csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第16节

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ion　the　roar　of　the　fire　did　not　e　so　clearly　to　the　ears　of　those　forward　of　it。　But　it　was　an　immense　gain；　all　the　same；　the　flames；　which　had　started　in　the　steerage　in　the　farthest　after…part　of　the　ship；　no　longer　were　blown　forward；　but　were　turned　back　upon　timber　already　half　consumed。　Yet　the　after…part　of　the　deck　was　fully　alight；　the　helmsman　was　driven　from　the　wheel；　and　in　a　flash　the　flames　took　hold　of　the　driver　and　consumed　it　utterly…one　moment　the　sail　was　there；　and　the　next　there　were　only　charred　fragments　hanging　from　the　gaff。　But；　head　to　wind；　the　other　sails　did　not　catch；　and　a　mizzen…trysail　hurriedly　set　kept　the　ship　bows　on。
　It　was　then　that　Hornblower；　looking　forward；　saw　the　Indefatigable　again。　She　was　tearing　down　towards　them　with　all　sail　set；　as　the　Pique　lifted　he　could　see　the　white　bow　wave　foaming　under　her　bowsprit。　There　was　no　question　about　surrender；　for　under　the　menace　of　that　row　of　guns　no　ship　of　the　Pique's　force；　even　if　uninjured；　could　resist。　A　cable's　length　to　windward　the　Indefatigable　rounded…to；　and　she　was　hoisting　out　her　boats　before　even　she　was　fully　round。　Pellew　had　seen　the　smoke；　and　had　deduced　the　reason　for　the　Pique's　heaving　to；　and　had　made　his　preparations　as　he　came　up。　Longboat　and　launch　had　each　a　pump　in　their　bows　where　sometimes　they　carried　a　carronade；　they　dropped　down　to　the　stern　of　the　Pique　to　cast　their　jets　of　water　up　into　the　flaming　stern　without　more　ado。　Two　gigs　full　of　men　ran　straight　aft　to　join　in　the　battle　with　the　flames；　but　Bolton；　the　third　lieutenant；　lingered　for　a　moment　as　he　caught　Hornblower's　eye。
　'Good　God；　it's　you！'　he　exclaimed。　'What　are　you　doing　here？'
　Yet　he　did　not　stay　for　an　answer。　He　picked　out　Neuville　as　the　captain　of　the　Pique；　strode　aft　to　receive　his　surrender；　cast　his　eyes　aloft　to　see　that　all　was　well　there；　and　then　took　up　the　task　of　bating　the　fire。　The　flames　were　overe　in　time；　more　because　they　had　consumed　everything　within　reach　of　them　than　for　any　other　reason；　the　Pique　was　burnt　from　the　taffrail　forward　for　some　feet　of　her　length　right　to　the　water's　edge；　so　that　she　presented　a　strange　spectacle　when　viewed　from　the　deck　of　the　Indefatigable。　Nevertheless；　she　was　in　no　immediate　danger；　given　even　moderate　good　fortune　and　a　little　hard　work　she　could　be　sailed　to　England　to　be　repaired　and　sent　to　sea　again。
　But　it　was　not　her　salvage　that　was　important；　but　rather　the　fact　that　she　was　no　longer　in　French　hands；　would　no　longer　be　available　to　prey　on　English　merce。　That　was　the　point　that　Sir　Edward　Pellew　made　in　conversation　with　Hornblower；　when　the　latter　came　on　board　to　report　himself。　Hornblower　had　begun；　at　Pellew's　order；　by　recounting　what　had　happened　to　him　from　the　time　he　had　been　sent　as　prize　master　on　board　the　Marie　Galante。　As　Hornblower　had　expected…perhaps　as　he　had　even　feared…Pellew　had　passed　lightly　over　the　loss　of　the　brig。　