csf.thecommodore-第35章

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h　it　was　hard　to　throw　off。　He　himself　…　it　was　curious　to　think　that　his　dead　body　might　be　buried　in　Russia；　of　all　places。
　Someone　…　the　Russians；　or　the　Swedes；　or　the　Finns　…　had　buoyed　effectively　the　channel　that　wound　its　way　through　the　treacherous　shallows　of　the　Gulf　of　Finland。　Even　though　the　squadron　had　to　anchor　for　the　night　a　slight　freshening　and　veering　of　the　wind　enabled　them　to　ascend　the　whole　gulf　by　the　evening　of　the　next　day。　They　picked　up　a　pilot　at　noon；　a　bearded　individual　who　wore　sea…boots　and　a　heavy　jacket　even　on　this　blazing　day。　He　proved　to　be　an　Englishman；　Carker　by　name；　who　had　not　set　eyes　on　his　native　land　for　twenty…four　years。　He　blinked　at　Hornblower　like　an　owl　when　the　latter　began　to　fire　questions　at　him　regarding　the　progress　of　the　war。　Yes；　some　cavalry　patrols　of　French　and　Prussians　had　shown　themselves　advancing　towards　Riga。　The　last　news　of　the　main　campaign　was　of　desperate　fighting　round　Smolensk；　and　everyone　was　expecting　Bonaparte　to　be　beaten　there。　The　town　was　preparing　itself　for　a　siege；　he　believed　…　at　least；　there　were　plenty　of　soldiers　there；　when　he　had　left　in　his　cutter　yesterday；　and　there　had　been　proclamations　calling　on　the　people　to　fight　to　the　last；　but　no　one　could　imagine　the　French　making　a　serious　attack　on　the　place。
　Hornblower　turned　away　from　him　impatiently　in　the　end；　as　a　typical　example　of　the　uninformed　civilian；　with　no　real　knowledge　of　affairs　or　appreciation　of　the　seriousness　of　the　situation。　Livonia；　having　been　for　centuries　the　cockpit　of　northern　Europe；　had　not　seen　an　enemy　during　the　last　three　generations；　and　had　forgotten　even　the　traditions　of　invasion。　Hornblower　had　no　intention　at　all　of　taking　his　squadron　into　the　Dwina　River　（queer　names　these　Russians　used！）　if　there　was　a　chance　of　his　retreat　being　cut　off；　and　he　stared　out　through　his　glass　at　the　low　green　shore　when　it　came　in　sight　at　last　from　the　deck。　Almost　right　astern　of　the　squadron　the　sun　was　lying　on　the　horizon　in　a　fiery　bed　of　cloud；　but　there　were　two　hours　more　of　daylight　left；　and　Nonsuch　crept　steadily　closer　to　Riga。　Bush　came　up　to　him　and　touched　his　hat。
　〃Pardon；　sir；　but　do　you　hear　anything？　Gunfire；　maybe？〃
　Hornblower　strained　his　attention。
　〃Yes；　gunfire；　by　God；〃　he　said。
　It　was　the　lowest；　faintest　muttering；　ing　upwind　from　the　distant　shore。
　〃The　Frogs　have　got　there　before　us；　sir；〃　said　Bush。
　〃Be　ready　to　anchor；〃　said　Hornblower。　Nonsuch　crept　steadily　on；　gliding　at　three　or　four　knots　towards　the　land；　the　water　around　her　was　greyish　yellow　with　the　mud　borne　down　by　a　great　river。　The　mouth　of　the　Dwina　was　only　a　mile　or　two　ahead；　and　with　the　spring　rains　and　the　melting　of　the　snows　the　river　must　be　in　full　flood。　The　buoys　of　a　middle…ground　shoal　enabled　Hornblower　to　make　sure　of　his　position；　he　was　ing　within　long　cannon…shot　of　those　flat　green　shores。　As　though　standing　in　the　yellow　water　there　was　a　church　visible　on　the　starboard　bow；　with　an　onion…shaped　dome　surmounted　by　a　cross　which　reflected　back　to　him；　even　at　that　distance；　the　red　glare　of　the　sunset。　That　must　be　the　village　of　Daugavgriva；　on　the　left　bank；　if　it　were　in　French　hands　entrance　to　the　river　would　be　dangerous；　perhaps　impossible；　as　soon　as　they　had　big　guns　mounted　there。　Maybe　they　already　had。
　〃Captain　Bush；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃I'd　be　obliged　if　you　would　anchor。〃
　The　cable　roared　out　through　the　hawsehole；　and　Nonsuch　swung　round　to　the　wind　as　the　hands；　pouring　aloft；　took　in　the　sails。　The　rest　of　the　squadron　came　up　and　prepared　to　anchor　just　when　Hornblower　was　beginning　to　feel　he　had　been　too　precipitate；　or　at　least　when　he　was　regretting　bitterly　that　night　had　e　upon　him　before　he　could　open　munication　with　the　shore。
