csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第34章

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　him　by　Captain　Pellew　whose　authority　derived　from　the　King。
　Amazing　how　the　panic　was　spreading。　The　Treasurer　was　gone；　Duras'　Negro　slave　had　ridden　off　on　his　late　master's　donkey；　the　soldiers　had　hastened　off　in　a　single　group。　The　waterfront　was　deserted　now　except　for　the　dead　and　dying；　along　the　waterfront；　presumably；　at　the　foot　of　the　wall；　lay　the　way　to　the　open　country　which　all　desired　to　seek。　The　Englishmen　were　standing　alone；　with　the　bags　of　gold　at　their　feet。
　'Plague　spreads　through　the　air；'　said　Tapling。　'Even　the　rats　die　of　it。　We　have　been　here　for　hours。　We　were　near　enough　to…that…'　he　nodded　at　the　dying　Duras…'to　speak　to　him；　to　catch　his　breath。　Which　of　us　will　be　the　first？'
　'We'll　see　when　the　time　es；'　said　Hornblower。　It　was　his　contrary　nature　to　be　sanguine　in　the　face　of　depression；　besides；　he　did　not　want　the　men　to　hear　what　Tapling　was　saying。
　'And　there's　the　fleet！'　said　Tapling　bitterly。　'This　lot'…he　nodded　at　the　deserted　lighters；　one　almost　full　of　cattle；　the　other　almost　full　of　grain　sacks…'this　lot　would　be　a　Godsend。　The　men　are　on　two…thirds　rations。'
　'Damn　it；　we　can　do　something　about　it；'　said　Hornblower。　'Maxwell；　put　the　gold　back　in　the　boat；　and　get　that　awning　in。'
　The　officer　of　the　watch　in　H。M。S。　Indefatigable　saw　the　ship's　longboat　returning　from　the　town。　A　slight　breeze　had　swung　the　frigate　and　the　Caroline　（the　transport　brig）　to　their　anchors；　and　the　longboat；　instead　of　running　alongside；　came　up　under　the　Indefatigable's　stern　to　leeward。
　'Mr　Christie！'　hailed　Hornblower；　standing　up　in　the　bows　of　the　longboat。
　The　officer　of　the　watch　came　aft　to　the　taffrail。
　'What　is　it？'　he　demanded；　puzzled。
　'I　must　speak　to　the　Captain。'
　'Then　e　on　board　and　speak　to　him。　What　the　devil…？'
　'Please　ask　the　Captain　if　I　may　speak　to　him。'
　Pellew　appeared　at　the　after…cabin　window；　he　could　hardly　have　helped　hearing　the　bellowed　conversation。
　'Yes；　Mr　Hornblower？'
　Hornblower　told　him　the　news。
　'Keep　to　loo'ard；　Mr　Hornblower。'
　'Yes；　sir。　But　the　stores…'
　'What　about　them？'
　Hornblower　outlined　the　situation　and　made　his　request。
　'It's　not　very　regular；'　mused　Pellew。　'Besides…'
　He　did　not　want　to　shout　aloud　his　thoughts　that　perhaps　everyone　in　the　longboat　would　soon　be　dead　of　plague。
　'We'll　be　all　right；　sir。　It's　a　week's　rations　for　the　squadron。'　That　was　the　point；　the　vital　matter。　Pellew　had　to　balance　the　possible　loss　of　a　transport　brig　against　the　possible　gain　of　supplies；　immeasurably　more　important；　which　would　enable　the　squadron　to　maintain　its　watch　over　the　outlet　to　the　Mediterranean。　Looked　at　in　that　light　Hornblower's　suggestion　had　added　force。
　'Oh；　very　well；　Mr　Hornblower。　By　the　time　you　bring　the　stores　out　I'll　have　the　crew　transferred。　I　appoint　you　to　the　mand　of　the　Caroline。'
　'Thank　you；　sir。'
　'Mr　Tapling　will　continue　as　passenger　with　you。'
　'Very　good；　sir。'
　So　when　the　crew　of　the　longboat；　toiling　and　sweating　at　the　sweeps；　brought　the　two　lighters　down　the　bay；　they　found　the　Caroline　swinging　deserted　at　her　anchors；　while　a　dozen　curious　telescopes　from　the　Indefatigable　watched　the　proceedings。　Hornblower　went　up　the　brig's　side　with　half　a　dozen　hands。
　'She's　like　a　blooming　Noah's　Ark；　sir；'　said　Maxwell。
　The　parison　was　apt；　the　Caroline　was　flush…decked；　and　the　whole　available　deck　area　was　divided　by　partitions　into　stalls　for　the　cattle；　while　to　enable　the　ship　to　be　worked　light　gangways　had　been　laid　over　the　stalls　into　a　practically　continuous　upper　deck。
　'An'　all　the　animiles；　sir；'　said　another　seaman。
