battle Of Trafalgar has just taken place, and Nelson was shot with a musket and killed. The nation is in morning and all eyes are on the funeral. During the solemn navy procession, we see the humourous events of Hornblower commanding the vessel that contains Nelson's body when it springs a significant leak. The hands are bailing out the ship as it comes along side the dock, in order for the boat to avoid sinking with Nelson's body on board. Once Hornblower finishes with the funeral, he is presented to the King of England in the royal court. He is informed that the king's nephew, a german prince, will be a midshipman on the Atropos. He is then sent to pick up three pearl divers from India and a salvage master to hunt for a sunken British ship. The ship sunk in Turkish waters carrying a fortune in silver and gold. Hornblower is tasked with the salvage operation. During the recovery, the Turks sneakily bring in a superior ship into the bay, and arm a previously unmanned fort, thus trapping Hornblower. When the Turks demand all the money Hornblower has recovered, he arranges for them to come the following morning to collect. In the middle of the night, he makes a daring escape in shallow waters, outsmarting both the ship and the coastal battery. The book ends following Hornblower's delivery of the treasure, he captures a Spanish ship, and makes his way into a Sicilian port for repairs. His ship is then given to the King of Sicily in return for the King's allegiance to England. Hornblower makes his way back to England, only to find both of his children mortally ill with Smallpox . |
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