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¡¡Professionally¡¡speaking£»¡¡this¡¡was¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡his¡¡career¡¡up¡¡to¡¡now¡£¡¡As¡¡a¡¡captain¡¡he¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡captain's¡¡honours£»¡¡the¡¡bos'un's¡¡mates¡¡twittering¡¡on¡¡their¡¡pipes£»¡¡the¡¡four¡¡side¡­boys¡¡and¡¡the¡¡marine¡¡sentries¡£¡¡But¡¡now¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡modore¡¡taking¡¡up¡¡his¡¡mand£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡six¡¡side¡­boys¡¡with¡¡their¡¡white¡¡gloves£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡marine¡¡guard¡¡and¡¡the¡¡marine¡¡band£»¡¡a¡¡long¡¡double¡¡lane¡¡of¡¡bos'un's¡¡mates¡¡with¡¡their¡¡pipes£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lane¡¡a¡¡crowd¡¡of¡¡officers¡¡in¡¡full¡¡dress¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡set¡¡his¡¡foot¡¡on¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡the¡¡drums¡¡beat¡¡a¡¡ruffle¡¡in¡¡petition¡¡with¡¡the¡¡bos'un's¡¡calls£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡fifes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡band¡¡struck¡¡up¡¡'Heart¡¡of¡¡oak¡¡are¡¡our¡¡ships£»¡¡Jolly¡¡tars¡¡are¡¡our¡¡men¡¡¡­'¡¡With¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡at¡¡the¡¡salute¡¡Hornblower¡¡strode¡¡up¡¡the¡¡lane¡¡of¡¡bos'un's¡¡mates¡¡and¡¡side¡­boys£»¡¡all¡¡this¡¡was¡¡peculiarly¡¡exhilarating¡¡despite¡¡his¡¡efforts¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡himself¡¡that¡¡these¡¡outward¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dignity¡¡of¡¡his¡¡position¡¡were¡¡mere¡¡childish¡¡baubles¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡to¡¡check¡¡himself£»¡¡or¡¡his¡¡face¡¡would¡¡have¡¡borne¡¡a¡¡stupid¡¡ecstatic¡¡grin£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡with¡¡difficulty¡¡that¡¡he¡¡forced¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡assume¡¡the¡¡stern¡¡posure¡¡a¡¡modore¡¡should¡¡display¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡Bush¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lane£»¡¡saluting¡¡stiffly£»¡¡and¡¡standing¡¡effortlessly¡¡despite¡¡his¡¡wooden¡¡leg£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡so¡¡pleasant¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Bush¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡down¡¡his¡¡grin¡¡all¡¡over¡¡again¡£
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¡¡¡¨Good¡¡morning£»¡¡sir¡£¡¨
¡¡Bush¡¡brought¡¡down¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡from¡¡the¡¡salute¡¡and¡¡grasped¡¡Hornblower's£»¡¡trying¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡act¡¡his¡¡part£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡friendship¡¡in¡¡this¡¡handshake¡¡but¡¡mere¡¡professional¡¡esteem¡£¡¡Hornblower¡¡noted¡¡that¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡was¡¡as¡¡hard¡¡as¡¡ever¡¡¡­¡¡promotion¡¡to¡¡captain's¡¡rank¡¡had¡¡not¡¡softened¡¡it¡£¡¡And¡¡try¡¡as¡¡he¡¡would¡¡Bush¡¡could¡¡not¡¡keep¡¡his¡¡face¡¡expressionless¡£¡¡The¡¡blue¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡alight¡¡with¡¡pleasure£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡craggy¡¡features¡¡kept¡¡softening¡¡into¡¡a¡¡smile¡¡as¡¡they¡¡escaped¡¡from¡¡his¡¡control¡£¡¡It¡¡made¡¡it¡¡harder¡¡than¡¡ever¡¡for¡¡Hornblower¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡dignified¡£
