Chapter 11 Summary

Renown gains the harbor entrance but stalls for lack of wind. Bush and Hornblower nap in the fort while they wait for the evening breeze. A boat puts off from the mainland fortress across the bay, bearing flags of truce. Bush summons Hornblower and informs him that as he speaks fluent Spanish he must needs carry on any and all conversation with the enemy. The boat arrives and discharges Colonel Ortega of the Spanish military. Ortega and Hornblower exchange formulaic pleasantries and then discuss the situation. Ortega requests that the women and children be released, requests that the wounded men be released, requests that a list of the dead be compiled and released, and suggests that the uninjured soldiers could be paroled. He also insinuates that some form of Spanish capitulation might be possible if the English will entertain the proposition. Bush is...