csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第31节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　if　it　had　been　a　day　in　which　history　had　been　changed。　And　he　was　just　as　weary。　And　in　his　pocket　there　was　still　the　bread　he　had　put　there　that　morning　and　forgotten　all　about。
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　SEVEN　…　THE　SPANISH　GALLEYS
　The　old　Indefatigable　was　lying　at　anchor　in　the　Bay　of　Cadiz　at　the　time　when　Spain　made　peace　with　France。　Hornblower　happened　to　be　midshipman　of　the　watch；　and　it　was　he　who　called　the　attention　of　Lieutenant　Chadd　to　the　approach　of　the　eight…oared　pinnace；　with　the　red　and　yellow　of　Spain　dropping　at　the　stern。　Chadd's　glass　made　out　the　gleam　of　gold　on　epaulette　and　cocked　hat；　and　bellowed　the　order　for　sideboys　and　marine　guard　to　give　the　traditional　honours　to　a　captain　in　an　allied　service。　Pellew；　hurriedly　warned；　was　at　the　gangway　to　meet　his　visitor；　and　it　was　at　the　gangway　that　the　entire　interview　took　place。　The　Spaniard；　making　a　low　bow　with　his　hat　across　his　stomach；　offered　a　sealed　envelope　to　the　Englishman。
　'Here；　Mr　Hornblower；'　said　Pellew；　holding　the　letter　unopened；　'speak　French　to　this　fellow。　Ask　him　to　e　below　for　a　glass　of　wine。'
　But　the　Spaniard；　with　a　further　bow；　declined　the　refreshment；　and；　with　another　bow；　requested　that　Pellew　open　the　letter　immediately。　Pellew　broke　the　seal　and　read　the　contents；　struggling　with　the　French　which　he　could　read　to　a　small　extent　although　he　could　not　speak　it　at　all。　He　handed　it　to　Hornblower。
　'This　means　the　Dagoes　have　made　peace；　doesn't　it？'
　Hornblower　struggled　through　twelve　lines　of　pliments　addressed　by　His　Excellency　the　Duke　of　Belchite　（Grandee　of　the　First　Class；　with　eighteen　other　titles　ending　with　Captain…General　of　Andalusia）　to　the　Most　Gallant　Ship…Captain　Sir　Edward　Pellew；　Knight　of　the　Bath。　The　second　paragraph　was　short　and　contained　only　a　brief　intimation　of　peace。　The　third　paragraph　was　as　long　as　the　first；　and　repeated　its　phraseology　almost　word　for　word　in　a　ponderous　farewell。
　'That's　all；　sir；'　said　Hornblower。
　But　the　Spanish　captain　had　a　verbal　message　with　which　to　supplement　the　written　one。
　'Please　tell　your　captain；'　he　said；　in　his　lisping　Spanish…French；　'that　now　as　a　neutral　power；　Spain　must　enforce　her　rights。　You　have　already　been　at　anchor　here　for　twenty…four　hours。　Six　hours　from　now'…the　Spaniard　took　a　gold　watch　from　his　pocket　and　glanced　at　it…'if　you　are　within　range　of　the　batteries　at　Puntales　there　they　will　be　given　orders　to　fire　on　you。'
　Hornblower　could　only　translate　the　brutal　message　without　any　attempt　at　softening　it；　and　Pellew　listened；　white　with　anger　despite　his　tan。
　'Tell　him…'　he　began；　and　then　mastered　his　rage。　'Damme　if　I'll　let　him　see　he　has　made　me　angry。'
　He　put　his　hat　across　his　stomach　and　bowed　in　as　faithful　an　imitation　of　the　Spaniard's　courtliness　as　he　could　manage；　before　he　turned　to　Hornblower。