¡¡Out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tail¡¡of¡¡his¡¡eye¡¡Hornblower¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡seaman¡¡hauling¡¡briskly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡main¡¡signal¡¡halyards¡£¡¡A¡¡black¡¡ball¡¡was¡¡soaring¡¡up¡¡the¡¡mast£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡it¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡block¡¡a¡¡twitch¡¡of¡¡the¡¡seaman's¡¡wrist¡¡broke¡¡it¡¡out¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡modore's¡¡broad¡¡pendant£»¡¡hoisted¡¡to¡¡distinguish¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡the¡¡pendant¡¡broke¡¡out¡¡a¡¡puff¡¡of¡¡smoke¡¡forward¡¡and¡¡a¡¡loud¡¡bang¡¡marked¡¡the¡¡first¡¡gun¡¡of¡¡the¡¡salute¡¡which¡¡weled¡¡it¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡highest£»¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡moment¡¡of¡¡all¡¡¡­¡¡thousands¡¡upon¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡naval¡¡officers¡¡could¡¡serve¡¡all¡¡their¡¡lives¡¡and¡¡never¡¡have¡¡a¡¡distinguishing¡¡pendant¡¡hoisted¡¡for¡¡them£»¡¡never¡¡hear¡¡a¡¡single¡¡gun¡¡fired¡¡in¡¡their¡¡honour¡£¡¡Hornblower¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡smiling¡¡now¡£¡¡His¡¡last¡¡reserve¡¡was¡¡broken¡¡down£»¡¡he¡¡met¡¡Bush's¡¡eye¡¡and¡¡he¡¡laughed¡¡outright£»¡¡and¡¡Bush¡¡laughed¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡like¡¡a¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡schoolboys¡¡exulting¡¡over¡¡a¡¡successful¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡mischief¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡extraordinarily¡¡pleasant¡¡to¡¡be¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡Bush¡¡was¡¡not¡¡only¡¡pleased¡¡at¡¡serving¡¡with¡¡him¡¡again£»¡¡but¡¡was¡¡also¡¡pleased¡¡just¡¡because¡¡Hornblower¡¡was¡¡pleased¡£
¡¡Bush¡¡glanced¡¡over¡¡the¡¡port¡­side¡¡rail£»¡¡and¡¡Hornblower¡¡looked¡¡across¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡squadron£»¡¡the¡¡two¡¡ugly¡¡bomb¡­ketches£»¡¡the¡¡two¡¡big¡¡ship¡­rigged¡¡sloops£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡graceful¡¡little¡¡cutter¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡puffs¡¡of¡¡smoke¡¡showing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡each¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡blown¡¡to¡¡nothingness¡¡almost¡¡instantly¡¡by¡¡the¡¡wind£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡boom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shots¡¡as¡¡each¡¡ship¡¡saluted¡¡the¡¡pendant£»¡¡firing¡¡gun¡¡for¡¡gun£»¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡time¡¡from¡¡the¡¡modore¡£¡¡Bush's¡¡eyes¡¡narrowed¡¡as¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡them¡¡over£»¡¡observing¡¡whether¡¡everything¡¡was¡¡being¡¡done¡¡decently¡¡and¡¡in¡¡order£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡face¡¡lapsed¡¡into¡¡a¡¡grin¡¡again¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡sure¡£¡¡The¡¡last¡¡shot¡¡of¡¡the¡¡salute¡¡was¡¡fired£»¡¡eleven¡¡rounds¡¡from¡¡each¡¡ship¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡interesting¡¡to¡¡work¡¡out¡¡that¡¡the¡¡mere¡¡ceremony¡¡of¡¡hoisting¡¡his¡¡pendant¡¡had¡¡cost¡¡his¡¡country¡¡fifty¡¡pounds¡¡or¡¡so£»¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time¡¡when¡¡she¡¡was¡¡fighting¡¡for¡¡her¡¡life¡¡against¡¡a¡¡tyrant¡¡who¡¡dominated¡¡all¡¡Europe¡£¡¡The¡¡twitter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pipes¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡ceremony¡¡to¡¡an¡¡end£»¡¡the¡¡ship's¡¡pany¡¡took¡¡up¡¡their¡¡duties¡¡again£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡marines¡¡sloped¡¡arms¡¡and¡¡marched¡¡off£»¡¡their¡¡boots¡¡sounding¡¡loud¡¡on¡¡the¡¡deck¡£