　〃Call　away　my　barge；〃　he　ordered。　〃Captain　Bush；　I　am　shifting　to　Harvey。　You　will　assume　mand　of　the　squadron　during　my　absence。〃
　Mound　was　at　the　side　to　wele　him　as　he　swung　himself　up　over　Harvey's　low　freeboard。
　〃Square　away；　Mr　Mound。　We'll　close　the　shore　in　the　direction　of　that　church。　Set　a　good　hand　at　work　with　the　lead。〃
　The　bomb…ketch；　with　anchor　catted　and　ready　to　go；　stole　forward　over　the　still　water。　There　was　still　plenty　of　light　from　the　sky；　for　here　in　57°　North；　within　a　few　days　of　the　solstice；　the　sun　was　not　very　far　below　the　horizon。
　〃Moon　rises　in　an　hour's　time；　sir；〃　said　Mound；　〃three…quarters　full。〃
　It　was　a　marvellous　evening；　cool　and　invigorating。　There　was　only　the　tiniest　whisper　of　water　round　the　bows　of　the　ketch　as　she　glided　over　the　silvery　surface；　Hornblower　felt　that　they　only　needed　a　few　pretty　women　on　board　and　someone　strumming　a　guitar　to　make　a　yachting　expedition　of　it。　Something　on　shore　attracted　his　attention；　and　he　whipped　his　glass　to　his　eye　at　the　very　moment　when　Mound　beside　him　did　the　same。
　〃Lights　on　shore；〃　said　Mound。
　〃Those　are　bivouac　fires；〃　said　Hornblower。
　He　had　seen　bivouac　fires　before　…　the　fires　of　el　Supremo's　army　in　Central　America；　the　fires　of　the　landing　force　at　Rosas。　They　sparkled　ruddily　in　the　twilight；　in　roughly　regular　lines。　Traversing　his　glass　round；　Hornblower　picked　up　further　groups　of　lights；　there　was　a　dark　space　between　one　mass　and　the　other；　which　Hornblower　pointed　out　to　Mound。
　〃That's　no…man's…land　between　the　two　forces；　I　fancy；〃　he　said。　〃The　Russians　must　be　holding　the　village　as　an　outwork　on　the　left　bank　of　the　river。〃
　〃Couldn't　all　those　fires　be　French　fires；　sir？〃　asked　Mound。　〃Or　Russian　fires？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃Soldiers　don't　bivouac　if　they　can　billet　in　villages　with　roofs　over　their　heads。　If　two　armies　weren't　in　presence　they'd　all　be　fortably　asleep　in　the　cottagers'　beds　and　barns。〃
　There　was　a　long　pause　while　Mound　digested　this。
　〃Two　fathoms；　sir；〃　he　said；　at　length。　〃I'd　like　to　bear　up；　if　I　may。〃
　〃Very　good。　Carry　on。　Keep　as　close　inshore　as　you　think　proper。〃
　The　Harvey　came　round　with　the　wind　abeam；　half　a　dozen　hands　hauling　lustily　on　the　mainsheet。　There　was　the　moon；　rising　round　and　red　over　the　land；　the　dome　of　the　church　was　silhouetted　against　it。　A　sharp　cry　came　from　the　forward　lookout。
　〃Boat　ahead！　Fine　on　the　port　bow；　sir。　Pulling　oars。〃
　〃Catch　that　boat　if　you　can；　Mr　Mound；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。　Starboard　two　points！　Clear　away　the　gig。　Boat's　crew　stand　by！〃
　They　could　see　the　dim　shape　of　the　boat　not　far　ahead；　they　could　even　see　the　splashes　of　the　oars。　It　occurred　to　Hornblower　that　the　rowers　could　not　be　men　of　much　skill；　and　whoever　was　in　charge　was　not　very　quick　in　the　uptake　if　he　wanted　to　avoid　capture；　he　should　have　headed　instantly　for　shoal　water　if　he　wanted　to　avoid　capture；　while　as　it　was　he　tried　to　pit　oars　against　sails　…　a　hopeless　endeavour　even　with　that　light　breeze　blowing。　It　was　several　minutes　before　they　turned　for　the　shore；　and　during　that　time　their　lead　was　greatly　reduced。
　〃Hard…a…lee；〃　roared　Mound。　〃Away；　gig！〃
　Harvey　came　into　the　wind；　and　as　she　lost　her　way　the　gig　dropped　into　the　water　with　the　boat's　crew　falling　into　it。
　〃I　want　prisoners！〃　roared　Hornblower　at　the　departing　boat。
　〃Aye　aye；　sir；〃　came　the　reply　as　the　oars　tore　the　water。
　Under　the　impulse　of　the　skilled　oarsmen　the　gig　rapidly　was　overtaking　the　strange　boat；　they　could　see　the　distance　narrowing　as　the　two　boats　disappeared　in　the　faint　light。　Then　they　saw　the　orange…red　flashes　of　half　a　dozen　pistol…shots；　and　the　faint　reports　reached　them　over　the　water　directly　after。