　'Tell　him　I　have　received　his　message　with　pleasure。　Tell　him　I　much　regret　that　circumstances　are　separating　him　from　me；　and　that　I　hope　I　shall　always　enjoy　his　personal　friendship　whatever　the　relations　between　our　countries。　Tell　him…oh；　you　can　tell　him　the　sort　of　thing　I　want　said；　can't　you；　Hornblower？　Let's　see　him　over　the　side　with　dignity。　Sideboys！　Bosun's　mates！　Drummers！'
　Hornblower　poured　out　pliments　to　the　best　of　his　ability；　and　at　every　phrase　the　two　captains　exchanged　bows；　the　Spaniard　withdrawing　a　pace　at　each　bow　and　Pellew　following　him　up；　not　to　be　outdone　in　courtesy。　The　drums　beat　a　ruffle；　the　marines　presented　arms；　the　pipes　shrilled　and　twittered　until　the　Spaniard's　head　had　descended　to　the　level　of　the　maindeck；　when　Pellew　stiffened　up；　clapped　his　hat　on　his　head；　and　swung　round　on　his　first　lieutenant。
　'Mr　Eccles；　I　want　to　be　under　way　within　the　hour；　if　you　please。'
　Then　he　stamped　down　below　to　regain　his　equanimity　in　private。
　Hands　were　aloft　loosing　sail　ready　to　sheet　home；　while　the　clank　of　the　capstan　told　how　other　men　were　heaving　the　cable　short；　and　Hornblower　was　standing　on　the　portside　gangway　with　Mr　Wales　the　carpenter；　looking　over　at　the　white　houses　of　one　of　the　most　beautiful　cities　in　Europe。
　'I've　been　ashore　there　twice；'　said　Wales。　'The　wine's　good…vino；　they　calls　it…if　you　happens　to　like　that　kind　o'　muck。　But　don't　you　ever　try　that　brandy；　Mr　Hornblower。　Poison；　it　is；　rank　poison。　Hello！　We're　going　to　have　an　escort；　I　see。'
　Two　long　sharp　prows　had　emerged　from　the　inner　bay；　and　were　pointing　towards　the　Indefatigable。　Hornblower　could　not　restrain　himself　from　giving　a　cry　of　surprise　as　he　followed　Wales'　gaze。　The　vessels　approaching　were　galleys；　along　each　side　of　them　the　oars　were　lifting　and　falling　rhythmically；　catching　the　sunlight　as　they　feathered。　The　effect；　as　a　hundred　oars　swung　like　one；　was　perfectly　beautiful。　Hornblower　remembered　a　line　in　a　Latin　poet　which　he　had　translated　as　a　schoolboy；　and　recalled　his　surprise　when　he　discovered　that　to　a　Roman　the　'white　wings'　of　a　ship　of　war　were　her　oars。　Now　the　simile　was　plain；　even　a　gull　in　flight；　which　Hornblower　had　always　looked　upon　until　now　as　displaying　the　perfection　of　motion；　was　not　more　beautiful　than　those　galleys。　They　lay　low　in　the　water；　immensely　long　for　their　beam。　Neither　the　sails　nor　the　lateen　yards　were　set　on　the　low　raking　masts。　The　bows　blazed　with　gilding；　while　the　waters　of　the　bay　foamed　round　them　as　they　headed　into　the　teeth　of　the　gentle　breeze　with　the　Spanish　red　and　gold　streaming　aft　from　the　masthead。　Up…forward…down…went　the　oars　with　unchanging　rhythm；　the　blades　not　varying　an　inch　in　their　distance　apart　during　the　whole　of　the　stroke。　From　the　bows　of　each　two　long　guns　looked　straight　forward　in　the　direction　the　galleys　pointed。
　'Twenty…four　pounders；'　said　Wales。　'If　they　catch　you　in　a　calm；　they'll　knock　you　to　pieces。　Lie　off　on　your　quarter　where　you　can't　bring　a　gun　to　bear　and　rake　you　till　you　strike。　An'　then　God　help　you…better　a　Turkish　prison　than　a　Spanish　one。'
