csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第39节

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ter　rankled；　apparently。　'I　thought　I　could　rely　on　two　brother　captains。'
　'What　are　you　implying；　sir？'　snapped　Hammond。
　'I　make　no　implications；　but　others　may　read　implications　into　a　simple　statement　of　fact。'
　'I　consider　that　an　offensive　remark；　sir；'　said　Harvey；　'addressed　to　me　equally　with　Captain　Hammond。'
　'I　congratulate　you　on　your　perspicacity；　sir；'　replied　Foster。
　'I　understand；'　said　Harvey。　'This　is　not　a　discussion　we　can　pursue　with　these　men　present。　I　shall　send　a　friend　to　wait　on　you。'
　'He　will　be　wele。'
　'Then　I　wish　you　a　very　good　night；　sir。'
　'And　I；　too；　sir；'　said　Hammond。　'Give　way　there。'
　The　boat　pulled　out　of　the　circle　of　light；　leaving　an　audience　open…mouthed　at　this　strange　freak　of　human　behaviour；　that　a　man　saved　first　from　death　and　then　from　captivity　should　wantonly　thrust　himself　into　peril　again。　Foster　looked　after　the　boat　for　some　seconds　before　speaking；　perhaps　he　was　already　regretting　his　rather　hysterical　outburst。
　'I　shall　have　much　to　do　before　morning；'　he　said；　more　to　himself　than　to　anyone　near　him；　and　then　addressed　himself　to　the　midshipman　of　the　guard　boat；　'You；　sir；　will　take　charge　of　these　prisoners　and　convey　me　to　my　ship。'
　'Aye　aye；　sir。'
　'Is　there　anyone　here　who　can　speak　their　lingo？　I　would　have　it　explained　to　them　that　I　shall　send　them　back　to　Cartagena　under　cartel；　free　without　exchange。　They　saved　our　lives；　and　that　is　the　least　we　can　do　in　return。'　The　final　explanatory　sentence　was　addressed　to　Hornblower。
　'I　think　that　is　just；　sir。'
　'And　you；　my　fire…breathing　friend。　May　I　offer　you　my　thanks？　You　did　well。　Should　I　live　beyond　to…morrow；　I　shall　see　that　authority　is　informed　of　your　actions。'
　'Thank　you；　sir。'　A　question　trembled　on　Hornblower's　lips。　It　called　for　a　little　resolution　to　thrust　it　out；　'And　my　examination；　sir？　My　certificate？'
　Foster　shook　his　head。　'That　particular　examining　board　will　never　reassemble；　I　fancy。　You　must　wait　your　opportunity　to　go　before　another　one。'
　'Aye　aye；　sir；'　said　Hornblower；　with　despondency　apparent　in　his　tone。
　'Now　lookee　here；　Mr　Hornblower；'　said　Foster；　turning　upon　him。　'To　the　best　of　my　recollection；　you　were　flat　aback；　about　to　lose　your　spars　and　with　Dover　cliffs　under　your　lee。　In　one　more　minute　you　would　have　been　failed…it　was　the　warning　gun　that　saved　you。　Is　not　that　so？'
　'I　suppose　it　is；　sir。'
　'Then　be　thankful　for　small　mercies。　And　even　more　thankful　for　big　ones。'
　
　
　
　CHAPTER　NINE　…　NOAH'S　ARK
　Acting…Lieutenant　Hornblower　sat　in　the　sternsheets　of　the　longboat　beside　Mr　Tapling　of　the　diplomatic　service；　with　his　feet　among　bags　of　gold。　About　him　rose　the　steep　shores　of　the　Gulf　of　Oran；　and　ahead　of　him　lay　the　city；　white　in　the　sunshine；　like　a　mass　of　blocks　of　marble　dumped　by　a　careless　hand　upon　the　hillsides　where　they　rose　from　the　water。　The　oar　blades；　as　the　boat's　crew　pulled　away　rhythmically　over　the　gentle　swell；　were　biting　into　the　clearest　emerald　green；　and　it　was　only　a　moment　since　they　had　left　behind　the　bluest　the　Mediterranean　could　show。
