csf.thecommodore-第38节
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d right across and anchored to guard the shallows between the boom and the Nehrung … not exactly locking the stable door after the horse had been stolen； decided Hornblower； rejecting the simile after it came to his mind； they were locking the stable door to prevent the thief getting out； if they knew as yet （which was highly doubtful） that there was a thief inside。 The haziness was fast clearing； overhead the sky was almost blue and a watery sun was showing through。
〃Deck； there！ If you please； sir； there's a bit of smoke in sight now； right up the bay。 Can't see more than that； sir； but it's black smoke and might be from a burning ship。〃
Bush； measuring with his eye the dwindling distance between the ship and the boom； was giving orders to brace up and work a trifle farther out to sea again； and the two sloops conformed to the Nonsuch's movements。 Hornblower wondered whether or not he had put too much trust in young Mound with the bomb…ketches。 Mound had an important rendezvous for next morning； with the Moth and the Harvey he was out of sight below the horizon。 So far the garrison of Elbing had seen only the three British ships； and did not know of the existence of the ketches。 That was well … as long as Mound carried out his orders correctly。 Or a gale might blow up； or a shift of the wind might raise too much of a surf for the project Hornblower had in mind。 Hornblower felt anxiety surge upon him。 He had to force himself to relax； to appear posed。 He permitted himself to walk the deck； but slowed down his nervous strides to a casual saunter。
〃Deck； there！ There's more smoke inshore； sir。 I can see two lots of it； as if there were two ships on fire now。〃
Bush had just given orders to back the main…topsail again； and as the ship hove…to he came across to Hornblower。
〃It looks as if Vickery had caught something； doesn't it； sir？〃 he said； smiling。
〃Let's hope so；〃 answered Hornblower。
There was no sign of any anxiety in Bush's expression； his craggy face denoted nothing more than fierce satisfaction at the thought of Vickery loose amid the coasting trade。 His sublime confidence began to reassure Hornblower until the latter suddenly realized that Bush was not really paying consideration to circumstances。 Bush knew that Hornblower had planned this attack； and that was enough for him。 In that case he could imagine no possibility of failure； and Hornblower found it profoundly irritating that this should be the case。
〃Deck； there！ There's two small sail heading across the bay close…hauled for the town。 And I can't be sure yet； sir； but I think the second one is our cutter。〃
〃Our cutter it is； sir！〃 yelled another voice。 Every idle hand in the ship was perched by now at the mast…heads。
〃That'll be Montgomery；〃 said Bush。 He had fitted the toe of his wooden leg into the ring…bolt of the aftermost carronade tackle so that he could stand without effort on the gently heaving deck。
〃She's caught her； sir！〃 yelled the voice from the mast…head。 〃Our cutter's caught her！〃
〃That's one lot of beef and bread that Boney won't get；〃 said Bush。
Very heavy destruction of the coastal shipping in the Haff might be some pensation for the loss of 150 prime seamen。 But it would be hard to convince Their Lordships of the Admiralty of that； if there was no certain evidence of the destruction。
〃Deck； there！ The two sail are parting pany。 Our cutter's going off before the wind。 The other has her mains'l brailed up； I think； sir。 Looks to me as if …〃
The lieutenant's report terminated abruptly in mid…sentence。
〃There she goes！〃 yelled another voice； and at the same moment there came a cheer from everyone aloft。
〃She's blown up！〃 shouted the lieutenant； forgetting in his excitement even to add 'sir' to his words when addressing his modore。 〃There's a pillar of smoke as high as a mountain！ You can see it from the deck； I think。〃
They certainly could … a mushroom…topped pillar of smoke； black and heavy； apparent as it reached above the horizon。 It lasted a perceptible time before the wind blew it into strange ragged shapes and then dispersed it utterly。
〃That wasn't beef and bread； by God！〃 said Bush； pounding his left palm with his right fist。 〃That was powder！ A barge…load of powder！ Fifty tons of powder； by God！〃
〃Mast…head！ What of the cutter？〃
〃She's all right； sir。 Doesn't look as if the explosion harmed her。 She's hull…down from here already； sir。〃
〃Off after another one； please God；〃 said Bush。
