csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第34部分

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　'Lay　us　under　her　counter。'　said　Foster。　'I'll　jump　for　it。'
　At　last　Hornblower　found　his　tongue。　'Let　me　go；　sir。　I'll　handle　her。'
　'e　with　me；　if　you　like；'　replied　Foster。　'It　may　need　two　of　us。'
　His　nickname　of　Dreadnought　Foster　may　have　had　its　origin　in　the　name　of　his　ship；　but　it　was　appropriate　enough　in　all　circumstances。　Harvey　swung　the　boat　under　the　fire　ship's　stern；　she　was　before　the　wind　again　now；　and　just　gathering　way；　just　heading　down　upon　the　Santa　Barbara。
　For　a　moment　Hornblower　was　the　nearest　man　in　the　boat　to　the　brig　and　there　was　no　time　to　be　lost。　He　stood　up　on　the　thwart　and　jumped；　his　hands　gripped　something；　and　with　a　kick　and　a　struggle　he　dragged　his　ungainly　body　up　onto　the　deck。　With　the　brig　before　the　wind；　the　flames　were　blown　forward；　right　aft　here　it　was　merely　frightfully　hot；　but　Hornblower's　ears　were　filled　with　the　roar　of　the　flames　and　the　crackling　and　banging　of　the　burning　wood。　He　stepped　forward　to　the　wheel　and　seized　the　spokes；　the　wheel　was　lashed　with　a　loop　of　line；　and　as　he　cast　this　off　and　took　hold　of　the　wheel　again　he　could　feel　the　rudder　below　him　bite　into　the　water。　He　flung　his　weight　on　the　spoke　and　spun　the　wheel　over。　The　brig　was　about　to　collide；　with　the　Santa　Barbara；　starboard　bow　to　starboard　bow；　and　the　flames　lit　an　anxious　gesticulating　crowd　on　the　Santa　Barbara's　forecastle。
　'Hard　over！'　roared　Foster's　voice　in　Hornblower's　ear。
　'Hard　over　it　is！'　said　Hornblower；　and　the　brig　answered　her　wheel　at　that　moment；　and　her　bow　turned　away；　avoiding　the　collision。
　An　immense　fountain　of　flame　poured　out　from　the　hatchway　abaft　the　mainmast；　setting　mast　and　rigging　ablaze；　and　at　the　same　time　a　flaw　of　wind　blew　a　wave　of　flame　aft。　Some　instinct　made　Hornblower　while　holding　the　wheel　with　one　hand　snatch　out　his　neckcloth　with　the　other　and　bury　his　face　in　it。　The　flame　whirled　round　him　and　was　gone　again。　But　the　distractions　had　been　dangerous；　the　brig　had　continued　to　turn　under　full　helm；　and　now　her　stern　was　swinging　in　to　bump　against　the　Santa　Barbara's　bow。　Hornblower　desperately　spun　the　wheel　over　the　other　way。　The　flames　had　driven　Foster　aft　to　the　taffrail；　but　now　he　returned。
　'Hard…a…lee！'
　The　brig　was　already　responding。　Her　starboard　quarter　bumped　the　Santa　Barbara　in　the　waist；　and　then　bumped　clear。
　'Midships！'　shouted　Foster。
　At　a　distance　of　only　two　or　three　yards　the　fire　ship　passed　on　down　the　Santa　Barbara's　side；　an　anxious　group　ran　along　her　gangways　keeping　up　with　her　as　she　did　so。　On　the　quarterdeck　another　group　stood　by　with　a　spar　to　boom　the　fire　ship　off；　Hornblower　saw　them　out　of　the　tail　of　his　eye　as　they　went　by。　Now　they　were　clear。
　'There's　the　Dauntless　on　the　port　bow；'　said　Foster。　'Keep　her　clear。'
　'Aye；　aye；　sir。'
　The　din　of　the　fire　was　tremendous；　it　could　hardly　be　believed　that　on　this　little　area　of　deck　it　was　still　possible　to　breathe　and　live。　Hornblower　felt　the　appalling　heat　on　his　hands　and　face。　Both　masts　were　immense　pyramids　of　flame。
　'Starboard　a　point；'　said　Foster。　'We'll　lay　her　aground　on　the　shoal　by　the　Neutral　Ground。'
　'Starboard　a　point；'　responded　Hornblower。
