csf.thecommodore-第40章

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he　best　thing　he　could　do　was　to　forget　about　it。　To　distract　himself　he　stepped　over　the　rail　into　the　other　quarter　gallery；　and　peeped　through　the　stern　window　into　Bush's　cabin。　Bush　was　asleep　on　his　cot；　flat　on　his　back　with　his　mouth　open；　his　hands　spread　wide　at　his　sides　and　his　wooden　leg　hanging　in　a　becket　against　the　bulkhead。　Hornblower　felt　a　twinge　of　annoyance　that　his　captain　should　be　sleeping　so　peacefully　while　he　himself　had　so　many　cares　on　his　shoulders。　For　two　pins　he　would　send　a　message　in　to　Bush　and　wreck　his　nap　for　him。　But　he　knew　he　would　never　do　that；　either。　He　could　never　bring　himself　to　a　wanton　abuse　of　power。
　He　stepped　back　into　his　own　quarter　gallery；　and　as　he　did；　as　he　stood　with　one　leg　suspended　and　with　the　rudder　gudgeons　creaking　a　little　in　their　pintles　in　the　stream　below　him；　the　idea　came　to　him；　so　that　he　stood　stock　still　for　a　space；　with　one　leg　in　mid…air。　Then　he　brought　his　leg　over　and　walked　into　his　cabin　and　shouted　for　a　messenger。
　〃My　pliments　to　the　officer　of　the　watch；　and　will　he　please　signal　to　Harvey　for　Mr　Mound　to　e　on　board　at　once。〃
　Mound　came　down　into　the　cabin；　young　and　expectant；　and　yet　with　his　eagerness　thinly　overlaid　with　assumed　nonchalance。　It　suddenly　dawned　upon　Hornblower　as　he　greeted　him　that　that　careless　lackadaisical　air　of　Mound's　was　assumed　in　imitation　of　himself。　Hornblower　realized　that　he　was　something　of　a　hero　…　more　than　that；　very　much　of　a　hero　…　to　this　young　lieutenant　who　was　paying　him　the　sincerest　flattery　of　imitation。　It　made　him　grin　wryly　to　himself　even　while　he　motioned　Mound　to　a　chair；　and　then　it　was　forgotten　as　he　plunged　into　the　vital　discussion。
　〃Mr　Mound；　do　you　know　of　the　progress　of　the　French　siege…works？〃
　〃No；　sir。〃
　〃Then　look　at　this　chart　with　me。　They　have　a　line　of　trenches　here；　with　a　battery　here。　Their　main　flank　and　stores　are　behind　a　dyke；　here。　If　we　could　bring　the　bomb…vessels　up　the　bay　we　could　shell　them　out　of　both　places。〃
　〃Shoal　water；　sir；〃　said　Mound　regretfully。
　〃Yes；〃　said　Hornblower；　and　for　the　life　of　him　he　could　not　stop　himself　from　making　a　dramatic　pause　before　uttering　the　crucial　word。　〃But　with　camels　we　could　reduce　the　draught。〃
　〃Camels！〃　exclaimed　Mound；　and　as　he　realized　all　the　implications　his　face　lit　up。　〃By　George；　sir；　you're　right。〃
　Camels　are　a　means　of　reducing　the　draught　of　a　ship　…　loaded　vessels　lashed　tightly　one　on　each　side　and　then　emptied；　so　as　to　raise　the　centre　ship　farther　out　of　the　water。　Mound　was　already　grappling　with　the　details。
　〃There　are　lighters　and　barges　in　Riga；　sir。　They'll　give　us　some；　sure　as　a　gun。　Plenty　of　sand　to　ballast　'em；　or　we　can　fill　'em　with　water　and　pump　'em　out。　With　two　big　lighters　I　could　lessen　Harvey's　draught　by　five　feet　easy　…　lift　her　clear　out　of　the　water　for　that　matter。　Those　lighters　are　two　hundred　tons　burden　an'　don't　draw　more　than　a　couple　of　feet　empty。〃
　A　difficulty　had　occurred　to　Hornblower　while　Mound　was　speaking；　one　which　he　had　not　thought　of　before。
　〃How　are　you　going　to　steer　'em　all？〃　he　demanded。　〃They'll　be　unmanageable。〃
　〃Rig　a　Danube　rudder；　sir；〃　replied　Mound　instantly。　〃Make　it　big　enough　and　you　could　steer　anything　with　one。〃
　〃'Give　me　a　fulcrum　and　I　will　move　the　world'；〃　quoted　Hornblower。
　〃Exactly；　sir。　An'　I'll　pierce　the　lighters　for　sweeps；　There'll　be　no　beatin'　to　wind'ward　any　more　than　in　a　raft。　I　could　put　the　men　to　work　at　once　if　you'll　give　the　order；　sir。〃
　Mound　might　have　been　a　boy　of　ten　instead　of　one　of　twenty　from　the　eagerness　of　his　voice。　The　languid　calm　was　quite　forgotten。
