csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第7部分

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　'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　the　sea；　and　the　distance　between　them　looked　appallingly　great；　the　bearded　seaman　standing　in　the　bows　could　only　just　reach　up　to　the　chains　with　his　long　boat…hook。　Hornblower　hesitated　for　a　long　second；　he　knew　he　was　ungainly　and　awkward…book　learning　was　of　no　use　when　it　came　to　jumping　into　a　boat…but　he　had　to　make　the　leap；　for　Pellew　was　fuming　behind　him　and　the　eyes　of　the　boat's　crew　and　of　the　whole　ship's　pany　were　on　him。　Better　to　jump　and　hurt　himself；　better　to　jump　and　make　an　exhibition　of　himself；　than　to　delay　the　ship。　Waiting　was　certain　failure；　while　he　still　had　a　choice　if　he　jumped。　Perhaps　at　a　word　from　Pellew　the　Indefatigable's　helmsman　allowed　the　ship's　head　to　fall　off　from　the　sea　a　little。　A　somewhat　diagonal　wave　lifted　the　Indefatigable's　stern　and　then　passed　on；　so　that　the　cutter's　bows　rose　as　the　ship's　stern　sank　a　trifle。　Hornblower　braced　himself　and　leaped。　His　feet　reached　the　gunwale　and　he　tottered　there　for　one　indescribable　second。　A　seaman　grabbed　the　breast　of　his　jacket　and　he　fell　forward　rather　than　backward。　Not　even　the　stout　arm　of　the　seaman；　fully　extended；　could　hold　him　up；　and　he　pitched　headforemost；　legs　in　the　air；　upon　the　hands　on　the　second　thwart。　He　cannoned　onto　their　bodies；　knocking　the　breath　out　of　his　own　against　their　muscular　shoulders；　and　finally　struggled　into　an　upright　position。
　'I'm　sorry；'　he　gasped　to　the　men　who　had　broken　his　fall。
　'Never　you　mind；　sir；'　said　the　nearest　one；　a　real　tarry　sailor；　tattooed　and　pigtailed。　'You're　only　a　featherweight。'
　The　lieutenant　in　mand　was　looking　at　him　from　the　sternsheets。
　'Would　you　go　to　the　brig；　please；　sir？'　he　asked；　and　the　lieutenant　bawled　an　order　and　the　cutter　swung　round　as　Hornblower　made　his　way　aft。
　It　was　a　pleasant　surprise　not　to　be　received　with　the　broad　grins　of　tolerantly　concealed　amusement。　Boarding　a　small　boat　from　a　big　frigate　in　even　a　moderate　sea　was　no　easy　matter；　probably　every　man　on　board　had　arrived　headfirst　at　some　time　or　other；　and　it　was　not　in　the　tradition　of　the　service；　as　understood　in　the　Indefatigable；　to　laugh　at　a　man　who　did　his　best　without　shirking。
　'Are　you　taking　charge　of　the　brig？'　asked　the　lieutenant。
　'Yes；　sir。　The　captain　told　me　to　take　four　of　your　men。'
　'They　had　better　be　topmen；　then；'　said　the　lieutenant；　casting　his　eyes　aloft　at　the　rigging　of　the　brig。　The　foretopsail　yard　was　hanging　precariously；　and　the　jib　halliard　had　slacked　off　so　that　the　sail　was　flapping　thunderously　in　the　wind。　'Do　you　know　these　men；　or　shall　I　pick　'em　for　you？'
　'I'd　be　obliged　if　you　would；　sir。'
　The　lieutenant　shouted　four　names；　and　four　men　replied。
　'Keep　'em　away　from　drink　and　they'll　be　all　right；'　said　the　lieutenant。　'Watch　the　French　crew。　They'll　recapture　the　ship　and　have　you　in　a　French　gaol　before　you　can　say　〃Jack　Robinson〃　if　you　don't。'
　'Aye　aye；　sir；'　said　Hornblower。
