csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第23部分

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hile　the　crew　set　to　work　hoisting　out　the　boats。
　'France；　dear　beautiful　France；'　said　Pouzauges　at　Hornblower's　side。
　A　hail　came　over　the　water　from　the　Indefatigable。
　'Mr　Hornblower！'
　'Sir！'　yelled　Hornblower　back　through　the　captain's　megaphone。
　'You　will　go　on　shore　with　the　French　troops　and　stay　with　them　until　you　receive　further　orders。'
　'Aye　aye；　sir。'
　So　that　was　the　way　in　which　he　was　to　set　foot　on　foreign　soil　for　the　first　time　in　his　life。
　Pouzauges'　men　were　now　pouring　up　from　below；　it　was　a　slow　and　exasperating　business　getting　them　down　the　ship's　side　into　the　waiting　boats。　Hornblower　wondered　idly　regarding　what　was　happening　on　shore　at　this　moment…without　doubt　mounted　messengers　were　galloping　north　and　south　with　the　news　of　the　arrival　of　the　expedition；　and　soon　the　French　Revolutionary　generals　would　be　parading　their　men　and　marching　them　hurriedly　towards　this　place；　it　was　well　that　the　important　strategic　point　that　had　to　be　seized　was　less　than　ten　miles　inland。　He　turned　back　to　his　duties；　as　soon　as　the　men　were　ashore　he　would　have　to　see　that　the　baggage　and　reserve　ammunition　were　landed；　as　well　as　the　horses；　now　standing　miserably　in　improvised　stalls　forward　of　the　mainmast。
　The　first　boats　had　left　the　ship's　side；　Hornblower　watched　the　men　stagger　up　the　shore　through　mud　and　water；　the　French　on　the　left　and　the　red…coated　British　infantry　on　the　right。　There　were　some　fishermen's　cottages　in　sight　up　the　beach；　and　Hornblower　saw　advance　parties　go　forward　to　seize　them；　at　least　the　landing　had　been　effected　without　a　single　shot　being　fired。　He　came　on　shore　with　the　ammunition；　to　find　Bolton　in　charge　of　the　beach。
　'Get　those　ammunition　boxes　well　above　high…water　mark；'　said　Bolton。　'We　can't　send　'em　forward　until　the　Lobsters　have　found　us　some　carts　for　'em。　And　we'll　need　horses　for　those　guns　too。'
　At　that　moment　Bolton's　working　party　was　engaged　in　manhandling　two　six…pounder　guns　in　field　carriages　up　the　beach；　they　were　to　be　manned　by　seamen　and　drawn　by　horses　mandeered　by　the　landing　party；　for　it　was　in　the　old　tradition　that　a　British　expeditionary　force　should　always　be　thrown　on　shore　dependent　for　military　necessities　on　the　countryside。　Pouzauges　and　his　staff　were　waiting　impatiently　for　their　chargers；　and　mounted　them　the　moment　they　had　been　coaxed　out　of　the　boats　onto　the　beach。
　'Forward　for　France！'　shouted　Pouzauges；　drawing　his　sword　and　raising　the　hilt　to　his　lips。
　Moncoutant　and　the　others　clattered　forward　to　head　the　advancing　infantry；　while　Pouzauges　lingered　to　exchange　a　few　words　with　Lord　Edrington。　The　British　infantry　was　drawn　up　in　a　rigid　scarlet　line；　farther　inland　occasional　red　dots　marked　where　the　light　pany　had　been　thrown　forward　as　pickets。　Hornblower　could　not　hear　the　conversation；　but　he　noticed　that　Bolton　was　drawn　into　it；　and　finally　Bolton　called　him　over。
　'You　must　go　forward　with　the　Frogs；　Hornblower；'　he　said。
　'I'll　give　you　a　horse；'　added　Edrington。　'Take　that　one…the　roan。　I've　got　to　have　someone　I　can　trust　along　with　them。　Keep　your　eye　on　them　and　let　me　know　the　moment　they　get　up　to　any　monkey　tricks…God　knows　what　they'll　do　next。'
　'Here's　the　rest　of　your　stores　ing　ashore；'　said　Bolton。　'I'll　send　'em　up　as　soon　as　you　send　some　carts　back　to　me。　What　the　hell's　that？'
