csf.thecommodore-第31部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　there　was　nothing　to　see　at　all；　nothing　except　grey　water；　flecked　here　and　there　with　white　where　the　shoals　dotted　the　lagoon。　The　opposite　shore　of　the　Haff　was　too　distant　to　be　visible　from　the　deck。
　〃Captain　Bush；〃　ordered　Hornblower；　〃would　you　please　be　good　enough　to　send　an　officer　with　good　eyes　to　the　masthead　with　a　glass？〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　Hornblower　watched　the　young　lieutenant　dashing　up　the　rigging；　moving　as　fast　as　he　could　with　his　modore's　eye　on　him；　hanging　back　downward　as　he　scaled　the　futtock…shrouds；　going　hand　over　hand　up　the　topgallant…shrouds；　Hornblower　knew　that　in　his　present　condition　he　could　not　do　that　without　resting　in　the　maintop　for　a　space；　and　he　also　knew　that　his　eyes　were　not　as　good　as　they　were　…　not　as　good　as　the　lieutenant's。　He　watched　the　lieutenant　settle　himself　at　the　topgallant　mast…head；　adjust　his　glass；　and　sweep　the　horizon；　and　he　waited　impatiently　for　a　report。　Unable　to　wait　longer　he　grabbed　his　speaking…trumpet。
　〃Mast…head；　there！　What　do　you　see　of　the　shore　inside？〃
　〃Nothing；　sir。　It's　too　hazy　to　see　plain。　But　I　can　see　no　sails；　sir。〃
　Maybe　the　garrison　was　laughing　up　their　sleeves　at　him。　Maybe　the　boats　had　fallen　straight　into　their　hands；　and　now　they　were　amusing　themselves　watching　the　squadron　beginning　an　endless　wait　for　any　further　sight　of　the　lost　boats　and　seamen。　Hornblower　refused　to　allow　himself　to　be　pessimistic。　He　set　himself　to　picture　the　state　of　affairs　in　the　batteries　and　in　the　town；　when　the　dawn　revealed　a　British　squadron　lying…to　just　out　of　range。　How　the　drums　would　beat　and　trumpets　peal；　as　the　troops　were　hurriedly　turned　out　to　guard　against　a　possible　landing。　That　was　what　must　be　going　on　at　this　very　moment。　The　garrison；　the　French　governor；　must　be　still　unaware　as　yet　that　wolves　had　slipped　into　their　sheep…fold；　that　British　boat　crews　had　penetrated　into　the　waters　of　the　Haff　where　no　enemy　had　been　seen　since　Danzig　fell　to　the　French　five　years　back。　Hornblower　tried　to　fort　himself　with　thought　of　all　the　additional　bustle　that　would　develop　as　soon　as　the　situation　disclosed　itself　to　the　enemy；　the　messengers　that　would　gallop　with　warnings；　the　gunboats　that　would　be　hastily　warned；　the　coasters　and　barges　which　would　seek　the　shelter　of　the　nearest　batteries　…　if　batteries　there　were；　Hornblower　was　willing　to　bet　that　there　was　none　between　Elbing　and　K？nigsberg；　for　none　had　been　necessary　so　far。
　〃Mast…head！　Can't　you　see　anything　inshore？〃
　〃No；　sir　…　yes；　sir。　There's　gunboats　putting　out　from　the　town。〃
　Hornblower　could　see　those　himself；　a　flotilla　of　small　two…masted　vessels；　rigged　with　the　sprit…mainsails　usual　to　small　Baltic　craft；　putting　out　from　Elbing。　They　were　a　little　like　Norfolk　wherries。　Presumably　they　each　carried　one　heavy　gun；　a　twenty…four…pounder　possibly；　mounted　right　up　in　the　eyes　of　the　boat。　They　anchored　at　intervals　in　the　shoal　water；　obviously　as　a　further　protection　to　the　boom　in　case　of　an　attempt　upon　it。　Four　of　them　moved　right　across　and　anchored　to　guard　the　shallows　between　the　boom　and　the　Nehrung　…　not　exactly　locking　the　stable　door　after　the　horse　had　been　stolen；　decided　Hornblower；　rejecting　the　simile　after　it　came　to　his　mind；　they　were　locking　the　stable　door　to　prevent　the　thief　getting　out；　if　they　knew　as　yet　（which　was　highly　doubtful）　that　there　was　a　thief　inside。　The　haziness　was　fast　clearing；　overhead　the　sky　was　almost　blue　and　a　watery　sun　was　showing　through。
　〃Deck；　there！　If　you　please；　sir；　there's　a　bit　of　smoke　in　sight　now；　right　up　the　bay。　Can't　see　more　than　that；　sir；　but　it's　black　smoke　and　might　be　from　a　burning　ship。〃
