Chapter 16 Summary

Bush attends the court of inquiry; his medical condition allows him to deliver his testimony while sitting. The captains of the board review Bush's written testimony and make small comment upon it; they observe that their investigation does Bush great credit. As Sawyer was deemed insane and is now dead, the board exhibits little interest in pursuing the matter of his removal—better to let him pass out of memory with good feelings intact. Bush is dismissed and watches as Hornblower is called. The captains state that most of the initiative for most of the successes appears to have been Hornblower's; Hornblower demurs and gives all credit to Buckland. The court briefly confers and then states their findings: there will be no further inquiry and no courts martial; they call for charges to be brought against the Spaniard responsible for Sawyer's murder...