　'But　Noah's　animals　walked　in　two　by　two；'　said　Hornblower。　'We're　not　so　lucky。　And　we've　got　to　get　the　grain　on　board　first。　Get　those　hatches　unbattened。'
　In　ordinary　conditions　a　working　party　of　two　or　three　hundred　men　from　the　Indefatigable　would　have　made　short　work　of　getting　in　the　cargo　from　the　lighters；　but　now　it　had　to　be　done　by　the　longboat's　plement　of　eighteen。　Luckily　Pellew　had　had　the　forethought　and　kindness　to　have　the　ballast　struck　out　of　the　holds；　or　they　would　have　had　to　do　that　weary　job　first。
　'Tail　on　to　those　tackles；　men；'　said　Hornblower。
　Pellew　saw　the　first　bundle　of　grain　sacks　rise　slowly　into　the　air　from　the　lighter；　and　swung　over　and　down　the　Caroline's　hatchway。
　'He'll　be　all　right；'　he　decided。　'Man　the　capstan　and　get　under　way；　if　you　please；　Mr　Bolton。'
　Hornblower；　directing　the　work　on　the　tackles；　heard　Pellew's　voice　e　to　him　through　the　speaking　trumpet。
　'Good　luck；　Mr　Hornblower。　Report　in　three　weeks　at　Gibraltar。'
　'Very　good；　sir。　Thank　you；　sir。'
　Hornblower　turned　back　to　find　a　seaman　at　his　elbows　knuckling　his　forehead。
　'Beg　pardon；　sir。　But　can　you　hear　those　cattle　bellerin'；　sir？　'Tis　mortal　hot；　an'　'tis　water　they　want；　sir。'
　'Hell；'　said　Hornblower。
　He　would　never　get　the　cattle　on　board　before　nightfall。　He　left　a　small　party　at　work　transferring　cargo；　and　with　the　rest　of　the　men　he　began　to　extemporize　a　method　of　watering　the　unfortunate　cattle　in　the　lighter。　Half　Caroline's　hold　space　was　filled　with　water　barrels　and　fodder；　but　it　was　an　awkward　business　getting　water　down　to　the　lighter　with　pump　and　hose；　and　the　poor　brutes　down　there　surged　about　uncontrollably　at　the　prospect　of　water。　Hornblower　saw　the　lighter　heel　and　almost　capsize；　one　of　his　men…luckily　one　who　could　swim…went　hastily　overboard　from　the　lighter　to　avoid　being　crushed　to　death。
　'Hell；'　said　Hornblower　again；　and　that　was　by　no　means　the　last　time。
　Without　any　skilled　advice　he　was　having　to　learn　the　business　of　managing　livestock　at　sea；　each　moment　brought　its　lessons。　A　naval　officer　on　active　service　indeed　found　himself　engaged　on　strange　duties。　It　was　well　after　dark　before　Hornblower　called　a　halt　to　the　labours　of　his　men；　and　it　was　before　dawn　that　he　roused　them　up　to　work　again。　It　was　still　early　in　the　morning　that　the　last　of　the　grain　sacks　was　stowed　away　and　Hornblower　had　to　face　the　operation　of　swaying　up　the　cattle　from　the　lighter。　After　their　night　down　there；　with　little　water　and　less　food；　they　were　in　no　mood　to　be　trifled　with；　but　it　was　easier　at　first　while　they　were　crowded　together。　A　bellyband　was　slipped　round　the　nearest；　the　tackle　hooked　on；　and　the　animal　was　swayed　up；　lowered　to　the　deck　through　an　opening　in　the　gangways；　and　herded　into　one　of　the　stalls　with　ease。　The　seamen；　shouting　and　waving　their　shirts；　thought　it　was　great　fun；　but　they　were　not　sure　when　the　next　one；　released　from　its　bellyband；　went　on　the　rampage　and　chased　them　about　the　deck；　threatening　death　with　its　horns；　until　it　wandered　into　its　stall　where　the　bar　could　be　promptly　dropped　to　shut　it　in。　Hornblower；　looking　at　the　sun　rising　rapidly　in　the　east；　did　not　think　it　fun　at　all。
　And　the　emptier　the　lighter　became；　the　more　room　the　cattle　had　to　rush　about　in　it；　to　capture　each　one　so　as　to　put　a　bellyband　on　it　was　a　desperate　adventure。　Nor　were　those　half…wild　bullocks　soothed　by　the　sight　of　their　panions　being　successively　hauled　bellowing　into　the　air　over　their　heads。　Before　the　day　was　half　done　Hornblower's　men　were　as　weary　as　if　they　had　fought　a　battle；　and　there　was　not　one　of　them　who　would　not　gladly　have　quitted　this　novel　employment　in　exchange　for　some　normal　seaman's　duty　like　going　aloft　to　reef　topsails　on　a　stormy　night。　As　soon　as　Hornblower　had　the　notion　of　dividing　the　interior　of　the　lighter　up　into　sections　with　barricades　of　stout　spars　the　work　became　easier；　but　it　took　time；　and　before　it　was　done　the　cattle　had　already　suffered　a　couple　of　casualties…weaker　members　of　the　herd　crushed　underfoot　in　the　course　of　the　wild　rushes　about　the　lighter。