　〃I'll　send　a　note　to　the　Governor；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃asking　for　the　loan　of　four　lighters。　I'll　make　it　six；　in　case　of　accidents。　Have　your　plans　ready　in　an　hour's　time。　You　can　draw　upon　this　ship　and　the　sloops　for　the　materials　and　men　you'll　need。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　There　was　need　for　haste；　for　that　very　evening　there　came　sullenly　booming　across　the　bay　the　sound　of　heavy　guns　firing；　not　the　higher…pitched　incisive　growl　of　the　field…pieces　they　had　heard　before；　but　the　deep…toned　roar　of　siege　artillery；　the　enemy　was　trying　a　few　shots　with　the　first　of　the　big　guns　dragged　up　into　their　battery。　And　the　next　morning；　just　as　Hornblower　came　out　on　the　quarter…deck；　there　was　a　sudden　loud　crash　ashore；　like　a　peal　of　thunder；　to　herald　the　opening　salvo　of　the　enemy。　Its　echoes　had　not　died　away　before　a　more　ragged　salvo　succeeded　it；　and　then　another　more　ragged　still；　and　so　on　until　the　air　was　ceaselessly　tormented　by　the　loud　reports；　like　a　continuous　thunderstorm　from　which　the　ear　waited　continually　for　relief　that　was　not　granted　it。　The　masthead　lookout　reported　a　long　smear　of　smoke　drifted　by　the　breeze　across　the　countryside　from　the　enemy's　battery。
　〃Call　away　my　barge；〃　said　Hornblower。
　At　Nonsuch's　boat　booms　there　already　lay　an　assortment　of　the　boats　of　the　squadron；　piled　high　with　the　stores　which　bad　been　taken　out　of　the　two　bomb…ketches。　The　barge　danced　over　the　water　in　the　sparkling　dawn　to　where　the　bomb…ketches　lay　anchored；　each　with　a　lighter　on　either　side；　Duncan；　captain　of　the　Moth；　was　being　rowed　round　the　group　in　a　jollyboat。　He　touched　his　hat　as　the　barge　approached。
　〃Morning；　sir；〃　he　said；　and　then　instantly　turned　back　to　the　work　in　hand；　raising　his　speaking…trumpet　to　his　lips。　〃Too　much　by　the　bows！　Take　up　the　for'ward　cable　another　pawl！〃
　Hornblower　had　himself　rowed　on　to　the　Harvey；　and　leaped　from　his　barge　to　the　lighter　on　her　starboard　side　…　not　much　of　a　leap；　because　she　was　laden　down　with　ballast　…　without　bothering　officers　or　men　for　pliments。　Mound　was　standing　on　his　tiny　quarter…deck；　testing　with　his　foot　the　tension　of　the　big　cable　…　one　of　Nonsuch's　…　which　was　wrapped　round　his　own　ship　and　both　lighters；　two　turns　round　each；　forward　and　aft。
　〃Carry　on；　port　side！〃　he　yelled。
　In　each　of　the　lighters　a　large　working　party　was　stationed；　the　men　equipped　with　shovels　for　the　most　part　extemporized　out　of　wood。　At　Mound's　order　the　men　in　the　port…side　lighter　remenced　lustily　shovelling　sand　over　the　side。　Clouds　of　it　drifted　astern　on　the　faint　wind。　Mound　tested　the　tension　again。
　〃Carry　on；　starboard　side！〃　he　yelled　again；　and　then；　perceiving　his　modore　approaching；　he　came　to　the　salute。
　〃Good　morning；　Mr　Mound；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Good　morning；　sir。　We　have　to　do　this　part　of　it　step　by　step；　you　see；　sir。　I　have　the　old　ketch　so　light　she'll　roll　over　in　the　cables　if　I　give　her　the　chance。〃
　〃I　understand；　Mr　Mound。〃
　〃The　Russians　were　prompt　enough　sending　out　the　lighters　to　us；　sir。〃
　〃Can　you　wonder？〃　replied　Hornblower。　〃D'you　hear　the　French　battery　at　work？〃
　Mound　listened　and　apparently　heard　it　for　the　first　time。　He　had　been　engrossed　too　deeply　in　his　work　to　pay　any　attention　to　it　before；　his　face　was　unshaven　and　grey　with　fatigue；　for　his　activity　had　not　ceased　since　Hornblower　had　summoned　him　the　afternoon　before。　In　that　time　both　ketches　had　been　emptied　of　their　stores；　the　cables　roused　out　and　got　across　to　them；　the　lighters　received　and　laid　alongside　in　the　dark；　and　each　group　of　three　vessels　bound　into　a　single　mass　with　the　cables　hauled　taut　by　the　capstans。
　〃Excuse　me；　sir；〃　said　Mound；　and　ran　forward　to　examine　the　forward　cable。
