csf.thecommodore-第42部分

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　〃Raven　sent　up　a　rocket；　sir；　two　minutes　back。　Bearin'　sou'…by…east。〃
　〃Wind's　west…by…north；〃　decided　Bush；　looking　down　into　the　tiny　light　of　the　binnacle。
　A　westerly　wind　and　a　dark　blustery　night；　ideal　conditions　for　Macdonald　to　try　and　push　a　force　across　the　river　mouth。　He　had　twenty　big　river　barges；　into　which　he　could　cram　5；000　men　and　a　few　guns；　if　he　once　managed　to　push　a　force　of　that　size　across　the　river　the　Russian　position　would　be　hopelessly　turned。　On　the　other　hand；　if　he　were　to　lose　a　force　of　that　size　…　5；000　men　killed　or　drowned　or　prisoners　…　it　would　be　a　staggering　blow　which　might　well　give　him　pause　and　so　gain　time　for　the　Russians。　A　fortified　position；　in　the　final　analysis；　was　only　a　means　of　gaining　time。　Hornblower　hoped　most　passionately　that　the　French　flotilla　had　been　allowed　to　thrust　its　head　well　into　the　noose　before　Cole　in　the　Raven　gave　the　alarm。
　A　shout　from　the　mast…head　claimed　his　attention。
　〃Gunfire　to　loo'ard；　sir！〃
　From　the　deck　they　could　just　see　a　pinpoint　of　flame　stab　the　darkness　far　to　the　westward；　and　then　another　one。
　〃That's　too　far　to　the　west'ard；〃　said　Hornblower　to　Bush。
　〃I'm　afraid　it　is；　sir。〃
　At　anchor　on　the　very　edge　of　the　shoals　in　that　direction　was　the　Raven；　it　was　her　light　draught　that　had　dictated　her　position　there。　Vickery　in　Lotus　guarded　the　other　bank　of　the　river；　while　Nonsuch　perforce　still　lay　anchored　in　the　fairway。　All　the　armed　boats　of　the　squadron　were　rowing　guard　in　the　mouth　of　the　river　…　a　navy　cutter　with　a　three…pounder　could　be　counted　on　to　deal　with　a　river　barge；　even　if　the　latter　did　carry　300　soldiers。　But　from　the　direction　of　the　gunfire　it　looked　as　if　Vickery　had　given　the　alarm　prematurely。　Another　gun　flashed　to　leeward；　the　wind　prevented　them　from　hearing　the　sound　of　it。
　〃Call　my　barge；〃　ordered　Hornblower。　He　felt　he　could　not　stay　here　in　useless　suspense。
　The　boat　pushed　off　from　the　Nonsuch；　the　men　tugging　at　the　oars　to　move　the　boat　in　the　teeth　of　the　wind。　Brown；　in　the　darkness　beside　Hornblower；　felt　his　captain's　restlessness　and　anxiety。
　〃Pull；　you　b…！〃　he　shouted　at　the　rowers。　The　boat　crawled　forward　over　the　tossing　water；　with　Brown　standing　in　the　sternsheets　with　his　hand　on　the　tiller。
　〃'Nother　gun；　sir。　Right　ahead；〃　he　reported　to　Hornblower。
　〃Very　good。〃
　A　tedious　quarter　of　an　hour　followed；　while　the　boat　lurched　and　pitched　over　the　steep　little　waves；　and　the　hands　slaved　away　at　the　oars。　The　wash　of　the　seas　overside　and　the　groaning　of　the　oars　against　the　thole…pins　made　a　monotonous　acpaniment　to　Hornblower's　racing　thoughts。
　〃There's　a　whole　lot　o'　guns　firin'　now；　sir；〃　reported　Brown。
　〃I　can　see　them；〃　replied　Hornblower。　The　darkness　was　pierced　by　shot　after　shot；　it　was　evident　that　the　guard…boats　were　all　clustered　round　a　single　victim。　〃There's　Raven；　sir。　Shall　I　make　for　her？〃
　〃No。　Steer　for　the　firing。〃
　The　dark　shape　of　the　sloop　was　just　visible　ahead；　Brown　put　his　helm　over　a　little　to　lay　the　barge　on　a　course　that　would　take　her　past　the　sloop　at　a　cable's　length　distance；　heading　for　the　gunfire。　They　had　drawn　up　abeam　of　the　sloop　when　there　came　a　flash　and　a　roar　from　her　side；　and　a　shot　howled　close　overhead。
　〃Jesus！〃　said　Brown。　〃Ain't　the　fools　got　eyes　in　their　heads？〃
