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.