csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第31部分

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and　he　was　screaming　like　a　maniac　as　he　flung　himself　at　the　Spaniards。　His　pistol　went　off　apparently　without　his　willing　it；　but　the　face　of　the　man　a　yard　away　dissolved　into　bloody　ruin；　and　Hornblower　dropped　the　weapon　and　snatched　the　second；　his　thumb　going　to　the　hammer　as　he　whirled　his　cutlass　down　with　a　crash　on　the　sword　which　the　next　Spaniard　raised　as　a　feeble　guard。　He　struck　and　struck　and　struck　with　a　lunatic's　strength。　Here　was　Jackson　beside　him　shouting　hoarsely　and　striking　out　right　and　left。
　'Kill　'em！　Kill　'em！'　shouted　Jackson。
　Hornblower　saw　Jackson's　cutlass　flash　down　on　the　head　of　the　defenceless　man　at　the　tiller。　Then　out　of　the　tail　of　his　eye　he　saw　another　sword　threaten　him　as　he　battered　with　his　cutlass　at　the　man　before　him；　but　his　pistol　saved　him　as　he　fired　automatically　again。　Another　pistol　went　off　beside　him…Oldroyd's；　he　supposed…and　then　the　fight　on　the　poop　was　over。　By　what　miracle　of　ineptitude　the　Spaniards　had　allowed　the　attack　to　take　them　by　surprise　Hornblower　never　could　discover。　Perhaps　they　were　ignorant　of　the　wounding　of　the　man　in　the　cabin；　and　had　relied　on　him　to　defend　that　route；　perhaps　it　had　never　occurred　to　them　that　three　men　could　be　so　utterly　desperate　as　to　attack　a　dozen；　perhaps　they　never　realized　that　three　men　had　made　the　perilous　passage　of　the　grapnel　line；　perhaps…most　probably…in　the　mad　excitement　of　it　all；　they　simply　lost　their　heads；　for　five　minutes　could　hardly　have　elapsed　altogether　from　the　time　the　jolly　boat　hooked　on　until　the　poop　was　cleared。　Two　of　three　Spaniards　ran　down　the　panion　to　the　maindeck　and　forward　along　the　gangway　between　the　rows　of　slaves。　One　was　caught　against　the　rail　and　made　a　gesture　of　surrender；　but　Jackson's　hand　was　already　at　his　throat。　Jackson　was　a　man　of　immense　physical　strength；　he　bent　the　Spaniard　back　over　the　rail；　farther　and　farther；　and　then　caught　him　by　the　thigh　with　his　other　hand　and　heaved　him　over。　He　fell　with　a　shriek　before　Hornblower　could　interpose。　The　poop　deck　was　covered　with　writhing　men；　like　the　bottom　of　a　boat　filled　with　flapping　fish。　One　man　was　getting　to　his　knees　when　Jackson　and　Oldroyd　seized　him。　They　swung　him　up　to　toss　him　over　the　rail。
　'Stop　that！'　said　Hornblower；　and　quite　callously　they　dropped　him　again　with　a　crash　on　the　bloody　planks。
　Jackson　and　Oldroyd　were　like　drunken　men；　unsteady　on　their　feet；　glazed　of　eye　and　stertorous　of　breath；　Horn　blower　was　just　ing　out　of　his　insane　fit。　He　stepped　forward　to　the　break　of　the　poop；　wiping　the　sweat　out　of　his　eyes　while　trying　to　wipe　away　the　red　mist　that　tinged　his　vision。　Forward　by　the　forecastle　were　gathered　the　rest　of　the　Spaniards；　a　large　group　of　them；　as　Hornblower　came　forward；　one　of　them　fired　a　musket　at　him　but　the　ball　went　wide。　Down　below　him　the　rowers　were　still　swinging　rhythmically；　forward　and　back；　forward　and　back；　the　hairy　heads　and　the　naked　bodies　moving　in　time　to　the　oars；　in　time　to　the　voice　of　the　overseer；　too；　for　the　latter　was　still　standing　on　the　gangway　（the　rest　of　the　Spaniards　were　clustered　behind　him）　calling　the　time…'Seis；　siete；　echo。'
　'Stop！'　bellowed　Hornblower。
　He　walked　to　the　starboard　side　to　be　in　full　view　of　the　starboard　side　rowers。　He　held　up　his　hand　and　bellowed　again。　A　hairy　face　or　two　was　raised；　but　the　oars　still　swung。
