csf.thecommodore-第17章

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breakers　showed　…　and　with　the　wind　as　it　was　at　present　it　was　impossible　for　him　to　try　to　beat　up　the　channel　again　closer　to　the　battery。　He　must　be　regretting　having　dropped　so　far　to　leeward　before　anchoring：　presumably　he　had　done　so　to　secure　himself　the　better　from　the　claws　of　a　cutting…out　attack。　With　boats　or　by　kedging　he　might　be　able　to　haul　his　ship　slowly　up　to　the　battery；　near　enough　for　its　guns　to　be　able　to　keep　the　bomb…ketches　out　of　mortar…range。
　〃Red　swallowtail　at　the　dip；　sir！〃　reported　the　master's　mate　excitedly。
　That　meant　that　the　shell　had　fallen　short　but　close。
　〃Put　in　two　pinches　more；　Mr　Jones；〃　said　Mound。
　Moth's　mortar　roared　out　again；　but　this　time　they　saw　the　shell　burst；　apparently　directly　above　the　Blanchefleur's　mastheads。　They　saw　the　big　ball　of　smoke；　and　the　sound　of　the　explosion　came　faintly　back　to　them　on　the　wind。　Mound　shook　his　head　gravely；　either　Duncan　over　there　had　not　cut　his　fuse　correctly　or　it　had　burnt　away　more　rapidly　than　usual。　Two　blue　flags　at　Clam's　peak　indicated　that　the　fall　of　Moth's　shot　had　been　unobserved　…　the　signalling　system　was　still　functioning　correctly。　Then　Mound　bent　his　gangling　body　over　and　applied　the　linstock　to　fuse　and　touch…hole。　The　mortar　roared；　some　freak　of　ballistics　sent　a　fragment　of　blazing　wad　close　over　Hornblower's　head；　making　him　duck　while　the　smoke　billowed　round　him；　but　as　he　looked　up　again　he　just　caught　sight　of　the　spark　of　the　fuse　high　up　against　the　sky；　poised　at　the　top　of　its　trajectory；　before　it　disappeared　from　sight　in　its　swift　downward　swoop。　Hornblower；　Mound；　Jones；　the　whole　mortar's　crew　stood　waiting　tensely　for　the　shell　to　end　its　flight。　Then　over　the　rim　of　the　sand…dune　they　saw　a　hint　of　white　smoke；　and　the　sound　of　the　bursting　shell　came　back　to　them　directly　afterwards。
　〃I　think　we've　hit　her；　sir；〃　said　Mound；　with　elaborate　carelessness。
　〃Black　ball　at　Clam's　masthead；　sir！〃　shouted　the　master's　mate。
　That　meant　a　hit。　A　thirteen…inch　shell；　soaring　that　immense　distance　into　the　air；　had　e　plunging　down　onto　Blanchefleur's　decks　and　had　exploded。　Hornblower　could　not　imagine　what　destruction　it　might　cause。
　〃Both　mortars　together；　now；〃　snapped　Mound；　throwing　aside　all　lackadaisical　pose。　〃Jump　to　it；　you　men。〃
　Two　white　pendants　at　the　dip　from　Clam　meant　that　Moth's　next　shot　had　fallen　close　but　too　far。　Then　both　of　Harvey's　mortars　roared　…　the　little　ketch　dipped　and　plunged　as　the　violence　of　the　recoil　forced　her　bows　down。　Up　went　the　black　ball　to　Clam's　masthead。
　〃Another　hit！〃　exulted　Mound。
　Blanchefleur's　topmasts；　seen　over　the　dunes；　suddenly　began　to　separate。　She　was　turning　round　…　her　desperate　crew　was　trying　to　tow　her　or　kedge　her　back　up　the　channel。
　〃Please　God　we　wreck　her　before　she　gets　away！〃　said　Mound。　〃Why　in　hell　doesn't　Moth　fire？〃
　Hornblower　watched　him　closely；　the　temptation　to　fire　his　mortars　the　moment　they　were　loaded；　without　waiting　for　Moth　to　take　her　turn；　was　powerful　indeed；　but　to　yield　to　it　meant　confusion　for　the　observer　over　in　Clam　and　eventual　losing　of　all　control。　Moth　fired；　and　two　black　balls　at　Clam's　masthead　showed　that　she；　too；　had　scored　a　hit。　But　Blanchefleur　had　turned　now；　Hornblower　could　see　the　tiniest；　smallest　movement　of　her　topmast　against　the　upper　edge　of　the　dunes；　only　a　yard　or　two　at　most。　Mound　fired　his　two　mortars；　and　even　while　the　shells　were　in　the　air　his　men　leaped　to　the　capstan　and　flung　themselves　on　the　bars。　Clank　…　clank！　Twice　the　pawl　slipped　over　the　ratchet　as　they　hauled　in　on　the　spring　and　swung　the　ketch　round　to　keep　her　mortars　trained　on　the　target。　At　that　instant　Blanchefleur's　fore…topmast　fell　from　view。　Only　main　and　mizzen　were　in　sight　now。
