csf.thecommodore-第31部分

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nd　who　in　consequence　would　not　wish　too　public　a　scandal　to　be　made。　It　was　all　very　plex。
　〃Mr　Montgomery；〃　said　Hornblower；　harshly；　〃what　sort　of　course　do　your　quartermasters　keep？　Have　'em　steer　smaller　than　that；　or　I　shall　want　an　explanation　from　you。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir；〃　said　Montgomery。
　At　least　he　had　done　his　part　towards　dragging　Russia　into　war　with　Bonaparte　…　the　last　word　he　had　received　from　Wychwood　before　leaving　Kronstadt　had　been　to　the　effect　that　Alexander　had　sent　a　defiant　reply　to　Bonaparte's　latest　demands。　Should　war　result；　Bonaparte's　main　strength　would　have　to　be　employed　in　the　East　for　this　summer；　giving　Wellington　the　opportunity　to　strike　a　blow　in　the　South。　But　how　much　chance　had　Russia　of　withstanding　the　attack　Bonaparte　could　launch　against　her？　Every　year　for　a　dozen　years　had　seen　a　great　victory　won　by　Bonaparte；　one　nation　or　another　overthrown　in　a　few　weeks'　campaign。　Next　winter　might　well　see　Russia　beaten　and　as　subservient　to　Bonaparte　as　Austria　or　Prussia　were　already；　and　Downing　Street；　faced　by　Russian　hostility；　would　remember　her　previous　dubious　neutrality　with　regret；　especially　as　Bonaparte　would　undoubtedly　take　advantage　of　a　Russian　defeat　to　overrun　Sweden。　So　then　the　whole　of　Europe；　from　North　Cape　to　the　Dardanelles；　would　be　leagued　against　England；　she　would　be　driven　from　her　meagre　foothold　in　Spain；　and　left　to　face　the　alternatives　of　continuing　a　struggle　in　which　there　was　no　prospect　of　any　relief；　or　making　a　still　more　dangerous　peace　with　a　tyrant　whose　malignant　ill　will　could　never　be　appeased。　In　that　case　it　would　not　be　to　any　man's　credit　that　he　had　contributed　to　the　catastrophe　of　Russia's　entry　into　the　war。
　Bush　had　e　on　deck；　clearly　sent　for　by　Montgomery　as　officer　of　the　watch。　He　was　reading　the　deck　log　which　Montgomery　had　inscribed　on　the　slate；　and　he　was　studying　the　traverse　board。　Now　he　came　stumping　over　to　the　starboard　side　of　the　quarter…deck　to　touch　his　hat　to　Hornblower。
　〃Reval　…　Tallinn　as　those　Swedish　charts　call　it；　sir　…　bears　south…east　twenty…five　miles　by　my　reckoning；　sir。　That　point　of　land　to　port　is　the　north　cape　of　Naissaar　island；　however　it's　pronounced。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Captain　Bush。〃
　Hornblower　even　felt　the　temptation　to　vent　his　ill　temper　on　Bush；　he　could　imagine　keenly　enough　how　Bush　would　wilt　and　the　hurt　look　that　would　e　into　his　face　at　a　sarcastic　gibe　at　his　mispronouncing　of　foreign　names　and　his　self…consciousness　regarding　it。　Bush　was　always　an　easy　target；　and　a　satisfactory　one　from　the　point　of　view　of　readily　apparent　results；　Hornblower　dallied　with　the　temptation　while　Bush　stood　before　him　awaiting　orders。　It　was　even　amusing　to　keep　him　waiting　like　this；　Hornblower　suspected　that　Bush　was　nervously　wondering　what　devilment　he　had　in　mind。　Then　in　a　wave　of　reaction　Hornblower　felt　contempt　for　himself。　It　was　bad　enough　that　Vickery's　unknown　officer　of　the　watch　should　at　this　moment　be　in　trouble　because　his　modore　was　worried　about　what　to　do　with　Braun；　it　was　far　worse　that　the　faithful；　capable　Bush　should　be　suffering　mental　unhappiness　for　the　same　reason。
　〃Lay　a　course　for　K？nigsberg；　Captain　Bush；　if　you　please。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　So　far　did　the　reaction　go　that　Hornblower　went　on　to　explain　the　motives　that　guided　him　in　reaching　this　decision。