　The　cutter　surged　alongside　the　brig；　white　water　creaming　between　the　two　vessels。　The　tattooed　sailor　hastily　concluded　a　bargain　with　another　man　on　his　thwart　and　pocketed　a　lump　of　tobacco…the　men　were　leaving　their　possessions　behind　just　like　Hornblower…and　sprang　for　the　mainchains。　Another　man　followed　him；　and　they　stood　and　waited　while　Hornblower　with　difficulty　made　his　way　forward　along　the　plunging　boat。　He　stood；　balancing　precariously；　on　the　forward　thwart。　The　main　chains　of　the　brig　were　far　lower　than　the　mizzen…chains　of　the　Indefatigable；　but　this　time　he　had　to　jump　upwards。　One　of　the　seamen　steadied　him　with　an　arm　on　his　shoulder。
　'Wait　for　it；　sir；'　he　said。　'Get　ready。　Now　jump；　sir。'
　Hornblower　hurled　himself；　all　arms　and　legs；　like　a　leaping　frog；　at　the　mainchains。　His　hands　reached　the　shrouds；　but　his　knee　slipped　off；　and　the　brig；　rolling；　lowered　him　thigh　deep　into　the　sea　as　the　shrouds　slipped　through　his　hands。　But　the　waiting　seamen　grabbed　his　wrists　and　hauled　him　on　board；　and　two　more　seamen　followed　him。　He　led　the　way　onto　the　deck。
　The　first　sight　to　meet　his　eyes　was　a　man　seated　on　the　hatch　cover；　his　head　thrown　back；　holding　to　his　mouth　a　bottle；　the　bottom　pointing　straight　up　to　the　sky。　He　was　one　of　a　large　group　all　sitting　round　the　hatch　cover；　there　were　more　bottles　in　evidence；　one　was　passed　by　one　man　to　another　as　he　looked；　and　as　he　approached　a　roll　of　the　ship　brought　an　empty　bottle　rolling　past　his　toes　to　clatter　into　the　scuppers。　Another　of　the　group；　with　white　hair　blowing　in　the　wind；　rose　to　wele　him；　and　stood　for　a　moment　with　waving　arms　and　rolling　eyes；　bracing　himself　as　though　to　say　something　of　immense　importance　and　seeking　earnestly　for　the　right　words　to　use。
　'Goddam　English；'　was　what　he　finally　said；　and；　having　said　it；　he　sat　down　with　a　bump　on　the　hatch　cover　and　from　a　seated　position　proceeded　to　lie　down　and　pose　himself　to　sleep　with　his　head　on　his　arms。
　'They've　made　the　best　of　their　time；　sir；　by　the　Holy；'　said　the　seaman　at　Hornblower's　elbow。
　'Wish　we　were　as　happy；'　said　another。
　A　case　still　a　quarter　full　of　bottles；　each　elaborately　sealed；　stood　on　the　deck　beside　the　hatch　cover；　and　the　seaman　picked　out　a　bottle　to　look　at　it　curiously。　Hornblower　did　not　need　to　remember　the　lieutenant's　warning；　on　his　shore　excursions　with　press　gangs　he　had　already　had　experience　of　the　British　seaman's　tendency　to　drink。　His　boarding　party　would　be　as　drunk　as　the　Frenchmen　in　half　an　hour　if　he　allowed　it。　A　frightful　mental　picture　of　himself　drifting　in　the　Bay　of　Biscay　with　a　disabled　ship　and　a　drunken　crew　rose　in　his　mind　and　filled　him　with　anxiety。
　'Put　that　down；'　he　ordered。
　The　urgency　of　the　situation　made　his　seventeen…year…old　voice　crack　like　a　fourteen…year…old's；　and　the　seaman　hesitated；　holding　the　bottle　in　his　hand。
　'Put　it　down；　d'ye　hear？'　said　Hornblower；　desperate　with　worry。　This　was　his　first　independent　mand；　conditions　were　absolutely　novel；　and　excitement　brought　out　all　the　passion　of　his　mercurial　temperament；　while　at　the　same　time　the　more　calculating　part　of　his　mind　told　him　that　if　he　were　not　obeyed　now　he　never　would　be。　His　pistol　was　in　his　belt；　and　he　put　his　hand　on　the　butt；　and　it　is　conceivable　that　he　would　have　drawn　it　and　used　it　（if　the　priming　had　not　got　wet；　he　said　to　himself　bitterly　when　he　thought　about　the　incident　later　on）；　but　the　seaman　with　one　more　glance　at　him　put　the　bottle　back　into　the　case。　The　incident　was　closed；　and　it　was　time　for　the　next　step。
　'Take　these　men　forrard；'　he　said；　giving　the　obvious　order。　'Throw　'em　into　the　forecastle。'
　'Aye　aye；　sir。'
