csf.thecommodore-第16部分

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　Obviously　she　was　finding　her　way　up　a　channel　to　the　shelter　of　Hiddensoe。　On　the　chart　there　was　a　single　sounding　marked　there；　a　laconic　'21/2'。　Fifteen　feet　of　water；　and　a　battery　at　the　head　of　the　long　peninsula。　Blanchefleur　could　reckon　herself　safe　if　the　Swedes　would　defend　her。　On　the　horizon　to　windward　Hornblower　saw　the　queer　topsails　of　the　bomb…ketches；　Duncan　and　Mound；　after　blundering　about　in　the　fog；　must　have　caught　sight　of　Nonsuch　while　on　their　way　to　the　rendezvous　off　Cape　Arcona。
　〃Send　the　boats　to　assist　Raven；　if　you　please；　Captain　Bush；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　Hoisting　longboat　and　cutter　off　their　chocks　and　overside　was　an　evolution　calling　for　a　couple　of　hundred　hands。　Pipes　squealed　and　the　bos'un's　cane　stirred　up　the　laggards。　The　sheaves　squeaked　in　the　blocks；　bare　feet　stamped　the　decks；　and　even　Nonsuch's　massive　bulk　heeled　a　little　with　the　transfer　of　weight。　Hornblower　betook　himself　to　his　telescope　again。
　Blanchefleur　had　found　herself　a　curious　anchorage。　She　lay　between　the　main　island　of　Rügen　and　the　long　narrow　strip　of　Hiddensoe；　the　latter　was　more　of　a　sandspit　than　an　island；　a　thread　of　sand…dunes　emerging　from　the　yellow　shallows。　In　fact　Blanchefleur's　spars　were　still　in　plain　sight　against　the　background　of　the　low　mud　cliffs　of　Rügen；　it　was　only　her　hull　which　was　concealed　by　the　dunes　of　Hiddensoe　lying　like　a　long　curving　breakwater　in　front　of　her。　On　one　end　of　Hiddensoe　was　a　battery　…　Hornblower　could　see　the　silhouettes　of　the　guns；　black　against　the　green　of　the　grass…grown　embrasures　…　which　covered　one　entrance　to　the　tiny　roadstead　；　at　the　other　end　the　breaking　waves　showed　that　there　was　not　water　enough　even　for　a　ship's　longboat　to　pass。　The　squadron　had　succeeded　in　cutting　off　the　privateer's　escape　into　Stralsund；　but　it　seemed　as　if　she　were　just　as　safe　where　she　was　now；　with　miles　of　shoals　all　round　her　and　a　battery　to　protect　her；　any　attempt　to　cut　her　out　must　be　made　by　the　ship's　boats；　rowing　in　plain　view　for　miles　through　the　shallows；　then　through　a　narrow　channel　under　the　guns　of　the　battery；　and　finally　bringing　out　the　prize　under　the　same　guns　and　over　the　unknown　shoals。　That　was　not　a　tempting　prospect；　he　could　land　marines　on　the　seaward　front　of　Hiddensoe　and　try　to　storm　the　battery　by　brute　force；　but　the　attempt　would　be　inviting　a　bloody　repulse　if　there　were　no　surprise　to　cover　the　assaulting　party。　Besides；　the　battery's　garrison　would　be　Swedes；　and　he　did　not　want　to　shed　Swedish　blood　…　Sweden　was　only　a　nominal　enemy；　but　any　vigorous　action　on　his　part　might　easily　make　her　an　active　one。　Hornblower　remembered　the　paragraphs　of　his　instructions　which　bore　on　this　very　point
　As　if　in　echo　to　his　thoughts　the　signal　midshipman　saluted　with　a　new　report。
　〃Signal　from　Lotus；　sir。〃
　Hornblower　read　the　message　written　in　crude　capitals　on　the　slate。
　〃Flags　of　truce　ing　out　from　Stralsund。　Have　allowed　them　to　pass。〃
　〃Acknowledge；〃　said　Hornblower。
