csf.thecommodore-第51部分

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d；　over　the　tortured　ground；　towards　the　ramparts。　The　last　remnants　of　the　assaulting　forces　were　being　driven　back　through　the　breach　to　the　acpaniment　of　a　straggling　musketry　fire。　As　they　neared　the　fortifications　the　guns　of　the　foiled　besiegers　re…opened　fire；　and　a　shot　or　two　came　howling　overhead；　Essen　reined　up；　like　a　sensible　man；　and　then　walked　his　horse　out　of　the　line　of　fire。
　〃That　was　a　moment　to　remember；〃　he　said；　looking　round　at　the　area　where　the　clash　had　occurred。
　Hornblower's　head　was　still　clear。　He　realized　what　a　bitter　blow　this　reverse　must　be　to　the　besiegers。　After　all　the　fierce　preliminary　fighting　they　had　sapped　up　to　the　ramparts；　made　their　breach；　and　launched　the　assault　which　should　have　captured　the　place；　only　to　be　flung　back　when　the　breach　was　in　their　hands。　He　knew　that　Macdonald　would　have　the　greatest　difficulty　in　inducing　his　men　to　assault　again　…　a　bloody　failure　like　this　would　make　them　sulky　and　grudging　of　their　lives。　Certainly　Macdonald　would　have　to　allow　a　considerable　time　to　elapse；　and　would　have　to　continue　his　battering　for　several　more　days；　and　multiply　his　approaches　and　parallels；　before　he　could　risk　another　assault。　Maybe　the　town　would　hold。　Maybe　that　attack　would　be　the　last。　Hornblower　felt　prophetic；　inspired。　He　remembered　how　he　had　heard　the　news　of　Massena's　retreat　from　before　Lisbon　…　that　had　been　the　first　of　the　ebb　of　the　Empire　in　the　South；　and　now　Wellington　was　in　Madrid　and　threatening　France。　Maybe　Riga　would　mark　the　limits　of　the　Empire　in　the　North。　Maybe　that　penetration　through　the　breach　would　be　remembered　as　the　farthest　north　Bonaparte's　men　would　ever　attain。　At　that　rate　…　Hornblower's　pulse　beat　quicker　…　the　flank　attack　he　had　led；　that　unforeseen　charge　of　a　couple　of　hundred　men　hurriedly　gathered　up　in　the　tumult；　had　been　the　blow　which　had　thwarted　Bonaparte's　schemes　to　conquer　the　world。　That　was　what　he　had　done。　And　it　would　look　extraordinarily　well　in　The　Times　that　'modore　Sir　Horatio　Hornblower；　K。B。；　had　his　horse　killed　under　him　while　leading　a　charge。'　Barbara　would　be　pleased。
　Exultation　and　inspiration　ended　abruptly；　and　Hornblower　felt　suddenly　weak　and　ill。　He　knew　that　if　he　did　not　dismount　quickly　he　would　fall　from　his　saddle。　He　took　hold　of　the　pommel　and　kicked　his　right　foot　clear　of　the　stirrup；　swung　his　leg　over；　and　then　as　his　feet　touched　ground　the　ground　came　up　to　meet　him。　He　only　recovered　some　indefinite　number　of　minutes　later；　to　find　himself　seated　on　the　ground；　his　stock　unbuckled；　and　his　face　clammy　with　cold　sweat。　Essen　was　bending　anxiously　over　him；　and　someone；　apparently　a　surgeon；　was　kneeling　at　his　side。　His　sleeve　was　oiled　up　above　the　elbow；　and　the　surgeon；　lancet　in　hand；　as　about　to　open　a　vein　to　bleed　him。　Hornblower　withdrew　is　arm　abruptly；　for　he　did　not　want　to　be　touched　by　that　thing；　nor　by　those　hands　which　were　black　with　other　men's　blood。
　The　assembled　staff　raised　their　voices　in　protest；　but　Hornblower　disregarded　them　with　the　sublime　abstraction　of　a　sick　man。　Then　Brown　appeared；　cutlass　at　his　side　and　pistols　in　his　belt；　followed　by　other　members　of　the　barge's　crew。　Apparently　he　had　seen　his　captain　ride　over　the　bridge；　and；　like　the　good　subordinate　he　was；　had　brought　the　boat　across　after　him。　Brown's　face　was　contorted　with　anxiety；　and　he　threw　himself；　too；　on　his　knees　beside　Hornblower。
