Chapter 12 Summary

Buckland and Hornblower join Bush ashore in the fortress and discuss Ortega's capitulation statement. Hornblower carefully educates his superior officers on the political situation of the area, the Spanish mentality, and the realities of their military situation. Hornblower accurately describes the Spanish situation based on deductive reasoning and careful observation of the locale. After prolonged consideration, Buckland agrees to meet with Ortega and the Spanish officers immediately join the conference. Ortega's offer is unusually aggressive given the circumstances—he demands free passage for all ships, all soldiers, and all civilians to Cuba or Puerto Rico. In exchange, they will hand over the military assets of the harbor. Ortega then makes vague reference to yellow fever—the vomito negro—and insinuates that if his offer is refused the Spanish will fight to the last man while the English die of endemic...