Chapters 15 and 16 Summary

Sutherland returns to the rendezvous station, and Hornblower makes his official verbal and written reports. Instead of commending him for decisive action, Leighton censures Hornblower for missing the rendezvous. After taking Hornblower's report, Leighton dismisses the casualty estimate for the action against Pino's army as ridiculously inflated, though he does gloat over the prize money coming his way for the capture of nine vessels. The visit aboard the flagship does accord Hornblower the occasion to shed Villena, and the visit is cut short, as the weather turns dirty. As Hornblower returns to Sutherland, he views the other ships of the squadron—he judges Caligula entirely seaworthy but feels Pluto is rather heavily armed and too heavy to be entirely reliable. He regains Sutherland moments before the storm breaks and the entire fleet stands out to sea. All proceeds well enough...