csf.thecommodore-第11章

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　aware　of　a　vast　creaking　as　the　cable　and　the　bitts　took　the　strain　…　on　the　Nonsuch's　quarter…deck　they　could　overhear　Harvey's　mizzenmast　creaking　with　the　strain。　The　ketch　came　round　slowly；　to　the　acpaniment　of　fierce　bellowings　at　Nonsuch's　helmsman；　as　the　two…decker　wavered　at　the　pull　across　her　stern。　It　was　all　satisfactory；　Hornblower　nodded　to　himself　…　if　Bush　were　stealing　glances　at　him　（as　he　expected）　and　saw　that　nod　it　would　do　no　harm。
　〃Hands　to　the　braces！〃　bellowed　Bush；　echoing　Hornblower's　thoughts。　With　fore…　and　mizzen…topsails　trimmed　and　drawing　well　Nonsuch　began　to　increase　her　speed；　and　the　ketch　followed　her　with　as　much　docility　as　could　be　expected　of　a　vessel　with　no　rudder　to　keep　her　straight。　Then　she　sheered　off　in　ugly　fashion　to　starboard　before　the　tug　of　the　line　pulled　her　straight　again　to　a　feu　de　joie　of　creaks。　Hornblower　shook　his　head　at　the　sight；　and　Bush　held　back　his　order　to　brace　up　the　main…topsail。
　〃Starboard　your　helm；　Mr　Mound！〃　shouted　Hornblower　through　his　speaking…trumpet。　Putting　Harvey's　rudder　over　might　have　some　slight　effect　…　the　behaviour　of　every　ship　being　towed　was　an　individual　problem。　Speed　was　increasing；　and　that；　too；　might　affect　Harvey's　behaviour　for　better　or　worse。
　〃By　the　mark　five！〃
　That　was　better。　And　Harvey　was　behaving　herself；　too。　She　was　yawing　only　very　slightly　now；　either　the　increase　in　speed　or　the　putting　over　of　the　rudder　was　having　its　effect。
　〃That's　well　done。　Captain　Bush；〃　said　Hornblower　pompously。
　〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　Bush；　and　promptly　ordered　the　main…topsail　to　be　braced　up。
　〃By　the　deep　six！〃
　They　were　well　off　the　Saltholm　shoal；　then；　and　Hornblower　suddenly　realized　that　the　guns　had　not　fired　for　some　time；　and　he　had　heard　nothing　of　any　more　firing　from　Amager。　They　were　through　the　channel；　then；　out　of　range　of　the　batteries；　at　a　cost　of　only　a　single　spar　knocked　away。　There　was　no　need　to　e　within　range　of　any　other　hostile　gun　…　they　could　round　Falsterbo　well　clear　of　the　Swedish　batteries。
　〃By　the　deep　nine！〃
　Bush　was　looking　at　him　with　that　expression　of　puzzled　admiration　which　Hornblower　had　seen　on　his　face　before。　Yet　it　had　been　easy　enough。　Anyone　could　have　foreseen　that　it　would　be　best　to　leave　to　the　Nonsuch　the　duty　of　towing　any　cripples　out　of　range；　and；　once　that　was　granted；　anyone　would　have　the　sense　to　have　a　cable　roused　out　and　led　aft　ready　to　undertake　the　duty　instantly；　with　heaving…lines　and　all　the　other　gear　to　hand；　and　anyone　would　have　posted　Nonsuch　last　in　the　line；　both　to　endure　the　worst　of　the　enemy's　fire　and　to　be　in　a　position　to　run　down　to　a　cripple　and　start　towing　without　delay。　Anyone　could　have　made　those　deductions　…　it　was　vaguely　irritating　that　Bush　should　look　like　that。
　〃Make　a　general　signal　to　heave　to；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃Captain　Bush；　stand　by；　if　you　please；　to　cast　off　the　tow。　I'll　have　Harvey　jury　rigged　before　we　round　Falsterbo。　Perhaps　you'll　be　good　enough　to　send　a　party　on　board　to　help　with　the　work。〃
　And　with　that　he　went　off　below。　He　had　seen　all　he　wanted　both　of　Bush　and　of　the　world　for　the　present。　He　was　tired；　drained　of　his　energy。　Later　there　would　be　time　enough　to　sit　at　his　desk　and　begin　the　weary　business　of　…　'Sir；　I　have　the　honour　to　report　…'　There　would　be　dead　and　wounded　to　enumerate；　too。
　
　CHAPTER　SEVEN
　