　〃Let's　hope　they're　not　Russans；　sir；〃　said　Mound。
　The　possibility　had　occurred　to　Hornblower　as　well；　and　he　was　nervous　and　unfortable；　but　he　spoke　bluffly　…
　〃Russians　wouldn't　run　away。　They　wouldn't　expect　to　find　Frenchmen　at　sea。〃
　Soon　the　two　boats；　rowing　slowly；　emerged　from　the　gloom。
　〃We've　got　'em　all；　sir；〃　said　a　voice　in　reply　to　Mound's　hail。
　Five　prisoners　were　thrust　up　onto　the　deck　of　the　Harvey；　one　of　them　groaning　with　a　pistol　bullet　through　his　arm。　Someone　produced　a　lantern　and　shone　it　on　them；　and　Hornblower　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief　when　he　saw　that　the　star　which　glittered　on　the　breast　of　the　leader　was　the　Legion　of　Honour。
　〃I　would　like　to　know　monsieur's　name　and　rank；〃　he　said；　politely；　in　French。
　〃Jussey；　chef　de　bataillon　du　corps　de　Génie　des　armées　de　l'Empéreur。〃
　A　major　of　engineers；　quite　an　important　capture。　Hornblower　bowed　and　presented　himself；　his　mind　working　rapidly　on　the　problem　of　how　to　induce　the　major　to　say　all　he　knew。
　〃I　regret　very　much　the　necessity　of　taking　M。　le　chef　de　bataillon　prisoner；〃　he　said。　〃Especially　at　the　beginning　of　such　a　promising　campaign。　But　good　fortune　may　allow　me　the　opportunity　of　arranging　a　cartel　of　exchange　at　an　early　date。　I　presume　M。　le　chef　de　bataillon　has　friends　in　the　French　Army　whom　he　would　like　informed　of　what　has　happened　to　him？　I　will　take　the　opportunity　of　the　first　flag　of　truce　to　do　so。〃
　〃The　Marshal　Duke　of　Tarentum　would　be　glad　to　hear；〃　said　Jussey；　brightening　a　little。　〃I　am　on　his　staff。〃
　The　Marshal　Duke　of　Tarentum　was　Macdonald；　the　local　French　mander…in…chief　…　son　of　a　Scottish　exile　who　had　fled　after　the　Young　Pretender's　rebellion　…　so　that　it　seemed　likely　that　Jussey　was　the　chief　engineer；　a　bigger　catch　than　Hornblower　had　hoped　for。
　〃It　was　extremely　bad　fortune　for　you　to　fall　into　our　hands；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃You　had　no　reason　to　suspect　the　presence　of　a　British　squadron　operating　in　the　bay。〃
　〃Indeed　I　had　none。　Our　information　was　to　the　contrary。　These　Livonians　…〃
　So　the　French　staff　was　obtaining　information　from　Livonian　traitors；　Hornblower　might　have　guessed　it；　but　it　was　as　well　to　be　sure。
　〃Of　course　they　are　useless；　like　all　Russians；〃　said　Hornblower；　soothingly；　〃I　suppose　your　Emperor　has　met　with　little　opposition？〃
　〃Smolensk　is　ours；　and　the　Emperor　marches　on　Moscow。　It　is　our　mission　to　occupy　St　Petersburg。〃
　〃But　perhaps　passing　the　Dwina　will　be　difficult？〃
　Jussey　shrugged　in　the　lamplight。
　〃I　do　not　expect　so。　A　bold　push　across　the　mouth　of　the　river　and　the　Russians　will　retreat　the　moment　their　flank　is　turned。〃
　So　that　was　what　Jussey　was　doing；　reconnoitring　for　a　suitable　place　to　land　a　French　force　on　the　Russian　side　of　the　river　mouth。
　〃A　daring　move；　sir；　worthy　of　all　the　great　traditions　of　the　French　Army。　But　no　doubt　you　have　ample　craft　to　transport　your　force？〃
　〃Some　dozens　of　barges。　We　seized　them　at　Mitau　before　the　Russians　could　destroy　them。〃
　Jussey　checked　himself　abruptly；　clearly　disturbed　at　realizing　how　much　he　had　said。
　〃Russians　are　always　inpetent；〃　said　Hornblower；　in　a　tone　of　plete　agreement。　〃A　prompt　attack　on　your　part；　giving　them　no　chance　of　steadying　themselves；　is　of　course　your　best　plan　of　operations。　But　will　you　pardon　me；　sir；　while　I　attend　to　my　duties？〃
　There　was　no　chance　of　wheedling　anything　more　out　of　Jussey　at　the　moment。　But　he　had　at　least　yielded　up　the　vital　information　that　the　French　had　laid　hands　on　a　fleet　of　barges　which　the　Russians　had　neglected；　or　been　unable；　to　destroy；　and　that　they　planned　a　direct　attack　across　the　river　mouth。