csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第35节

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　Bromley　took　hold　of　his　left　arm　with　his　right；　the　limb　was　clearly　useless。　There　was　no　reinforcement　to　be　obtained　here；　and　yet　full　possession　must　be　taken　of　the　galley。　Otherwise　it　was　even　conceivable　that　they　would　be　carried　off　to　Algeciras；　even　if　they　were　masters　of　the　rudder　the　man　who　controlled　the　oars　dictated　the　course　of　the　ship　if　he　willed。　There　was　only　one　course　left　to　try。
　Now　that　his　fighting　madness　had　ebbed　away；　Hornblower　was　in　a　sombre　mood。　He　did　not　care　what　happened　to　him；　hope　and　fear　had　alike　deserted　him；　along　with　his　previous　exalted　condition。　It　might　be　resignation　that　possessed　him　now。　His　mind；　still　calculating；　told　him　that　with　only　one　thing　left　to　do　to　achieve　victory　he　must　attempt　it；　and　the　flat；　dead　condition　of　his　spirits　enabled　him　to　carry　the　attempt　through　like　an　automaton；　unwavering　and　emotionless。　He　walked　forward　to　the　poop　rail　again；　the　Spaniards　were　still　clustered　at　the　far　end　of　the　gangway；　with　the　overseer　still　giving　the　time　to　the　oars。　They　looked　up　at　him　as　he　stood　there。　With　the　utmost　care　and　attention　he　sheathed　his　cutlass；　which　he　had　held　in　his　hand　up　to　that　moment。　He　noticed　the　blood　on　his　coat　and　on　his　hands　as　he　did　so。　Slowly　he　settled　the　sheathed　weapon　at　his　side。
　'My　pistols；　Jackson；'　he　said。
　Jackson　handed　him　the　pistols　and　with　the　same　callous　care　he　thrust　them　into　his　belt。　He　turned　back　to　Oldroyd；　the　Spaniards　watching　every　movement　fascinated。
　'Stay　by　the　tiller；　Oldroyd。　Jackson；　follow　me。　Do　nothing　without　my　orders。'
　With　the　sun　pouring　down　on　his　face；　he　strode　down　the　panion　ladder；　walked　to　the　gangway；　and　approached　the　Spaniards　along　it。　On　either　side　of　him　the　hairy　heads　and　naked　bodies　of　the　galley　slaves　still　swung　with　the　oars。　He　neared　the　Spaniards；　swords　and　muskets　and　pistols　were　handled　nervously；　but　every　eye　was　on　his　face。　Behind　him　Jackson　coughed。　Two　yards　only　from　the　group；　Hornblower　halted　and　swept　them　with　his　glance。　Then；　with　a　gesture；　he　indicated　the　whole　of　the　group　except　the　overseer；　and　then　pointed　to　the　forecastle。
　'Get　forrard；　all　of　you；'　he　said。
　They　stood　staring　at　him；　although　they　must　have　understood　the　gesture。
　'Get　forrard；'　said　Hornblower　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　and　a　tap　of　his　foot　on　the　gangway。
　There　was　only　one　man　who　seemed　likely　to　demur　actively；　and　Hornblower　had　it　in　mind　to　snatch　a　pistol　from　his　belt　and　shoot　him　on　the　spot。　But　the　pistol　might　misfire；　the　shot　might　arouse　the　Spaniards　out　of　their　fascinated　dream。　He　stared　the　man　down。
　'Get　forrard；　I　say。'
　They　began　to　move；　they　began　to　shamble　off。　Hornblower　watched　them　go。　Now　his　emotions　were　returning　to　him；　and　his　heart　was　thumping　madly　in　his　chest　so　that　it　was　hard　to　control　himself。　Yet　he　must　not　be　precipitate。　He　had　to　wait　until　the　others　were　well　clear　before　he　could　address　himself　to　the　overseer。
