csf.thecommodore-第35部分

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ig　sail　round　and　Nonsuch　came　to　the　wind　and　slowly　gathered　way。
　〃Port　a　little；〃　said　Bush　to　the　helmsman。　〃Let　her　fall　off。　Meet　her　there！　Steady　as　you　go！〃
　〃Steady　as　you　go；　sir；〃　echoed　the　helmsman；　and　then　by　a　neat　feat　of　facial　gymnastics　transferred　his　quid　from　his　cheek　to　his　mouth；　and　a　moment　later　spat　accurately　into　the　spit…kid　beside　the　wheel　without　transferring　any　of　his　attention　from　the　leech　of　the　main…topsail　and　the　pass　in　the　binnacle。
　Nonsuch　edged　down　steadily　towards　the　entrance　and　the　batteries。　This　was　a　ticklish　business；　ing　down　to　be　shot　at。　There　was　smoke　as　from　a　fire　visible　not　far　from　the　batteries；　maybe　it　was　merely　rising　from　the　cooking　stoves　of　the　garrison；　but　it　might　well　be　smoke　from　the　furnaces　for　heating　red…hot　shot。　But　Bush　was　aware　of　that　possibility　when　in　action　against　coastal　batteries；　and　had　needed　no　warning。　Every　available　man　was　standing　by　with　fire　buckets；　and　every　pump　and　hose　was　rigged。　Now　he　was　measuring　the　range　with　his　eye。
　〃A　little　closer；　if　you　please；　Captain　Bush；〃　said　Hornblower　to　prompt　him；　for　to　Hornblower　it　was　obvious　that　they　were　still　out　of　range。　A　fountain　of　water　was　visible　for　a　moment　on　the　surface　of　the　choppy　sea；　two　cables'　lengths　from　the　starboard　bow。
　〃Not　near　enough　yet；　Captain　Bush；〃　said　Hornblower。
　In　tense　silence　the　ship　moved　on。　A　whole　cluster　of　fountains　sprang　suddenly　into　existence　close　under　the　starboard　quarter；　one　so　close　indeed　that　a　hatful　of　water；　flung　by　some　freak　of　wave　and　wind；　hit　Bush　full　in　the　face。
　〃God　damn　it　to　hell！〃　spluttered　Bush；　wiping　his　eyes。
　That　battery　had　no　business　to　have　e　so　close　as　that　with　that　salvo。　And　there　was　no　smoke　near　it　either。　Hornblower　traversed　his　glass　round；　and　gulped。　It　was　another　battery　altogether　which　had　fired；　one　farther　to　the　left；　and　moreover　one　whose　existence　he　had　not　suspected　until　that　moment。　Apparently　the　grass　had　grown　over　the　parapets　sufficiently　to　conceal　it　from　quite　close　inspection；　but　it　had　unmasked　itself　a　trifle　too　soon。　If　the　officer　manding　there　had　been　patient　for　another　ten　minutes　Nonsuch　might　have　found　herself　in　a　difficult　situation。
　〃That　will　do；　Captain　Bush；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Full　and　by；〃　said　Bush　to　the　helmsman　and　then　raised　his　voice。　〃Lee　braces；　there！〃
　Nonsuch　swung　round；　turning　her　starboard　broadside　towards　the　batteries；　and；　close…hauled；　was　now　edging　towards　them　far　less　rapidly。　Hornblower　pointed　out　the　exact　situation　of　the　newly　revealed　battery　to　the　midshipman　of　the　watch；　and　then　sent　him　flying　below　to　carry　the　information　to　the　guns。
　〃Keep　your　luff！〃　growled　Bush　to　the　helmsman。
　〃Keep　your　luff；　sir。〃
　For　a　moment　or　two　there　were　waterspouts　leaping　from　the　surface　of　the　sea　all　round；　and　the　loud　noise　of　cannon…balls　passing　through　the　air　assaulted　their　ears。　It　was　remarkable　that　they　were　not　hit；　at　least；　it　was　remarkable　until　Hornblower；　glancing　up；　saw　two　elliptical　holes　in　the　mizzen…topsail。　The　shooting　was　poor；　for　there　were　at　least　twenty　heavy　guns　firing　at　them；　as　Hornblower　calculated　from　the　smoke　appearing　on　shore。　He　took　careful　note　of　the　sites　of　the　batteries　…　one　never　knew　when　such　intelligence　might　be　useful。