She　had　been　damaged　by　gunfire　before　surrendering；　and　no　one　now　could　establish　whether　the　damage　was　small　or　great。　Pellew　did　not　give　the　matter　a　second　thought。　Hornblower　had　tried　to　save　her　and　had　been　unsuccessful　with　his　tiny　crew…and　at　that　moment　the　Indefatigable　could　not　spare　him　a　larger　crew。　He　did　not　hold　Hornblower　culpable。　Once　again；　it　was　more　important　that　France　should　be　deprived　of　the　Marie　Galante's　cargo　than　that　England　should　benefit　by　it。　The　situation　was　exactly　parallel　to　that　of　the　salvaging　of　the　Pique。
　'It　was　lucky　she　caught　fire　like　that；'　mented　Pellew；　looking　across　to　where　the　Pique　lay；　still　hove…to　with　the　boats　clustering　about　her　but　with　only　the　thinnest　trail　of　smoke　drifting　from　her　stern。　'She　was　running　clean　away　from　us；　and　would　have　been　out　of　sight　in　an　hour。　Have　you　any　idea　how　it　happened；　Mr　Hornblower？'
　Hornblower　was　naturally　expecting　that　question　and　was　ready　for　it。　Now　was　the　time　to　answer　truthfully　and　modestly；　to　receive　the　praise　he　deserved；　a　mention　in　the　Gazette；　perhaps　even　appointment　as　acting…lieutenant。　But　Pellew　did　not　know　the　full　details　of　the　loss　of　the　brig；　and　might　make　a　false　estimate　of　them　even　if　he　did。
　'No；　sir；'　said　Hornblower。　'I　think　it　must　have　been　spontaneous　bustion　in　the　paint…locker。　I　can't　account　for　it　otherwise。'
　He　alone　knew　of　his　remissness　in　plugging　that　shot…hole；　he　alone　could　decide　on　his　punishment；　and　this　was　what　he　had　chosen。　This　alone　could　re…establish　him　in　his　own　eyes；　and　when　the　words　were　spoken　he　felt　enormous　relief；　and　not　one　single　twinge　of　regret。
　'It　was　fortunate；　all　the　same；'　mused　Pellew。
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　FOUR　…　THE　MAN　WHO　FELT　QUEER
　This　time　the　wolf　was　prowling　round　outside　the　sheepfold。　H。M。　frigate　Indefatigable　had　chased　the　French　corvette　Papillon　into　the　mouth　of　the　Gironde；　and　was　seeking　a　way　of　attacking　her　where　she　lay　at　anchor　in　the　stream　under　the　protection　of　the　batteries　at　the　mouth。　Captain　Pellew　took　his　ship　into　shoal　water　as　far　as　he　dared；　until　in　fact　the　batteries　fired　warning　shots　to　make　him　keep　his　distance；　and　he　stared　long　and　keenly　through　his　glass　at　the　corvette。　Then　he　shut　his　telescope　and　fumed　on　his　hem　to　give　the　order　that　worked　the　Indefatigable　away　from　the　dangerous　lee　shore…out　of　sight　of　land；　in　fact。　His　departure　might　lull　the　French　into　a　sense　of　security　which；　he　hoped；　would　prove　unjustified。　For　he　had　no　intention　of　leaving　them　undisturbed。　If　the　corvette　could　be　captured　or　sunk　not　only　would　she　be　unavailable　for　raids　on　British　merce；　but　also　the　French　would　be　forced　to　increase　their　coastal　defences　at　this　point　and　lessen　the　effort　that　could　be　put　out　elsewhere。　War　is　a　matter　of　savage　blow　and　counter　blow；　and　even　a　forty…gun　frigate　could　strike　shrewd　blows　if　shrewdly　handled。
