csf.thecommodore-第7节

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　secret'　orders。
　〃Morning；　Captain；〃　The　captain　of　the　lugger　knuckled　his　forehead　to　Hornblower。　〃Morning；　Your　Ladyship。　All　the　breeze　anyone　wants　to…day。　Still；　you'll　be　able　to　weather　the　Goodwins；　Captain；　even　with　those　unweatherly　bombs　of　yours。　Wind's　fair　for　the　Skaw　once　you're　dear　of　the　Downs。〃
　So　that　was　military　secrecy　in　this　England；　this　Deal　hoveller　knew　just　what　force　he　had　and　whither　he　was　bound　…　and　to…morrow；　as　likely　as　not；　he　would　have　a　rendezvous　in　mid…Channel　with　a　French　chasse…marée；　exchanging　tobacco　for　brandy　and　news　for　news。　In　three　days　Bonaparte　in　Paris　would　know　that　Hornblower　had　sailed　for　the　Baltic　with　a　ship　of　the　line　and　a　flotilla。
　〃Easy　with　them　cases！〃　roared　the　lugger　captain　suddenly。　〃Them　bottles　ain't　made　o'　iron！〃
　They　were　lowering　down　into　the　lugger　the　rest　of　his　baggage　from　the　jetty；　the　additional　cabin　stores　which　Barbara　had　ordered　for　him　and　whose　quality　she　had　checked　so　carefully；　a　case　of　wine；　a　case　of　provisions；　and　the　parcel　of　books　which　was　her　special　present　to　him。
　〃Won't　you　take　a　seat　in　the　cabin；　Your　Ladyship？〃　asked　the　lugger　captain　with　queer　untutored　politeness。　〃'Twill　be　a　wet　run　out　to　Nonsuch。〃
　Barbara　caught　Hornblower's　eye　and　refused　politely；　Hornblower　knew　those　stuffy；　smelly　cabins　of　old。
　〃A　tarpauling　for　Your　Ladyship；　then。〃
　The　tarpaulin　was　fastened　round　Barbara's　shoulders；　and　hung　round　her　to　the　deck　like　a　candle　extinguisher。　The　wind　was　still　pulling　at　her　hat；　and　she　put　up　her　hand　and　with　a　single　gesture　snatched　it　from　her　head　and　drew　it　inside　the　tarpaulin。　The　brisk　wind　blew　her　hair　instantly　into　streamers；　and　she　laughed；　and　with　a　shake　of　her　head　set　her　whole　mane　flying　in　the　wind。　Her　cheeks　flushed　and　her　eyes　sparkled；　just　as　Hornblower　could　remember　her　in　the　old　days　when　they　rounded　the　Horn　in　Lydia。　Hornblower　wanted　to　kiss　her。
　〃Cast　off；　there！　Hands　to　the　halliard！〃　roared　the　captain；　ing　aft　and　casually　holding　the　tiller　against　his　hip。　The　hands　strained　at　the　tackle；　and　the　mainsail　rose　foot　by　foot；　the　lugger　made　a　sternboard　away　from　the　jetty。
　〃Lively　with　that　sheet　now；　Ge…arge！〃
　The　captain　hauled　the　tiller　over；　and　the　lugger　checked　herself；　spun　on　her　keel；　and　dashed　forward；　as　handy　as　a　horse　in　the　hands　of　a　skilful　rider。　As　she　came　out　from　the　lee　of　the　jetty　the　wind　took　hold　of　her　and　laid　her　over；　but　the　captain　put　down　the　tiller　and　Ge…arge　hauled　aft　on　the　sheet　until　the　sail　was　like　a　board；　and　the　lugger；　close…hauled　…　dramatically　so　to　anyone　unfamiliar　with　her　type　…　plunged　forward　into　the　teeth　of　the　gale；　with　the　spray　flying　aft　from　her　port　bow　in　sheets。　Even　in　the　sheltered　Downs　there　was　enough　of　a　sea　running　to　make　the　lugger　lively　enough　as　she　met　it；　pitch　following　roll　as　each　wave　passed　under　her　from　port　bow　to　starboard　quarter。