　What　the　devil　did　that　mean？　One　flag　of　truce　he　could　expect；　but　Vickery　was　reporting　two　at　least。　He　swung　his　glass　over　to　where　Vickery　had　very　sensibly　anchored　Lotus；　right　between　Blanchefleur's　refuge　and　any　possible　succour　from　Stralsund。　There　were　one　…　two　…　three　…　small　sails　heading　straight　for　the　Nonsuch；　having　just　rounded　Lotus。　They　were　all　of　them　of　the　queer　Baltic　rig；　like　Dutchmen　with　a　foreign　flavour　…　rounded　bows　and　lee…boards　and　big　gaff…mainsails。　Close…hauled；　with　the　white　water　creaming　under　their　blunt　bows　and　the　spray　flying　in　sheets　even　in　this　moderate　breeze；　they　were　clearly　being　sailed　for　all　they　were　worth；　as　if　it　were　a　race。
　〃What　in　God's　name？〃　said　Bush；　training　his　glass　on　them。
　It　might　be　a　ruse　to　gain　time。　Hornblower　looked　round　again　at　the　spars　of　Blanchefleur　above　the　sandspit。　She　had　furled　everything　and　was　riding　at　anchor。
　〃White　above　yellow　and　blue；　sir；〃　said　Bush；　still　watching　the　approaching　boats。　〃That's　Swedish　colours　under　a　flag　of　truce。〃
　Hornblower　turned　his　glass　on　the　leader　and　confirmed　Bush's　decision。
　〃The　next　one；　sir　…〃　Bush　laughed　apologetically　at　his　own　innocence；　〃I　know　it's　strange；　sir；　but　it　looks　just　like　the　British　ens'n　under　a　flag　of　truce。〃
　It　was　hard　to　believe；　and　it　was　easy　to　make　a　mistake　in　identifying　a　small　boat's　flag　at　that　distance。　But　Hornblower's　glass　seemed　to　show　the　same　thing。
　〃What　do　you　make　of　that　second　boat；　Mr　Hurst？〃
　〃British　colours　under　white；　sir；〃　said　Hurst　without　hesitation。
　The　third　boat　was　some　long　way　astern；　and　her　colours　were　not　so　easy　to　make　out。
　〃French；　I　think；　sir；〃　said　Hurst；　but　the　leading　boat　was　approaching　fast　now。
　It　was　a　tall　portly　gentleman　who　was　swung　up　on　to　the　deck　in　the　bos'un's　chair；　clinging　to　his　cocked　hat。　He　wore　a　blue　coat　with　gold　buttons　and　epaulettes；　and　he　hitched　his　sword　and　his　stock　into　position　before　laying　the　hat　…　a　fore…and…aft　one　with　a　white　plume　and　a　Swedish　cockade　…　across　his　chest　in　a　sweeping　bow。

　〃Baron　Basse；〃　he　said。
　Hornblower　bowed。
　〃Captain　Sir　Horatio　Hornblower；　modore　manding　this　squadron。〃
　Basse　was　a　heavily　jowled　man　with　a　big　hook…nose　and　a　cold　grey　eye；　and　it　was　obvious　that　he　could　only　guess　faintly　at　what　Hornblower　said。
　〃You　fight？〃　he　asked；　with　an　effort。
　〃I　am　in　pursuit　of　a　privateer　under　French　colours；〃　said　Hornblower；　and　then；　realizing　the　difficulty　of　making　himself　understood　when　he　had　to　pick　his　words　with　diplomatic　care：　〃Here；　where's　Mr　Braun？〃
　The　interpreter　came　forward　with　a　brief　explanation　of　himself　in　Swedish；　and　Hornblower　watched　the　interplay　of　glances　between　the　two。　They　were　clearly　the　deadliest　political　enemies；　meeting　here　on　the　paratively　neutral　ground　of　a　British　man…o'…war。　Basse　brought　out　a　letter　from　his　breast　pocket　and　passed　it　to　Braun；　who　glanced　at　it　and　handed　it　to　Hornblower。
　〃That　is　a　letter　from　the　Governor…General　of　Swedish　Pomerania；〃　he　explained；　〃saying　that　this　gentleman；　the　Baron　Basse；　has　his　full　confidence。〃
　〃I　understand；〃　said　Hornblower。
　Basse　was　already　talking　rapidly　to　Braun。
　〃He　says；〃　explained　Braun；　〃that　he　wants　to　know　what　you　will　do。〃
　〃Tell　him；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃that　that　depends　on　what　the　Swedes　do。　Ask　him　if　Sweden　is　neutral。〃
　Obviously　the　reply　was　not　a　simple　'yes'　or　'no'。　Basse　offered　a　lengthy　explanation。
　〃He　says　that　Sweden　only　wants　to　be　at　peace　with　all　the　world；〃　said　Braun。
　〃Tell　him　that　that　means　neutrality；　then；　and　neutrality　has　obligations　as　well　as　privileges。　There　is　a　ship…of…war　under　French　colours　there。　She　must　be　warned　that　her　presence　in　Swedish　waters　can　only　be　tolerated　for　a　limited　time；　and　I　must　be　informed　of　what　the　time…limit　is。〃