　'Uno；　doce；　tree；'　said　the　overseer。
　Jackson　appeared　at　Hornblower's　elbow；　and　levelled　a　pistol　to　shoot　the　nearest　rower。
　'Oh；　belay　that！'　said　Hornblower　testily。　He　knew　he　was　sick　of　killings　now。　'Find　my　pistols　and　reload　them。'
　He　stood　at　the　top　of　the　panion　like　a　man　in　a　dream…in　a　nightmare。　The　galley　slaves　went　on　swinging　and　pulling；　his　dozen　enemies　were　still　clustered　at　the　break　of　the　forecastle　thirty　yards　away；　behind　him　the　wounded　Spaniards　groaned　away　their　lives。　Another　appeal　to　the　rowers　was　as　much　ignored　as　the　preceding　ones。　Oldroyd　must　have　had　the　clearest　head　or　have　recovered　himself　quickest。
　'I'll　haul　down　his　colours；　sir；　shall　I？'　he　said。
　Hornblower　woke　from　his　dream。　On　a　staff　above　the　taffrail　fluttered　the　yellow　and　red。
　'Yes；　haul　'em　down　at　once；'　he　said。
　Now　his　mind　was　clear；　and　now　his　horizon　was　no　longer　bounded　by　the　narrow　limits　of　the　galley。　He　looked　about　him；　over　the　blue；　blue　sea。　There　were　the　merchant　ships；　over　there　lay　the　Indefatigable。　Behind　him　boiled　the　white　wake　of　the　galley…a　curved　wake。　Not　until　that　moment　did　he　realize　that　he　was　in　control　of　the　tiller；　and　that　for　the　last　three　minutes；　the　galley　had　been　cutting　over　the　blue　seas　unsteered。
　'Take　the　tiller；　Oldroyd；'　he　ordered。
　Was　that　a　galley　disappearing　into　the　hazy　distance？　It　must　be；　and　far　in　its　wake　was　the　longboat。　And　there；　on　the　port　bow；　was　the　gig；　resting　on　her　oars…Hornblower　could　see　little　figures　standing　waving　in　bow　and　stern；　and　it　dawned　upon　him　that　this　was　in　acknowledgement　of　the　hauling　down　of　the　Spanish　colours。　Another　musket　banged　off　forward；　and　the　rail　close　at　his　hip　was　struck　a　tremendous　blow　which　sent　gilded　splinters　flying　in　the　sunlight。　But　he　had　all　his　wits　about　him　again；　and　he　ran　back　over　the　dying　men；　at　the　after　end　of　the　poop　he　was　out　of　sight　of　the　gangway　and　safe　from　shot。　He　could　still　see　the　gig　on　the　port　bow。
　'Starboard　your　helm；　Oldroyd。'
　The　galley　turned　slowly…her　narrow　length　made　her　unhandy　if　the　rudder　were　not　assisted　by　the　oars…but　soon　the　bow　was　about　to　obscure　the　gig。
　'Midships！'
　Amazing　that　there；　leaping　in　the　white　water　that　boiled　under　the　galley's　stern；　was　the　jolly　boat　with　one　live　man　and　two　dead　men　still　aboard。
　'Where　are　the　others；　Bromley？'　yelled　Jackson。
　Bromley　pointed　overside。　They　had　been　shot　from　the　taffrail　at　the　moment　that　Hornblower　and　the　others　were　preparing　to　attack　the　poop。
　'Why　in　hell　don't　you　e　aboard？'
　Bromley　took　hold　of　his　left　arm　with　his　right；　the　limb　was　clearly　useless。　There　was　no　reinforcement　to　be　obtained　here；　and　yet　full　possession　must　be　taken　of　the　galley。　Otherwise　it　was　even　conceivable　that　they　would　be　carried　off　to　Algeciras；　even　if　they　were　masters　of　the　rudder　the　man　who　controlled　the　oars　dictated　the　course　of　the　ship　if　he　willed。　There　was　only　one　course　left　to　try。
