 The reckless legendary Captain Foster destroys a supply ship rather than let it get into enemy hands, and he and his crew are rescued by the Indefatigable. Hornblower finds himself admiring Foster, despite Pellew s disapproval. But the loss of supplies puts them on half-rations, and there s mutinous talk, led by Bunting. Hornblower tries to study for his lieutenant s examination, but he has to accompany a diplomat, Tapling, to secure more supplies. But when Tapling and Hornblower discover that the grain and cattle may be tainted with bubonic plague, Hornblower must keep his crew and cargo in quarantine in defiance of Foster s demands for victualling. And if Horatio survives, how will Foster judge him at the Lieutenant s Examination?