　'That's　a　portable　guillotine；　sir；'　said　Hornblower。　'Part　of　the　French　baggage。'
　All　three　turned　and　looked　at　Pouzauges；　sitting　his　horse　impatiently　during　this　conversation；　which　he　did　not　understand。　He　knew　what　they　were　referring　to；　all　the　same。
　'That's　the　first　thing　to　be　sent　to　Muzillac；'　he　said　to　Hornblower。　'Will　you　have　the　goodness　to　tell　these　gentlemen　so？'
　Hornblower　translated。
　'I'll　send　the　guns　and　a　load　of　ammunition　first；'　said　Bolton。　'But　I'll　see　he　gets　it　soon。　Now　off　you　go。'
　Hornblower　dubiously　approached　the　roan　horse。　All　he　knew　about　riding　he　had　learned　in　farmyards；　but　he　got　his　foot　up　into　the　stirrup　and　climbed　in　the　saddle；　grabbing　nervously　at　the　reins　as　the　animal　started　to　move　off。　I　seemed　as　far　down　to　the　ground　from　there　as　it　did　from　the　maintopgallant　yard。　Pouzauges　wheeled　his　horse　about　and　started　up　the　beach；　and　the　roan　followed　its　example　with　Hornblower　hanging　on　desperately；　spattered　by　the　mud　thrown　up　by　the　French　horse's　heels。
　From　the　fishing　hamlet　a　muddy　lane；　bordered　by　greet　turf　banks；　led　inland；　and　Pouzauges　trotted　smartly　along　it；　Hornblower　jolting　behind　him。　They　covered　three　or　four　miles　before　they　overtook　the　rear　of　the　French　infantry；　marching　rapidly　through　the　mud；　and　Pouzauges　pulled　his　horse　to　a　walk。　When　the　column　climbed　a　slight　undulation　they　could　see　the　white　banner　far　ahead。　Over　the　banks　Hornblower　could　see　rocky　fields；　out　on　the　left　there　was　a　small　farmhouse　of　grey　stone。　A　blue…uniformed　soldier　was　leading　away　a　white　horse　pulling　a　cart；　while　two　or　three　more　soldiers　were　holding　back　the　farmer's　frantic　wife。　So　the　expeditionary　force　had　secured　some　of　its　necessary　transport。　In　another　field　a　soldier　was　prodding　a　cow　along　with　his　bayonet…Hornblower　could　not　imagine　with　what　motive。　Twice　he　heard　distant　musket　shots　to　which　no　one　seemed　to　pay　any　attention。　Then　ing　down　the　road；　they　encountered　two　soldiers　leading　bony　horses　towards　the　beach；　the　jests　hurled　at　them　by　the　marching　column　had　set　the　men's　faces　in　broad　grins　But　a　little　way　farther　on　Hornblower　saw　a　plough　standing　lonely　in　a　little　field；　and　a　grey　bundle　lying　near　it。　The　bundle　was　a　dead　man。
　Over　on　their　right　was　the　marshy　river　valley；　and　it　was　not　long　before　Hornblower　could　see；　far　ahead；　the　bridge　and　the　causeway　which　they　had　been　sent　to　seize。　The　lane　they　were　following　came　down　a　slight　incline　into　the　town；　passing　between　a　few　grey　cottages　before　emerging　into　the　highroad　along　which　there　lay　the　town。　There　was　a　grey　stone　church；　there　was　a　building　that　could　easily　be　identified　as　an　inn　and　postinghouse　with　soldiers　swarming　round　it；　a　slight　broadening　of　the　high…road；　with　an　avenue　of　trees；　which　Hornblower　assumed　must　be　the　central　square　of　the　town。　A　few　faces　peered　from　upper　windows；　but　otherwise　the　houses　were　shut　and　there　were　no　civilians　to　be　seen　except　two　women　hastily　shuttering　their　shops。　Pouzauges　reined　up　his　horse　in　the　square　and　began　issuing　orders。　Already　the　horses　were　being　led　out　of　the　posthouse；　and　groups　of　men　were　bustling　to　and　fro　on　seemingly　urgent　errands。　In　obedience　to　Pouzauges　one　officer　called　his　men　together…he　had　to　expostulate　and　gesticulate　before　he　succeeded…and　started　towards　the　bridge。　Another　party　started　along　the　highway　in　the　opposite　direction　to　guard　against　the　possible　surprise　attack　from　there。　A　crowd　of　men　squatted　in　the　square　devouring　the　bread　that　was　brought　out　from　one　of　the　shops　after　its　door　had　been　beaten　in；　and　two　or　three　times　civilians　were　dragged　up　to　Pouzauges　and　at　his　orders　were　hurried　away　again　to　the　town　jail。　The　seizure　of　the　town　of　Muzillac　was　plete。