　〃Open　fire；　Captain；　if　you　please；〃　said　Hornblower；　and　before　the　polite　ending　of　his　sentence　had　passed　his　lips　Bush　had　raised　his　speaking…trumpet　and　was　repeating　the　order　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。　The　gunner's　mate　posted　at　the　main　hatchway　relayed　the　message　to　the　lower　gun…deck。　There　was　a　brief　pause　which　Hornblower　noted　with　pleasure；　because　it　showed　that　the　gun…captains　were　taking　pains　to　train　their　guns　on　the　target；　and　not　merely　jerking　the　lanyards　the　moment　the　word　reached　them。　Then　came　a　ragged　crash；　the　ship　trembled；　and　the　smoke　surged　up　and　blew　away　to　leeward。　Through　his　glass　Hornblower　could　see　sand　flying　all　round　the　masked　battery。　The　seventeen　twenty…four　pounders　roared　out　again　and　again；　the　deck　vibrating　under　Hornblower's　feet　with　the　concussion　and　with　the　rumble　of　the　gun…tracks。
　〃Thank　you；　Captain　Bush；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃you　can　put　the　ship　about；　now。〃
　Bush　blinked　at　him　momentarily；　his　fighting　blood　roused　so　that　he　had　to　stop　and　think　before　dealing　with　the　new　order。
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃　He　raised　his　trumpet。　〃Cease　fire！　Stand　by　to　go　about！〃
　The　order　was　relayed　to　the　guns；　and　the　din　died　down　abruptly；　so　that　Bush's　〃Hard…a…lee〃　to　the　helmsman　sounded　unnecessarily　loud。
　〃Mainsail　haul！〃　bellowed　Bush。
　As　Nonsuch　went　ponderously　about；　rising　to　an　even　keel　with　her　canvas　slatting；　a　further　cluster　of　waterspouts；　grouped　closely　together　for　the　first　time；　rose　from　the　surface　of　the　sea　on　the　starboard　bow。　If　she　had　not　made　the　sudden　turn　the　shots　might　well　have　hit　her。　Hornblower　might　be　a　mutilated　corpse　lying　on　the　quarter…deck　with　his　guts　strung　out　beside　him　at　this　moment。
　Nonsuch　had　passed　the　wind；　and　the　after　sails　were　filling。
　〃Let　go　and　haul！〃　yelled　Bush。　The　forward　sails　filled　as　the　hands　came　aft　with　the　lee　braces；　and　Nonsuch　settled　down　on　the　new　tack。
　〃Any　further　orders；　sir？〃　asked　Bush。
　〃That　will　do　for　the　present。〃
　Close…hauled　on　the　starboard　tack　the　ship　was　drawing　away　fast　from　the　land；　beating　out　to　where　the　two　sloops　were　backing　and　filling　while　waiting　for　her。　The　people　on　shore　must　be　exulting　over　having　driven　off　a　serious　attack；　probably　some　garrulous　gunner　was　swearing　that　he　had　seen　with　his　own　eyes　damaging　hits　striking　home　on　the　British　intruder。　They　must　be　encouraged　in　the　belief　that　something　desperate　was　still　being　meditated　in　this　neighbourhood。
　〃Midshipman？〃　said　Hornblower。
　Strings　of　coloured　flags　soared　up　Nonsuch's　halliards；　it　was　good　practice　for　the　signal　midshipman　to　try　to　spell　out　'The　curfew　tolls　the　knell　of　parting　day'　with　the　fewest　possible　number　of　flag　hoists。　With　his　telescope　pointed　the　midshipman　read　off　Raven's　reply。
　〃The　…〃　he　read；　〃l　…　o　…　w　…　must　be　'blowing'。　No；　it's　'lowing'；　whatever　he　means　by　that。　H　…　e　…　r　…　d。　Herd。　Two　…　five。　That's　'wind'；　and　's'。　That　'winds'　…　S　…　l　…　o　…〃
　So　Cole　in　the　Raven　was　at　least　familiar　with　Gray's　Elegy；　and　whoever　was　responsible　for　the　flag　hoists　on　board　her　was　ingenious　enough　to　use　the　code　hoist　for　'winds'。　As　Hornblower　expected；　he　used　the　code　hoist　'lee'　for　'lea'　as　well；　thereby　saving　one　signal　flag。
　〃The　lowing　herd　winds　slowly　o'er　the　lee；　sir；〃　reported　the　puzzled　midshipman。
　〃Very　good。　Acknowledge。〃