　〃Another　hit；　by　God！〃　shouted　Hornblower；　the　words　forced　from　him　like　a　cork　from　a　popgun。　He　was　as　excited　as　a　schoolboy；　he　found　he　was　jumping　up　and　down　on　the　deck。　The　foremast　gone；　he　tried　to　picture　the　frightful　destruction　those　shells　must　be　causing；　crashing　down　on　the　frail　wooden　decks。　And　there　was　smoke　visible　over　the　crest　of　the　dunes　too；　more　than　could　be　accounted　for　by　the　bursting　of　the　shells；　and　blacker；　too。　Probably　she　was　on　fire。　Mizzenmast　and　mainmast　came　into　line　again　…　Blanchefleur　was　swinging　across　the　channel。　She　must　be　out　of　control。　Perhaps　a　shell　had　hit　the　cable　out　to　the　kedge　or　wrecked　the　towing　boats。
　Moth　fired　again；　and　two　red　swallowtails　at　the　dip　showed　that　her　shells　had　fallen　close　and　short　…　Blanchefleur　must　have　swerved　appreciably　across　the　channel。　Mound　had　noticed　it；　and　was　increasing　the　propelling　charge　in　his　mortars。　That　was　smoke；　undoubtedly　it　was　smoke　eddying　from　Blanchefleur。　She　must　be　on　fire。　And　from　the　way　she　lay；　stationary　again　…　Hornblower　could　see　that　her　topmasts　made　no　movement　at　all　to　the　sand…dunes　…　she　must　have　gone　aground。　Mound　fired　again；　and　they　waited。　There　went　the　mizzen…topmast；　leaning　over　slowly；　and　the　maintopmast　disappeared　as　well。　There　was　nothing　to　see　now；　except　the　smoke　rising　ever　more　thickly。　Mound　looked　at　Hornblower　for　orders。
　〃Better　keep　on　firing；〃　said　Hornblower；　thickly。　Even　if　the　crew　were　roasting　alive　in　her　it　was　his　duty　to　see　that　Blanchefleur　was　utterly　destroyed。　The　mortars　roared　out　again；　and　the　shells　made　their　steep　ascent；　climbing　upwards　for　ten　full　seconds　before　swooping　down　again。　Clam　signalled　'close　and　over'。　Moth　fired　again；　and　Clam　signalled　a　hit　for；　her；　Hornblower's　inner　eye　was　seeing　mental　pictures　of　the　shells　plunging　from　the　sky　in　among　the　crew　of　the　Blanchefleur　as　they　laboured　amid　the　flames　to　save　their　ship；　burning；　dismasted；　and　aground。　It　took　only　the　briefest　interval　of　time　for　those　pictures　to　form；　for　the　moment　the　signal　was　seen　in　Clam　Mound　bent　to　fire　the　mortars；　and　yet　the　fuses　had　not　taken　fire　when　the　sound　of　a　violent　explosion　checked　him。　Hornblower　whipped　his　glass　to　his　eye；　an　immense　gust　of　smoke　showed　over　the　sand…dunes；　and　in　the　smoke　Hornblower　thought　he　could　make　out　flying　specks　…　corpses　or　fragments　of　the　ship；　blown　into　the　air　by　the　explosion。　The　fire；　or　one　of　Moth's　last　shells；　had　reached　Blanchefleur's　magazines。
　〃Signal　to　Clam；　Mr　Mound；〃　said　Hornblower　〃'What　do　you　see　of　the　enemy？'〃
　They　waited　for　the　answer。
　〃'Enemy　…　totally　…　destroyed'；　sir；〃　read　off　the　master's　mate；　and　the　crew　gave　a　ragged　cheer。
　〃Very　good；　Mr　Mound。　I　think　we　can　leave　these　shallows　now　before　daylight　goes。　Hang　out　the　recall；　if　you　please；　with　Clam's　number　and　Lotus's　number。〃
　This　watery　northern　sunshine　was　deceptive。　It　shone　upon　one　but　it　gave　one　no　heat　at　all。　Hornblower　shivered　violently　for　a　moment　…　he　had　been　standing　inactive；　he　told　himself；　upon　the　Harvey's　deck　for　some　hours；　and　he　should　have　worn　a　greatcoat。　Yet　that　was　not　the　real　explanation　of　the　shudder；　and　he　knew　it。　The　excitement　and　interest　had　died　away；　leaving　him　gloomy　and　deflated。　It　had　been　a　brutal　and　cold…blooded　business；　destroying　a　ship　that　had　no　chance　of　firing　back　at　him。　It　would　read　well　in　a　report；　and　brother　officers　would　tell　each　other　of　Hornblower's　new　achievement；　destroying　a　big　French　privateer　in　the　teeth　of　the　Swedes　and　the　French　amid　shoals　innumerable。　Only　he　would　know　of　this　feeling　of　inglorious　anticlimax。
　
