HMS Justinian

Justinian, commanded by Captain Keene, is Hornblower's first appointment as a midshipman. The ship-of-the-line is crewed by a mean-spirited lot of dubious seamen and Hornblower's existence aboard is miserable. After several weeks, Keene arranges for Hornblower to be transferred to Indefatigable, an active frigate.

Marie Galante

Marie Galante is a French merchant ship carrying a full cargo of rice. She is hulled during capture and thereafter turned over to a prize crew commanded by Hornblower. The prize crew does not discover the hole in the hull for two days and during that time seawater rushes into the ship and expands the cargo of rice. By the time the hole is discovered it is too late and Marie Galante literally pops apart at the seams as Hornblower and the men abandon ship.

Pique

Pique is a French privateer—once a slaver—that captures Hornblower after...