¡¡¡¨A¡¡happy¡¡moment£»¡¡Bush£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Hornblower¡£
¡¡¡¨A¡¡happy¡¡moment¡¡indeed£»¡¡sir¡£¡¨
¡¡There¡¡were¡¡presentations¡¡to¡¡be¡¡made£»¡¡Bush¡¡brought¡¡forward¡¡the¡¡ship's¡¡officers¡¡one¡¡by¡¡one¡£¡¡At¡¡this¡¡first¡¡sight¡¡one¡¡face¡¡was¡¡like¡¡another£»¡¡but¡¡Hornblower¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡in¡¡a¡¡short¡¡period¡¡of¡¡crowded¡¡living¡¡each¡¡individual¡¡would¡¡bee¡¡distinct£»¡¡his¡¡peculiarities¡¡known¡¡to¡¡the¡¡limit¡¡of¡¡boredom¡£
¡¡¡¨We¡¡shall¡¡e¡¡to¡¡know¡¡each¡¡other¡¡better£»¡¡I¡¡hope£»¡¡gentlemen£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Hornblower£»¡¡phrasing¡¡his¡¡thought¡¡politely¡£
¡¡A¡¡whip¡¡at¡¡the¡¡main¡¡yard¡­arm¡¡was¡¡bringing¡¡up¡¡his¡¡baggage¡¡from¡¡the¡¡lugger£»¡¡with¡¡Brown¡¡standing¡¡by¡¡to¡¡supervise¡¡¡­¡¡he¡¡must¡¡have¡¡e¡¡on¡¡board¡¡by¡¡an¡¡unobtrusive¡¡route£»¡¡through¡¡a¡¡gun¡­port¡¡presumably¡£¡¡So¡¡the¡¡lugger¡¡and¡¡Barbara¡¡must¡¡still¡¡be¡¡alongside¡£¡¡Hornblower¡¡walked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rail¡¡and¡¡peered¡¡over¡£¡¡True¡¡enough¡£¡¡And¡¡Barbara¡¡was¡¡standing¡¡just¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡left¡¡her£»¡¡still£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡statue¡£¡¡But¡¡that¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡the¡¡last¡¡parcel¡¡swung¡¡up¡¡by¡¡the¡¡ship£»¡¡Hornblower¡¡had¡¡hardly¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡side¡¡when¡¡the¡¡lugger¡¡cast¡¡off¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Nonsuch's¡¡chains£»¡¡hoisted¡¡her¡¡big¡¡mainsail¡¡and¡¡wheeled¡¡away¡¡as¡¡effortlessly¡¡as¡¡a¡¡gull¡£
¡¡¡¨Captain¡¡Bush£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Hornblower£»¡¡¡¨we¡¡shall¡¡get¡¡under¡¡way¡¡immediately£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡please¡£¡¡Make¡¡a¡¡signal¡¡to¡¡the¡¡flotilla¡¡to¡¡that¡¡effect¡£¡¨
¡¡
¡¡CHAPTER¡¡FIVE
¡¡
¡¡¡¨I'll¡¡put¡¡the¡¡pistols¡¡in¡¡this¡¡locker£»¡¡sir£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Brown£»¡¡pleting¡¡the¡¡unpacking¡£
¡¡¡¨Pistols£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Hornblower¡£
¡¡Brown¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡case¡¡over¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡only¡¡mentioned¡¡them¡¡because¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡Hornblower¡¡was¡¡not¡¡aware¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pistols'¡¡existence¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡beautiful¡¡mahogany¡¡case£»¡¡velvet¡­lined£»¡¡the¡¡first¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡catch¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡inside¡¡was¡¡a¡¡white¡¡card¡£¡¡It¡¡bore¡¡some¡¡words¡¡in¡¡Barbara's¡¡handwriting¡¡¡­¡¡'To¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡husband¡£¡¡May¡¡he¡¡never¡¡need¡¡to¡¡use¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡he¡¡must¡¡then¡¡may¡¡they¡¡serve¡¡him¡¡well£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡least¡¡may¡¡they¡¡remind¡¡him¡¡of¡¡his¡¡loving¡¡wife£»