　Hornblower　suddenly　realized　that　this　was　the　moment　when　he　should　be　seasick。　He　could　not　remember　the　start　of　any　previous　voyage　when　he　had　not　been　sick；　and　the　motion　of　this　lively　little　lugger　should　find　him　out　if　anything　would。　It　was　interesting　that　nothing　of　the　sort　was　happening；　Hornblower　noticed　with　deep　amazement　that　the　horizon　forward　showed　up　above　the　boat's　bow；　and　then　disappeared　as　the　lugger　stood　up　on　her　stern；　without　his　feeling　any　qualm　at　all。　It　was　not　so　surprising　that　he　had　retained　his　sea…legs；　after　twenty　years　at　sea　it　was　not　easy　to　lose　them；　and　he　stood　swaying　easily　with　the　boat's　quick　motion；　he　only　lost　his　sea…legs　when　he　was　really　dizzy　with　seasickness；　and　that　dread　plague　showed　no　sign　of　appearing。　At　the　start　of　previous　voyages　he　had　always　been　worn　out　with　the　fatigues　of　fitting　out　and　missioning；　of　course　short　of　sleep　and　worn　down　with　anxieties　and　worries　and　ready　to　be　sick　even　without　going　to　sea。　As　modore　he　had　had　none　of　these　worries；　the　Admiralty　and　the　Foreign　Office　and　the　Treasury　had　heaped　orders　and　advice　upon　him；　but　orders　and　responsibility　were　not　nearly　as　harassing　as　the　petty　worries　of　finding　a　crew　and　dealing　with　dockyard　authorities。　He　was　perfectly　at　ease。

　Barbara　was　having　to　hold　on　tightly；　and　now　that　she　looked　up　at　him　she　was　obviously　not　quite　as　fortable　inside　as　she　might　be；　she　was　filled　with　doubts　if　with　nothing　else。　Hornblower　felt　both　amusement　and　pride；　it　was　pleasant　to　be　newly　at　sea　and　yet　not　sick；　and　it　was　more　pleasant　still　to　be　doing　something　better　than　Barbara；　who　was　so　good　at　everything。　He　was　on　the　point　of　teasing　her；　of　vaunting　his　own　immunity；　when　mon　sense　and　his　tenderness　for　his　wife　saved　him　from　such　an　incredible　blunder。　She　would　hate　him　if　he　did　anything　of　the　sort　…　he　could　remember　with　enormous　clarity　how　much　he　hated　the　whole　world　when　he　was　being　seasick。　He　did　his　best　for　her。
　〃You're　fortunate　not　to　be　sick；　my　dear；〃　he　said。　〃This　motion　is　lively；　but　then　you　always　had　a　good　stomach。〃
　She　looked　at　him；　with　the　wind　whipping　her　tousled　hair；　she　looked　a　trifle　dubious；　but　Hornblower's　words　had　heartened　her。　He　made　a　very　considerable　sacrifice　for　her；　one　she　would　never　know　about。
　〃I　envy　you；　dear；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　feeling　the　gravest　doubts　about　myself；　as　I　always　do　at　the　beginning　of　a　voyage。　But　you　are　your　usual　happy　self。〃
　Surely　no　man　could　give　a　better　proof　of　his　love　for　his　wife　than　that　he　should　not　only　conceal　his　feeling　of　superiority；　but　that　he　should　even　for　her　sake　pretend　to　be　seasick　when　he　was　not。　Barbara　was　all　concern　at　once。
　〃I　am　sorry；　dearest；〃　she　said；　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。　〃I　hope　so　much　you　do　not　have　to　give　way。　It　would　be　most　inconvenient　for　you　at　this　moment　of　taking　up　your　mand。〃
　The　stratagem　was　working；　with　something　important　to　think　about　other　than　the　condition　of　her　stomach　Barbara　was　forgetting　her　own　qualms。
