csf.thecommodore-第14章

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　〃Not　yet；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Stand　to　your　guns　on　the　port　side！〃　ordered　Bush。
　Even　a　distant　broadside　might　knock　away　a　spar　or　two　and　leave　the　chase　helpless。
　〃Tell　the　men　not　to　fire　without　orders；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃That　may　be　Lotus。〃
　〃So　it　may；　by　God；〃　said　Bush。
　Lotus　had　been　on　Nonsuch's　port　beam　in　the　cordon　sweeping　down　towards　Rügen。　Someone　had　undoubtedly　been　firing　…　that　must　have　been　Lotus；　and　she　would　have　turned　in　pursuit　of　the　Blanchefleur；　which　could　bring　her　into　just　the　position　where　those　royals　had　been　seen；　and　the　royals　of　two　ship…rigged　sloops；　seen　through　mist；　would　resemble　each　other　closely　enough　to　deceive　the　eye　even　of　an　experienced　seaman。
　〃Wind's　freshening；　sir；〃　mented　Hurst。
　〃That's　so；〃　said　Bush。　〃Please　God　it　clears　this　fog　away。〃
　Nonsuch　was　perceptibly　leaning　over　to　the　freshening　breeze。　From　forward　came　the　cheerful　music　of　the　sea　under　the　bows。
　〃By　the　deep　eighteen！〃　called　the　leadsman。
　Then　twenty　voices　yelled　together。
　〃There　she　is！　Sail　on　the　port　beam！　That's　Lotus！〃
　The　fog　had　cleared　in　this　quarter；　and　there　was　Lotus　under　all　sail；　three　cables'　lengths　away。
　〃Ask　her　where's　the　chase；〃　snapped　Bush。
　〃Sail　…　last　…　seen　…　ahead；〃　read　of　the　signal　midshipman；　glass　to　eye。
　〃Much　use　that　is　to　us；〃　Bush　grumbled。　There　were　enough　streaks　of　fog　still　remaining　to　obscure　the　whole　circle　of　the　horizon；　even　though　there　was　a　thin　watery　sunshine　in　the　air；　and　a　pale　sun　…　silver　instead　of　gold　…　visible　to　the　eastward。
　〃There　she　is！〃　suddenly　yelled　someone　at　the　masthead。　〃Hull　down　on　the　port　quarter！〃
　〃Stole　away；　by　God！〃　said　Hurst。　〃She　must　have　put　up　her　helm　the　moment　she　saw　us。〃
　The　Blanchefleur　was　a　good　six　miles　away；　with　only　her　royals　visible　from　the　deck　of　the　Nonsuch；　heading　downwind　under　all　sail。　A　string　of　signal　flags　ran　up　Lotus's　mast；　and　a　gun　from　her　called　attention　to　the　urgency　of　her　signal。
　〃She's　seen　her　too；〃　said　Bush。
　〃Wear　ship；　Captain　Bush；　if　you　please。　Signal　'general　chase'。〃
　Nonsuch　came　round　on　the　other　tack；　amid　the　curses　of　the　officers　hurled　at　the　men　for　their　slowness。　Lotus　swung　round　with　her　bow　pointing　straight　at　Blanchefleur。　With　the　coast　of　Pomerania　ahead；　Nonsuch　to　windward；　and　Lotus　and　R。aven　on　either　side；　Blanchefleur　was　hemmed　in。
　〃Raven　must　be　nearly　level　with　her　over　there；　sir；〃　said　Bush；　rubbing　his　hands。　〃And　we'll　pick　the　bombs　up　again　soon；　wherever　they　got　to　in　the　fog。〃
　〃By　the　deep　fourteen！〃　chanted　the　leadsman。　Hornblower　watched　the　man　in　the　chains；　whirling　the　lead　with　practised　strength；　dropping　it　in　far　ahead；　reading　off　the　depth　as　the　ship　passed　over　the　vertical　line；　and　then　hauling　in　ready　for　a　fresh　cast。　It　was　tiring　work；　continuous　severe　exercise；　moreover；　the　leadsman　was　bound　to　wet　himself　to　the　skin；　hauling　in　a　hundred　feet　of　dripping　line。　Hornblower　knew　enough　about　life　below　decks　to　know　that　the　man　would　have　small　chance　of　ever　getting　his　clothes　dry　again；　he　could　remember　as　a　midshipman　in　Pellew's　Indefatigable　being　at　the　lead　that　wild　night　when　they　went　in　and　destroyed　the　Droits　de　l'homme　in　the　Biscay　surf。　He　had　been　chilled　to　the　bone　that　night；　with　fingers　so　numb　as　almost　to　be　unable　to　feel　the　difference　between　the　markers　…　the　white　calico　and　the　leather　with　a　hole　in　it　and　all　the　others。　He　probably　could　not　heave　the　lead　now　if　he　tried；　and　he　was　quite　sure　he　could　not　remember　the　arbitrary　order　of　the　markers。　He　hoped　Bush　would　have　the　humanity　and　the　mon　sense　to　see　that　his　leadsmen　were　relieved　at　proper　intervals；　and　given　special　facilities　for　drying　their　clothes；　but　he　could　not　interfere　directly　in　the　matter。　Bush　was　personally　responsible　for　the　interior　economy　of　the　ship　and　would　be　quite　rightly　jealous　of　any　interference；　there　were　crumpled　roseleaves　in　the　bed　even　of　a　modore。