¡¡who¡¡will¡¡pray¡¡every¡¡day¡¡for¡¡his¡¡safety£»¡¡for¡¡his¡¡happiness£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡his¡¡success¡£'¡¡Hornblower¡¡read¡¡the¡¡words¡¡twice¡¡before¡¡he¡¡put¡¡the¡¡card¡¡down¡¡to¡¡examine¡¡the¡¡pistols¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡beautiful¡¡weapons£»¡¡of¡¡bright¡¡steel¡¡inlaid¡¡with¡¡silver£»¡¡double¡­barrelled£»¡¡the¡¡butts¡¡of¡¡ebony£»¡¡giving¡¡them¡¡perfect¡¡balance¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hand¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡two¡¡copper¡¡tubes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡case¡¡to¡¡open¡¡next£»¡¡they¡¡merely¡¡contained¡¡pistol¡¡bullets£»¡¡each¡¡one¡¡cast¡¡flawlessly£»¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡sphere¡£¡¡The¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡the¡¡makers¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡the¡¡trouble¡¡of¡¡casting¡¡special¡¡bullets¡¡and¡¡including¡¡them¡¡in¡¡the¡¡case¡¡recalled¡¡Hornblower's¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pistols¡£¡¡Inside¡¡the¡¡barrels¡¡were¡¡bright¡¡spiral¡¡lanes£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡rifled¡¡pistols£»¡¡then¡£¡¡The¡¡next¡¡copper¡¡box¡¡in¡¡the¡¡case¡¡contained¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡discs¡¡of¡¡thin¡¡leather¡¡impregnated¡¡with¡¡oil£»¡¡these¡¡would¡¡be¡¡for¡¡wrapping¡¡up¡¡the¡¡bullet¡¡before¡¡inserting¡¡it¡¡into¡¡the¡¡barrel£»¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡ensure¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡fit¡£¡¡The¡¡brass¡¡rod¡¡and¡¡the¡¡little¡¡brass¡¡mallet¡¡would¡¡be¡¡for¡¡hammering¡¡the¡¡bullets¡¡home¡£¡¡The¡¡little¡¡brass¡¡cup¡¡must¡¡be¡¡a¡¡measure¡¡of¡¡the¡¡powder¡¡charge¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡small£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡was¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡ensure¡¡accuracy¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡small¡¡powder¡¡charge£»¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡ball£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡true¡¡barrel¡£¡¡With¡¡these¡¡pistols¡¡he¡¡could¡¡rely¡¡on¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡hit¡¡a¡¡small¡¡bull's¡­eye¡¡at¡¡fifty¡¡yards£»¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡he¡¡held¡¡true¡£
¡¡But¡¡there¡¡was¡¡one¡¡more¡¡copper¡¡box¡¡to¡¡open¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡full¡¡of¡¡little¡¡square¡¡bits¡¡of¡¡copper¡¡sheet£»¡¡very¡¡thin¡¡indeed¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡puzzled¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡each¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡copper¡¡had¡¡a¡¡bulge¡¡in¡¡the¡¡centre£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡metal¡¡was¡¡especially¡¡thin£»¡¡making¡¡the¡¡black¡¡contents¡¡just¡¡visible¡¡through¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡dawned¡¡slowly¡¡upon¡¡Hornblower¡¡that¡¡these¡¡must¡¡be¡¡the¡¡percussion¡¡caps¡¡he¡¡had¡¡heard¡¡vaguely¡¡about¡¡recently¡£¡¡To¡¡prove¡¡it¡¡he¡¡laid¡¡one¡¡on¡¡his¡¡desk¡¡and¡¡tapped¡¡it¡¡sharply¡¡with¡¡the¡¡brass¡¡mallet¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡sharp¡¡crack£»¡¡a¡¡puff¡¡of¡¡smoke¡¡from¡¡under¡¡the¡¡mallet£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡li

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