csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第12部分

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d　one　of　the　pistols　from　his　belt　and　pointed　it　at　the　captain；　who；　with　the　muzzle　four　feet　from　his　breast；　fell　back　before　the　gesture。　Without　taking　his　eyes　off　him　Hornblower　took　a　second　pistol　with　his　left　hand。
　'Take　this；　Matthews；'　he　said。
　'Aye　aye；　sir；'　said　Matthews；　obeying；　and　then；　after　a　respectful　pause；　'Beggin'　your　pardon；　sir；　but　hadn't　you　better　cock　your　pistol；　sir？'
　'Yes；'　said　Hornblower；　exasperated　at　his　own　forgetfulness。
　He　drew　the　hammer　back　with　a　click；　and　the　menacing　sound　made　more　acute　still　the　French　captain's　sense　of　his　own　danger；　with　a　cocked　and　loaded　pistol　pointed　at　his　stomach　in　a　heaving　boat。　He　waved　his　hands　desperately。
　'Please；'　he　said；　'point　it　some　other　way；　sir。'
　He　drew　farther　back；　huddling　against　the　men　behind　him。
　'Hey；　avast　there；　you；'　shouted　Matthews　loudly…a　French　sailor　was　trying　to　let　go　the　halliard　unobserved。
　'Shoot　any　man　who　looks　dangerous；　Matthews；'　said　Hornblower。
　He　was　so　intent　on　enforcing　his　will　upon　these　men；　so　desperately　anxious　to　retain　his　liberty；　that　his　face　was　contracted　into　a　beast…like　scowl。　No　one　looking　at　him　could　doubt　his　determination　for　a　moment。　He　would　allow　no　human　life　to　e　between　him　and　his　decisions。　There　was　still　a　third　pistol　in　his　belt；　and　the　Frenchmen　could　guess　that　if　they　tried　a　rush　a　quarter　of　them　at　least　would　meet　their　deaths　before　they　overpowered　the　Englishmen；　and　the　French　captain　knew　he　would　be　the　first　to　die。　His　expressive　hands；　waving　out　from　his　sides…he　could　not　take　his　eyes　from　the　pistol…told　his　men　to　make　no　further　resistance。　Their　murmurings　died　away；　and　the　captain　began　to　plead。
　'Five　years　I　was　in　an　English　prison　during　the　last　war；'　he　said。　'Let　us　reach　an　agreement。　Let　us　go　to　France。　When　we　reach　the　shore…anywhere　you　choose；　sir…we　will　land　and　you　can　continue　on　your　journey。　Or　we　can　all　land；　and　I　will　use　all　my　influence　to　have　you　and　your　men　sent　back　to　England　under　cartel；　without　exchange　or　ransom。　I　swear　I　will。'
　'No；'　said　Hornblower。
　England　was　far　easier　to　reach　from　here　than　from　the　French　Biscay　coast；　as　for　the　other　suggestion；　Hornblower　knew　enough　about　the　new　government　washed　up　by　the　revolution　in　France　to　be　sure　that　they　would　never　part　with　prisoners　on　the　representation　of　a　merchant　captain。　And　trained　seamen　were　scarce　in　France；　it　was　his　duty　to　keep　these　dozen　from　returning。
　'No；'　he　said　again；　in　reply　to　the　captain's　fresh　protests。
　'Shall　I　clout　'im　on　the　jaw；　sir？'　asked　Hunter；　at　Hornblower's　side。
　'No；'　said　Hornblower　again；　but　the　Frenchman　saw　the　gesture　and　guessed　at　the　meaning　of　the　words；　and　subsided　into　sullen　silence。
　But　he　was　roused　again　at　the　sight　of　Hornblower's　pistol　on　his　knee；　still　pointed　at　him。　A　sleepy　finger　might　press　that　trigger。
　'Sir；'　he　said；　'put　that　pistol　away；　I　beg　of　you。　It　is　dangerous。'
　Hornblower's　eye　was　cold　and　unsympathetic。
　'Put　it　away；　please。　I　will　do　nothing　to　interfere　with　your　mand　of　this　boat。　I　promise　you　that。'
　'Do　you　swear　it？'
　'I　swear　it。'
　'And　these　others？'
　The　captain　looked　round　at　his　crew　with　voluble　explanations；　and　grudgingly　they　agreed。
　'They　swear　it　too。'
　'Very　well；　then。'