　Now　that　his　fighting　madness　had　ebbed　away；　Hornblower　was　in　a　sombre　mood。　He　did　not　care　what　happened　to　him；　hope　and　fear　had　alike　deserted　him；　along　with　his　previous　exalted　condition。　It　might　be　resignation　that　possessed　him　now。　His　mind；　still　calculating；　told　him　that　with　only　one　thing　left　to　do　to　achieve　victory　he　must　attempt　it；　and　the　flat；　dead　condition　of　his　spirits　enabled　him　to　carry　the　attempt　through　like　an　automaton；　unwavering　and　emotionless。　He　walked　forward　to　the　poop　rail　again；　the　Spaniards　were　still　clustered　at　the　far　end　of　the　gangway；　with　the　overseer　still　giving　the　time　to　the　oars。　They　looked　up　at　him　as　he　stood　there。　With　the　utmost　care　and　attention　he　sheathed　his　cutlass；　which　he　had　held　in　his　hand　up　to　that　moment。　He　noticed　the　blood　on　his　coat　and　on　his　hands　as　he　did　so。　Slowly　he　settled　the　sheathed　weapon　at　his　side。
　'My　pistols；　Jackson；'　he　said。
　Jackson　handed　him　the　pistols　and　with　the　same　callous　care　he　thrust　them　into　his　belt。　He　turned　back　to　Oldroyd；　the　Spaniards　watching　every　movement　fascinated。
　'Stay　by　the　tiller；　Oldroyd。　Jackson；　follow　me。　Do　nothing　without　my　orders。'
　With　the　sun　pouring　down　on　his　face；　he　strode　down　the　panion　ladder；　walked　to　the　gangway；　and　approached　the　Spaniards　along　it。　On　either　side　of　him　the　hairy　heads　and　naked　bodies　of　the　galley　slaves　still　swung　with　the　oars。　He　neared　the　Spaniards；　swords　and　muskets　and　pistols　were　handled　nervously；　but　every　eye　was　on　his　face。　Behind　him　Jackson　coughed。　Two　yards　only　from　the　group；　Hornblower　halted　and　swept　them　with　his　glance。　Then；　with　a　gesture；　he　indicated　the　whole　of　the　group　except　the　overseer；　and　then　pointed　to　the　forecastle。
　'Get　forrard；　all　of　you；'　he　said。
　They　stood　staring　at　him；　although　they　must　have　understood　the　gesture。
　'Get　forrard；'　said　Hornblower　with　a　wave　of　his　hand　and　a　tap　of　his　foot　on　the　gangway。
　There　was　only　one　man　who　seemed　likely　to　demur　actively；　and　Hornblower　had　it　in　mind　to　snatch　a　pistol　from　his　belt　and　shoot　him　on　the　spot。　But　the　pistol　might　misfire；　the　shot　might　arouse　the　Spaniards　out　of　their　fascinated　dream。　He　stared　the　man　down。
　'Get　forrard；　I　say。'
　They　began　to　move；　they　began　to　shamble　off。　Hornblower　watched　them　go。　Now　his　emotions　were　returning　to　him；　and　his　heart　was　thumping　madly　in　his　chest　so　that　it　was　hard　to　control　himself。　Yet　he　must　not　be　precipitate。　He　had　to　wait　until　the　others　were　well　clear　before　he　could　address　himself　to　the　overseer。
　'Stop　those　men；'　he　said。
　He　glared　into　the　overseer's　eyes　while　pointing　to　the　oarsmen；　the　overseer's　lips　moved；　but　he　made　no　sound。
　'Stop　them；'　said　Hornblower；　and　this　time　he　put　his　hand　to　the　butt　of　his　pistol。
　That　sufficed。　The　overseer　raised　his　voice　in　a　high'　pitched　order；　and　the　oars　instantly　ceased。　Strange　what　sudden　stillness　possessed　the　ship　with　the　cessation　of　the　grinding　of　the　oars　in　the　tholes。　Now　it　was　easy　to　hear　the　bubbling　of　the　water　round　the　galley　as　her　way　carried　her　forward。　Hornblower　turned　back　to　hail　Oldroyd。
　'Oldroyd！　Where　away's　the　gig？'
　'Close　on　the　starboard　bow；　sir！'
　'How　close？'
　'Two　cable's　lengths；　sir。　She's　pulling　for　us　now。'
　'Steer　for　her　while　you've　steerage　way。'
　'Aye　aye；　sir。'
　How　long　would　it　take　the　gig　under　oars　to　cover　a　quarter　of　a　mile？　Hornblower　feared　anticlimax；　feared　a　sudden　revulsion　of　feeling　among　the　Spaniards　at　this　late　moment。　Mere　waiting　might　occasion　it；　and　he　must　not　stand　merely　idle。　He　could　still　hear　the　motion　of　the　galley　through　the　water；　and　he　turned　to　Jackson。
　'This　ship　carries　her　way　well；　Jackson；　doesn't　she？'　he　said；　and　he　made　himself　lau