　All　these　innumerable　signals　between　battleship　and　sloops　must　be　visible　from　the　shore　and　exciting　their　interest。　Hornblower　sent　up　another　signal　under　Lotus's　number　…　'The　ploughman　homeward　plods　his　weary　way'　…　only　to　receive　the　puzzled　reply　'Signal　not　understood'。　Purvis；　the　first　lieutenant　of　the　Lotus；　at　present　in　mand；　was　obviously　not　very　bright；　or　perhaps　not　very　well　read。　What　in　the　world；　at　that　rate；　he　was　making　of　all　this；　was　beyond　even　Hornblower's　imagination；　although　the　thought　of　it　brought　a　smile　to　his　lips。
　〃Cancel　the　signal；　then；〃　he　ordered；　〃and　substitute　'Report　immediately　number　of　red…haired　married　men　on　board'。〃
　Hornblower　waited　until　the　reply　came；　he　could　have　wished　that　Purvis　had　not　been　so　literal…minded　and　had　been　able　to　think　up　an　answer　which　should　bine　the　almost　inpatible　qualities　of　deference　and　wit；　instead　of　merely　sending　the　bald　reply　'Five'。　Then　he　turned　to　business。
　〃Signal　to　both　sloops；〃　he　ordered。　〃'Advance　on　boom　in　threatening　manner　avoiding　action'。〃
　In　the　dwindling　daylight　he　watched　the　two　vessels　move　down　as　though　to　attack。　They　wheeled；　edged　into　the　wind；　and　fell　away　again。　Twice　Hornblower　saw　a　puff　of　smoke　and　heard；　echoing　over　the　water；　the　dull　flat　boom　of　a　twenty…four…pounder　as　a　gunboat　tried　the　range。　Then；　while　there　was　just　light　enough　for　the　signal　to　be　read；　he　hoisted　'Discontinue　the　action　after　half　an　hour'。　He　had　done　all　he　could　to　attract　the　enemy's　attention　to　this　end　of　the　bay；　the　only　exit。　The　garrison　ought　to　be　quite　certain　now　that　the　raiding　boats　would　attempt　to　escape　by　this　route。　Probably　the　garrison　would　anticipate　a　rush　in　the　first　light　of　dawn；　assisted　by　an　attack　by　the　big　ships　from　outside。　He　had　done　all　he　could；　and　it　only　remained　now　to　go　to　bed　and　spend　the　rest　of　the　night　in　tranquillity；　if　that　were　possible。
　Naturally；　it　was　impossible；　with　the　fate　of　a　hundred　and　fifty　seamen　at　stake；　with　his　own　reputation　for　good　fortune　and　ingenuity　at　stake。　Half　an　hour　after　he　had　got　into　bed　Hornblower　found　himself　wishing　that　he　had　ordered　three　junior　officers　to　join　him　in　a　game　of　whist　until　dawn。　He　dallied　with　the　idea　of　getting　up　and　doing　so　now；　but　put　it　aside　in　the　certainty　that　if　he　should　do　so　now　everyone　would　know　that　he　had　tried　to　go　to　sleep　and　had　failed。　He　could　only　turn　over　stoically　and　force　himself　to　stay　in　bed　until　dawn　came　to　release　him。
　When　he　came　on　deck　the　pearly　mist　of　the　Baltic　morning　was　making　the　vague　outline　of　visible　objects　vaguer　yet。　There　was　every　promise　of　a　fine　day；　wind　moderate；　backing　a　little。　Bush　was　already　on　deck　…　Hornblower　knew　that；　before　he　went　up；　because　he　had　heard　Bush's　wooden　leg　thumping　over　his　head　…　and　at　first　sight　of　him　Hornblower　hoped　that　his　own　face　did　not　show　the　same　signs　of　sleeplessness　and　anxiety。　They　had　at　least　the　effect　of　bracing　him　up　to　conceal　his　own　anxiety　as　he　returned　Bush's　salute。
　〃I　hope　Vickery's　all　right；　sir；〃　said　Bush。
　The　mere　fact　that　Bush　ventured　to　address　Hornblower　at　this　time　in　the　morning　after　so　many　years　of　service　under　him　was　the　best　possible　proof　of　his　anxiety。
　〃Oh　yes；〃　said　Hornblower；　bluffly。　〃I'll　trust　Vickery　to　get　out　of　any　scrape。〃
　That　was　a　statement　made　in　all　sincerity；　it　occurred　to　Hornblower　as　he　made　it　…　what　he　had