　Pouzauges　seemed　to　think　so；　too；　after　an　interval；　for　with　a　glance　at　Hornblower　he　turned　his　horse　and　trotted　towards　the　causeway。　The　town　ended　before　the　road　entered　the　marshes；　and　in　a　bit　of　waste　ground　beside　the　road　the　party　sent　out　in　this　direction　had　already　lighted　a　fire；　and　the　men　were　gathered　round　it；　toasting　on　their　bayonets　chunks　of　meat　cut　from　a　cow　whose　half…flayed　corpse　lay　beside　the　fire。　Farther　on；　where　the　causeway　became　the　bridge　over　the　river；　a　sentry　sat　sunning　himself；　with　his　musket　leaning　against　the　parapet　of　the　bridge　at　his　back。　Everything　was　peaceful　enough。　Pouzauges　trotted　as　far　as　the　crown　of　the　bridge；　with　Hornblower　beside　him；　and　looked　over　the　country　on　the　farther　side。　There　was　no　sign　of　any　enemy；　and　when　they　returned　there　was　a　mounted　red…coated　soldier　waiting　for　them…Lord　Edrington。
　'I've　e　to　see　for　myself；'　he　said。　'The　position　looks　strong　enough　in　all　conscience　here。　Once　you　have　the　guns　posted　you　should　be　able　to　hold　this　bridge　until　you　can　blow　up　the　arch。　But　there's　a　ford；　passable　at　low　water；　half　a　mile　lower　down。　That　is　where　I　shall　station　myself…if　we　lose　the　ford　they　can　turn　the　whole　position　and　cut　us　off　from　the　shore。　Tell　this　gentleman…what's　his　name？…what　I　said。'
　Hornblower　translated　as　well　as　he　could；　and　stood　by　as　interpreter　while　the　two　manders　pointed　here　and　there　and　settled　their　respective　duties。
　'That's　settled；　then；'　said　Edrington　at　length。　'Don't　forget；　Mr　Hornblower；　that　I　must　be　kept　informed　of　every　development。'
　He　nodded　to　them　and　wheeled　his　horse　and　trotted　off。　As　he　left　a　cart　approached　from　the　direction　of　Muzillac；　while　behind　it　a　loud　clanking　heralded　the　arrival　of　the　two　six…pounders；　each　drawn　painfully　by　a　couple　of　horses　led　by　seamen。　Sitting　upon　the　front　of　the　cart　was　Midshipman　Bracegirdle；　who　saluted　Hornblower　with　a　broad　grin。
　'From　quarterdeck　to　dung　cart　is　no　more　than　a　step；'　he　announced；　swinging　himself　down。　'From　midshipman　to　captain　of　artillery。'
　He　looked　along　the　causeway　and　then　around　him。
　'Put　the　guns　over　there　and　they'll　sweep　the　whole　length；'　suggested　Hornblower。
　'Exactly；'　said　Bracegirdle。
　Under　his　orders　the　guns　were　wheeled　off　the　road　and　pointed　along　the　causeway；　and　the　dung　cart　was　unloaded　of　its　contents；　a　tarpaulin　spread　on　the　ground；　the　gunpowder　cartridges　laid　on　it　and　covered　with　another　tarpaulin。　The　shot　and　the　bags　of　grape　were　piled　beside　the　guns；　the　seamen　working　with　a　will　under　the　stimulus　of　their　novel　surroundings。
　'Poverty　brings　strange　bedfellows；'　said　Bracegirdle。　'And　wars　strange　duties。　Have　you　ever　blown　up　a　bridge？'
　'Never；'　said　Hornblower。
　'Neither　have　I。　e；　and　let　us　do　it。　May　I　offer　you　a　place　in　my　carriage？'
　Hornblower　climbed　up　into　the　cart　with　Bracegirdle；　and　two　seamen　led　the　plodding　horse　along　the　causeway　to　the　bridge。　There　t