As Spain declares war on England, Hornblower studies to become a lieutenant while having to deal with a lack of supplies at Gibraltar.
- As the Good Book Says...: One of the two short stories the episode is based on was called "Hornblower and Noah's Ark" and retains the lieutenant calling Hornblower "Noah" and inquiring after Shem and Ham.
- Corporal Punishment: Bunting is caught stealing food from the ship's stores and is forced to "run the gauntlet," in which he is paraded across the deck and whipped with cat o' nine tails by his shipmates. Hornblower serves as master-at-arms, as he had not properly dealt with Bunting prior to this incident, and Matthews serves as the corporal. They both hold Bunting at sword-point, ensuring he does not rush through the gauntlet or run away, respectively.
- Due to the Dead: Matthews arranges an auction for Finch's personal items. Bunting pays ten shillings—a full week's pay—for them, and throws them overboard.
- A Father to His Men: Hornblower lets his crew feast on one of the bullocks, as they may soon die from the Black Death.
- Ham-to-Ham Combat: Captains Foster and Hammond after the attack, resulting in them agreeing to a duel.
- Hanging Judge: The examination board of Captains Harvey, Hammond, and Foster fail most of the midshipmen who go before them.
- Hope Spot: With Gibraltar having not had any supplies in weeks, the crew is uplifted when they see a supply ship on its way. Then a Spanish fireship appears and sinks it. This is exemplified with Finch, who was already weak, perking up when he hears that the ship is coming but then slumping back after it is destroyed.
- It's All My Fault: Hornblower feels personally responsible for Bunting's death in spite of Matthews' and Mr. Tapling's reassurance that Bunting was never going to bend, feeling that Pellew would have found a way. Pellew himself later dispels Hornblower's self-recrimination by saying much the same thing—that some men, like Bunting, are simply determined to destroy themselves regardless of how capable their officer is.
- Oh, Crap!:
- Tapling and Hornblower when they realize the Black Death has struck Oran.
- Pellew is gutted when Hornblower makes his report from the boat, realizing that his most promising young officer (and his whole division) are, in all likelihood, going to die in a horrific manner within days. Pellew is able to carry on the ensuing conversation about using the supply ship as a quarantine vessel, it is obviously taking all his self-control to do so.
- Performance Anxiety: After hours of watching dozens of other midshipman enter and exit the examination room, with most of them failing, Hornblower is so nervous that he can barely stammer out his own name when it's his turn in front of the board.
- This Cannot Be!: When Mr. Tapling informs Hornblower of the quarantine regulations, Hornblower tries to dismiss it because he can't believe Pellew would give an order that would trap his men in an infected city until three weeks after the very last case of plague. Tapling assures him that Pellew would do so, because the alternative would be seeing nine out of ten men die of putrid fever, and no responsible captain would risk that.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Mr. Tapling comes aboard as a cankerous ass, but mellows out after spending three weeks of quarantine.
- Try to Fit That on a Business Card: Hornblower reads off an official letter from a Spanish duke, including his many, many titles, until Pellew tells him to skip all that and get to the point."I think we've established our friend the Duke's eminence!"
- Villainous Rescue: The fireship attack begins right when Hornblower is about to fail his examination, allowing him another chance to prove his worth.