　〃Wounded；　sir？　Where　is　it？　Can　I　…〃
　〃No；　no；　no；〃　said　Hornblower　pettishly；　pushing　Brown　away　and　getting　to　his　feet；　swaying。　〃It's　nothing。〃
　It　was　extraordinarily　maddening　to　see　a　look　of　admiration　e　over　Brown's　face。　Anyone　would　think　he　was　being　heroic　instead　of　merely　sensible。　Not　far　away　…　at　the　foot　of　the　breach；　apparently　…　a　trumpet　was　pealing；　high　challenging　notes；　and　this　served　to　distract　the　crowd　from　their　solicitude。　Everyone　looked　in　the　direction　of　the　sound；　and　presently　a　group　of　Russian　officers　approached　them；　leading　a　blindfold　figure　dressed　in　the　blue　trimmed　with　grey　astrakhan　of　the　French　Imperial　Staff。　A　word　from　Essen　removed　the　bandage；　and　the　officer　…　he　wore　a　grey　Hussar　moustache　…　saluted　with　dignity。
　〃The　chef　d'escadron　Verrier；〃　he　said；　〃aide…de…camp　to　Marshal　the　Duke　of　Tarentum。　I　am　ordered　by　the　Marshal　to　suggest　a　suspension　of　hostilities　for　two　hours。　The　breach　is　covered　with　the　wounded　of　both　sides；　and　it　would　be　only　humane　to　remove　them。　Each　side　can　remove　its　own。〃
　〃There　are　more　French　and　German　wounded　than　Russian；　I　am　sure；〃　said　Essen；　in　his　horrible　French。
　〃French　or　Russian；　sir；〃　said　the　parlementaire；　〃they　will　die　unless　they　receive　speedy　aid。〃
　Hornblower's　mind　was　beginning　to　work　again。　Ideas　were　leaping　to　the　surface　like　wreckage　from　a　sunken　ship。　He　caught　Essen's　eye　and　nodded　meaningly；　and　Essen；　like　a　good　diplomatist；　gave　no　sign　of　having　received　the　hint　as　he　shifted　his　glance　back　to　Verrier。
　〃The　request　is　granted；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃in　the　name　of　humanity。〃
　〃I　thank　Your　Excellency；　in　the　name　of　humanity；〃　said　Verrier；　saluting；　and　then　looking　round　for　someone　to　blindfold　him　again　and　lead　him　through　the　breach。
　The　moment　he　was　gone　Hornblower　turned　to　Brown。
　〃Take　the　barge　back　to　the　ship；〃　he　ordered。　〃Hurry。　My　pliments　to　Captain　Bush；　and　I　would　like　you　to　bring　back　Lieutenant　von　Bulow　to　me。　One　of　the　lieutenants　of　equal　rank　will　have　to　acpany　him。　Hurry！〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　That　was　all　that　was　necessary　with　Brown　or　Bush；　thank　God。　A　simple　order　brought　simple　yet　intelligent　obedience。　Hornblower　saluted　Essen。
　〃Would　it　be　possible；　Your　Excellency；〃　he　asked；　〃to　bring　the　Spanish　troops　over　to　this　side　of　the　river？　I　have　a　German　prisoner　whom　I　am　going　to　return　to　the　enemy；　and　I　should　like　him　to　see　the　Spaniards　with　his　own　eyes　first。〃
　Essen　grinned　with　blubber　lips。
　〃I　do　my　best　not　merely　to　ply　with　every　one　of　your　wishes；　sir；　but　even　to　anticipate　them。　The　last　order　I　gave　on　the　other　side　of　the　river　was　for　the　Spaniards　to　brought　over　…　they　were　the　nearest　formed　troops　and　I　intended　to　use　them　as　garrison　for　the　warehouses　on　the　quay。　I　have　no　doubt　they　are　there　already。　You　would　like　them　marched　in　this　direction？〃
　〃If　you　would　be　so　kind；　sir。〃
　Hornblower　was　casually　waiting　for　nothing　in　particular　at　the　jetty　when　the　boat　touched　at　it；　and　Lieutenant　von　Bulow；　of　the　Fifty…first　Regiment　of　Prussian　Infantry；　stepped　ashore　under　the　escort　of　Mr　Tooth　and　Brown　and　his　men。
　〃Ah；　Lieutenant；〃　said　Hornblower。
　Bulow　saluted　him　stiffly；　clearly　puzzled　at　this　new　development；　which　had　snatched　him　from　his　confinement　aboard　ship　and　dumped　him　at　a　moment's　notice　in　the　ruined　village。
