Chapters 13 and 14 Summary

Hotspur has been at sea continuously for six months. Hornblower's clothes are beginning to fall apart, having long ago worn out. In early October, Hotspur begins to run low on water just as the weather turns dirty. A gale blows up which prevents Hotspur's re-provisioning. Hornblower becomes seasick; Bush becomes excited. Hotspur and the other blockading ships assume their storm stations and wait for the weather to moderate. After a few days of foul weather, Hornblower reduces the water ration to 2/3 usual. The gale moderates after four days, but another storm quickly arises and then, in quick succession, three gales occur in the same month. Hotspur's water provisions become critical, with only eight days' supply at 2/3 rations. Hornblower signals to another ship that he needs to leave station to seek water—the other captain orders Hornblower to maintain station for...