　And　there　was　a　distraction　when　a　boat　came　out　from　the　shore；　with　swarthy　Moors　at　the　oars　and　the　Treasurer　in　the　stern。　Hornblower　left　Tapling　to　negotiate…apparently　the　Bey　at　least　had　not　been　so　frightened　of　the　plague　as　to　forget　to　ask　for　his　money。　All　Hornblower　insisted　upon　was　that　the　boat　should　keep　well　to　leeward；　and　the　money　was　floated　off　to　it　headed　up　in　an　empty　rum…puncheon。　Night　found　not　more　than　half　the　cattle　in　the　stalls　on　board；　with　Hornblower　worrying　about　feeding　and　watering　them；　and　snatching　at　hints　diplomatically　won　from　those　members　of　his　crew　who　had　had　bucolic　experience。　But　the　earliest　dawn　saw　him　driving　his　men　to　work　again；　and　deriving　a　momentary　satisfaction　from　the　sight　of　Tapling　having　to　leap　for　his　life　to　the　gangway　out　of　reach　of　a　maddened　bullock　which　was　charging　about　the　deck　and　refusing　to　enter　a　stall。　And　by　the　time　the　last　animal　was　safely　packed　in　Hornblower　was　faced　with　another　problem…that　of　dealing　with　what　one　of　the　men　elegantly　termed　'mucking　out'。　Fodder…water…mucking　out；　that　deck…load　of　cattle　seemed　to　promise　enough　work　in　itself　to　keep　his　eighteen　men　busy；　without　any　thought　of　the　needs　of　handling　the　ship。
　But　there　were　advantages　about　the　men　being　kept　busy；　as　Hornblower　grimly　decided；　there　had　not　been　a　single　mention　of　plague　since　the　work　began。　The　anchorage　where　the　Caroline　lay　was　exposed　to　north…easterly　winds；　and　it　was　necessary　that　he　should　take　her　out　to　sea　before　such　a　wind　should　blow。　He　mustered　his　men　to　divide　them　into　watches；　he　was　the　only　navigator；　so　that　he　had　to　appoint　the　coxswain　and　the　under…coxswain；　Jordan；　as　officers　of　the　watch。　Someone　volunteered　as　cook；　and　Hornblower；　running　his　eye　over　his　assembled　pany；　appointed　Tapling　as　cook's　mate。　Tapling　opened　his　mouth　to　protest；　but　there　was　that　in　Hornblower's　expression　which　cut　the　protest　short。　There　was　no　bos'n；　no　carpenter…no　surgeon　either；　as　Hornblower　pointed　out　to　himself　gloomily。　But　on　the　other　hand　if　the　need　for　a　doctor　should　arise　it　would；　he　hoped；　be　mercifully　brief。
　'Port　watch；　loose　the　jibs　and　main　tops'l；'　ordered　Hornblower。　'Starboard　watch；　man　the　capstan。'
　So　began　that　voyage　of　H。M。　transport　brig　Caroline　which　became　legendary　（thanks　to　the　highly　coloured　accounts　retailed　by　the　crew　during　innumerable　dog…watches　in　later　missions）　throughout　the　King's　navy。　The　Caroline　spent　her　three　weeks　of　quarantine　in　homeless　wanderings　about　the　western　Mediterranean。　It　was　necessary　that　she　should　keep　close　up　to　the　Straits；　for　fear　lest　the　westerlies　and　the　prevailing　inward　set　of　the　current　should　take　her　out　of　reach　of　Gibraltar　when　the　time　came；　so　she　beat　about　between　the　coasts　of　Spain　and　Africa　trailing　behind　her　a　growing　farmyard　stench。　The　Caroline　was　a　worn…out　ship；　with　any　sort　of　sea　running　she　leaked　like　a　sieve；　and　there　were　always　hands　at　work　on　the　pumps；　either　pumping　her　out　or　pumping　sea　water　on　to　her　deck　to　clean　it　or　pumping　up　fresh　water　for　the　cattle。
　Her　top　hamper　made　her　almost　unmanageable　in　a　fresh　breeze；　her　deck　seams　leaked；　of　course；　when　she　worked；　allowing　a　constant　drip　of　unspeakable　filth　down　below。　The　one　consolation　was　in　the　supply　of　fresh　meat…a　modity　some　of　Hornblower's　men　had　not　tasted　for　three　months。　Hornblower　recklessly　sacrificed　a　bul