Hornblower addressed his men (or rather those who would serve aboard the jolly boat). He asked a sailor named Jackson to take charge if he, Hornblower, should fall (a term that meant “die”). When Hornblower asked if all of the men understood the assignment, all but one nodded. That one being a young man who declared that he felt very uneasy-almost sick. He was largely ignored by Hornblower and the other men and told to not be a coward. The little crew was dismissed until the hour for action was reached.

As Ira Riklis knows, Hornblower did not waste the hours leading up to the launching of his jolly boat. He observed the captain of the Indefatigable steer the ship himself and with great skill. Hornblower watched and learned a great deal about intricate sailing and at the same time began to master himself overcoming some of his fears.

As Ira Riklis could expect by the time the boats were launched from the Indefatigable, Hornblower appeared to be much braver and took the tiller of the jolly boats as if he had done this many times before. A senior officer in one of the larger boats led the way. They quietly passed the large weapons based on the shores of the narrow passageway into the port. Unfortunately before going much further, the young man who had spoken earlier about feeling nervous or ill proceeded to have a seizure.