　〃There　is　an　armistice　at　the　moment；〃　explained　Hornblower；　〃between　your　army　and　ours。　No；　it　is　not　peace　…　merely　to　clear　the　wounded　from　the　breach。　But　I　was　going　to　take　this　opportunity　of　returning　you　to　your　friends。〃
　Bulow　looked　questions　at　him。
　〃It　will　save　much　formality　with　cartels　and　flags　of　truce；〃　explained　Hornblower。　〃At　this　moment　you　have　merely　to　walk　down　the　breach　and　join　the　men　of　your　own　army。　Naturally；　you　have　not　been　properly　exchanged；　but　you　can；　if　you　wish；　give　me　your　word　that　you　will　not　serve　against　his　Britannic　Majesty　nor　against　His　Imperial　Russian　Majesty　until　an　exchange　has　been　effected。〃
　〃I　give　you　my　word；〃　said　Bulow；　after　a　moment's　thought。
　〃Excellent！　Then　perhaps　I　might　give　myself　the　pleasure　of　walking　with　you　as　far　as　the　breach？〃
　As　they　left　the　jetty　and　began　the　brief　walk　through　the　ruins　of　the　village　Bulow　was　darting　the　quick　glances　of　a　professional　soldier　about　him；　he　was　perfectly　entitled；　under　any　military　code；　to　take　every　advantage　of　carelessness　on　his　enemy's　part。　His　professional　curiosity　would　have　led　him　to　stare　about　him　in　any　case。　Hornblower　made　polite　conversation　as　they　strolled。
　〃Your　assault　this　morning　…　I　daresay　you　heard　the　hubbub　even　on　board？　…　was　made　by　picked　grenadiers；　as　far　as　I　could　judge　by　the　uniforms。　Most　excellent　troops　…　it　is　indeed　a　pity　they　suffered　such　loss　of　life。　I　trust　that　when　you　rejoin　your　friends　you　will　convey　to　them　my　deepest　condolences。　But　they　had　not　a　chance；　of　course。〃
　At　the　foot　of　the　church　tower　there　was　a　Spanish　regiment；　the　men　lying　down　in　their　ranks。　At　the　sight　of　Hornblower　the　colonel　called　his　men　to　their　feet　and　saluted。
　Hornblower　returned　the　salute；　conscious　as　he　did　so　that　Bulow　at　his　side　had；　suddenly　changed　his　gait；　stealing　a　glance　out　of　the　tail　of　his　eye　he　saw　that　Bulow　was　ponderously　goose…stepping　as　long　as　the　salutes　were　being　exchanged。　Yet　it　was　very　noticeable　that　even　though　Bulow's　formal　training　forced　him　into　a　goose…step　at　a　moment　of　military　courtesy；　he　had　not　failed　to　notice　the　troops。　His　eyes　were　bulging　with　unasked　questions。
　〃Spanish　troops；〃　said　Hornblower；　casually。　〃A　division　of　Spaniards　and　Portuguese　joined　us　from　Bonaparte's　main　army　a　little　while　ago。　They　fight　well　…　in　fact　they　were　responsible　for　the　final　repulse　of　the　last　assault。　It　is　interesting　to　notice　how　Bonaparte's　dupes　are　falling　away　from　him　now　that　the　hollowness　of　his　power　is　revealed。〃
　Bulow's　astonished　reply　must　either　have　been　inarticulate　or　in　German；　for　Hornblower　could　not　understand　it；　but　his　tone　conveyed　his　meaning　well　enough。
　〃It　goes　without　saying；〃　said　Hornblower　casually；　〃that　I　would　like　to　see　the　magnificent　Prussian　Army　ranged　among　Bonaparte's　enemies　and　England's　allies；　too。　But　naturally　your　King　knows　his　own　policy　best　…　unless；　of　course；　surrounded　as　he　is　by　Bonaparte's　men；　he　is　not　free　to　choose。〃
　Bulow　stared　at　him　in　amazement；　Hornblower　was　putting　forward　a　viewpoint　which　was　quite　new　to　him；　but　Hornblower　still　made　himself　talk　with　the　utmost　casualness；　as　if　he　were　doing　no　more　than　making　polite　conversation。
　〃That's　high　politics；〃　he　said　with　a　laugh　and　a　wave　of　his　hand。　〃But　one　day　in　the　future　we　might　l