　Midshipman　Hornblower　was　walking　the　lee　side　of　the　quarterdeck；　as　became　his　lowly　station　as　the　junior　officer　of　the　watch；　in　the　afternoon；　when　Midshipman　Kennedy　approached　him。　Kennedy　took　off　his　hat　with　a　flourish　and　bowed　low　as　his　dancing　master　had　once　taught　him；　left　foot　advanced；　hat　down　by　the　right　knee。　Hornblower　entered　into　the　spirit　of　the　game；　laid　his　hat　against　his　stomach；　and　bent　himself　in　the　middle　three　times　in　quick　succession。　Thanks　to　his　physical　awkwardness　he　could　parody　ceremonial　solemnity　almost　without　trying。
　'Most　grave　and　reverend　Signor；'　said　Kennedy；　'I　bear　the　pliments　of　Captain　Sir　Ed'ard　Pellew；　who　humbly　solicits　Your　Gravity's　attendance　at　dinner　at　eight　bells　in　the　afternoon　watch。'
　'My　respects　to　Sir　Edward；'　replied　Hornblower；　bowing　to　his　knees　at　the　mention　of　the　name；'　and　I　shall　condescend　to　make　a　brief　appearance。'
　'I　am　sure　the　captain　will　be　both　relieved　and　delighted；'　said　Kennedy。　'I　will　convey　him　my　felicitations　along　with　your　most　flattering　acceptance。'
　Both　hats　flourished　with　even　greater　elaboration　than　before；　but　at　that　moment　both　young　men　noticed　Mr　Bolton；　the　officer　of　the　watch；　looking　at　them　from　the　windward　side；　and　they　hurriedly　put　their　hats　on　and　assumed　attitudes　more　consonant　with　the　dignity　of　officers　holding　their　warrants　from　King　George。
　'What's　in　the　captains　mind？'　asked　Hornblower。
　Kennedy　laid　one　finger　alongside　his　nose。
　'If　I　knew　that　I　should　rate　a　couple　of　epaulettes；'　he　said。　'Something's　brewing；　and　I　suppose　one　of　these　days　we　shall　know　what　it　is。　Until　then　all　that　we　little　victims　can　do　is　to　play　unconscious　of　our　doom。　Meanwhile；　be　careful　not　to　let　the　ship　fall　overboard。'
　There　was　no　sign　of　anything　brewing　while　dinner　was　being　eaten　in　the　great　cabin　of　the　Indefatigable。　Pellew　was　a　courtly　host　at　the　head　of　the　table。　Conversation　flowed　freely　and　along　indifferent　channels　among　the　senior　officers　present…the　two　lieutenants；　Eccles　and　Chadd；　and　the　sailing　master；　Soames。　Hornblower　and　the　other　junior　officer…Mallory；　a　midshipman　of　over　two　years'　seniority…kept　silent；　as　midshipmen　should；　thereby　being　able　to　devote　their　undivided　attention　to　the　food；　so　vastly　superior　to　what　was　served　in　the　midshipmen's　berth。
　'A　glass　of　wine　with　you；　Mr　Hornblower；'　said　Pellew；　raising　his　glass。
　Hornblower　tried　to　bow　gracefully　in　his　seat　while　raising　his　glass。　He　sipped　cautiously；　for　he　had　early　found　that　he　had　a　weak　head；　and　he　disliked　feeling　drunk。
　The　table　was　cleared　and　there　was　a　brief　moment　of　expectancy　as　the　pany　awaited　Pellew's　next　move。
　'Now；　Mr　Soames；'　said　Pellew；　'let　us　have　that　chart。'
　It　was　a　map　of　the　mouth　of　the　Gironde　with　the　soundings；　somebody　had　pencilled　in　the　positions　of　the　shore　batteries。
　'The　Papillon；'　said　Sir　Edward　（he　did　not　condescend　to　pronounce　it　French…fashion）；　'lies　just　here。　Mr　Soames　took　the　bearings。'
　He　indicated　a　pencilled　cross　on　the　chart；　far　up　the　channel。
　'You　gentlemen；'　went　on　Pellew；　'are　going　in　with　the　boats　to　fetch　her　out。'
　So　that　was　it。　A　cutting…out　expedition。
　'Mr　Eccles　will　be　in　general　mand。　I　will　ask　him　to　tell　you　his　plan。'
　Th