Chapter 3 Summary

Hornblower, Spendlove, Gerard and others attend a ball given by Mr. Hough, a wealthy local businessman and Jamaican planter. Hornblower believes that Lucy Hough, about seventeen years old, and Spendlove, his secretary, share a mutual attraction. When Hornblower arrives, Lucy greets him in a private moment and is effusive and confused—Hornblower believes he mistakes her enthusiasm for Spendlove as an attachment to Hornblower. Then he dismisses such a foolish idea. The evening is hot and after some hours, Hornblower and Spendlove step outside into the cooler garden area. Suddenly, Hornblower is grabbed, gagged and dragged off at knifepoint. A bag is place over his head and he is pushed onto a mule. His gruff kidnappers prod and hit him as they come to a river, and he swims across, partially dragged by the swimming mule. Across the river the nightmare journey...