　〃By　the　mark　ten！〃　called　the　leadsman。
　〃Raven　in　sight　beyond　the　chase；　sir；〃　reported　a　midshipman。　〃Heading　to　cut　her　off。〃
　〃Very　good；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Rügen　in　sight；　too；　sir；〃　said　Bush。　〃That's　Stubbenkammer；　or　whatever　they　call　it　…　a　white　cliff；　anyway。〃
　Hornblower　swung　his　glass　round　the　horizon；　fate　was　closing　in　on　the　Blanchefleur；　unless　she　took　refuge　in　the　waters　of　Swedish　Pomerania。　And　that　was　clearly　what　she　was　intending　to　do。　Bush　had　the　chart　spread　out　before　him　and　was　taking　bearings　on　the　distant　white　streak　of　the　Stubbenkammer。　Hornblower　studied　the　chart；　looked　over　at　the　distant　ships；　and　back　at　the　chart　again。　Stralsund　was　a　fortress　…　it　had　stood　more　than　one　siege　lately。　If　Blanchefleur　got　in　there　she　would　be　safe　if　the　Swedes　saw　fit　to　protect　her。　But　the　rest　of　the　coast　ahead　was　merely　shoals　and　sandbanks；　a　couple　of　bays　had　water　enough　for　coasting　vessels　…　there　were　batteries　marked　in　the　chart　to　defend　their　entrances。　Something　might　be　attempted　if　Blanchefleur　ran　in　one　of　those　…　she　was　probably　of　light　enough　draught　…　but　it　would　be　hopeless　if　she　reached　Stralsund。
　〃Signal　Lotus；〃　he　said。　〃'Set　course　to　cut　chase　off　from　Stralsund'。〃
　In　the　course　of　the　interminable　war　every　aid　to　navigation　had　disappeared。　There　was　not　a　buoy　left　to　make　the　deep…water　channel　…　the　Bodden；　the　chart　called　it　…　up　to　Stralsund。　Vickery　in　the　lotus　would　have　to　look　lively　with　the　lead　as　he　found　his　way　into　it。
　〃By　the　mark　seven！〃　called　the　leadsman；　Nonsuch　was　in　dangerously　shoal　water　already；　Bush　was　looking　anxious。
　〃Shorten　sail；　if　you　please；　Captain　Bush。〃
　There　was　no　chance　of　Nonsuch　overhauling　Blanchefleur；　and　if　they　were　going　to　run　aground　they　might　as　well　do　so　as　gently　as　possible。
　〃Chase　is　hauling　her　wind；　sir；〃　said　Hurst。
　So　she　was；　she　was　clearly　giving　up　the　attempt　to　reach　Stralsund。　That　was　thanks　to　Vickery；　who　had　gone　charging　with　gallant　recklessness　under　full　sail　through　the　shoals　to　head　her　off。
　〃Raven'll　have　a　chance　at　her　if　she　holds　that　course　long！〃　said　Bush　in　high　excitement。
　〃Chase　is　going　on　the　other　tack！〃　said　Hurst。
　〃And　a　half　five！〃　called　the　leadsman。
　Bush　was　biting　his　lips　with　anxiety；　his　precious　ship　was　entangling　herself　among　the　shoals　on　a　lee　shore；　and　there　was　only　thirty…three　feet　of　water　under　her　now。
　〃Heave　to；　Captain　Bush；〃　said　Hornblower。　There　was　no　reason　to　run　any　farther　now　until　they　could　see　what　Blanchefleur　intended。　Nonsuch　rounded…to　and　lay　with　her　port　bow　breasting　the　gentle　swell。　The　sun　was　pleasantly　warm。
　〃What's　happened　to　Raven？〃　exclaimed　Bush。
　The　sloop's　foretopmast；　with　yard　and　sail　and　everything；　had　broken　clear　off　and　was　hanging　down　in　a　frightful　tangle　among　her　headsails。
　〃Aground；　sir；〃　said　Hurst；　glass　to　eye。
　The　force　with　which　she　had　hit　the　sand　had　snapped　her　topmast　clean　off。
　〃She　draws　eight　feet　less　than　us；　sir；〃　said　Bush；　but　all　Hornblower's　attention　was　directed　again　to　Blanchefleur。
　Obviously　she　was　finding　her　way　up　a　channel　to　the　shelter　of　Hiddensoe。　On　the　chart　there　was　a　single　sounding　marked　there；　a　laconic　'21/2'。　Fifteen　feet　of　water；　and　a　battery　at　the　head　of　the　long　peninsula。　Blanchefleur　could　reckon　herself　safe　if　the　Swedes　would　defend　her。　On　the　horizon　to　windward　Hornblower　saw　the　queer　topsails　of　the　bomb…ketches；　Duncan　and　Mound；　after　blundering　about　in　the　fog；　must　have　caught　sight　of　Nonsuch　while　on　their　way　to　the　rendezvous　off　Cape　Arcona。
