csf.thecommodore-第48章

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　〃Something's　up；　sir；〃　said　Bush　at　Hornblower's　side。
　〃That　looks　like　good　news；〃　said　Hornblower。
　The　Governor　arrived　on　the　quarter…deck；　hat　still　in　hand。　He　flung　his　arms　round　Hornblower　and　hugged　him；　swinging　his　lean　body　up　into　the　air　so　that　his　feet　left　the　deck。　Hornblower　could　imagine　the　grins　that　were　being　exchanged　around　him　as　he　kicked　in　the　air　like　a　baby。　The　Governor　put　him　down；　clapped　his　hat　on　his　head；　and　then　seized　first　Hornblower's　hand　and　then　Bush's；　and　tried　to　dance　a　sort　of　ring…a…ring…of…roses　with　the　two　Englishmen。　There　was　no　more　controlling　him　than　one　could　control　a　bear。
　〃What　is　the　news；　Your　Excellency？〃　asked　Hornblower；　Essen's　grip　on　his　hand　was　painful。
　〃Oh；〃　said　Essen；　flinging　the　Englishman's　hands　away　so　as　to　spread　his　arms　again。　〃Bonaparte　has　started　to　retreat。〃
　〃Has　he；　by　God！〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃What　does　he　say；　sir？〃　asked　Bush；　quite　incapable　of　understanding　Essen's　French；　but　Hornblower　had　no　time　for　Bush；　because　the　Governor　was　pouring　out　his　news　in　a　torrent　of　gutturals；　drawing　upon　the　vocabularies　of　half　Europe　for　his　words　so　that　even　Hornblower　could　hardly　understand　what　he　was　saying。
　〃He　left　Moscow　five　days　back；〃　roared　Essen。　〃We　beat　him　at　Malo…Jaroslavetz。　Beat　him　in　a　pitched　battle；　and　now　he's　running　as　hard　as　he　can　for　Smolensk　and　Warsaw。　And　he　won't　get　there　before　the　snows！　He'll　be　lucky　if　he　gets　there　at　all！　Chichagov　is　marching　hard　to　cut　off　his　retreat　at　the　Beresina。　He's　ruined。　They're　dying　in　thousands　every　night　already！　Nothing　to　eat；　and　winter's　here！〃
　Essen　stamped　grotesquely　about　the　deck；　more　like　a　dancing　bear　than　ever。
　〃Please；　sir；　please。　What　does　he　say？〃　asked　Bush　pathetically。
　Hornblower　translated　to　the　best　of　his　ability；　the　other　quarter…deck　officers　eavesdropping　shamelessly。　As　the　wonderful　nature　of　the　good　news　dawned　upon　them；　they　began　to　cheer；　down　on　the　main…deck　they　caught　the　infection；　and　all　through　the　ship　men　were　cheering　and　tossing　their　hats　in　the　air；　even　though　they　hardly　knew　what　they　were　cheering　about；　save　for　the　hurried　words　that　flew　from　lip　to　lip　…　〃Boney's　beaten！〃
　〃We　can　get　out　of　this　bay　before　the　ice　es；　by　God！〃　said　Bush；　snapping　his　fingers；　it　was　obvious　that　if　he　had　not　a　wooden　leg　he　would　be　dancing　too。
　Hornblower　looked　across　at　the　mainland。
　〃Macdonald's　shown　no　sign　of　retreating　yet；〃　he　said。　〃If　he　had　the　Governor　would　have　mentioned　it。〃
　〃But　don't　you　think　he'll　have　to；　sir？〃　Bush's　expressive　face　showed　anxiety　now　instead　of　joy。　A　moment　before　anything　delightful　had　been　possible　…　escape　from　Riga　Bay；　possibly　even　escape　from　this　landlocked　Baltic　altogether；　maybe　even　a　return　to　England；　but　now　Bush　was　back　again　to　the　cold　reality　that　the　siege　of　Riga　was　still　going　on。
　〃He　may　have　to　retreat；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃but　until　then　we　stay　here；　unless　I　receive　orders　to　the　contrary。〃
　Essen　caught　sight　of　their　sober　faces　and　turned　on　them　again。　He　slapped　Bush　on　the　back　so　that　he　staggered　with　the　force　of　the　blow；　he　snapped　his　fingers　under　Hornblower's　nose；　and　pirouetted　with　the　grace　of　a　performing　seal。　It　was　absurd　that　with　all　this　going　on；　with　Bush　asking　questions　regarding　the　future；　with　Essen　acting　like　a　lunatic；　and　with　the　whole　ship　forgetting　discipline　in　a　mad　outburst　of　cheering；　Hornblower's　brain　should　be　planning　and　thinking　still；　with　that　swift　clarity　and　that　fevered　rapidity　which　he　knew　by　now　portended　some　new　development。　