　Presumably　the　sloop　had　hailed　the　passing　boat；　and；　receiving　no　reply　…　the　hail　being　carried　away　by　the　wind　…　had　incontinently　fired。　Another　shot　came　from　the　Raven；　and　someone　in　the　barge　squawked　with　dismay。　It　was　demoralizing　to　be　fired　upon　by　one's　own　side。
　〃Turn　towards　her；〃　ordered　Hornblower。　〃Burn　a　blue　light。〃
　At　any　moment　the　sloop　might　fire　a　full　broadside；　with　every　chance　of　blowing　the　barge　out　of　the　water。　Hornblower　took　the　tiller　while　Brown　wrestled；　cursing　under　his　breath；　with　flint　and　steel　and　tinder。　The　hand　pulling　at　the　stroke　said　something　to　try　to　quicken　his　movements。
　〃Shut　your　mouth！〃　snapped　Hornblower。
　Everything　was　in　a　muddle；　and　the　men　knew　it。　Brown　caught　a　spark　on　the　tinder；　jabbed　the　fuse　of　the　blue　light　upon　it；　and　then　blew　the　fuse　into　a　glow。　A　moment　later　the　firework　burst　into　an　unearthly　glare；　lighting　up　the　boat　and　the　water　round　it；　and　Hornblower　stood　up　so　that　his　features　and　his　uniform　should　be　visible　to　the　sloop。　It　was　poor　revenge　to　think　of　the　consternation　in　the　Raven　when　they　saw　that　they　had　been　firing　on　their　own　modore。　Hornblower　went　up　the　sloop's　side　in　a　state　of　cold　fury。　Cole　was　there　to　receive　him；　of　course。
　〃Well；　Mr　Cole？〃
　〃Sorry　I　fired　on　you；　sir；　but　you　didn't　answer　my　hail。〃
　〃Did　it　occur　to　you　that　with　this　wind　blowing　I　could　not　hear　you？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　But　we　know　the　French　are　out。　The　boats　fired　on　them　an　hour　back；　and　half　my　crew　is　away　in　the　boats。　Supposing　I　were　boarded　by　two　hundred　French　soldiers？　I　couldn't　take　chances；　sir。〃
　It　was　no　use　arguing　with　a　man　as　jumpy　and　as　nervous　as　Cole　evidently　was。
　〃You　sent　up　the　alarm　rocket？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　I　had　to　inform　you　that　the　bridges　were　at　sea。〃
　〃You　did　that　the　first　moment　you　knew？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　Of　course；　sir。〃
　〃Did　it　occur　to　you　that　you　would　alarm　the　French　as　well？〃
　〃I　thought　that　was　what　you　wanted；　sir。〃
　Hornblower　turned　away　in　disgust。　The　man　in　his　excitement　had　clean　forgotten　every　order　given　him。
　〃Boat　approaching　from　to　wind'ard；　sir；〃　reported　someone；　his　white　shirt　just　visible　in　the　gathering　dawn。　Cole　ran　forward　excitedly；　with　Hornblower　striding　after　him；　catching　up　to　him　as　he　stood　at　the　knightheads　staring　at　the　boat。
　〃Boat　ahoy！〃　yelled　Cole　through　his　speaking　trumpet。
　〃Aye　aye〃　came　the　answering　hail　downwind。　That　was　the　correct　reply　for　an　approaching　boat　with　officers　on　board。　She　was　a　ship's　cutter　under　a　dipping　lugsail；　as　Hornblower　watched　she　took　in　the　sail　with　considerable　clumsiness　and　came　dropping　down　to　the　sloop　under　oars。　Level　with　the　bow　she　turned；　clumsily　again；　and　headed　in　to　lie　alongside　the　sloop。　Hornblower　could　see　she　was　crammed　with　men。
　〃Soldiers！〃　suddenly　exclaimed　Cole；　pointing　at　the　boat　with　an　excited　forefinger。　〃Stand　to　your　guns；　men！　Sheer　off；　there！〃
　Hornblower　could　see　shakoes　and　crossbelts；　it　must　be　just　the　kind　of　vision　Cole's　imagination　had　been　toying　with　all　through　the　night。　A　reassuring　English　voice　came　back　to　them　from　overside。
　〃Avast；　there！　This　is　Lotus's　cutter　with　prisoners。〃