　〃Danzig　and　K？nigsberg　and　East　Prussia　are　Bonaparte's　base　of　operations。　The　army　he　has　gathered　in　Poland　is　supplied　by　river　and　canal　from　there　…　by　the　Vistula　and　the　Pregel　and　the　Memel。　We're　going　to　see　if　we　can　put　a　spoke　in　Bonaparte's　wheel。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　〃I'll　put　the　squadron　through　general　evolutions　this　morning。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　Bush　was　simply　beaming　at　this　remarkable　unbending　of　his　unpredictable　chief。　He　was　a　long…suffering　individual；　as　second…in…mand　he　would　be　justified　in　looking　upon　it　as　his　right　to　be　admitted　to　the　modore's　secrets。　After　all；　a　stray　bullet；　a　falling　spar；　a　stroke　of　disease　might　easily　put　him　in　mand　of　the　whole　force。　Yet　he　remained　grateful　for　any　scraps　of　information　which　Hornblower　condescended　to　throw　to　him。
　Nonsuch　came　round　on　the　port　tack　as　Bush　and　the　sailing　master　decided　on　what　course　to　steer。　She　lay　over　under　her　pyramids　of　canvas；　the　taut　weather…rigging　harping　sharply　to　the　wind；　and　Hornblower　moved　over　from　the　starboard　side　to　port；　the　windward　side；　as　was　his　right。　He　looked　back　at　the　rest　of　the　squadron；　each　vessel　bracing　sharp　up　in　succession；　following　in　the　leader's　wake；　Lotus　and　Raven；　Moth　and　Harvey。　Clam　was　not　with　them　…　she　had　been　kept　at　Kronstadt　to　follow　with　any　news　Wychwood　might　be　able　to　pick　up　…　but　five　vessels　were　quite　enough　to　exercise　at　manoeuvres。
　〃Bring　me　the　signal　book；〃　ordered　Hornblower。
　Flags　raced　up　the　halliards；　each　signal　a　chain　of　black　balls；　like　beads　on　a　string；　until　it　was　broken　out；　but　in　the　other　ships　keen　eyes　were　watching　through　telescopes；　reading　the　flags　even　before　they　were　broken　out；　and　anxious　officers　were　ordering　the　replies　to　be　bent　on　ready　to　hoist　without　a　moment's　delay。　The　squadron　tacked　in　succession；　wore　together　on　a　line　of　bearing；　came　to　the　wind　again　in　succession　into　line　ahead。　They　reduced　sail　in　conformity　with　the　leader　…　every　ship　sending　every　possible　hand　aloft　to　get　in　courses　or　topgallants　the　moment　Hornblower's　intentions　became　clear　…　and　they　made　sail　again。　They　reefed　topsails；　double…reefed　them；　shook　them　out　again。　They　hove…to；　hoisted　out　their　boats　manned　with　armed　boarding　parties；　and　hoisted　the　boats　in　again。　Resuming　their　course　they　opened　their　ports；　ran　out　their　guns；　secured　them　again；　and　then　ran　them　out　and　secured　them　again。　A　fresh　signal　mounted　Nonsuch's　halliards；　headed　by　Raven's　number。
　〃modore　to　Captain。　Why　did　you　not　obey　my　order？〃
　Hornblower's　glass　had　detected　that　Raven　had　not　fully　secured　her　guns　…　she　had　not　bolted　her　gun…ports　so　as　to　open　them　more　quickly　if　the　order　should　e；　but　Hornblower　could　see　the　ports　opening　slightly　with　the　roll　of　the　ship；　moreover；　judging　by　the　little　of　the　action　of　the　guns'　crews　that　he　could　see　she　had　not　uncoupled　and　stowed　her　train…tackles；　giving　her　a　clear　five　seconds'　start　over　the　other　ships。　It　was　foolish　of　Cole　to　try　an　old　trick　like　that；　and　one　so　easily　detected；　it　was　right　that　Raven's　shame　should　be　proclaimed　to　the　rest　of　the　squadron。　Half　the　object　of　manoeuvres　was　to　sharpen　the　captains'　wits；　if　they　could　manage　to　outguess　the　modore；　well　and　good；　for　there　would　be　more　likelihood　of　their　outguessing　a　Frenchman　should　they　meet　one。
