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.