　'Stop　those　men；'　he　said。
　He　glared　into　the　overseer's　eyes　while　pointing　to　the　oarsmen；　the　overseer's　lips　moved；　but　he　made　no　sound。
　'Stop　them；'　said　Hornblower；　and　this　time　he　put　his　hand　to　the　butt　of　his　pistol。
　That　sufficed。　The　overseer　raised　his　voice　in　a　high'　pitched　order；　and　the　oars　instantly　ceased。　Strange　what　sudden　stillness　possessed　the　ship　with　the　cessation　of　the　grinding　of　the　oars　in　the　tholes。　Now　it　was　easy　to　hear　the　bubbling　of　the　water　round　the　galley　as　her　way　carried　her　forward。　Hornblower　turned　back　to　hail　Oldroyd。
　'Oldroyd！　Where　away's　the　gig？'
　'Close　on　the　starboard　bow；　sir！'
　'How　close？'
　'Two　cable's　lengths；　sir。　She's　pulling　for　us　now。'
　'Steer　for　her　while　you've　steerage　way。'
　'Aye　aye；　sir。'
　How　long　would　it　take　the　gig　under　oars　to　cover　a　quarter　of　a　mile？　Hornblower　feared　anticlimax；　feared　a　sudden　revulsion　of　feeling　among　the　Spaniards　at　this　late　moment。　Mere　waiting　might　occasion　it；　and　he　must　not　stand　merely　idle。　He　could　still　hear　the　motion　of　the　galley　through　the　water；　and　he　turned　to　Jackson。
　'This　ship　carries　her　way　well；　Jackson；　doesn't　she？'　he　said；　and　he　made　himself　laugh　as　he　spoke；　as　if　everything　in　the　world　was　a　matter　of　sublime　certainty。
　'Aye；　sir；　I　suppose　she　does；　sir；'　said　the　startled　Jackson；　he　was　fidgeting　nervously　with　his　pistols。
　'And　look　at　the　man　there；'　went　on　Hornblower；　pointing　to　a　galley　slave。　'Did　you　ever　see　such　a　beard　in　your　life？'
　'N…no；　sir。'
　'Speak　to　me；　you　fool。　Talk　naturally。'
　'I…I　dunno　what　to　say；　sir。'
　'You've　no　sense；　damn　you；　Jackson。　See　the　welt　on　that　fellow's　shoulder？　He　must　have　caught　it　from　the　overseer's　whip　not　so　long　ago。'
　'Mebbe　you're　right；　sir。'
　Hornblower　was　repressing　his　impatience　and　was　about　to　make　another　speech　when　he　heard　a　rasping　thump　alongside　and　a　moment　later　the　gig's　crew　was　pouring　over　the　bulwarks。　The　relief　was　inexpressible。　Hornblower　was　about　to　relax　pletely　when　he　remembered　appearances。　He　stiffened　himself　up。
　'Glad　to　see　you　aboard；　sir；'　he　said；　as　Lieutenant　Chadd　swung　his　legs　over　and　dropped　to　the　maindeck　at　the　break　of　the　forecastle。
　'Glad　to　see　you；'　said　Chadd；　looking　about　him　curiously。
　'These　men　forrard　are　prisoners；　sir；'　said　Hornblower。　'It　might　be　well　to　secure　them。　I　think　that　is　all　that　remains　to　be　done。'
　Now　he　could　not　relax；　it　seemed　to　him　as　if　he　must　remain　strained　and　tense　for　ever。　Strained　and　yet　stupid；　even　when　he　heard　the　cheers　of　the　hands　in　the　Indefatigable　as　the　galley　came　alongside　her。　Stupid　and　dull；　making　a　stumbling　report　to　Captain　Pellew；　forcing　himself　to　remember　to　mend　the　bravery　of　Jackson　and　Oldroyd　in　the　highest　terms。
　'The　Admiral　will　be　pleased；'　said　Pellew；　looking　at　Hornblower　keenly。
　'I'm　glad；　sir；'　Hornblower　heard　himself　say。
　'Now　that　we've　lost　poor　Soames；'　went　on　Pellew；　'we　shall　need　another　watch…keeping　officer。　I　have　it　in　mind　to　give　you　an　order　as　acting…lieutenant。'
