Chapters 3 and 4 Summary

Hornblower boards Hotspur amidst the usual ceremony. As expected, Bush has everything ready and the ship is prepared for sea. Because of the recent Peace of Amiens, Hornblower and Bush have not been at sea for nearly two years—but this has not dulled their skill as mariners. Bush puts the ship through evolutions to hoist anchor and get underway—Hornblower watches him with admiration for his skill. As Hotspur creeps away Hornblower watches Maria through a telescope—she fades away into the horizon as Hornblower makes the rapid transition from family man to military-man. Hornblower tells Prowse, the sailing master, to plot a course for Ushant, an island near Brest—the command informs the crew of a possible destination. Hornblower then feels how odd it is, for the first time in his life, to take to...