　'A　pretty　sight　from　here；'　said　Tapling；　gazing　at　the　town　they　were　approaching；　'but　closer　inspection　will　show　that　the　eye　is　deceived。　And　as　for　the　nose！　The　stinks　of　the　true　believers　have　to　be　smelt　to　be　believed。　Lay　her　alongside　the　jetty　there；　Mr　Hornblower；　beyond　those　xebecs。'
　'Aye　aye；　sir；'　said　the　coxswain；　when　Hornblower　gave　the　order。
　'There's　a　sentry　on　the　waterfront　battery　here；'　mented　Tapling；　looking　about　him　keenly；　'not　more　than　half　asleep；　either。　And　notice　the　two　guns　in　the　two　castles。　Thirty…two　pounders；　without　a　doubt。　Stone　shot　piled　in　readiness。　A　stone　shot　flying　into　fragments　on　impact　effects　damage　out　of　proportion　to　its　size。　And　the　walls　seem　sound　enough。　To　seize　Oran　by　a　coup　de　main　would　not　be　easy；　I　am　afraid。　If　His　Nibs　the　Bey　should　choose　to　cut　our　throats　and　keep　our　gold　it　would　be　long　before　we　were　avenged；　Mr　Hornblower。'
　'I　don't　think　I　should　find　any　satisfaction　in　being　avenged　in　any　case；　sir；'　said　Hornblower。
　'There's　some　truth　in　that。　But　doubtless　His　Nibs　will　spare　us　this　time。　The　goose　lays　golden　eggs…a　boatload　of　gold　every　month　must　make　a　dazzling　prospect　for　a　pirate　Bey　in　these　days　of　convoys。'
　'Way　'nough；'　called　the　coxswain。　'Oars！'
　The　longboat　came　gliding　alongside　the　jetty　and　hooked　on　neatly。　A　few　seated　figures　in　the　shade　turned　eyes　at　least；　and　in　some　cases　even　their　heads　as　well；　to　look　at　the　British　boat's　crew。　A　number　of　swarthy　Moors　appeared　on　the　decks　of　the　xebecs　and　gazed　down　at　them；　and　one　or　two　shouted　remarks　to　them。
　'No　doubt　they　are　describing　the　ancestry　of　the　infidels；'　said　Tapling。　'Sticks　and　stones　may　break　my　bones；　but　names　can　never　hurt　me；　especially　when　I　do　not　understand　them。　Where's　our　man？'
　He　shaded　his　eyes　to　look　along　the　waterfront。
　'No　one　in　sight；　sir；　that　looks　like　a　Christian；'　said　Hornblower。
　'Our　man's　no　Christian；'　said　Tapling。　'White；　but　no　Christian。　White　by　courtesy　at　that…French…Arab…Levantine　mixture。　His　Britannic　Majesty's　Consul　at　Oran　pro　tem。；　and　a　Mussulman　from　expediency。　Though　there　are　very　serious　disadvantages　about　being　a　true　believer。　Who　would　want　four　wives　at　any　time；　especially　when　he　pays　for　the　doubtful　privilege　by　abstaining　from　wine？'
　Tapling　stepped　up　onto　the　jetty　and　Hornblower　followed　him。　The　gentle　swell　that　rolled　up　the　Gulf　broke　soothingly　below　them；　and　the　blinding　heat　of　the　noonday　sun　was　reflected　up　into　their　faces　from　the　stone　blocks　on　which　they　stood。　Far　down　the　Gulf　lay　the　two　anchored　ships…the　storeship　and　H。M。S。　Indefatigable…lovely　on　the　blue　and　silver　surface。
　'And　yet　I　would　rather　see　Drury　Lane　on　a　Saturday　night；'　said　Tapling。