　In　a　line…ahead　that　might　have　been　drawn　with　a　ruler　and　measured　with　a　chain　the　galleys　passed　close　along　the　port　side　of　the　Indefatigable　and　went　ahead　of　her。　As　they　passed　the　roll　of　the　drum　and　the　call　of　the　pipes　summoned　the　crew　of　the　Indefatigable　to　attention　out　of　pliment　to　the　flag　and　the　mission　pendant　going　by；　while　the　galleys'　officers　returned　the　salute。
　'It　don't　seem　right；　somehow；'　mustered　Wales　under　his　breath；　'to　salute　'em　like　they　was　a　frigate。'
　Level　with　the　Indefatigable's　bowsprit　the　leader　backed　her　starboard　side　oars；　and　spun　like　a　top；　despite　her　length　and　narrow　beam；　across　the　frigate's　bows。　The　gentle　wind　blew　straight　to　the　frigate　from　the　galley；　and　then　from　her　consort　as　the　latter　followed；　and　a　foul　stench　came　back　on　the　air　and　assailed　Hornblower's　nostrils；　and　not　Hornblower's　alone；　clearly；　for　it　brought　forth　cries　of　disgust　from　all　the　men　on　deck。
　'They　all　stink　like　that；'　explained　Wales。　'Four　men　to　the　oar　an'　fifty　oars。　Two　hundred　galley　slaves；　that　is。　All　chained　to　their　benches。　When　you　goes　aboard　one　of　them　as　a　slave　you're　chained　to　your　bench；　an'　you're　never　unchained　until　they　drop　you　overside。　Sometimes　when　the　hands　aren't　busy　they'll　hose　out　the　bilge；　but　that　doesn't　happen　often；　bein'　Dagoes　an'　not　many　of　'em。'
　Hornblower　as　always　sought　exact　information。
　'How　many；　Mr　Wales？'
　'Thirty；　mebbe。　Enough　to　hand　the　sails　if　they're　making　a　passage。　Or　to　man　the　guns…they　strike　the　yards　and　sails；　like　now；　before　they　goes　into　action；　Mr　Hornblower；'　said　Wales；　pontifical　as　usual；　and　with　that　slight　emphasis　on　the　'Mister'　inevitable　when　a　warrant　officer　of　sixty　with　no　hope　of　further　promotion　addressed　a　warrant　officer　of　eighteen　（his　nominal　equal　in　rank）　who　might　some　day　be　an　admiral。　'So　you　see　how　it　is。　With　no　more　than　thirty　of　a　crew　an'　two　hundred　slaves　they　daren't　let　'em　loose；　not　ever。'
　The　galleys　had　turned　again；　and　were　now　passing　down　the　Indefatigable's　starboard　side。　The　beat　of　the　oars　had　slowed　very　noticeably；　and　Hornblower　had　ample　time　to　observe　the　vessels　closely；　the　low　forecastle　and　high　poop　with　the　gangway　connecting　them　along　the　whole　length　of　the　galley；　upon　that　gangway　walked　a　man　with　a　whip。　The　rowers　were　invisible　below　the　bulwarks；　the　oars　being　worked　through　holes　in　the　sides　closed；　as　far　as　Hornblower　could　see；　with　sheets　of　leather　round　the　oar…looms　to　keep　out　the　sea。　On　the　poop　stood　two　men　at　the　tiller　and　a　small　group　of　officers；　their　gold　lace　flashing　in　the　sunshine。　Save　for　the　gold　lace　and　the　twenty…four…pounder　bow　chasers　Hornblower　was　looking　at　exactly　the　same　sort　of　vessel　as　the　ancients　used　to　fight　their　battles。　Polybius　and　Thucydides　wrote　about　galleys　almost　identical　with　these…for　that　matter　it　was　not　much　more　than　two　hundred　years　since　the　galleys　had　fought　their　last　great　battle　at　Lepanto　against　the　Turks。　But　those　battles　had　been　fought　with　hundreds　of　galleys　a　side。
　'How　many　do　they　have　in　mission　now？'　asked　Hornblower。
　'A　dozen；　mebbe…not　that　I　knows　for　sure；　o'　course。　Carthagena's　their　usu