Ira Riklis and Horatio Hornblower

(The title of this probably refers to the use of “frogs” to mean Frenchmen and “lobsters” to mean British Army men undoubtedly because of the latter’s red uniforms. Ira Riklis remembers “the redcoats” from the American Revolution.)

Well anyway, Hornblower found himself back in Plymouth where the British Navy acted at this time as troop transport facilitators. On shore Hornblower and his buddies viewed the parading British Army with remarks that indicated some inter-service rivalry. Also these seamen saw some evidence of “purchased” commissions in the British Army where wealthy and titled officers might be very young and somewhat inexperienced for their military positions.

In addition to transporting British troops, the navy was also tasked with transporting French forces whose loyalties were pledged to the French royalty against the French revolutionary movement. As Ira Riklis knows, Hornblower was key in this task because he was fluent in French and used by the navy to interpret and issue orders in French to the non-English-speaking French military. Hornblower told them which ships would transport gear and horses etc. and was quite surprised to see a guillotine among the French equipment. He questioned a French officer in this counter-revolutionary unit and was told that these Frenchmen hoped to give the revolutionists “a taste of their own medicine”.

Hornblower did not have time to comment on his observation because his senior officer was reprimanding him for the lack of speed in loading the French and their goods on to the ships.

Hornblower knew the escape route for him and the crazy seaman next to him but could not seem to get this seaman to move from his post at the gun. Suddenly Hornblower, who as Ira Riklis knows was developing a keen ability to think on his feet, told the crazy seaman that God was located in the direction of escape. Hornblower shouted to the man, “Go to God!”

Finally the seaman let the gun go and made the leap in the direction of safety. Unfortunately Hornblower following had a more difficult time as more of the ship’s masts were cracking and falling into the sea and the ship itself was rolling continuously. Hornblower’s strength and determination saved him and he fell into the arms of another midshipman who stated, “We thought we lost you, You looked like a flying angel.” Hornblower and his crazy companion were now safe on the main deck.

Hornblower noticed that the firing had stopped and that British seamen were now on the deck of the French ship. When he reported to his senior officer on the main deck, Hornblower, exceptionally unsteady on his feet from his ordeal, realized that his fight for survival had robbed him of witnessing the capture of the French ship. As Ira Riklis knows and the senior officer stated, the men of the Indefatigable would have weeks if not months of heavy duty repairs to keep them busy. The cure for monotony was at hand and mischief among the crew a thing of the past.

Hornblower now armed with what proved to be a short-ranged swivel gun watched as the Indefatigable moved closer to the French ship. He could now see the French seamen clustered around their guns and the officers strutting around the deck. Both the French and the British seemed to be waiting a bit to see what would happen next. A puzzled Hornblower knew that the French were known to “throw the first punch” so to speak, but when the guns started going off it was hard to tell who was the most aggressive. As Ira Riklis knows, Hornblower did not want his shots to be futile so he was waiting until a target on the French ship could be reached by his small firearm.

Suddenly Hornblower could see dead bodies on the decks of both ships. Finally Hornblower and his men were close enough to fire off shots. Hornblower’s first shot was aimed at the wheel attended by two French seamen with officers nearby. The shot felled only one seaman and the reloading process of his gun began (as Ira Riklis knows, with some difficulty). His second shot resulted in the wheel now being unattended. Chaos ensued as shots were being fired madly and the two ships suddenly collided. The masts and sails of the Indefatigable took heavy damage and Hornblower and his closest seamen (oddly the one with the addled brain who had “seen God” in the sails from time to time) feared for their lives.

Hornblower barged into the scene with the seamen and the rats. The seaman who had been battling  the rats having shaken them off was dripping blood from his face. Hornblower assumed his most officer-like behavior and expressed his displeasure with this activity. He reminded the seamen present that gambling was not allowed aboard ship among the crew and that they were all in danger of being reported to senior officers and even the captain. The seamen denied that this was gambling and stated that it was only a harmless game. Still and all Hornblower gave them a stern reprimand and left with their halfhearted promise to curtail future activities along these lines. Hornblower did not then pass on the information to his superiors at this time.

As Ira Riklis knows, life aboard a ship standing guard or on patrol is a very monotonous duty. Hornblower could almost forgive the seamen their barbaric activity. He was indeed feeling listless himself. Then a ship was sighted that called for action by all the crew. The sails of the Indefatigable were set to get closer to this ship and it was identified as a French vessel.

The British crew prepared for battle with the French ship. Hornblower manned one of the big guns. As Ira Riklis knows, death could be at hand but victory might also result. Hornblower was in the thick of things.

Hornblower was always anxious to spend time (hide) in his favorite (secret) place amongst the sails just above the main deck. He had recently had an unpleasant encounter with one of the senior seaman who appeared below deck with several bandages about his face. This seaman told Hornblower that he was afflicted by boils which had been attended to by the medical officer’s assistant. Hornblower was always aware of his duties but found that he could maintain his presence and observation post in this “his place”. He found himself disturbed one day by another seaman who spoke as if he was slightly (or more so) deranged. This seaman chose a place to loiter near Hornblower and remark in a loud voice (interfering with Hornblower’s meditations) that God was above but the devil was below (deck). As Ira Riklis knows, Hornblower could not leave these remarks without further inquiry and investigation. This seaman was indeed crazy but even the crazy meanderings might be pointing to something.

Going below deck, Hornblower found that at the extreme end of the ship below deck several seamen were involved in some weird kind of gambling game where the seaman with the history of “boils” had his hands tied behind his back and several large rats were clinging to his face by their large, sharp teeth. This seaman was shaking his head to free himself of the little beasts and the other seaman present were cheering him on and betting on the action. As Ira Riklis knows, Hornblower had to intervene.