　〃Send　the　boats　to　assist　Raven；　if　you　please；　Captain　Bush；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　Hoisting　longboat　and　cutter　off　their　chocks　and　overside　was　an　evolution　calling　for　a　couple　of　hundred　hands。　Pipes　squealed　and　the　bos'un's　cane　stirred　up　the　laggards。　The　sheaves　squeaked　in　the　blocks；　bare　feet　stamped　the　decks；　and　even　Nonsuch's　massive　bulk　heeled　a　little　with　the　transfer　of　weight。　Hornblower　betook　himself　to　his　telescope　again。
　Blanchefleur　had　found　herself　a　curious　anchorage。　She　lay　between　the　main　island　of　Rügen　and　the　long　narrow　strip　of　Hiddensoe；　the　latter　was　more　of　a　sandspit　than　an　island；　a　thread　of　sand…dunes　emerging　from　the　yellow　shallows。　In　fact　Blanchefleur's　spars　were　still　in　plain　sight　against　the　background　of　the　low　mud　cliffs　of　Rügen；　it　was　only　her　hull　which　was　concealed　by　the　dunes　of　Hiddensoe　lying　like　a　long　curving　breakwater　in　front　of　her。　On　one　end　of　Hiddensoe　was　a　battery　…　Hornblower　could　see　the　silhouettes　of　the　guns；　black　against　the　green　of　the　grass…grown　embrasures　…　which　covered　one　entrance　to　the　tiny　roadstead　；　at　the　other　end　the　breaking　waves　showed　that　there　was　not　water　enough　even　for　a　ship's　longboat　to　pass。　The　squadron　had　succeeded　in　cutting　off　the　privateer's　escape　into　Stralsund；　but　it　seemed　as　if　she　were　just　as　safe　where　she　was　now；　with　miles　of　shoals　all　round　her　and　a　battery　to　protect　her；　any　attempt　to　cut　her　out　must　be　made　by　the　ship's　boats；　rowing　in　plain　view　for　miles　through　the　shallows；　then　through　a　narrow　channel　under　the　guns　of　the　battery；　and　finally　bringing　out　the　prize　under　the　same　guns　and　over　the　unknown　shoals。　That　was　not　a　tempting　prospect；　he　could　land　marines　on　the　seaward　front　of　Hiddensoe　and　try　to　storm　the　battery　by　brute　force；　but　the　attempt　would　be　inviting　a　bloody　repulse　if　there　were　no　surprise　to　cover　the　assaulting　party。　Besides；　the　battery's　garrison　would　be　Swedes；　and　he　did　not　want　to　shed　Swedish　blood　…　Sweden　was　only　a　nominal　enemy；　but　any　vigorous　action　on　his　part　might　easily　make　her　an　active　one。　Hornblower　remembered　the　paragraphs　of　his　instructions　which　bore　on　this　very　point
　As　if　in　echo　to　his　thoughts　the　signal　midshipman　saluted　with　a　new　report。
　〃Signal　from　Lotus；　sir。〃
　Hornblower　read　the　message　written　in　crude　capitals　on　the　slate。
　〃Flags　of　truce　ing　out　from　Stralsund。　Have　allowed　them　to　pass。〃
　〃Acknowledge；〃　said　Hornblower。
　What　the　devil　did　that　mean？　One　flag　of　truce　he　could　expect；　but　Vickery　was　reporting　two　at　least。　He　swung　his　glass　over　to　where　Vickery　had　very　sensibly　anchored　Lotus；　right　between　Blanchefleur's　refuge　and　any　possible　succour　from　Stralsund。　There　were　one　…　two　…　three　…　small　sails　heading　straight　for　the　Nonsuch；　having　just　rounded　Lotus。　They　were　all　of　them　of　the　queer　Baltic　rig；　like　Dutchmen　with　a　foreign　flavour　…　rounded　bows　and　lee…boards　and　big　gaff…mainsails。　Close…hauled；　with　the　white　water　creaming　under　their　blunt　bows　and　the　spray　flying　in　sheets　even　in　this　moderate　breeze；　they　were　clearly　being　sailed　for　all　they　were　worth；　as　if　it　were　a　race。
　〃What　in　God's　name？〃　said　Bush；　training　his　glass　on　them。
　It　might　be　a　ruse　to　gain　time。　Hornblower　looked　round　again　at　the　spars　of　Blanchefleur　above　the　sandspit。　She　had　furled　everything　and　was　riding　at　anchor。
　〃White　above　yellow　and　blue；　sir；〃　said　Bush；　still　watching　the　approaching　boats。　〃That's　Swedish　colours　under　a　flag　of