Bonaparte　in　retreat；　Bonaparte　beaten；　meant　a　tremendous　revulsion　of　feeling　throughout　Europe。　All　the　world　knew　that　Wellington　was　threatening　France　from　the　south；　and　now　the　Empire　was　in　peril　from　the　east。　It　would　hardly　be　possible　for　Bonaparte's　shattered　army　to　hold　on　to　Poland　once　it　had　begun　its　retreat；　the　next　campaign　would　see　the　allies　on　the　frontiers　of　Prussia　and　Austria；　and　it　was　likely　that　both　Prussia　and　Austria　would　in　that　case　be　glad　to　change　sides；　The　King　of　Prussia　was　practically　a　prisoner　in　French　hands；　but　the　Prussian　army　…　the　greater　part　of　the　force　now　besieging　Riga　…　could　act　as　a　free　agent　if　it　wished。　The　desertion　of　the　Spaniards　had　shown　them　the　way；　and　the　pamphlets　which　he　had　had　printed　in　Riga　and　distributed　among　the　besiegers　by　Russian　pedlars　would　not　let　them　forget　the　lesson。　Bulow　would　be　able　to　bear　witness　to　the　truth　of　his　assertions　…　Hornblower　was　glad　he　had　set　him　free。
　〃I　am　sending　Diebitch　out　to　beat　up　the　besiegers'　lines　with　a　sally；〃　Essen　was　saying。　〃I　must　see　how　they　take　this　news。　Would　you　care　to　acpany　me；　sir？〃
　〃Of　course；〃　said　Hornblower；　ing　out　abruptly　from　his　dreaming。　What　with　fatigue　…　he　was　always　weary　now　…　and　rapid　thinking　and　excitement　he　was　still　a　little　'mazy'；　as　they　said　of　fuddled　men　in　the　village　when　he　was　a　boy。　He　announced　his　departure　to　Bush。
　〃You're　worn　out；　sir；〃　protested　Bush。　〃You're　no　more　than　a　shadow。　Send　someone　else；　sir。　Send　me。　Send　Duncan。　You've　done　all　that's　necessary；　sir。〃
　〃I　haven't　yet；〃　said　Hornblower；　but　he　stooped　so　far　as　to　risk　delay　by　offering　Essen　refreshment；　with　the　suggestion　that　they　should　drink　a　toast　to　celebrate　this　glorious　news。
　〃Thank　you；　no；〃　said　Essen；　to　Hornblower's　relief。　〃Diebitch　will　attack　at　dusk；　and　the　days　are　short　now。〃
　〃You'll　take　your　barge；　sir；　won't　you？〃　persisted　Bush。　〃Take　Brown。〃
　Bush　was　like　a　fussy　parent　with　a　venturesome　child　…　like　a　hen　with　one　chick。　He　was　always　nervous　about　entrusting　his　precious　Hornblower　to　these　unpredictable　Russians；　Hornblower　grinned　at　Bush's　solicitude。
　〃Anything　to　keep　you　happy；〃　he　said。
　Hornblower's　barge　followed　the　Governor's　pulling…boat　along　the　channel　through　the　ice；　Hornblower　sat　with　the　Governor　in　the　stern　of　the　Russian　boat。　There　was　a　chill　wind　blowing；　and　the　skies　were　grey。
　〃We　shall　have　more　snow；〃　said　Essen；　looking　up　at　the　clouds。　〃God　help　the　French。〃
　In　the　absence　of　any　sunshine　there　was　a　mortal　chill　in　the　air。　Hornblower　thought　of　the　French　marching　over　the　desolate　plains　of　Russia；　and　was　sorry　for　them。　And　the　snow　came　indeed；　that　afternoon；　sweeping　over　river　and　village；　making　white　innocuous　mounds　of　the　battered　parapets　and　the　shattered　guns　and　the　graves　which　were　scattered　through　the　village。　It　was　already　prematurely　dark　when　the　ever…patient　Russian　grenadiers　lined　the　trenches　and　then　sallied　forth　upon　the　enemy's　lines。　They　were　not　more　than　half…way　across　no…man's…land　before　the　guns　began　to　fire　upon　them；　stabbing　the　falling　snow　with　their　bright　orange　flashes。
　〃No　sign　of　any　retreat　there；〃　was　Clausewitz's　ment　as　he　watched　the　fierce　struggle　from　the　gallery　of　the　church　beside　Essen　and　Hornblower。
