csf.thecommodore-第16章

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tion　in　a　bomb…vessel。　Above　him　towered　the　enormous　mainmast　（they　had　made　a　good　job　of　replacing　the　spar　shot　away　in　the　Sound）　which　had　to　make　up　in　the　amount　of　canvas　it　carried　for　the　absence　of　a　foremast。　The　mizzenmast；　stepped　far　aft；　was　better　proportioned　to　the　diminutive　vessel。　The　prodigious　forestay　necessary　for　the　security　of　the　mainmast　was　an　iron　chain；　curiously　incongruous　amid　the　hempen　rigging。　The　waist　of　the　ketch　was　forward　…　that　was　the　absurd　but　only　way　of　describing　her　design　…　and　there；　on　either　side　of　her　midline；　were　the　two　huge　mortars　which　accounted　for　her　quaint　build。　Hornblower　knew　that　they　were　bedded　upon　a　solid　mass　of　oak　against　her　kelson；　under　the　direction　of　a　gunner's　mate　four　hands　were　laying　out　the　immense　thirteen…inch　shells　which　the　mortars　fired。　The　bos'un's　mate　with　another　party　had　passed　a　cable　out　from　a　starboard　gun…port；　and；　having　carried　it　forward；　were　securing　it　to　the　anchor　hanging　at　the　cathead。　That　was　the　'spring'；　Hornblower　had　often　attached　a　spring　to　his　cable　as　a　practice　evolution；　but　had　never　used　one　in　action　before。　Close　beside　him　in　the　port…side　main…chains　a　hand　was　heaving　the　lead；　Hornblower　thought　to　himself　that　nine…tenths　of　the　time　he　had　spent　in　the　Baltic　the　lead　had　been　going；　and　presumably　that　would　be　the　case　for　the　rest　of　this　mission。
　〃And　a　half　three！〃　called　the　leadsman。　These　bomb…ketches　drew　less　than　nine　feet。
　Over　there　Raven　was　preparing　to　kedge　off　the　shoal　on　which　she　was　aground。　Hornblower　could　see　the　cable；　black　against　the　water。　She　had　already　cleared　away　the　raffle　of　her　wrecked　foretopmast。　Clam　was　creeping　out　beyond　her；　Hornblower　wondered　if　her　gipsy…looking　captain　had　fully　grasped　the　plex　instructions　given　him。
　Mound　was　standing　beside　him；　conning　his　ship。　He　was　the　only　missioned　officer；　a　midshipman　and　two　master's　mates　kept　watches；　and　the　two　latter　were　standing　wide…legged　aft　measuring　with　sextants　the　vertical　angle　subtended　by　Blanchefleur's　spars。　Hornblower　could　sense　through　the　vessel　an　atmosphere　of　light…heartedness；　only　to　be　expected　when　the　captain　was　only　twenty　years　old。　Discipline　was　bound　to　be　easier　in　these　small　craft　…　Hornblower　had　often　heard　crabbed　captains　of　vast　seniority　bewailing　the　fact。
　〃Quarter　less　three！〃　called　the　leadsman。
　Seventeen　feet　of　water。
　〃We　are　within　range　now；　sir；〃　said　Mound。
　〃Those　mortars　of　yours　are　more　accurate　when　firing　at　less　than　extreme　range；　though；　aren't　they？〃
　〃Yes；　sir。　And　I　would　prefer　to　have　a　little　to　spare；　too；　in　case　they　can　shift　anchorage。〃
　〃Leave　yourself　plenty　of　room　to　swing；　though。　We　know　nothing　of　these　shoals。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　Mound　swung　round　for　a　final　glance　at　the　tactical　situation；　at　the　spars　of　the　Blanchefleur　above　the　dunes　where　she　was　anchored　far　up　the　lagoon；　the　battery　at　the　end　of　the　spit；　Clam　taking　up　a　position　where　she　could　see　up　the　lagoon　from　a　point　just　out　of　range　of　the　battery；　and　lotus　waiting　beyond　the　entrance　to　cut　off　escape　in　case　by　any　miracle　the　Blanchefleur　should　be　able　to　claw　her　way　out　to　windward　and　make　a　fresh　attempt　to　reach　Stralsund。　Mound　kept　on　reaching　for　his　trouser　pockets　and　then　hastily　refraining　from　putting　his　hands　in；　when　he　remembered　the　modore　was　beside　him　…　an　odd　gesture；　and　he　did　it　every　few　seconds。
　〃For　God's　sake；　man；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃put　your　hands　in　your　pockets　and　leave　off　fidgeting。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir；〃　said　Mound；　a　little　startled。　He　plunged　his　hands　in　gratefully；　and　hunched　his　shoulders　into　a　fortable　slouch；　pleasantly　relaxed。　He　took　one　more　look　round　before　calling　to　the　midshipman　standing　by　the　cathead　forward。
