The Happy Return
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The Happy Return (Beat to Quarters in the US) was the first of the Horatio Hornblower novels published by C. S. Forester. It appeared in 1937. The American name derives from the expression "beat to quarters", which was the signal to prepare for combat. This book falls fifth chronologically (sixth if the unfinished Hornblower and the Crisis is included which falls right before it).
The story begins in June of 1808, with Hornblower in command of the 36-gun frigate HMS Lydia and sailing off the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, with orders to form an alliance with a local landowner desiring to revolt against the Spanish (at this time Spain was allied with Napoleon), supply hims with muskets and powder, assist him against the Spanish, to find a water route across Central America, and to take down the 50-gun Natividad. Upon meeting with the landowner, Hornblower discovers he has gone mad and goes by the title El Supremo (the Almighty) and views himself as a deity. While he replenishes his supplies, the Natividad is sighted off the coast and headed towards the harbor where Hornblower is located. Following a daring nightime capture of the Natividad, El Supremo demands that Hornblower turns over the captured vessel to him so he may begin building a Navy. Understanding that El Supremo is likely to order the hangings of the Spanish Officers, he hides them in his ship and turns over the Natividad to El Supremo's vice-admiral, Don Cristobal de Crespo. El Supremo then asks Hornblower to allow him to transport 500 men to El Salvador so he may capture it. Following his orders, Hornblower transports the men using the Lydia and the Natividad.
After transporting the men, Hornblower sails into the Pacific in search of Spanish prize galleons. There, a Spanish lugger contacts him and informs him of a peace between Spain and England against Napoleon. Hornblower sails to the Gulf of Panama, where he refits and Lady Barbara Wellesley comes on board, asking for transportation back to England. First, Hornblower must re-capture the Natividad. After a long fight in calm weather that neccitates the towing of the Lydia into gun range of the Natividad, Hornblower manages to sink the Nativdad and takes a few prisoners which he turns into members of his own crew. On his way back into the Gulf of Panama, while heavily taking water, the Spanish Cutter returns with news that he is not welcome in any Spanish port because he sank the Natividad instead of recapturing it. Hornblower manages to find a natural harbor on the island of Coiba, where he repairs the damages and replaces the mizzen-mast, which had been destroyed in the battle with the Natividad.
After completing the repairs, Hornblower sets sail to round Cape Horn. On this length of the voyage, a relationship begins between Hornblower and Lady Barbara. The Spanish Lugger again contacts them, this time to show Hornblower the captured El Supremo, who is chained to the deck, awaiting hanging. After rounding the stormy Cape Horn, they begin to make their way to St. Helena. While they are waiting for a wind to carry them to St. Helena, Hornblower and Lady Barbara begin to kiss in his cabin, but upon Hornblower refusing her sex, she is upset and say little to each other for the remainder of the voyage and say only formal good-byes.