　Hornblower　started　to　replace　the　pistol　in　his　belt；　and　remembered　to　put　it　on　half…cock　in　time　to　save　himself　from　shooting　himself　in　the　stomach。　Everyone　in　the　boat　relaxed　into　apathy。　The　boat　was　rising　and　swooping　rhythmically　now；　a　far　more　fortable　motion　than　when　it　had　jerked　to　a　sea…anchor；　and　Hornblower's　stomach　lost　some　of　its　resentment。　He　had　been　two　nights　without　sleep。　His　head　lowered　on　his　chest；　and　then　he　leaned　sideways　against　Hunter；　and　slept　peacefully；　while　the　boat；　with　the　wind　nearly　abeam；　headed　steadily　for　England。　What　woke　him　late　in　the　day　was　when　Matthews；　cramped　and　weary；　was　pelled　to　surrender　the　tiller　to　Arson；　and　after　that　they　kept　watch　and　watch；　a　hand　at　the　sheet　and　a　hand　at　the　tiller　and　the　others　trying　to　rest。　Hornblower　took　his　turn　at　the　sheet；　but　he　would　not　trust　himself　with　the　tiller；　especially　when　night　fell；　he　knew　he　had　not　the　knack　of　keeping　the　boat　on　her　course　by　the　feel　of　the　wind　on　his　cheek　and　the　tiller　in　his　hand。
　It　was　not　until　long　after　breakfast　the　next　day…almost　noon　in　fact…that　they　sighted　the　sail。　It　was　a　Frenchman　who　saw　it　first；　and　his　excited　cry　roused　them　all。　There　were　three　square　topsails　ing　up　over　the　horizon　on　their　weather　bow；　nearing　them　so　rapidly　on　a　converging　course　that　each　time　the　boat　rose　on　a　wave　a　considerably　greater　area　of　canvas　was　visible。
　'What　do　you　think　she　is；　Matthews？'　asked　Hornblower；　while　the　boat　buzzed　with　the　Frenchmen's　excitement。
　'I　can't　tell；　sir；　but　I　don't　like　the　looks　of　her；'　said　Matthews　doubtfully。　'She　ought　to　have　her　t'gallants　set　in　this　breeze…and　her　courses　too；　an'　she　hasn't。　An'　I　don't　like　the　cut　of　her　jib；　sir。　She…she　might　be　a　Frenchie　to　me；　sir。'
　Any　ship　travelling　for　peaceful　purposes　would　naturally　have　all　possible　sail　set。　This　ship　had　not。　Hence　she　was　engaged　in　some　belligerent　design；　but　there　were　more　chances　that　she　was　British　than　that　she　was　French；　even　in　here　in　the　Bay。　Hornblower　took　a　long　look　at　her；　a　smallish　vessel；　although　ship…rigged。　Flush…decked；　with　a　look　of　speed　about　her…her　hull　was　visible　at　intervals　now；　with　a　line　of　gunports。
　'She　looks　French　all　over　to　me；　sir；'　said　Hunter。　'Privateer；　seemly。'
　'Stand　by　to　jibe；'　said　Hornblower。
　They　brought　the　boat　round　before　the　wind；　heading　directly　away　from　the　ship。　But　in　war　as　in　the　jungle；　to　fly　is　to　invite　pursuit　and　attack。　The　ship　set　courses　and　topgallants　and　came　tearing　down　upon　them；　passed　them　at　half　a　cable's　length　and　then　hove…to；　having　cut　off　their　escape。　The　ship's　rail　was　lined　with　a　curious　crowd…a　large　crew　for　a　vessel　that　size。　A　hail　came　across　the　water　to　the　boat；　and　the　words　were　French。　The　English　seamen　subsided　into　curses；　while　the　French　captain　cheerfully　stood　up　and　replied；　and　the　French　crew　brought　the　boat　alongside　the　ship。
　A　handsome　young　man　in　a　plum…coloured　coat　with　a　lace　stock　greeted　Hornblower　when　he　stepped　on　the　deck。
　'Wele；　sir；　to　the　Pique；'　he　said　in　French　'I　am　Captain　Neuville；　of　this　privateer。　And　you　are…？'
　'Midshipman　Hornblower；　of　His　Britannic　Majesty's　ship　Indefatigable；'　growled　Hornblower。