　'Thank　you；　sir；'　said　Hornblower；　still　stupid。
　Soames　had　been　a　gray…haired　officer　of　vast　experience；　He　had　sailed　the　seven　seas；　he　had　fought　in　a　score　of　actions。　But；　faced　with　a　new　situation；　he　had　not　had　the　quickness　of　thought　to　keep　his　boat　from　under　the　ram　of　the　galley。　Soames　was　dead；　and　acting…lieutenant　Hornblower　would　take　his　place。　Fighting　madness；　sheer　insanity；　had　won　him　this　promise　of　promotion。　Hornblower　had　never　realized　the　black　depths　of　lunacy　into　which　he　could　sink。　Like　Soames；　like　all　the　rest　of　the　crew　of　the　Indefatigable；　he　had　allowed　himself　to　be　carried　away　by　his　blind　hatred　for　the　galleys；　and　only　good　fortune　had　allowed　him　to　live　through　it。　That　was　something　worth　remembering。
　
　
　CHAPTER　EIGHT　…　THE　EXAMINATION　FOR　LIEUTENANT
　H。M。S。　Indefatigable　was　gliding　into　Gibraltar　Bay；　with　Acting…Lieutenant　Horatio　Hornblower　stiff　and　self…conscious　on　the　quarterdeck　beside　Captain　Pellew。　He　kept　his　telescope　trained　over　toward　Algeciras；　it　was　a　strange　situation；　this；　that　major　naval　bases　of　two　hostile　powers　should　be　no　more　than　six　miles　apart；　and　while　approaching　the　harbour　it　was　as　well　to　keep　close　watch　on　Algeciras；　for　there　was　always　the　possibility　that　a　squadron　of　Spaniards　might　push　out　suddenly　to　pounce　on　an　unwary　frigate　ing　in。
　'Eight　ships…nine　ships　with　their　yards　crossed；　sir；'　reported　Hornblower。
　'Thank　you；'　answered　Pellew。　'Hands　'bout　ship。'
　The　Indefatigable　tacked　and　headed　in　toward　the　Mole。　Gibraltar　harbour　was；　as　usual；　crowded　with　shipping；　for　the　whole　naval　effort　of　England　in　the　Mediterranean　was　perforce　based　here。　Pellew　clewed　up　his　topsails　and　put　his　helm　over。　Then　the　cable　roared　out　and　the　Indefatigable　swung　at　anchor。
　'Call　away　my　gig；'　ordered　Pellew。
　Pellew　favoured　dark　blue　and　white　as　the　colour　scheme　for　his　boat　and　its　crew…dark　blue　shirts　and　white　trousers　for　the　men；　with　white　hats　with　blue　ribbons。　The　boat　was　of　dark　blue　picked　out　with　white；　the　oars　had　white　looms　and　blue　blades。　The　general　effect　was　very　smart　indeed　as　the　drive　of　the　oars　sent　the　gig　skimming　over　the　water　to　carry　Pellew　to　pay　his　respects　to　the　port　admiral。　It　was　not　long　after　his　return　that　a　messenger　came　scurrying　up　to　Hornblower。
　'Captain's　pliments；　sir；　and　he'd　like　to　see　you　in　his　cabin。'
　'Examine　your　conscience　well；'　grinned　Midshipman　Bracegirdle。　'What　crimes　have　you　mitted？'
　'I　wish　I　knew；'　said　Hornblower；　quite　genuinely。
　It　is　always　a　nervous　moment　going　in　to　see　the　captain　in　reply　to　his　summons。　Hornblower　swallowed　as　he　approached　the　cabin　door；　and　he　had　to　brace　himself　a　little　to　knock　and　enter。　But　there　was　nothing　to　be　alarmed　about；　Pellew　looked　up　with　a　smile　from　his　desk。
　'Ah；　Mr　Hornblower；　I　hope　you　will　consider　this　good　news。　There　will　be　an　examination　for　lieutenant　to…morrow；　in　the　Santa　Barbara　there。　You　are　ready　to　take　it；　I　hope？'
　Hornblower　was　about　to　say　'I　suppose　so；　sir；'　but　checked