csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第6部分

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it　to　go　off　now。'
　'Which　was　the　loaded　one？'　asked　Hether；　consumed　with　curiosity。
　'That　is　something　it　is　better　not　to　know；'　answered　Masters；　changing　the　two　pistols　rapidly　from　hand　to　hand　so　as　to　confuse　everyone。
　'What　about　a　second　shot？'　asked　Danvers；　and　Masters　looked　up　straight　and　inflexibly　at　him。
　'There　will　be　no　second　shot；'　he　said。　'Honour　is　pletely　satisfied。　These　two　gentlemen　have　e　through　this　ordeal　extremely　well。　No　one　can　now　think　little　of　Mr　Simpson　if　he　expresses　his　regret　for　the　occurrence；　and　no　one　can　think　little　of　Mr　Hornblower　if　he　accepts　that　statement　in　reparation。'
　Hepplewhite　burst　into　a　roar　of　laughter。
　'Your　faces！'　he　boomed；　slapping　his　thigh。　'You　ought　to　see　how　you　all　look！　Solemn　as　cows！'
　'Mr　Hepplewhite；'　said　Masters；　'your　behaviour　is　indecorous。　Gentlemen；　our　coaches　are　waiting　on　the　road；　the　cutter　is　at　the　jetty。　And　I　think　all　of　us　would　be　the　better　for　some　breakfast；　including　Mr　Hepplewhite。
　That　should　have　been　the　end　of　the　incident。　The　excited　talk　which　had　gone　round　the　anchored　squadron　about　the　unusual　duel　died　away　in　time；　although　everyone　knew　Hornblower's　name　now；　and　not　as　the　midshipman　who　was　seasick　in　Spithead　but　as　the　man　who　was　willing　to　take　an　even　chance　in　cold　blood。　But　in　the　Justinian　herself　there　was　other　talk；　whispers　which　were　circulated　forward　and　aft。
　'Mr　Hornblower　has　requested　permission　to　speak　to　you；　sir；'　said　Mr　Clay；　the　first　lieutenant；　one　morning　while　making　his　report　to　the　captain。
　'Oh；　send　him　in　when　you　go　out；'　said　Keene；　and　sighed。
　Ten　minutes　later　a　knock　on　his　cabin　door　ushered　in　a　very　angry　young　man。
　'Sir！'　began　Hornblower。
　'I　can　guess　what　you're　going　to　say；'　said　Keene。
　'Those　pistols　in　the　duel　I　fought　with　Simpson　were　not　loaded！'
　'Hepplewhite　blabbed；　I　suppose；'　said　Keene。
　'And　it　was　by　your　orders；　I　understand；　sir。'
　'You　are　quite　correct。　I　gave　those　orders　to　Mr　Masters。'
　'It　was　an　unwarrantable　liberty；　sir！'
　That　was　what　Hornblower　meant　to　say；　but　he　stumbled　without　dignity　over　the　polysyllables。
　'Possibly　it　was；'　said　Keene　patiently；　rearranging；　as　always；　the　papers　on　his　desk。
　The　calmness　of　the　admission　disconcerted　Hornblower；　who　could　only　splutter　for　the　next　few　moments。
　'I　saved　a　life　for　the　King's　service；'　went　on　Keene；　when　the　spluttering　died　away。　'A　young　life。　No　one　has　suffered　any　harm。　On　the　other　hand；　both　you　and　Simpson　have　had　your　courage　amply　proved。　You　both　know　you　can　stand　fire　now；　and　so　does　every　one　else。'
　'You　have　touched　my　personal　honour；　sir；'　said　Hornblower；　bringing　out　one　of　his　rehearsed　speeches；　'for　that　there　can　only　be　one　remedy。'
　'Restrain　yourself；　please；　Mr　Hornblower。'　Keene　shifted　himself　in　his　chair　with　a　wince　of　pain　as　he　prepared　to　make　a　speech。　'I　must　remind　you　of　one　salutary　regulation　of　the　Navy；　to　the　effect　that　no　junior　officer　can　challenge　his　superior　to　a　duel。　The　reasons　for　it　are　obvious…otherwise　promotion　would　be　too　easy。　The　mere　issuing　of　a　challenge　by　a　junior　to　a　senior　is　a　court…martial　offence；　Mr　Hornblower。'
　'Oh！'　said　Hornblower　feebly。