　He　turned　back　to　look　at　the　city　wall；　which　guarded　the　place　from　seaborne　attack。　A　narrow　gate；　flanked　by　bastions；　opened　onto　the　waterfront。　Sentries　in　red　caftans　were　visible　on　the　summit。　In　the　deep　shadow　of　the　gate　something　was　moving；　but　it　was　hard　with　eyes　dazzled　by　the　sun　to　see　what　it　was。　Then　it　emerged　from　the　shadow　as　a　little　group　ing　towards　them…a　half…naked　Negro　leading　a　donkey；　and　on　the　back　of　the　donkey；　seated　side　ways　far　back　towards　the　root　of　the　tail；　a　vast　figure　in　a　blue　robe。
　'Shall　we　meet　His　Britannic　Majesty's　Consul　halfway？'　asked　Tapling。　'No。　Let　him　e　to　us。'
　The　Negro　halted　the　donkey；　and　the　man　on　the　donkey's　back　slid　to　the　ground　and　came　towards　them…a　mountainous　man；　waddling　straddle…legged　in　his　robe；　his　huge　clay…coloured　face　topped　by　a　white　turban。　A　scanty　black　moustache　and　beard　sprouted　from　his　lip　and　chin。
　'Your　servant；　Mr　Duras；'　said　Tapling。　'And　may　I　present　Acting…Lieutenant　Horatio　Hornblower；　of　the　frigate　Indefatigable？'
　Mr　Duras　nodded　his　perspiring　head。
　'Have　you　brought　the　money？'　he　asked；　in　guttural　French；　it　took　Hornblower　a　moment　or　two　to　adjust　his　mind　to　the　language　and　his　ear　to　Duras'　intonation。
　'Seven　thousand　golden　guineas；'　replied　Tapling；　in　reasonably　good　French。
　'Good；'　said　Duras；　with　a　trace　of　relief。　'Is　it　in　the　boat？'
　'It　is　in　the　boat；　and　it　stays　in　the　boat　at　present；'　answered　Tapling。　'Do　you　remember　the　conditions　agreed　upon？　Four　hundred　fat　cattle；　fifteen　hundred　fanegas　of　barley　grain。　When　I　see　those　in　the　lighters；　and　the　lighters　alongside　the　ships　down　the　bay；　then　I　hand　over　the　money。　Have　you　the　stores　ready？'
　'Soon。'
　'As　I　expected。　How　long？'
　'Soon…very　soon。'
　Tapling　made　a　grimace　of　resignation。
　'Then　we　shall　return　to　the　ships。　To…morrow；　perhaps；　or　the　day　after；　we　shall　e　back　with　the　gold。'
　Alarm　appeared　on　Duras'　sweating　face。
　'No；　do　not　do　that；'　he　said；　hastily。　'You　do　not　know　His　Highness　the　Bey。　He　is　changeable。　If　he　knows　the　gold　is　here　he　will　give　orders　for　the　cattle　to　be　brought。　Take　the　gold　away；　and　he　will　not　stir。　And…and…he　will　be　angry　with　me。'
　'Ira　principis　mors　est。'　said　Tapling；　and　in　response　to　Duras'　blank　look　obliged　by　a　translation。　'The　wrath　of　the　prince　means　death。　Is　not　that　so？'
　'Yes；'　said　Duras；　and　he　in　turn　said　something　in　an　unknown　language；　and　stabbed　at　the　air　with　his　fingers　in　a　peculiar　gesture；　and　then　translated；　'May　it　not　happen。'
　'Certainly　we　hope　it　may　not　happen；'　agreed　Tapling　with　disarming　cordiality。　'The　bowstring；　the　hook；　even　the　bastinado　are　all　unpleasant。　It　might　be　better　if　you　went　to　the　Bey　and　prevailed　upon　him　to　give　the　necessary　orders　for　the　grain　and　the　cattle。　Or　we　shall　leave　at　nightfall。'
　Tapling　glanced　up　at　the　sun　to　lay　stress　on　the　time　limit。
　'I　shall　go；'　said　Duras；　spreading　his　hands　in　a　deprecatory　gesture。　'I　shall　go。　But　I　beg　of　you；　do　not　depart。　Perhaps　His　Highness　is　busy　in　his　harem。　Then　no　one　may　disturb　him。　But　I　shall　try。　The　grain　is　here　ready…it　lies　in　the　Kasbah　there。　It　is　only　the　cattle　that　have　to　be　brought　in。　Please　be　patient。　I　implore　you。　His　Highness　is　not　accustomed　to