　He　was　being　borne　along　on　a　wave　of　the　highest　exaltation；　the　roar　of　the　fire　was　intoxicating；　and　he　knew　not　a　moment's　fear。　Then　the　whole　deck　only　a　yard　or　two　forward　of　the　wheel　opened　up　in　flame。　Fire　spouted　out　of　the　gaping　seams　and　the　heat　was　utterly　unbearable；　and　the　fire　moved　rapidly　aft　as　the　seams　gaped　progressively　backward。
　Hornblower　felt　for　the　loopline　to　lash　the　wheel；　but　before　he　could　do　so　the　wheel　spun　idly　under　his　hand；　presumably　as　the　tiller　ropes　below　him　were　burned　away；　and　at　the　same　time　the　deck　under　his　feet　heaved　and　warped　in　the　fire。　He　staggered　back　to　the　taffrail。　Foster　was　there。
　'Tiller　ropes　burned　away；　sir；'　reported　Hornblower。
　Flames　roared　up　beside　them。　His　coat　sleeve　was　smouldering。
　'Jump！'　said　Foster。
　Hornblower　felt　Foster　shoving　him…everything　was　insane。　He　heaved　himself　over；　gasped　with　fright　as　he　hung　in　the　air；　and　then　felt　the　breath　knocked　out　of　his　body　as　he　hit　the　water。　The　water　closed　over　him；　and　he　knew　panic　as　he　struggled　back　to　the　surface。　It　was　cold…the　Mediterranean　in　December　is　cold。　For　the　moment　the　air　in　his　clothes　supported　him；　despite　the　weight　of　the　sword　at　his　side；　but　he　could　see　nothing　in　the　darkness；　with　his　eyes　still　dazzled　by　the　roaring　flames。　Somebody　splashed　beside　him。
　'They　were　following　us　in　the　boat　to　take　us　off；'　said　Foster's　voice。　'Can　you　swim？'
　'Yes；　sir。　Not　very　well。'
　'That　might　describe　me；'　said　Foster；　and　then　he　lifted　his　voice　to　hail；　'Ahoy！　Ahoy！　Hammond！　Harvey！　Ahoy！'
　He　tried　to　raise　himself　as　well　as　his　voice；　fell　back　with　a　splash；　and　splashed　and　splashed　again；　the　water　flowing　into　his　mouth　cutting　short　something　he　tried　to　say。　Hornblower；　beating　the　water　with　increasing　feebleness；　could　still　spare　a　thought…such　were　the　vagaries　of　his　wayward　mind…for　the　interesting　fact　that　even　captains　of　much　seniority　were　only　mortal　men　after　all。　He　tried　to　unbuckle　his　sword　belt；　failed；　and　sank　deep　with　the　effort；　only　just　succeeding　in　struggling　back　to　the　surface。　He　gasped　fair　breath；　but　in　another　attempt　he　managed　to　draw　his　sword　half　out　of　its　scabbard；　and　as　he　struggled　it　slid　out　the　rest　of　the　way　by　its　own　weight；　yet　he　was　not　conscious　of　any　noticeable　relief。
　It　was　then　that　he　heard　the　splashing　and　grinding　of　oars　and　loud　voices；　and　he　saw　the　dark　shape　of　the　approaching　boat；　and　he　uttered　a　spluttering　cry。　In　a　second　or　two　the　boat　was　up　to　them；　and　he　was　clutching　the　gunwale　in　panic。
　They　were　lifting　Foster　in　over　the　stern；　and　Hornblower　knew　he　must　keep　still　and　make　no　effort　to　climb　in；　but　it　called　for　all　his　resolution　to　make　himself　hang　quietly　onto　the　side　of　the　boat　and　wait　his　turn。　He　was　interested　in　this　overmastering　fear；　while　he　despised　himself　for　it。　It　called　for　a　conscious　and　serious　effort　of　willpower　to　make　his　hands　alternately　release　their　death…like　grip　on　the　gunwale；　so　that　the　men　in　the　boat　could　pass　him　round　to　the　stern。　Then　they　dragged　him　in　and　he　fell　face　downward　in　the　bottom　of　the　boat；　on　the　verge　of　fainting。　Then　somebody　spoke　in　the　boat；　and　Hornblower　felt　a　cold　shiver　pass　over　his　skin；　and　his　feeble　muscles　tensed　themselves；　for　the　words　spoken　were　Spanish…at　any　rate　an　unknown　tongue；　and　Spanish　presumably。