　'Now　here　is　some　gratuitous　advice；'　went　on　Keene。　'You　have　fought　one　duel　and　emerged　with　honour。　That　is　good。　Never　fight　another…that　is　better。　Some　people；　oddly　enough；　acquire　a　taste　for　duelling；　as　a　tiger　acquires　a　taste　for　blood。　They　are　never　good　officers；　and　never　popular　ones　either。'
　It　was　then　that　Hornblower　realized　that　a　great　part　of　the　keen　excitement　with　which　he　had　entered　the　captain's　cabin　was　due　to　anticipation　of　the　giving　of　the　challenge。　There　could　be　a　morbid　desire　for　danger…and　a　morbid　desire　to　occupy　momentarily　the　centre　of　the　stage。　Keene　was　waiting　for　him　to　speak；　and　it　was　hard　to　say　anything。
　'I　understand；　sir；'　he　said　at　last。
　Keene　shifted　in　his　chair　again。
　'There　is　another　matter　I　wanted　to　take　up　with　you；　Mr　Hornblower。　Captain　Pellew　of　the　Indefatigable　has　room　for　another　midshipman。　Captain　Pellew　is　partial　to　a　game　of　whist；　and　has　no　good　fourth　on　board。　He　and　I　have　agreed　to　consider　favourably　your　application　for　a　transfer　should　you　care　to　make　one。　I　don't　have　to　point　out　that　any　ambitious　young　officer　would　jump　at　the　chance　of　serving　in　a　frigate。'
　'A　frigate！'　said　Hornblower。
　Everybody　knew　of　Pellew's　reputation　and　success。　Distinction；　promotion；　prize　money…an　officer　under　Pellew's　mand　could　hope　for　all　these。　petition　for　nomination　to　the　Indefatigable　must　be　intense；　and　this　was　the　chance　of　a　lifetime。　Hornblower　was　on　the　point　of　making　a　glad　acceptance；　when　further　considerations　restrained　him。
　'That　is　very　good　of　you；　sir；'　he　said　'I　do　not　know　how　to　thank　you。　But　you　accepted　me　as　a　midshipman　here；　and　of　course　I　must　stay　with　you。'
　The　drawn；　apprehensive　face　relaxed　into　a　smile。
　'Not　many　men　would　have　said　that；'　said　Keene。　'But　I　am　going　to　insist　on　your　accepting　the　offer。　I　shall　not　live　very　much　longer　to　appreciate　your　loyalty。　And　this　ship　is　not　the　place　for　you…this　ship　with　her　useless　captain…don't　interrupt　me…and　her　worn…out　first　lieutenant　and　her　old　midshipmen。　You　should　be　where　there　may　be　speedy　opportunities　of　advancement。　I　have　the　good　of　the　service　in　mind；　Mr　Hornblower；　when　I　suggest　you　accept　Captain　Pellew's　invitation…and　it　might　be　less　disturbing　for　me　if　you　did。'
　'Aye　aye；　sir；'　said　Hornblower。
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　TWO　…　THE　CARGO　OF　RICE
　The　wolf　was　in　among　the　sheep。　The　tossing　grey　water　of　the　Bay　of　Biscay　was　dotted　with　white　sails　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see；　and　although　a　strong　breeze　was　blowing　every　vessel　was　under　perilously　heavy　canvas。　Every　ship　but　one　was　trying　to　escape；　the　exception　was　His　Majesty's　frigate　Indefatigable；　Captain　Sir　Edward　Pellew。　Farther　out　in　the　Atlantic；　hundreds　of　miles　away；　a　great　battle　was　being　fought；　where　the　ships　of　the　line　were　thrashing　out　the　question　as　to　whether　England　or　France　should　wield　the　weapon　of　sea　power；　here　in　the　Bay　the　convoy　which　the　French　ships　were　intended　to　escort　was　exposed　to　the　attack　of　a　ship　of　prey　at　liberty　to　capture　any　ship　she　could　overhaul。　She　had　e　surging　up　from　leeward；　cutting　off　all　chance　of　escape　in　that　direction；　and　the　clumsy　merchant　ships　were　forced　to　beat　to　windward；　they　were　all　filled　with　the　food　which　revolutionary　France　（her　economy　disordered　by　the　convulsion　through　which　she　was　passing）　was　awaiting　so　anxiously；　and　their　crews　were　all　anxious　to　escape　confinement　in　an　English　prison。　Ship　after　ship　was　overhauled；　a　shot　or　two；　and　the　newfangled　tricolour　came　fluttering　down　from　the　gaff；　and　a　prize…crew　was　hurriedly　sent　on　board　to　conduct　the　captive　to　an　English　port　while　the　frigate　dashed　after　fresh　prey。