　His　Britannic　Majesty's　seventy…four…gun　ship　Nonsuch　was　out　of　sight　of　land　in　the　Baltic。　She　was　under　easy　sail；　running　before　that　persistent　westerly　wind；　and　astern　of　her；　like　a　couple　of　ugly　ducklings　following　their　portly　mother；　came　the　two　bomb…ketches。　Far　out　to　starboard；　only　just　in　sight；　was　the　Lotus；　and　far　out　to　port　was　the　Raven。　Beyond　the　Raven；　unseen　from　the　Nonsuch；　was　the　Clam；　the　four　ships　made　a　visual　chain　which　could　sweep　the　narrow　neck　of　the　Baltic；　from　Sweden　to　Rügen；　from　side　to　side。　There　was　still　no　news；　in　spring；　with　the　melting　of　the　ice；　the　whole　traffic　of　the　Baltic　was　outwards；　towards　England　and　Europe；　and　with　this　westerly　wind　so　long　prevailing　little　was　astir。　The　air　was　fresh　and　keen；　despite　the　sunshine；　and　the　sea　was　silver…grey　under　the　dappled　sky。
　Hornblower　gasped　and　shuddered　as　he　took　his　bath　under　the　wash…deck　pump。　For　fifteen　years　he　had　served　in　tropical　and　Mediterranean　waters；　he　had　had　lukewarm　sea…water　pumped　over　him　far　more　often　than　he　could　remember；　and　this　Baltic　water；　chilled　by　the　melting　ice　in　the　gulfs　of　Bothnia　and　Finland；　and　the　snow…water　of　the　Vistula　and　the　Oder；　was　still　a　shock　to　him。　There　was　something　stimulating　about　it；　all　the　same；　and　he　pranced　grotesquely　under　the　heavy　jet；　forgetful　…　as　he　always　was　while　having　his　bath　…　of　the　proper　dignity　of　a　modore。　Half　a　dozen　seamen；　working　in　leisurely　fashion　under　the　direction　of　the　ship's　carpenter　at　replacing　a　shattered　gun…port；　stole　wondering　glances　at　him。　The　two　seamen　at　the　pump；　and　Brown　standing　by　with　towel　and　dressing…gown；　preserved　a　proper　solemnity　of　aspect；　close　under　his　eye　as　they　were。
　Suddenly　the　jet　ceased；　a　skinny　little　midshipman　was　standing　saluting　his　naked　modore。　Despite　the　gravity　of　addressing　so　great　a　man　the　child　was　round…eyed　with　wonder　at　this　fantastic　behaviour　on　the　part　of　an　officer　whose　doings　were　a　household　word。
　〃What　is　it？〃　said　Hornblower；　water　streaming　off　him。　He　could　not　return　the　salute。
　〃Mr　Montgomery　sent　me；　sir。　Lotus　signals　'Sail　to　leeward'；　sir。〃
　〃Very　good。〃
　Hornblower　snatched　the　towel　from　Brown；　but　the　message　was　too　important　for　time　to　be　wasted　drying　himself；　and　he　ran　up　the　panion　still　wet　and　naked；　with　Brown　following　with　his　dressing…gown。　The　officer　of　the　watch　touched　his　hat　as　Hornblower　appeared　on　the　quarter…deck　…　it　was　like　some　old　fairy　story；　the　way　everybody　rigidly　ignored　the　modore's　lack　of　clothes。
　〃New　signal　from　Lotus；　sir。　'Chase　has　tacked。　Chase　is　on　the　port　tack；　bearing　east…by…north；　half　east'。〃
　Hornblower　leaped　to　the　pass；　only　the　topsails　of　the　Lotus　were　in　sight　from　the　deck　as　he　took　the　bearing　by　eye。　Whatever　that　sail　was；　he　must　intercept　it　and　gather　news。　He　looked　up　to　see　Bush　hastening　on　deck；　buttoning　his　coat。
　〃Captain　Bush；　I'll　trouble　you　to　alter　course　two　points　to　starboard。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　〃Lotus　signalling　again；　sir。　'Chase　is　a　ship。　Probably　British　merchantman'。〃
　〃Very　good。　Set　all　sail；　Captain　Bush；　if　you　please。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　The　pipes　shrilled　through　the　ship；　and　400　men　went　pouring　up　the　ratlines　to　loose　the　royals　and　set　studding…sails。　Hornblower　raised　a　professional　eye　to　watch　the　operation；　carried　out　under　a　storm　of　objurgation　from　the　officer　of　the　watch。　The　still　clumsy　crew　was　driven　at　top　speed　by　the　warrant　officers　through　the　evolution；　and　it　was　hardly　pleted　before　there　was　a　yell　from　the　mast…head。
　〃Sail　on　the　starboard　bow！〃
　〃Must　be　the　ship　Lotus　can　see；　sir；〃　said　Bush。　〃Mast…head　there！　What　can　you　see　of　the　sail？〃
　〃She's　a　ship；　sir；　close…hauled　an'　ing　up　fast。　We're　headin'　to　meet　her。〃
　〃Hoist　the　colours；　Mr　Hurst。　If　she　was　beating　up　for　the　Sound；　sir；　she　would　have　tacked　whether　she　saw　Lotus　or　not。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Hornblower。