The destruction of a powder barge was the clearest possible proof that Bonaparte was using the inland water route for the transport of military stores。 Hornblower felt he had achieved something； even though Whitehall might not be fully convinced； and he found himself smiling with pleasure。 He suppressed the smile as soon as he was aware of it； for his dignity demanded that triumph should leave him as unmoved as uncertainty。
〃It only remains to get Vickery and the men out to…night； sir；〃 said Bush。
〃Yes； that is all；〃 said Hornblower； as woodenly as he could manage。
The blowing up of the powder barge was the only sure proof they had that day in the Nonsuch of success in the Haff； although more than once the lookouts hesitatingly reported smoke on the horizon inside。 As evening came on another string of gunboats made their appearance； from K？nigsberg presumably； and took up their stations along the boom。 A column of troops could be seen for a space； too； the horizontal lines of blue coats and white breeches clearly visible even from the deck as they marched in to strengthen the defences of Pillau。 The entrance into the Haff was going to be stoutly defended； obviously； if the British should attempt a coup de main。
In the evening Hornblower came up from below； where he had been making pretence at eating his dinner； and looked round him again although his senses had been so alert in his cabin that his glance told him nothing he did not know already。 The wind was moderating with the dying of the day； the sun was on the point of setting； although there would be daylight for a couple of hours more at least。
〃Captain Bush； I'd be obliged if you would send your best gun pointers to the lower gun…deck starboard…side guns。〃
〃Aye aye； sir。〃
〃Have the guns cleared away and run out； if you please。 Then I would like it if you would allow the ship to drop down within range of the batteries there。 I want to draw their fire。〃
〃Aye aye； sir。〃
Pipes twittered around the ship； bosun and bosun's mates roared out orders； and the bands ran to their stations。 A long earthquake…tremor shook the ship as the massive twenty…four pounders of the lower gun…deck ran thunderously out。
〃Please see that the gun…captains are certain what their target is；〃 said Hornblower。
He knew how limited was the view afforded a man on the lower deck； looking through a gun…port only a yard or so above the water's edge； and he did not want the enemy to jump to the conclusion that the feint he was about to make was no more than a feint。 The hands at the main…topsail lee brace walking smartly down the deck； swung the big sail round and Nonsuch came to the wind and slowly gathered way。
〃Port a little；〃 said Bush to the helmsman。 〃Let her fall off。 Meet her there！ Steady as you go！〃
〃Steady as you go； sir；〃 echoed the helmsman； and then by a neat feat of facial gymnastics transferred his quid from his cheek to his mouth； and a moment later spat accurately into the spit…kid beside the wheel without transferring any of his attention from the leech of the main…topsail and the pass in the binnacle。
Nonsuch edged down steadily towards the entrance and the batteries。 This was a ticklish business； ing down to be shot at。 There was smoke as from a fire visible not far from the batteries； maybe it was merely rising from the cooking stoves of the garrison； but it might well be smoke from the furnaces for heating red…hot shot。 But Bush was aware of that possibility when in action against coastal batteries； and had needed no warning。 Every available man was standing by with fire buckets； and every pump and hose was rigged。 Now he was measuring the range with his eye。
〃A little closer； if you please； Captain Bush；〃 said Hornblower to prompt him； for to Hornblower it was obvious that they were still out of range。 A fountain of water was visible for a moment on the surface of the choppy sea； two cables' lengths from the starboard bow。
〃Not near enough yet； Captain Bush；〃 said Hornblower。
In tense silence the ship moved on。 A whole cluster of fountains sprang suddenly into existence close under the starboard quarter； one so close indeed that a hatful of water； flung by some freak of wave and wind； hit Bush full in the face。
〃God damn it to hell！〃 spluttered Bush； wiping his eyes。
That battery had no business to have e so close as that with that salvo。 And there was no smoke near it either。 Hornblower traversed his glass round； and gulped。 It was another battery altogether which had fired； one farther to the left； and moreover one whose existence he had not suspected until that moment。 Apparently the grass had grown over the parapets sufficiently to conceal it from quite close inspection； but it had unmasked itself a tr