　With　the　shovelling…out　of　the　sand；　hove　overside　by　a　hundred　lusty　pairs　of　arms；　the　lighters　were　rising　in　the　water；　lifting　the　ketch　between　them；　cables　and　timber　all　a…creaking；　and　it　was　necessary　to　keep　the　cables　taut　as　the　rising　of　the　lighters　relieved　the　strain　upon　them。　Hornblower　turned　aft　to　see　what　another　working　party　were　doing　there。　A　large　barrel　half　filled　with　water　had　been　streamed　out　astern　with　a　line　to　either　quarter　of　the　ketch；　conducted　in　each　case　through　a　fair…lead　to　an　extemporized　windlass　fixed　to　the　deck。　Paying　out　or　heaving　in　on　the　lines　would　regulate　the　pull　of　the　barrel；　were　the　ketch　under　way；　to　one　side　or　the　other；　exerting　a　powerful　leverage。　The　barrel　then　was　intended　to　undertake　the　duties　of　the　rudder；　which　was　already　sufficiently　high　out　of　the　water　to　be　almost　useless。
　〃It's　only　a　contraption；　sir；〃　said　Mound；　who　had　returned　from　forward。　〃I　had　intended；　as　I　told　you；　sir；　to　rig　a　Danube　rudder。　It　was　Wilson　here　who　suggested　this　…　I'd　like　to　call　your　attention　to　him；　sir。　It'll　be　much　more　effective；　I'm　sure。'
　Wilson　looked　up　from　his　work　with　a　gap…toothed　grin。
　〃What's　your　rating？〃　asked　Hornblower。
　〃Carpenter's　mate；　sir。〃
　〃As　good　a　one　as　I've　known；　sir；〃　interpolated　Mound。
　〃What　service？〃
　〃Two　missions　in　the　old　Superb；　sir。　One　in　Arethusa；　an'　now　this　one；　sir。〃
　〃I'll　make　out　an　acting　warrant　for　you　as　carpenter；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Thankee；　sir；　thankee。〃
　Mound　could　easily　have　taken　the　whole　credit　for　devising　this　jury　rudder　to　himself　if　he　had　wished。　Hornblower　liked　him　all　the　more　for　not　having　done　so。　It　was　good　for　discipline　and　for　the　spirits　of　the　men　to　reward　good　work　promptly。
　〃Very　good；　Mr　Mound。　Carry　on。〃
　Hornblower　went　back　to　his　barge　and　rowed　over　to　the　Moth。　The　work　here　was　a　stage　more　advanced；　so　much　sand　had　been　shovelled　out　of　the　lighters　that　it　was　only　with　slow　effort　that　the　working　parties　could　heave　their　shovelfuls　over　the　side；　shoulder…high。　A　wide　streak　of　the　Moth's　copper　was　already　visible；　so　high　was　she　riding。
　〃Watch　your　trim；　Mr　Duncan；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃She's　canting　a　little　to　port。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　It　called　for　some　plicated　adjustment　of　the　cables；　veering　out　and　hauling　in；　to　set　Moth　on　an　even　keel　again。
　〃She　won't　draw　more'n　two　feet　by　the　time　we're　finished　with　her；　sir；〃　said　Duncan　exultantly。
　〃Excellent；〃　said　Hornblower。
　Duncan　addressed　himself　to　putting　more　men　to　work　in　the　lighters；　shovelling　sand　across　from　the　inboard　to　the　outboard　sides；　to　ease　the　work　of　those　actually　heaving　the　sand　over。
　〃Two　hours　more　an'　they'll　be　clear；　sir；〃　reported　Duncan。　〃Then　we'll　only　have　to　pierce　the　sides　for　sweeps。〃
　He　glanced　over　at　the　sun；　still　not　far　above　the　horizon。
　〃We'll　be　ready　for　action　half　an　hour　before　noon；　sir；〃　he　added。
　〃Put　the　carpenters　to　work　piercing　the　sides　now；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃So　that　you　can　rest　your　men　and　give　them　a　chance　to　have　breakfast。　Then　when　they　start　again　they　can　shovel　through　the　ports　and　work　quicker。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　Half　an　hour　before　noon　seemed　to　be　a　more　likely　sort　of　estimate　with　that　improvement　in　the　programme；　yet　even　if　the　pletion　of　the　work　were　delayed　by　two　hours　there　would　still　be　long　hours　of　daylight　left　in　which　the　blow　could　be　struck。　While　the　sides　of　the　lighters　were　being　pierced　Hornblower　called　Duncan　and　Mound　to　him　and　went　over　their　final　orders　with　them。
　〃I'll　be　up　in　the　church　with　the　signalling　party；〃　he　said　in　conclusion。　〃I'll　see　that　you're　properly　supported。　So　good　luck。〃
　〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　they　answered　in　unison。　Excitement　and　anticipation　masked　their　weariness。
　So　Hornblower　had　himself　rowed　o