　〃Mr　Jones。　Let　go！〃
　The　anchor　cable　roared　out　briefly　as　the　crew　of　the　ketch　raced　aloft　to　get　in　the　canvas。
　The　Harvey　swung　slowly　round　until　she　rode　bows　upwind；　pointing　nearly　straight　at　the　invisible　Blanchefleur。　The　Moth；　Hornblower　saw；　anchored　nearly　abreast　of　her　sister　ship。
　Mound　moved　with　a　deceptive　appearance　of　leisureliness　about　the　business　of　opening　fire。　He　took　a　series　of　bearings　to　make　sure　that　the　anchor　was　holding。　At　a　word　from　him　a　seaman　tied　a　white　rag　to　the　'spring'　where　it　lay　on　the　deck　as　it　passed　forward　to　the　capstan；　and　Mound　fished　in　his　pocket；　brought　out　a　piece　of　chalk；　and　marked　a　scale　on　the　deck　beside　the　rag。
　〃Mr　Jones；〃　he　said；　〃take　a　turn　on　the　capstan。〃
　Four　men　at　the　capstan　turned　it　easily。　The　white　rag　crept　along　the　deck　as　the　spring　was　wound　in。　The　spring　passed　out　through　an　after　gun…port　and　was　attached　to　the　anchor　far　forward；　pulling　on　it　pulled　the　stern　of　the　vessel　round　so　that　she　lay　at　an　angle　to　the　wind；　and　the　amount　of　the　angle　was　roughly　indicated　by　the　movement　of　the　white　rag　against　the　scale　chalked　on　the　deck。
　〃Carry　on；　Mr　Jones；〃　said　Mound；　taking　a　rough　bearing　of　the　Blanchefleur's　spars。　The　capstan　clanked　as　the　men　at　the　bars　spun　it　round。
　〃Steady！〃　called　Mound；　and　they　stopped。
　〃One　more　pawl！〃　said　Mound；　sighting　very　carefully　now　for　Blanchefleur's　mainmast。
　Clank！　went　the　capstan　as　the　men　momentarily　threw　their　weight　on　the　bars。
　〃One　more！〃
　Clank！
　〃I　think　that's　right；　sir；〃　said　Mound。　The　Harvey's　centre　line　was　pointing　straight　at　Blanchefleur。　〃Of　course　the　cables　stretch　and　the　anchor　may　drag　a　little；　but　it's　easy　enough　to　maintain　a　constant　bearing　by　paying　out　or　taking　in　on　the　spring。〃
　〃So　I　understand；〃　said　Hornblower。
　He　was　familiar　with　the　theory　of　the　bomb…vessel；　actually　he　was　intensely　interested　in　and　excited　at　the　prospect　of　the　approaching　demonstration。　Ever　since；　at　a　desperate　moment；　he　had　tried　to　hit　a　small　boat　at　long　range　with　a　six…pounder…shot　from　the　Witch　of　Endor；　Hornblower　had　been　conscious　that　naval　gunnery　was　an　art　which　should　be　improved　if　it　were　possible。　At　present　it　was　chancey；　literally　hit…or…miss。　Mortar…fire　from　a　bomb…vessel　was　the　uttermost　refinement　of　naval　gunnery；　brought　to　a　high　degree　of　perfection；　although　it　was　only　a　bastard　offshoot。　The　high　trajectory　and　the　low　muzzle　velocity　of　the　projectile；　and　the　avoidance　of　the　disturbing　factor　of　irregularities　in　the　bore　of　the　gun；　made　it　possible　to　drop　the　shell　with　amazing　accuracy。
　〃If　you'll　excuse　me；　sir；〃　said　Mound；　〃I'll　go　forrard。　I　like　to　cut　my　fuses　myself。〃
　〃I'll　e　with　you；〃　said　Hornblower。
　The　two　mortars　were　like　big　cauldrons　in　the　eyes　of　the　bomb…ketch。
　〃Eleven　hundred　yards；〃　said　Mound。　〃We'll　try　a　pound　and　three…quarters　of　powder；　Mr　Jones。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　The　powder　was　made　up　in　cartridges　of　a　pound；　half　a　pound；　and　a　quarter　of　a　pound。　The　midshipman　tore　open　one　of　each　size；　and　poured　the　contents　into　the　starboard…side　mortar；　and　pressed　it　home　with　an　enormous　wad　of　felt；　Mound　had　a　measuring　rule　in　his　hand；　and　was　looking　up　at　the　sky　in　a　calculating　way。　Then　he　bent　over　one　of　the　big　shells；　and　with　a　pair　of　scissors　he　cut　the　fuse　with　profound　care。
　〃One　and　eleven　sixteenths；　sir；〃　he　said；　apologetically。　〃Don't　know　why　I　decided　on　that。　The　fuse　burns　at　different　speeds　according　to　the　weather；　and　that　seems　right　for　now。　Of　course　we　don't　want　the　shell　to　burst　in　the　air；　but　if　you　have　too　long　a　fuse　some　Frog　may　get　to　it　and　put　it　out　before　it　bursts。〃