　A　shriek　came　from　the　mast…head；　where　one　of　the　midshipmen　of　the　watch；　an　urchin　who　had　not　yet　mastered　his　changing　voice；　had　run　up　with　a　glass。
　〃British　colours；　sir！〃
　Hornblower　remembered　he　was　still　wet　and　naked；　at　least；　he　was　still　wet　in　those　parts　of　him　which　did　not　offer　free　play　for　the　wind　to　dry　him。　He　began　to　dab　at　these　inner　corners　with　the　towel　he　still　held；　only　to　be　interrupted　again。
　〃There　she　is！〃　said　Bush；　the　ship's　upper　sails　were　over　the　horizon；　in　view　from　the　deck。
　〃Lay　a　course　to　pass　her　within　hail；　if　you　please；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。　Starboard　a　point；　Quartermaster。　Get　those　stuns'ls　in　again；　Mr　Hurst。〃
　The　ship　they　were　approaching　held　her　course　steadily；　there　was　nothing　suspicious　about　her；　not　even　the　fact　that　she　had　gone　about　immediately　on　sighting　Lotus。
　〃Timber　from　the　South　Baltic；　I　expect；　sir；〃　said　Bush；　training　his　glass。　〃You　can　see　the　deck　cargo　now。〃
　Like　most　ships　bound　out　of　the　Baltic　her　decks　were　piled　high　with　timber；　like　barricades　along　the　bulwarks。
　〃Make　the　merchant　ships'　private　signal　if　you　please；　Captain；〃　said　Hornblower。
　He　watched　the　reply　run　up　the　ship's　halliards。
　〃A　…　T　…　numeral　…　five　…　seven；　sir；〃　read　Hurst　through　his　glass。　〃That's　the　correct　reply　for　last　winter；　and　she　won't　have　received　the　new　code　yet。〃
　〃Signal　her　to　heave　to；〃　said　Hornblower。
　With　no　more　delay　than　was　to　be　expected　of　a　merchant　ship；　inept　at　reading　signals；　and　with　a　small　crew；　the　ship　backed　her　main…topsail　and　lay…to。　The　Nonsuch　came　hurtling　down　upon　her。
　〃That's　the　yellow　Q　she's　hoisting　now；　sir；〃　said　Hurst；　suddenly。　〃The　fever　flag。〃
　〃Very　good。　Heave　to；　Captain　Bush；　if　you　please。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。　I'll　keep　to　wind'ard　of　her；　too；　if　you've　no　objection；　sir。〃
　The　Nonsuch　laid　her　topsails　to　the　mast　and　rounded…to；　rocking　in　the　gentle　trough　of　the　waves　a　pistol…shot　to　windward。　Hornblower　took　his　speaking…trumpet。
　〃What　ship's　that？〃
　〃Maggie　Jones　of　London。　Eleven　days　out　from　Memel！〃
　In　addition　to　the　man　at　the　wheel　there　were　only　two　figures　visible　on　the　poop…deck　of　the　Maggie　Jones；　one　of　them；　wearing　white　duck　trousers　and　a　blue　coat；　was　obviously　the　captain。　It　was　he　who　was　answering　by　speaking…trumpet。
　〃What's　that　yellow　flag　for？〃
　〃Smallpox。　Seven　cases　on　board；　and　two　dead。　First　case　a　week　ago。〃
　〃Smallpox；　by　God！〃　muttered　Bush。　A　frightful　mental　picture　came　up　before　his　mind's　eye；　of　what　smallpox　would　do；　let　loose　in　his　precious　Nonsuch；　with　900　men　crammed　into　her　restricted　space。
　〃Why　are　you　sailing　without　convoy？〃
　〃None　available　at　Memel。　The　rendezvous　for　the　trade's　off　Langeland　on　the　twenty…fourth。　We're　beating　up　for　the　Belt　now。〃
　〃What's　the　news？〃　Hornblower　had　waited　patiently　during　all　these　interminable　sentences　before　asking　that　question。
　〃The　Russian　embargo　still　holds；　but　we're　sailing　under　licence。〃
　〃Sweden？〃
　〃God　knows；　sir。　Some　say　they've　tightened　up　their　embargo　there。〃
　A　curious　muffled　howl　came　from　below　decks　in　the　Maggie　Jones　at　that　moment；　just　audible　in　the　Nonsuch。
　〃What's　that　noise？〃　asked　Hornblower。
　〃One　of　the　smallpox　cases；　sir。　Delirious。　They　say　the　Tsar's　meeting　Bernadotte　next　week　fur　a　conference　somewhere　in　Finland。〃
　〃Any　sign　of　war　between　France　and　Russia？〃
　〃None　that　I　could　see　in　Memel。〃
　That　delirious　patient　must　be　very　violent　for　his　shrieks　to　reach　Hornblower's　ears　at　this　distance　against　the　wind。　Hornblower　heard　them　again。　Was　it　possible　for　one　man　to　make　all　that　noise？　It　sounded　more　like　a　muffled　chorus　to　Hornblower。　Hornblower　felt　a　sudden　wave　of　suspicion　surging　up　within　him。　The　white…trousered　figure　on　the　Maggie　Jones's　poop　was　altogethe