　Bush；　measuring　with　his　eye　the　dwindling　distance　between　the　ship　and　the　boom；　was　giving　orders　to　brace　up　and　work　a　trifle　farther　out　to　sea　again；　and　the　two　sloops　conformed　to　the　Nonsuch's　movements。　Hornblower　wondered　whether　or　not　he　had　put　too　much　trust　in　young　Mound　with　the　bomb…ketches。　Mound　had　an　important　rendezvous　for　next　morning；　with　the　Moth　and　the　Harvey　he　was　out　of　sight　below　the　horizon。　So　far　the　garrison　of　Elbing　had　seen　only　the　three　British　ships；　and　did　not　know　of　the　existence　of　the　ketches。　That　was　well　…　as　long　as　Mound　carried　out　his　orders　correctly。　Or　a　gale　might　blow　up；　or　a　shift　of　the　wind　might　raise　too　much　of　a　surf　for　the　project　Hornblower　had　in　mind。　Hornblower　felt　anxiety　surge　upon　him。　He　had　to　force　himself　to　relax；　to　appear　posed。　He　permitted　himself　to　walk　the　deck；　but　slowed　down　his　nervous　strides　to　a　casual　saunter。
　〃Deck；　there！　There's　more　smoke　inshore；　sir。　I　can　see　two　lots　of　it；　as　if　there　were　two　ships　on　fire　now。〃
　Bush　had　just　given　orders　to　back　the　main…topsail　again；　and　as　the　ship　hove…to　he　came　across　to　Hornblower。
　〃It　looks　as　if　Vickery　had　caught　something；　doesn't　it；　sir？〃　he　said；　smiling。
　〃Let's　hope　so；〃　answered　Hornblower。
　There　was　no　sign　of　any　anxiety　in　Bush's　expression；　his　craggy　face　denoted　nothing　more　than　fierce　satisfaction　at　the　thought　of　Vickery　loose　amid　the　coasting　trade。　His　sublime　confidence　began　to　reassure　Hornblower　until　the　latter　suddenly　realized　that　Bush　was　not　really　paying　consideration　to　circumstances。　Bush　knew　that　Hornblower　had　planned　this　attack；　and　that　was　enough　for　him。　In　that　case　he　could　imagine　no　possibility　of　failure；　and　Hornblower　found　it　profoundly　irritating　that　this　should　be　the　case。
　〃Deck；　there！　There's　two　small　sail　heading　across　the　bay　close…hauled　for　the　town。　And　I　can't　be　sure　yet；　sir；　but　I　think　the　second　one　is　our　cutter。〃
　〃Our　cutter　it　is；　sir！〃　yelled　another　voice。　Every　idle　hand　in　the　ship　was　perched　by　now　at　the　mast…heads。
　〃That'll　be　Montgomery；〃　said　Bush。　He　had　fitted　the　toe　of　his　wooden　leg　into　the　ring…bolt　of　the　aftermost　carronade　tackle　so　that　he　could　stand　without　effort　on　the　gently　heaving　deck。
　〃She's　caught　her；　sir！〃　yelled　the　voice　from　the　mast…head。　〃Our　cutter's　caught　her！〃
　〃That's　one　lot　of　beef　and　bread　that　Boney　won't　get；〃　said　Bush。
　Very　heavy　destruction　of　the　coastal　shipping　in　the　Haff　might　be　some　pensation　for　the　loss　of　150　prime　seamen。　But　it　would　be　hard　to　convince　Their　Lordships　of　the　Admiralty　of　that；　if　there　was　no　certain　evidence　of　the　destruction。
　〃Deck；　there！　The　two　sail　are　parting　pany。　Our　cutter's　going　off　before　the　wind。　The　other　has　her　mains'l　brailed　up；　I　think；　sir。　Looks　to　me　as　if　…〃
　The　lieutenant's　report　terminated　abruptly　in　mid…sentence。
　〃There　she　goes！〃　yelled　another　voice；　and　at　the　same　moment　there　came　a　cheer　from　everyone　aloft。
　〃She's　blown　up！〃　shouted　the　lieutenant；　forgetting　in　his　excitement　even　to　add　'sir'　to　his　words　when　addressing　his　modore。　〃There's　a　pillar　of　smoke　as　high　as　a　mountain！　You　can　see　it　from　the　deck；　I　think。〃
　They　certainly　could　…　a　mushroom…topped　pillar　of　smoke；　black　and　heavy；　apparent　as　it　reached　above　the　horizon。　It　lasted　a　perceptible　time　before　the　wind　blew　it　into　strange　ragged　shapes　and　then　dispersed　it　utterly。
　〃That　wasn't　beef　and　bread；　by　God！〃　said　Bush；　pounding　his　left　palm　with　his　right　fist。　〃That　was　powder！　A　barge…load　of　powder！　Fifty　tons　of　powder；　by　God！〃
　〃Mast…head！　What　of　the　cutter？〃
　〃She's　all　right；　sir。　Doesn't　look　as　if　the　explosion　harmed　her。　She's　hull…down　from　here　already；　sir。〃
　〃Off　after　another　one；　please　God；〃　said　Bush。