　Somebody　else　answered　in　the　same　language。　Hornblower　tried　to　struggle　up；　and　a　restraining　hand　was　laid　on　his　shoulder。　He　rolled　over；　and　with　his　eyes　now　accustomed　to　the　darkness；　he　could　see　the　three　swarthy　faces　with　the　long　black　moustaches。　These　men　were　not　Gibraltarians。　On　the　instant　he　could　guess　who　they　were…the　crew　of　one　of　the　fire　ships　who　had　steered　their　craft　in　past　the　Mole；　set　fire　to　it；　and　made　their　escape　in　the　boat。　Foster　was　sitting　doubled　up；　in　the　bottom　of　the　boat；　and　now　he　lifted　his　face　from　his　knees　and　stared　round　him。
　'Who　are　these　fellows？'　he　asked　feebly…his　struggle　in　the　water　had　left　him　as　weak　as　Hornblower。
　'Spanish　fire　ship's　crew；　I　fancy；　sir；'　said　Hornblower。　We're　prisoners。'
　'Are　we　indeed！'
　The　knowledge　galvanized　him　into　activity　just　as　it　had　Hornblower。　'He　tried　to　get　to　his　feet；　and　the　Spaniard　at　the　tiller　thrust　him　down　with　a　hand　on　his　shoulder。　Foster　tried　to　put　his　hand　away；　and　raised　his　voice　in　a　feeble　cry；　but　the　man　at　the　tiller　was　standing　no　nonsense；　He　brought　out；　in　a　lightning　gesture；　a　knife　from　his　belt。　The　light　from　the　fire　ship；　burning　itself　harmlessly　out　on　the　shoal　in　the　distance；　ran　redly　along　the　blade；　and　Foster　ceased　to　struggle。　Men　might　call　him　Dreadnought　Foster；　but　he　could　recognize　the　need　for　discretion。
　'How　are　we　heading？'　he　asked　Hornblower；　sufficiently　quietly　not　to　irritate　their　captors。
　'North；　sir。　Maybe　they're　going　to　land　on　the　Neutral　Ground　and　make　for　the　Line。'
　'That's　their　best　chance；'　agreed　Foster。
　He　turned　his　neck　unfortably　to　look　back　up　the　harbour。
　'Two　other　ships　burning　themselves　out　up　there；'　he　said。　'There　were　three　fire　ships　came　in；　I　fancy。'
　'I　saw　three；　sir。'
　'Then　there's　no　damage　done。　But　a　bold　endeavour。　Whoever　would　have　credited　the　Dons　with　making　such　an　attempt？'
　'They　have　learned　about　fire　ships　from　us；　perhaps；　sir；'　suggested　Hornblower。
　'We　may　have　〃nursed　the　pinion　that　impelled　the　steel；〃　you　think？'
　'It　is　possible；　sir。'
　Foster　was　a　cool　enough　customer；　quoting　poetry　and　discussing　the　naval　situation　while　being　carried　off　into　captivity　by　a　Spaniard　who　guarded　him　with　a　drawn　knife。　Cool　might　be　a　too　accurate　adjective；　Hornblower　was　shivering　in　his　wet　clothes　as　the　chill　night　air　blew　over　him；　and　he　felt　weak　and　feeble　after　all　the　excitement　and　exertions　of　the　day。
　'Boat　ahoy！'　came　a　hail　across　the　water；　there　was　a　dark　nucleus　in　the　night　over　there。　The　Spaniard　in　the　sternsheets　instantly　dragged　the　tiller　over；　heading　the　boat　directly　away　from　it；　while　the　two　at　the　oars　redoubled　their　exertions。
　'Guard　boat…'　said　Foster；　but　cut　his　explanation　short　at　a　further　threat　from　the　knife。
　Of　course　there　would　be　a　boat　rowing　guard　at　this　northern　end　of　the　anchorage；　they　might　have　thought　of　it。
　'Boat　ahoy！'　came　the　hail　again。　'Lay　on　your　oars　or　I'll　fire　into　you！'
　The　Spaniard　made　no　reply；　and　a　second　later　came　the　flash　and　report　of　a　musket　shot。　They　heard　nothing　of　the　bullet；　but　the　shot　would　put　the　fleet…towards　which　they　were　heading　again…on　the　alert。　But　the　Spaniards　were　going　to　play　the　game　out　to　the　end。　They　rowed　doggedly　on。
　'Boat　ahoy！'
　This　was　another　hail；　from　a　boat　right　ahead　of　them。　The　Spaniards　at　the　oars　ceased　their　efforts　in　dismay；　but　a　roar　from　the　steersman　set　them　instantly　to　work　again。　Hornblower　could　see　the　new　boat　almost　directly　ahead　of　them；　and　heard　another