　CHAPTER　TEN
　
　Bush　wiped　his　mouth　on　his　table　napkin　with　his　usual　fussy　attention　to　good　manners。
　〃What　do　you　think　the　Swedes'll　say；　sir？〃　he　asked；　greatly　daring。　The　responsibility　was　none　of　his；　and　he　knew　by　experience　that　Hornblower　was　likely　to　resent　being　reminded　that　Bush　was　thinking　about　it。
　〃They　can　say　what　they　like；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃but　nothing　they　can　say　can　put　Blanchefleur　together　again。〃
　It　was　such　a　cordial　reply　pared　with　what　Hornblower　might　have　said　that　Bush　wondered　once　more　what　it　was　which　had　wrought　the　change　in　Hornblower　…　whether　his　new　mellowness　was　the　consequence　of　success；　of　recognition　of　promotion；　or　of　marriage。　Hornblower　was　inwardly　debating　that　very　question　at　that　very　moment　as　well；　oddly　enough；　and　he　was　inclined　to　attribute　it　to　advancing　years。　For　a　few　moments　he　subjected　himself　to　his　usual　pitiless　self…analysis；　almost　morbidly　intense。　He　knew　he　had　grown　blandly　tolerant　of　the　fact　that　his　hair　was　thinning；　and　turning　grey　over　his　temples　…　the　first　time　he　had　seen　a　gleam　of　pink　scalp　as　he　bed　his　hair　he　had　been　utterly　revolted；　but　by　now　he　had　at　least　grown　accustomed　to　it。　Then　he　looked　down　the　double　row　of　young　faces　at　his　table；　and　his　heart　warmed　to　them。　Without　a　doubt；　he　was　growing　paternal；　ing　to　like　young　people　in　a　way　new　to　him；　he　suddenly　became　aware；　for　that　matter；　that　he　was　growing　to　like　people　young　or　old；　and　was　losing　…　temporarily　at　least；　said　his　cautious　spirit　…　that　urgent　desire　to　get　away　by　himself　and　torture　himself。
　He　raised　his　glass。
　〃I　give　you　a　toast；　gentlemen；〃　he　said；　〃to　the　three　officers　whose　careful　attention　to　duty　and　whose　marked　professional　ability　resulted　in　the　destruction　of　a　dangerous　enemy。〃
　Bush　and　Montgomery　and　the　two　midshipmen　raised　their　glasses　and　drank　with　enthusiasm；　while　Mound　and　Duncan　and　Freeman　looked　down　at　the　tablecloth　with　British　modesty；　Mound；　taken　unawares；　was　blushing　like　a　girl　and　wriggling　unfortably　in　his　chair。
　〃Aren't　you　going　to　reply；　Mr　Mound？〃　said　Montgomery。　〃You're　the　senior。〃
　〃It　was　the　modore；〃　said　Mound；　eyes　still　on　the　tablecloth。　〃It　wasn't　us。　He　did　it　all。〃
　〃That's　right；〃　agreed　Freeman；　shaking　his　gipsy　locks。
　It　was　time　to　change　the　subject；　thought　Hornblower；　sensing　the　approach　of　an　awkward　gap　in　the　conversation　after　this　spell　of　mutual　congratulation。
　〃A　song；　Mr　Freeman。　We　have　all　of　us　heard　that　you　sing　well。　Let　us　hear　you。〃
　Hornblower　did　not　add　that　it　was　from　a　Junior　Lord　of　the　Admiralty　that　he　had　heard　about　Freeman's　singing　ability；　and　he　concealed　the　fact　that　singing　meant　nothing　to　him。　Other　people　had　this　strange　desire　to　hear　music；　and　it　was　well　to　gratify　the　odd　whim。
　There　was　nothing　self…conscious　about　Freeman　when　it　came　to　singing：　he　simply　lifted　his　chin；　opened　his　mouth；　and　sang。
　
　When　first　I　looked　in　Chloe's　eyes
　Sapphire　seas　and　summer　skies　…
　
　An　odd　thing　this　music　was。　Freeman　was　clearly　performing　some　interesting　and　difficult　feat；　he　was　giving　decided　pleasure　to　these　others　（Hornblower　stole　a　glance　at　them）；　but　all　he　was　doing　was　to　squeak　and　to　grunt　in　different　fashions；　and　drag　out　the　words　in　an　arbitrary　way　…　and　such　words。　For　the　thousandth　time　in　his　life　Hornblower　gave　up　the　struggle　to　imagine　just　what　this　music　was　which　other　people　liked　so　much。　He　told　himself；　as　he　always　did；　that　for　him　to　make　the　attempt　was　like　a　blind　man　trying　to　imagine　colour。
　
　Chloe　is　my　o…o…o…only　love！
　
　Freeman　finished　his　song；　and　everyone　pounded　on　the　table　in　genuine　applause。
　〃A　very　good　song；　and　very　we