　〃I　hope　I　shall　last　out；〃　said　Hornblower；　he　tried　to　grin　a　brave　reluctant　grin；　and　although　he　was　no　actor　Barbara's　wits　were　sufficiently　dulled　not　to　see　through　him。　Hornblower's　conscience　pricked　him　when　he　saw　that　this　stolid　mock…heroism　of　his　was　making　her　fonder　of　him　than　ever。　Her　eyes　were　soft　for　him。
　〃Stand　by　to　go　about！〃　bellowed　the　captain　of　the　lugger；　and　Hornblower　looked　up　in　surprise　to　see　that　they　were　close　up　under　the　stern　of　the　Nonsuch。　She　had　some　canvas　showing　forward　and　her　mizzen…topsail　backed　so　as　to　set　her　across　the　wind　a　trifle　and　give　the　lugger　a　lee　on　her　starboard　side。　Hornblower　flung　back　his　boat　cloak　and　stood　clear　so　that　he　could　be　seen　from　the　quarter…deck　of　the　Nonsuch；　for　Bush's　sake；　if　for　no　other　reason；　he　did　not　want　to　e　on　board　without　due　warning。　Then　he　turned　to　Barbara。
　〃It's　time　to　say　good…bye；　dear；〃　he　said。
　Her　face　was　without　expression；　like　that　of　a　marine　under　inspection。
　〃Good…bye；　dearest！〃　she　said。　Her　lips　were　cold；　and　she　did　not　incline　towards　him　to　offer　them；　but　stood　stiffly　upright。　It　was　like　kissing　a　marble　statue。　Then　she　melted　suddenly。　〃I'll　cherish　Richard；　darling。　Our　child。〃
　Barbara　could　have　said　nothing　to　endear　her　more　to　Hornblower。　He　crushed　her　hands　in　his。
　The　lugger　came　up　into　the　wind；　her　canvas　volleying；　and　then　she　shot　into　the　two…decker's　lee。　Hornblower　glanced　up；　there　was　a　bos'un's　chair　dangling　ready　to　lower　to　the　lugger。
　〃Belay　that　chair！〃　he　yelled；　and　then　to　the　captain；　〃Lay　us　alongside。〃
　Hornblower　had　no　intention　of　being　swung　up　to　the　deck　in　a　bos'un's　chair；　it　was　too　undignified　a　way　of　taking　up　his　new　mand　to　be　swung　aboard　legs　dangling。　The　lugger　surged　beside　the　big　ship；　the　painted　ports　were　level　with　his　shoulder；　and　beneath　him　boiled　the　green　water　confined　between　the　two　vessels。　This　was　a　nervous　moment。　If　he　were　to　miss　his　footing　and　fall　into　the　sea　so　that　he　would　have　to　be　hauled　in　wet　and　dripping　it　would　be　far　more　undignified　than　any　entrance　in　a　bos'un's　chair。　He　let　fall　his　cloak；　pulled　his　hat　firmly　on　to　his　head；　and　hitched　his　sword　round　out　of　his　way。　Then　he　leaped　across　the　yard…wide　gap；　scrambling　upwards　the　moment　fingers　and　toes　made　contact。　It　was　only　the　first　three　feet　which　were　difficult；　after　that　the　tumble…home　of　the　Nonsuch's　side　made　it　easy。　He　was　even　able　to　pause　to　collect　himself　before　making　the　final　ascent　to　the　entry…port　and　to　step　down　to　the　deck　with　all　the　dignity　to　be　expected　of　a　modore。
　Professionally　speaking；　this　was　the　highest　moment　of　his　career　up　to　now。　As　a　captain　he　had　grown　accustomed　to　a　captain's　honours；　the　bos'un's　mates　twittering　on　their　pipes；　the　four　side…boys　and　the　marine　sentries。　But　now　he　was　a　modore　taking　up　his　mand；　there　were　six　side…boys　with　their　white　gloves；　there　was　the　whole　marine　guard　and　the　marine　band；　a　long　double　lane　of　bos'un's　mates　with　their　pipes；　and　at　the　end　of　the　lane　a　crowd　of　officers　in　full　dress。　As　he　set　his　foot　on　the　deck　the　drums　beat