　'You　seem　to　be　in　evil　humour；'　said　Neuville。　'Please　do　not　be　so　distressed　at　the　fortunes　of　war。　You　will　be　acmodated　in　this　ship；　until　we　return　to　port；　with　every　fort　possible　at　sea。　I　beg　of　you　to　consider　yourself　quite　at　home。　For　instance；　those　pistols　in　your　belt　must　dismode　you　more　than　a　little。　Permit　me　to　relieve　you　of　their　weight。'
　He　took　the　pistols　neatly　from　Hornblower's　belt　as　he　spoke；　looked　Hornblower　keenly　over；　and　then　went　on。
　'That　dirk　that　you　wear　at　your　side；　sir。　Would　you　oblige　me　by　the　loan　of　it？　I　assure　you　that　I　will　return　it　to　you　when　we　part　pany。　But　while　you　are　on　board　here　I　fear　that　your　impetuous　youth　might　lead　you　into　some　rash　act　while　you　are　wearing　a　weapon　which　a　credulous　mind　might　believe　to　be　lethal。　A　thousand　thanks。　And　now　might　I　show　you　the　berth　that　is　being　prepared　for　you？'
　With　a　courteous　bow　he　led　the　way　below。　Two　decks　down；　presumably　at　the　level　of　a　foot　or　two　below　the　water　line；　was　a　wide　bare　'tweendecks；　dimly　lighted　and　scantily　ventilated　by　the　hatchways。
　'Our　slave　deck；'　explained　Neuville　carelessly。
　'Slave　deck？'　asked　Hornblower。
　'Yes。　It　is　here　that　the　slaves　were　confined　during　the　middle　passage。'
　Much　was　clear　to　Hornblower　at　once。　A　slave　ship　could　be　readily　converted　into　a　privateer。　She　would　already　be　armed　with　plenty　of　guns　to　defend　herself　against　treacherous　attacks　while　making　her　purchases　in　the　African　rivers；　she　was　faster　than　the　average　merchant　ship　both　because　of　the　lack　of　need　of　hold　space　and　because　with　a　highly　perishable　cargo　such　as　slaves　speed　was　a　desirable　quality；　and　she　was　constructed　to　carry　large　numbers　of　men　and　the　great　quantities　of　food　and　water　necessary　to　keep　them　supplied　while　at　sea　in　search　of　prizes。
　'Our　market　in　San　Domingo　has　been　closed　to　us　by　recent　events；　of　which　you　must　have　heard；　sir；'　went　on　Neuville；　'and　so　that　the　Pique　could　continue　to　return　dividends　to　me　I　have　converted　her　into　a　privateer。　Moreover；　seeing　that　the　activities　of　the　mittee　of　Public　Safety　at　present　make　Paris　a　more　unhealthy　spot　even　than　the　West　Coast　of　Africa；　I　decided　to　take　mand　of　my　vessel　myself。　To　say　nothing　of　the　fact　that　a　certain　resolution　and　hardihood　are　necessary　to　make　a　privateer　a　profitable　investment。'
　Neuville's　face　hardened　for　a　moment　into　an　expression　of　the　grimmest　determination；　and　then　softened　at　once　into　its　previous　meaningless　politeness。
　'This　door　in　this　bulkhead；'　he　continued；　'leads　to　the　quarters　I　have　set　aside　for　captured　officers。　Here；　as　you　see；　is　your　cot。　Please　make　yourself　at　home　here。　Should　this　ship　go　into　action…as　I　trust　she　will　frequently　do…the　hatches　above　will　be　battened　down。　But　except　on　those　occasions　you　will　of　course　be　at　liberty　to　move　about　the　ship　at　your　will。　Yet　I　suppose　I　had　better　add　that　any　harebrained　attempt　on　the　part　of　prisoners　to　interfere　with　the　working　or　wellbeing　of　this　ship　would　be　deeply　resented　by　the　crew。　They　serve　on　shares；　you　understand；　and　are　risking　their　lives　and　their　liberty。　I　would　not　be　surprised　if　any　rash　person　who　endangered　their　dividends　and　freedom　were　dropped　over　the　side　into　the　sea。'
　Hornblower　forced　himself　to　reply；　he　would　not　reveal　that　he　was　almost　struck　dumb　by　the　calculating　callousness　of　this　last　speech。
　'I　understand；'　he　said。
　'Excellent！　Now　is　there　anything　further　you　may　need；　sir？
　Hornblower　looked　round　the　bare　quarters　in　which　he