　〃Naturally；〃　said　Hornblower。
　The　big　shell　was　lifted　up　and　placed　in　the　muzzle　of　the　mortar；　a　few　inches　down；　the　bore　narrowed　abruptly；　leaving　a　distinct　step　inside；　on　which　the　bold　belt　round　the　shell　rested　with　reassuring　solidity。　The　curve　of　the　thirteen…inch　shell；　with　the　fuse　protruding；　was　just　level　with　the　rim　of　the　muzzle。
　〃Hoist　the　red　swallowtail；〃　called　Mound；　raising　his　voice　to　reach　the　ears　of　the　master's　mate　aft。
　Hornblower　turned　and　looked　through　his　glass　at　Clam；　anchored　in　the　shallows　a　couple　of　miles　away。　It　was　under　his　personal　supervision　that　this　code　of　signals　had　been　arranged；　and　he　felt　a　keen　anxiety　that　it　should　function　correctly。　Signals　might　easily　be　misunderstood。　A　red　swallowtail　mounted　to　the　Clam's　peak。
　〃Signal　acknowledged；　sir；〃　called　the　master's　mate。
　Mound　took　hold　of　the　smouldering　linstock；　and　applied　it　to　the　fuse　of　the　shell。　After　a　moment　the　fuse　took　fire；　spluttering　feebly。
　〃One；　two；　three；　four；　five；〃　counted　Mound；　slowly；　while　the　fuse　still　spluttered。　Apparently　he　left　himself　a　five…second　margin　in　case　the　fuse　burnt　unsatisfactorily　and　had　to　be　relit。
　Then　he　pressed　the　linstock　into　the　touch…hole　of　the　mortar；　and　it　went　off　with　a　roar。　Standing　immediately　behind　the　mortar；　Hornblower　could　see　the　shell　rise；　its　course　marked　by　the　spark　of　the　burning　fuse。　Up　and　up　it　went；　higher　and　higher；　and　then　it　disappeared　as　it　began　its　downward　flight　at　right　angles　now　to　the　line　of　sight。　They　waited；　and　they　waited；　and　nothing　more　happened。
　〃Miss；〃　said　Mound。　〃Haul　down　the　red　swallowtail。〃
　〃White　pendant　from　Clam；　sir；〃　called　the　master's　mate。
　〃That　means　'range　too　great'；〃　said　Mound。　〃A　pound　and　a　half　of　powder　this　time；　please；　Mr　Jones。〃
　Moth　had　two　red　swallowtails　hoisted；　and　two　were　hoisted　in　reply　by　Clam。　Hornblower　had　foreseen　the　possibility　of　confusion；　and　had　settled　that　signals　to　do　with　Moth　should　always　be　doubled。　Then　there　would　be　no　chance　of　Harvey　making　corrections　for　Moth's　mistakes；　or　vice　versa。　Moth's　mortar　roared　out；　its　report　echoing　over　the　water。　From　the　Harvey　they　could　see　nothing　of　the　flight　of　the　shell。
　〃Double　yellow　flag　from　Clam；　sir。〃
　〃That　means　Moth's　shell　dropped　short；〃　said　Mound。　〃Hoist　our　red　swallowtail。〃
　Again　he　fired　the　mortar；　again　the　spark　of　the　fuse　soared　towards　the　sky　and　disappeared；　and　again　nothing　more　happened。
　〃White　pendant　from　Clam；　sir。〃
　〃Too　long　again？〃　said　Mound；　a　little　puzzled。　〃I　hope　they're　not　cross…eyed　over　there。〃
　Moth　fired　again；　and　was　rewarded　by　a　double　white　pendant　from　Clam。　This　shell　had　passed　over；　when　her　preceding　one　had　fallen　short。　It　should　be　easy　for　Moth　to　find　the　target　now。　Mound　was　checking　the　bearing　of　the　target。
　〃Still　pointing　straight　at　her；〃　he　grumbled。　〃Mr　Jones；　take　one　half　a　quarter…pound　from　that　pound　and　a　half。〃
　Hornblower　was　trying　to　imagine　what　the　captain　of　the　Blanchefleur　was　doing　at　that　moment　on　his　own　side　of　the　sandspit。　Probably　until　the　very　moment　when　the　bomb…ketches　opened　fire　he　had　felt　secure；　imagining　that　nothing　except　a　direct　assault　on　the　battery　could　imperil　him。　But　now　shells　must　be　dropping　quite　close　to　him；　and　he　was　unable　to　reply　or　defend　himself　in　any　active　way。　It　would　be　hard　for　him　to　get　under　way；　he　had　anchored　his　ship　at　the　far　end　of　the　long　narrow　lagoon。　The　exit　near　him　was　shoal　water　too　shallow　even　for　a　skiff　…　as　the　breakers　showed　…　and　with　the　wind　as　it　was　at　present　it　was　impossible　for　him　to　try　to　beat　up