　And　if　confirmation　was　needed　the　attacking　party　could　supply　it　when　it　came　drifting　back　in　the　darkness；　decimated。　The　besiegers　had　met　their　sally　with　spirit；　they　had　had　patrols　out　in　no…man's…land；　and　the　trenches　were　adequately　guarded。　In　retaliation；　the　besiegers　opened　fire　with　their　breaching　batteries；　the　ground　shook　to　the　rumble　of　the　discharges；　and　the　black　night　was　stabbed　again　by　the　flames　of　the　guns。　It　was　impossible　to　maintain　good　aim　or　elevation　in　the　darkness；　it　was　only　a　short　time　before　the　shots　were　flying　wild；　all　over　the　village；　so　that　the　defenders　as　far　back　as　the　Dwina　river　had　to　keep　low　in　their　trenches。　Shells　were　ing　over；　too；　curving　in　high　arcs　from　the　mortar　batteries　which　the　besiegers　had　established　in　their　second　parallel。　They　fell　and　burst　here；　there；　and　everywhere；　one　every　two　or　three　minutes；　in　fountains　of　fragments　and　flame；　save　when　chance　guided　them　into　deeper　snow　which　extinguished　the　fuses。
　〃They　have　plenty　of　ammunition　to　waste；〃　grumbled　Essen；　shivering　in　his　cloak。
　〃Perhaps　they　plan　a　counter…assault　in　the　darkness；〃　said　Clausewitz。　〃I　have　kept　the　trenches　fully　manned　in　case　they　try　it。〃
　Immediately　under　Hornblower's　gaze　there　was　a　battery　of　four　heavy　pieces；　firing　regular　salvoes　at　short　intervals。　He　noted　the　four　bursts　of　flame　over　and　over　again；　so　that　when　there　was　a　longer　interval　he　was　surprised　first　by　the　absence　of　sound　and　then　by　its　unexpected　ing。　The　flashes　endured　their　brief　moment；　to　be　succeeded　again　by　night；　but　Hornblower　found　himself　wondering　what　difference　there　had　been　between　this　salvo　and　the　last；　apart　from　the　longer　interval　which　had　preceded　it。　One　flash　…　the　right…hand　one　…　had　not　been　as　distinct　as　the　other　three；　longer　and　yet　intense。　Some　error　in　loading；　perhaps。　Then　came　the　next　salvo；　and　only　three　flashes；　the　right…hand　gun　had　not　fired。　Maybe　it　had　'unbushed'　itself　…　blown　out　its　vent　fitting；　as　guns　sometimes　did。　Another　long　interval；　and　then　another　salvo　…　two　sharp　flashes；　and　one　longer　one。　The　next　salvo　only　two　guns　fired；　and　Hornblower　realized　what　had　been　going　on。　He　plucked　at　Essen's　sleeve。
　〃They　are　destroying　their　guns　over　there；〃　he　said。　〃They　are　firing　some　shots　at　us　while　at　each　salvo　they　fire　a　shot　against　the　trunnions　of　one　of　the　guns。　There　were　four　guns　over　there；　Your　Excellency。　Now　…　see　…　there　are　only　two。〃
　〃Possibly；〃　admitted　Essen；　staring　into　the　darkness。
　〃The　firing　is　dying　away；〃　agreed　Clausewitz；　〃but　perhaps　they　are　only　growing　tired　of　wasting　ammunition。〃
　There　was　only　one　flash　from　the　battery　next　time；　and　there　was　something　clearly　odd　about　it。
　〃The　last　gun　in　the　battery；〃　mented　Essen。　〃Probably　they　burst　it　by　overloading。〃
　He　trained　his　telescope　in　the　darkness。
　〃Look　over　there　at　their　main　camps；〃　he　added。　〃Watch　those　fires。　They　seem　to　be　burning　brightly；　but　…〃
　Hornblower　directed　his　gaze　to　the　distant　rows　of　camp…fires；　sparkling　very　dimly　in　the　thick　night。　He　looked　backwards　and　forwards　along　one　of　the　rows；　trying　to　keep　track　of　them　all。　He　thought　he　saw　one　fire　wink　and　go　out；　but　he　could　not　be　sure。　His　eyes　were　watering　with　the　cold　and　with　the　strain；　and　as　he　rubbed　them　Essen　shut　his　telescope　with　a　snap。
　〃They　are　dying　down；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　sure　of　it；　and　no　troops　would　allow　their　camp…fires　to　die　down　on　a　night　like　this。　Clausewitz；　get　your　men　ready　to　attack　again。　Diebitch　…〃
　The　Governor　began　rapping　out　orders。　Hornblower　had　a　momentary　feeling　of　pity　for　the　Russian　soldiers；　huddled　in　their　freezing　trenches；　dispirited　by　their　recent　repulse　and　losses；　now　ordered　to　go　out　again　to　what　would　seem　to　them　to　be　certain　disaster　in　the　night。　The　wind　suddenly　shrieked　down　upon　them；　piercing　him　to　the　bone；　despite　the　cloak　he　clutched　round　himself。
　〃'Ere　you　are；　sir；〃　said　Brown's　voice　unexpectedly　in　his　ear。　〃I've　brought　you　up　a　blanket。　Let's　put　it　round　you　under　your　cloak。　And　'ere's　your　gloves；　sir。〃
　Deftly　in　the　darkness　Brown　draped　the　blanket　over　him；　so　that　his　cloak　held　it　down　over　his　shoulders。　It　would