　Raven　hastily　secured　gun…ports　and　train…tackles；　to　rub　the　lesson　in　Hornblower　waited　until　he　was　sure　the　order　had　just　been　passed　on　her　decks　and　then　sent　up　the　signal　for　running　out　the　guns。　The　counter…order　following　so　quickly　upon　the　order　caught　Raven　unready　…　Hornblower　could　imagine　the　cursing　officers　on　her　main…deck　…　and　she　was　seven　full　seconds　behind　any　other　ship　in　hoisting　the　'evolution　pleted'　signal。　There　was　no　need　to　ment　on　the　fact；　however　…　everybody　in　the　Raven　would　be　aware　of　what　had　happened　and　a　further　reprimand　might　weaken　Cole's　authority　over　his　ship's　pany。
　It　was　an　active　busy　morning　for　all　hands　in　the　squadron；　and　Hornblower；　looking　back　to　the　time　when　he　was　a　midshipman；　could　well　imagine　the　sigh　of　relief　that　must　have　gone　round　when　at　noon　he　signalled　for　the　order　of　sailing　and　gave　the　men　a　chance　to　get　their　dinners。　He　watched　the　Nonsuch's　crew　form　up　to　receive　their　ration　of　spirits；　the　eager；　skylarking　hands　each　carrying　his　wooden　piggin；　the　guard　over　the　grog　tub　…　the　latter　with　its　painted　inscription　'The　King；　God　bless　him'；　Montgomery　and　two　master's　mates　watching　the　issue。　Hornblower　saw　one　hand　e　up　to　the　tub　and　be　indignantly　hustled　away；　evidently　he　was　a　defaulter　who　had　been　sentenced　to　lose　his　ration　and　who　had　nevertheless　tried　to　obtain　it。　Such　an　attempt　would　earn　a　man　at　least　two　dozen　lashes　in　some　ships　but；　judging　by　Montgomery's　actions；　it　would　mean　no　more　than　a　further　deprivation　or　a　spell　at　the　pumps　or　perhaps　a　turn　at　cleaning　out　the　heads。
　The　liveliness　and　high　spirits　of　everyone　were　reassuring。　He　could　rely　on　these　men　to　fight　as　desperately　as　any　occasion　could　demand；　equally　important；　he　could　rely　on　them　to　endure　the　long　tedious　days　of　beating　about　at　sea；　the　wearisome　monotony　of　life　in　a　ship　of　the　line；　without　more　plaint　than　one　need　expect。　But　he　must　drop　a　hint　to　Bush　to　see　that　this　happy　condition　endured。　A　hornpipe　petition　…　theatricals　…　something　of　that　sort　would　be　necessary　soon；　unless　there　should　happen　to　be　enough　action　to　keep　the　men's　minds　busy。　And　with　that　decision　he　turned　and　went　below；　having　managed；　as　a　result　of　this　morning's　activity；　to　drive　out　of　his　own　mind　any　worry　about　what　to　do　with　Braun　when　the　latter　should　recover　from　his　wound。　After　all；　he　might　yet　die。
　Besides；　there　were　the　charts　of　the　Frisches　Haff　and　the　approaches　to　K？nigsberg　to　study；　and　plans　to　be　made　for　assailing　Bonaparte's　munications　in　the　neighbourhood；　should　that　be　possible。　If　this　fair　wind　should　persist　he　had　no　more　than　three　days　in　which　to　think　out　some　method　of　attack　there。　He　had　the　charts　got　out　for　him　and　he　pored　over　them；　irritably　calling　for　lamps　to　light　his　dim　cabin　so　as　to　make　it　possible　to　read　the　little　figures　scattered　over　them。　The　soundings　were　fantastically　plex；　and　the　problem　of　studying　them　was　not　made　easier　by　the　fact　that　he　had　three　different　charts　to　study　…　a　Swedish　one　with　the　soundings　marked　in　Swedish　feet；　a　new　French　one　with　the　soundings　in　metres；　and　only　a　sketchy　English　one　in　fathoms。　It　was　a　toilsome　business　paring　them；　and　perfectly　unsatisfactory　in　the　end；　seeing　that　they　did　not　agree。
　Yet　the　desirability　of　striking　a　blow　there　was　perfectly　obvious。　In　roadless　Poland　and　East　Prussia　the　only　way　of　distributing　provisions　and　munitions　to　Bona