　The　destruction　of　a　powder　barge　was　the　clearest　possible　proof　that　Bonaparte　was　using　the　inland　water　route　for　the　transport　of　military　stores。　Hornblower　felt　he　had　achieved　something；　even　though　Whitehall　might　not　be　fully　convinced；　and　he　found　himself　smiling　with　pleasure。　He　suppressed　the　smile　as　soon　as　he　was　aware　of　it；　for　his　dignity　demanded　that　triumph　should　leave　him　as　unmoved　as　uncertainty。
　〃It　only　remains　to　get　Vickery　and　the　men　out　to…night；　sir；〃　said　Bush。
　〃Yes；　that　is　all；〃　said　Hornblower；　as　woodenly　as　he　could　manage。
　The　blowing　up　of　the　powder　barge　was　the　only　sure　proof　they　had　that　day　in　the　Nonsuch　of　success　in　the　Haff；　although　more　than　once　the　lookouts　hesitatingly　reported　smoke　on　the　horizon　inside。　As　evening　came　on　another　string　of　gunboats　made　their　appearance；　from　K？nigsberg　presumably；　and　took　up　their　stations　along　the　boom。　A　column　of　troops　could　be　seen　for　a　space；　too；　the　horizontal　lines　of　blue　coats　and　white　breeches　clearly　visible　even　from　the　deck　as　they　marched　in　to　strengthen　the　defences　of　Pillau。　The　entrance　into　the　Haff　was　going　to　be　stoutly　defended；　obviously；　if　the　British　should　attempt　a　coup　de　main。
　In　the　evening　Hornblower　came　up　from　below；　where　he　had　been　making　pretence　at　eating　his　dinner；　and　looked　round　him　again　although　his　senses　had　been　so　alert　in　his　cabin　that　his　glance　told　him　nothing　he　did　not　know　already。　The　wind　was　moderating　with　the　dying　of　the　day；　the　sun　was　on　the　point　of　setting；　although　there　would　be　daylight　for　a　couple　of　hours　more　at　least。
　〃Captain　Bush；　I'd　be　obliged　if　you　would　send　your　best　gun　pointers　to　the　lower　gun…deck　starboard…side　guns。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　〃Have　the　guns　cleared　away　and　run　out；　if　you　please。　Then　I　would　like　it　if　you　would　allow　the　ship　to　drop　down　within　range　of　the　batteries　there。　I　want　to　draw　their　fire。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　Pipes　twittered　around　the　ship；　bosun　and　bosun's　mates　roared　out　orders；　and　the　bands　ran　to　their　stations。　A　long　earthquake…tremor　shook　the　ship　as　the　massive　twenty…four　pounders　of　the　lower　gun…deck　ran　thunderously　out。
　〃Please　see　that　the　gun…captains　are　certain　what　their　target　is；〃　said　Hornblower。
　He　knew　how　limited　was　the　view　afforded　a　man　on　the　lower　deck；　looking　through　a　gun…port　only　a　yard　or　so　above　the　water's　edge；　and　he　did　not　want　the　enemy　to　jump　to　the　conclusion　that　the　feint　he　was　about　to　make　was　no　more　than　a　feint。　The　hands　at　the　main…topsail　lee　brace　walking　smartly　down　the　deck；　swung　the　big　sail　round　and　Nonsuch　came　to　the　wind　and　slowly　gathered　way。
　〃Port　a　little；〃　said　Bush　to　the　helmsman。　〃Let　her　fall　off。　Meet　her　there！　Steady　as　you　go！〃
　〃Steady　as　you　go；　sir；〃　echoed　the　helmsman；　and　then　by　a　neat　feat　of　facial　gymnastics　transferred　his　quid　from　his　cheek　to　his　mouth；　and　a　moment　later　spat　accurately　into　the　spit…kid　beside　the　wheel　without　transferring　any　of　his　attention　from　the　leech　of　the　main…topsail　and　the　pass　in　the　binnacle。
　Nonsuch　edged　down　steadily　towards　the　entrance　and　the　batteries。　This　was　a　ticklish　business；　ing　down　to　be　shot　at。　There　was　smoke　as　from　a　fire　visible　not　far　from　the　batteries；　maybe　it　was　merely　rising　from　the　cooking　stoves　of　the　garrison；　but　it　might　well　be　smoke　from　the　furnaces　for　heating　red…hot　shot。　But　Bush　was　aware　of　that　possibility　when　in　action　against　coastal　batteries；　and　had　needed　no　warning。　Every　available　man　was　standing　by　with　fire　buckets；　and　every　pump　and　hose　was　rigged。　Now　he　was　measuring　the　range　with　his　eye。
　〃A　little　closer；　if　you　please；　Captain　Bush；〃　said　Hor