　Most　of　the　Frenchmen　could　still　walk；　but　three　were　dragged　by　their　collars；　while　the　British　herded　the　others　before　them。
　'e　alongee；'　said　one　of　the　seamen。　'Thisa　waya。'
　He　evidently　believed　a　Frenchman　would　understand　him　better　if　he　spoke　like　that。　The　Frenchman　who　had　greeted　their　arrival　now　awakened　and　suddenly　realizing　he　was　being　dragged　forward；　broke　away　and　turned　back　to　Hornblower。
　'I　officer；'　he　said；　pointing　to　himself。　'I　not　go　wit'　zem。'
　'Take　him　away！'　said　Hornblower。　In　his　tense　condition　he　could　not　stop　to　debate　trifles。
　He　dragged　the　case　of　bottles　down　to　the　ship's　side　and　pitched　them　overboard　two　at　a　time…obviously　it　was　wine　of　some　special　vintage　which　the　Frenchmen　had　decided　to　drink　before　the　English　could　get　their　hands　on　it；　but　that　weighed　not　at　all　with　Hornblower；　for　a　British　seaman　could　get　drunk　on　vintage　claret　as　easily　as　upon　service　rum。　The　task　was　finished　before　the　last　of　the　Frenchmen　disappeared　into　the　forecastle；　and　Hornblower　had　time　to　look　about　him。　The　strong　breeze　blew　confusingly　round　his　ears；　and　the　ceaseless　thunder　of　the　flapping　jib　made　it　hard　to　think　as　he　looked　at　the　ruin　aloft。　Every　sail　was　flat　aback；　the　brig　was　moving　jerkily；　gathering　sternway　for　a　space　before　her　untended　rudder　threw　her　round　to　spill　the　wind　and　bring　her　up　again　like　a　jibbing　horse。　His　mathematical　mind　had　already　had　plenty　of　experience　with　a　well…handled　ship；　with　the　delicate　adjustment　between　after　sails　and　headsails。　Here　the　balance　had　been　disturbed；　and　Hornblower　was　at　work　on　the　problem　of　forces　acting　on　plane　surfaces　when　his　men　came　trooping　back　to　him。　One　thing　at　least　was　certain；　and　that　was　that　the　precariously　hanging　foretopsail　yard　would　tear　itself　free　to　do　all　sorts　of　unforeseeable　damage　if　it　were　tossed　about　much　more。　This　ship　must　be　properly　hove　to；　and　Hornblower　could　guess　how　to　set　about　it；　and　he　formulated　the　order　in　his　mind　just　in　time　to　avoid　any　appearance　of　hesitation。
　'Brace　the　after　yards　to　larboard；'　he　said。　'Man　the　braces；　men。'
　They　obeyed　him；　while　he　himself　went　gingerly　to　the　wheel；　he　had　served　a　few　tricks　as　helmsman；　learning　his　professional　duties　under　Pellew's　orders；　but　he　did　not　feel　happy　about　it。　The　spokes　felt　foreign　to　his　fingers　as　he　took　hold；　he　spun　the　wheel　experimentally　but　timidly。　But　it　was　easy。　With　the　after　yards　braced　round　the　brig　rode　more　fortably　at　once；　and　the　spokes　told　their　own　story　to　his　sensitive　fingers　as　the　ship　became　a　thing　of　logical　construction　again。　Hornblower's　mind　pleted　the　solution　of　the　problem　of　the　effect　of　the　rudder　at　the　same　time　as　his　senses　solved　it　empirically。　The　wheel　could　be　safely　lashed；　he　knew；　in　these　conditions；　and　he　slipped　the　becket　over　the　spoke　and　stepped　away　from　the　wheel；　with　the　Marie　Galante　riding　fortably　and　taking　the　seas　on　her　starboard　bow。
　The　seaman　took　his　petence　gratifyingly　for　granted；　but　Hornblower；　looking　at　the　tangle　on　the　foremast；　had　not　the　remotest　idea　of　how　to　deal　with　the　next　problem。　He　was　not　even　sure　about　what　was　wrong。　But　the　hands　under　his　orders　were　seamen　of　vast　experience；　who　must　have　dealt　with　similar　emergencies　a　score　of　times。　The　first…indeed　the　only…thing　to　do　was　to　delegate　his　res