　Basse's　heavy　face　showed　considerable　embarrassment　at　Braun's　translation　of　Hornblower's　demand。　He　worked　his　hands　violently　as　he　made　his　reply。
　〃He　says　he　cannot　violate　the　laws　of　international　amity；〃　said　Braun。
　〃Say　that　that　is　exactly　what　he　is　doing。　That　ship　cannot　be　allowed　to　use　a　Swedish　port　as　a　base　of　operations。　She　must　be　warned　to　leave；　and　if　she　will　not；　then　she　must　be　taken　over　and　a　guard　put　in　her　to　make　sure　she　does　not　slip　away。〃
　Basse　positively　wrung　his　hands　as　Braun　spoke　to　him；　but　any　reply　he　was　going　to　make　was　cut　short　by　Bush's　salute　to　Hornblower。
　〃The　French　flag　of　truce　is　alongside；　sir。　Shall　I　allow　them　to　send　someone　on　board？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Hornblower　testily。
　The　new　figure　that　came　in　through　the　entry…port　was　even　more　decorative　than　Basse；　although　a　much　smaller　man。
　Across　his　blue　coat　lay　the　watered　red　silk　ribbon　of　the　Legion　of　Honour；　and　its　star　glittered　on　his　breast。　He；　too；　swept　off　his　hat　in　an　elaborate　bow。
　〃The　Count　Joseph　Dumoulin；〃　he　said；　speaking　French；　〃Consul…General　in　Swedish　Pomerania　of　His　Imperial　and　Royal　Majesty　Napoleon；　Emperor　of　the　French；　King　of　Italy；　Protector　of　the　Confederation　of　the　Rhine；　Mediator　of　the　Swiss　Republic。〃
　〃Captain　Hornblower；〃　said　Hornblower。　He　was　suddenly　excessively　cautious；　because　his　government　had　never　recognized　those　resounding　titles　which　Dumoulin　had　just　reeled　off。　In　the　eyes　of　King　George　and　his　ministers；　Napoleon；　Emperor　of　the　French；　was　merely　General　Bonaparte　in　his　personal　capacity；　and　Chief　of　the　French　Government　in　his　official　one。　More　than　once　British　officers　had　found　themselves　in　serious　trouble　for　putting　their　names　to　documents　…　cartels　and　the　like　…　which　bore　even　incidental　references　to　the　Empire。
　〃Is　there　anyone　who　can　speak　French？〃　asked　Dumoulin　politely；　〃I　regret　bitterly　my　plete　inability　to　speak　English。〃
　〃You　can　address　yourself　to　me；　sir；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃and　I　should　be　glad　of　an　explanation　of　your　presence　in　this　ship。〃
　〃You　speak　admirable　French；　sir；〃　said　Dumoulin。　〃Ah；　of　course；　I　remember。　You　are　the　Captain　Hornblower　who　made　the　sensational　escape　from　France　a　year　ago。　It　is　a　great　pleasure　to　meet　a　gentleman　of　such　renown。〃
　He　bowed　again。　It　gave　Hornblower　a　queer　self…conscious　pleasure　to　find　that　his　reputation　had　preceded　him　even　into　this　obscure　corner　of　the　Baltic；　but　it　irritated　him　at　the　same　time；　as　having　nothing　to　do　with　the　urgent　matter　in　hand。
　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　am　still　waiting　for　an　explanation　of　why　I　have　the　honour　of　this　visit。〃
　〃I　am　here　to　support　M。　le　Baron　in　his　statement　of　the　belligerent　position　of　Swedish　Pomerania。〃
　Braun　interpreted；　and　Basse's　embarrassment　perceptibly　increased。
　〃Boat　with　English　colours　alongside；　sir；〃　interrupted　Bush。
　The　man　who　came　on　board　was　immensely　fat；　and　dressed　in　a　sober　black　civilian　suit。
　〃Hauptmann；〃　he　said；　bending　himself　at　the　waist；　he　spoke　English　with　a　thick　German　accent。　〃His　Britannic　Majesty's　consular　agent　at　Stralsund。〃
　〃What　can　I　do　for　you；　Mr　Hauptmann？〃　asked　Hornblower；　trying　not　to　allow　himself　to　grow　bewildered。
　〃I　have　e；〃　said　Hauptmann