　It　was　Purvis's　voice　without　a　doubt。　Hornblower　walked　to　the　waist　and　looked　down。　There　was　Purvis　in　the　stern；　and　British　seamen　in　check　shirts　at　the　oars；　but　every　inch　of　space　was　filled　with　soldiers；　sitting　in　attitudes　of　apprehension　or　dejection。　Right　up　in　the　eyes　of　the　boat；　round　the　boat's　gun；　four　red…coated　marines　held　their　muskets　at　the　ready；　that　was　the　way　Purvis　had　prepared　to　deal　with　any　attempt　by　the　prisoners　to　regain　their　freedom。
　〃Let　'em　e　up；〃　said　Hornblower。
　They　climbed　the　side；　greeted　by　the　grinning　seamen　as　they　reached　the　deck；　and　stared　round　in　the　growing　light。　Purvis　swung　himself　up　and　touched　his　hat　to　Hornblower。
　〃They're　all　Dutchmen；　I　think；　sir。　Not　Frogs。　We　got　'em　off　the　barge　we　caught。　Had　to　fire　into　'em　a　long　time　…　just　shot　the　barge　to　pieces；　us　an'　the　other　boats。　They're　following　us；　sir；　with　the　other　prisoners。〃
　〃You　only　caught　one　barge？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　The　others　ran　for　home　the　moment　the　rocket　went　up。　But　we　got　two　hundred　prisoners；　I　should　think；　an'　we　had　to　kill　nigh　on　a　hundred　more。〃
　One　single　barge　taken；　with　two　hundred　men；　when　Hornblower　had　hoped　for　a　dozen　barges　at　least　and　three　thousand　men！　But　Purvis　in　his　innocence　was　obviously　delighted　with　his　capture。
　〃Here's　one　of　their　officers；　sir。〃
　Hornblower　turned　on　the　blue…coated　man　who　was　wearily　climbing　over　the　side。
　〃Who　are　you；　sir？〃　he　asked　in　French；　and　after　a　moment's　hesitation　the　officer　replied　haltingly　in　the　same　language。
　〃Lieutenant　von　Bulow；　of　the　Fifty…first　Regiment　of　Infantry。〃
　〃French　infantry？〃
　〃Of　the　King　of　Prussia；〃　said　the　officer；　sternly；　with　a　Teutonic　explosiveness　in　the　word　'Prusse'　which　indicated　his　annoyance　at　the　suggestion　that　he　would　be　a　Frenchman。
　So　Macdonald　had　not　risked　French　lives　in　this　highly　dangerous　venture；　that　was　to　be　expected；　of　course。　Bonaparte　had　made　war　largely　at　the　expense　of　his　allies　for　the　last　ten　years。
　〃I　will　see　that　you　are　given　refreshment；〃　said　Hornblower；　politely。　〃Please　order　your　men　to　sit　down　against　the　rail　there。〃
　The　officer　barked　the　order。　It　was　significant　how　at　the　first　warning　'achtung'　the　dispirited　soldiers　came　instantly　to　attention；　standing　stiff　and　straight。　Most　of　them　were　wet　and　bedraggled；　apparently　having　been　in　the　water　before　surrendering。　Hornblower　gave　orders　for　them　to　be　fed；　at　the　same　time　as　the　other　boats　came　back　downwind；　each　with　its　quota　of　prisoners。　On　the　cramped　decks　of　the　Raven　the　two　hundred　prisoners　made　a　fine　show；　Cole　had　the　two　foremost　chase…guns　run　inboard　and　trained　round　upon　them；　a　round　of　canister　in　each　gun；　the　gun…captains　posted　with　lighted　matches　ready　to　fire　into　them。　Seamen；　still　grinning；　went　along　their　ranks　handing　out　bread　and　beer。
　〃See　how　they　eat；　sir！〃　said　Purvis。　〃Look　at　that　one；　layin'　into　his　biscuit　like　a　wolf　with　a　bone。　God　damme；　it's　gone　a'ready。　It's　true　what　they　say；　sir；　about　Boney　never　feeding　his　men。〃
　An　Imperial　army　was　wont　to　gather　its　food　from　the　countryside　as　it　marched；　Macdonald's　sixty　thousand　had　been　stationary　now　for　over　two　weeks；　and　in　a　thinly　populated　country。　They　must　be　on　short　mons。　Every　day　the　siege　of　Riga　could　be　prolonged　cost　lives　in　plenty　to　Bonaparte；　and　although　he　was　ever　prodigal　with　lives　there　must　e　a　time　at　last　when　he　would　have　no　more　to　spare；　not　even　Prussian　ones；　or　Italian　ones。　The　greater　the　pity；　then；　that　the　whole　division　that　had　tried　to　pass　the　river　had　not　been　wiped　out。　Hornblower　told　himsel