　On　the　quarterdeck　of　the　Indefatigable　Pellew　fumed　over　each　necessary　delay。　The　convoy；　each　ship　as　close　to　the　wind　as　she　would　lie；　and　under　all　the　sail　she　could　carry；　was　slowly　scattering；　spreading　farther　and　farther　with　the　passing　minutes；　and　some　of　these　would　find　safety　in　mere　dispersion　if　any　time　was　wasted。　Pellew　did　not　wait　to　pick　up　his　boat；　at　each　surrender　he　merely　ordered　away　an　officer　and　an　armed　guard；　and　the　moment　the　prize…crew　was　on　its　way　he　filled　his　main…topsail　again　and　hurried　of　after　the　next　victim。　The　brig　they　were　pursuing　at　the　moment　was　slow　to　surrender。　The　long　nine…pounders　in　the　Indefatigable's　bows　bellowed　out　more　than　once；　on　that　heaving　sea　it　was　not　so　easy　to　aim　accurately　and　the　brig　continued　on　her　course　hoping　for　some　miracle　to　save　her。
　'Very　well；'　snapped　Pellew。　'He　has　asked　for　it。　Let　him　have　it。'
　The　gunlayers　at　the　bow　chasers　changed　their　point　of　aim；　firing　at　the　ship　instead　of　across　her　bows。
　'Not　into　the　hull；　damn　it；'　shouted　Pellew…one　shot　had　struck　the　brig　perilously　close　to　her　waterline。　'Cripple　her。'
　The　next　shot　by　luck　or　by　judgement　was　given　better　elevation。　The　slings　of　the　foretopsail　yard　were　shot　away；　the　reefed　sail　came　down；　the　yard　hanging　lopsidedly；　and　the　brig　came　up　into　the　wind　for　the　Indefatigable　to　heave　to　close　beside　her；　her　broadside　ready　to　fire　into　her。　Under　that　threat　her　flag　came　down。
　'What　brig's　that？'　shouted　Pellew　through　his　megaphone。
　'Marie　Galante　of　Bordeaux；'　translated　the　officer　beside　Pellew　as　the　French　captain　made　reply。　'Twenty…four　days　out　from　New　Orleans　with　rice。'
　'Rice！'　said　Pellew。　'That'll　sell　for　a　pretty　penny　when　we　get　her　home。　Two　hundred　tons；　I　should　say。　Twelve　of　a　crew　at　most。　She'll　need　a　prize…crew　of　four；　a　midshipman's　mand。'
　He　looked　round　him　as　though　for　inspiration　before　giving　his　next　order。
　'Mr　Hornblower！'
　'Sir！'
　'Take　four　men　of　the　cutter's　crew　and　board　that　brig。　Mr　Soames　will　give　you　our　position。　Take　her　into　any　English　port　you　can　make；　and　report　there　for　orders。'
　'Aye　aye；　sir。'
　Hornblower　was　at　his　station　at　the　starboard　quarterdeck　carronades…which　was　perhaps　how　he　had　caught　Pellew's　eye　…　his　dirk　at　his　side　and　a　pistol　in　his　belt。　It　was　a　moment　for　fast　thinking；　for　anyone　could　see　Pellew's　impatience。　With　the　Indefatigable　cleared　for　action；　his　sea　chest　would　be　part　of　the　surgeon's　operating　table　down　below；　so　that　there　was　no　chance　of　getting　anything　out　of　it。　He　would　have　to　leave　just　as　he　was。　The　cutter　was　even　now　clawing　up　to　a　position　on　the　Indefatigable's　quarter；　so　he　ran　to　the　ship's　side　and　hailed　her；　trying　to　make　his　voice　sound　as　big　and　as　manly　as　he　could；　and　at　the　word　of　the　lieutenant　in　mand　she　turned　her　bows　in　towards　the　frigate。
　'Here's　our　latitude　and　longitude；　Mr　Hornblower；'　said　Soames；　the　master；　handing　a　scrap　of　paper　to　him。
　'Thank　you；'　said　Hornblower；　shoving　it　into　his　pocket。
　He　scrambled　awkwardly　into　the　mizzen…chains　and　looked　down　into　the　cutter。　Ship　and　boat　were　pitching　together；　almost　bows　on　to　t