csf.thecommodore-第13部分

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　〃Quarter　less　five；〃　came　the　voice　of　the　leadsman；　the　leeway　which　the　two　vessels　were　making　was　carrying　them　down　on　the　Saltholm　shoals。
　On　the　heels　of　the　cry　came　the　bang…bang　of　the　two　guns　which　Carlin　had　brought　to　bear　on　the　Amager　batteries；　and　following　that　came　the　howl　of　shot　passing　overhead。　There　were　holes　in　main　and　mizzen…topsails　…　the　enemy　were　trying　to　disable　Nonsuch。
　〃Shall　I　square　away；　sir？〃　came　Bush's　voice　at　Hornblower's　side。
　Mound　had　taken　a　turn　with　the　cable's　end　round　the　base　of　the　Harvey's　mizzenmast；　which　was　stepped　so　far　aft　as　to　make　a　convenient　point　to　tow　from。　He　was　waving　his　arms　to　show　that　all　was　secure；　and　his　axemen　were　hacking　at　the　last　of　the　mainmast　shrouds。
　〃Yes；　Captain。〃　Hornblower　hesitated　before　dropping　a　word　of　advice　on　a　matter　which　was　strictly　Bush's　business。　〃Take　the　strain　slowly；　or　you'll　part　the　tow　or　pluck　that　mizzenmast　clear　out　of　her。　Haul　your　headsails　up　to　starboard；　then　get　her　slowly　under　way　before　you　brace　up　your　main…tops'l。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　Bush　showed　no　resentment　at　Hornblower's　telling　him　what　to　do；　for　he　knew　very　well　that　Hornblower's　advice　was　something　more　valuable　than　gold　could　ever　buy。
　〃And　if　I　were　doing　it　I'd　keep　the　towline　short　…　stern　first；　with　nothing　to　keep　her　under　control；　Harvey'll　tow　better　that　way。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　Bush　turned　and　began　to　bellow　his　orders。　With　the　handling　of　the　headsails　the　Nonsuch　turned　away　from　the　wind；　and　instantly　Carlin　brought　his　guns　into　action　again。　The　ship　was　wrapped　in　smoke　and　in　the　infernal　din　of　the　guns。　Shots　from　Amager　were　still　striking　home　or　passing　overhead；　and　in　the　next　interval　of　parative　silence　the　voice　of　the　leadsman　made　itself　heard。
　〃And　a　half　four！〃
　The　sooner　they　were　away　from　these　shoals　the　better。　Fore…　and　mizzen…topsails　were　filling　slightly；　and　the　head…sails　were　drawing。　The　towline　tightened；　and　as　the　ears　recovered　from　the　shock　of　the　next　broadside　they　became　aware　of　a　vast　creaking　as　the　cable　and　the　bitts　took　the　strain　…　on　the　Nonsuch's　quarter…deck　they　could　overhear　Harvey's　mizzenmast　creaking　with　the　strain。　The　ketch　came　round　slowly；　to　the　acpaniment　of　fierce　bellowings　at　Nonsuch's　helmsman；　as　the　two…decker　wavered　at　the　pull　across　her　stern。　It　was　all　satisfactory；　Hornblower　nodded　to　himself　…　if　Bush　were　stealing　glances　at　him　（as　he　expected）　and　saw　that　nod　it　would　do　no　harm。
　〃Hands　to　the　braces！〃　bellowed　Bush；　echoing　Hornblower's　thoughts。　With　fore…　and　mizzen…topsails　trimmed　and　drawing　well　Nonsuch　began　to　increase　her　speed；　and　the　ketch　followed　her　with　as　much　docility　as　could　be　expected　of　a　vessel　with　no　rudder　to　keep　her　straight。　Then　she　sheered　off　in　ugly　fashion　to　starboard　before　the　tug　of　the　line　pulled　her　straight　again　to　a　feu　de　joie　of　creaks。　Hornblower　shook　his　head　at　the　sight；　and　Bush　held　back　his　order　to　brace　up　the　main…topsail。
　〃Starboard　your　helm；　Mr　Mound！〃　shouted　Hornblower　through　his　speaking…trumpet。　Putting　Harvey's　rudder　over　might　have　some　slight　effect　…　the　behaviour　of　every　ship　being　towed　was　an　individual　problem。　Speed　was　increasing；　and　that；　too；　might　affect　Harvey's　behaviour　for　better　or　worse。
　〃By　the　mark　five！〃
　That　was　better。　And　Harvey　was　behaving　herself；　too。　She　was　yawing　only　very　slightly　now；　either　the　increase　in　speed　or　the　putting　over　of　the　rudder　was　having　its　effect。
　〃That's　well　done。　Captain　Bush；〃　said　Hornblower　pompously。
　〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　Bush；　and　promptly　ordered　the　main…topsail　to　be　braced　up。
　〃By　the　deep　six！〃
　They　were　well　off　the　Saltholm　shoal；　then；　and　Hornblower　suddenly　realized　that　the　guns　had　not　fired　for　some　time；　and　he　had　heard　nothing　of　any　more　firing　from　Amager。　They　were　through　the　channel；　then；　out　of　range　of　the　batteries；　at　a　cost　of　only　a　single　spar　knocked　away。　There　was　no　need　to　e　within　range　of　any　other　hostile　gun　…　they　could　round　Falsterbo　well　clear　of　the　Swedish　batteries。
　〃By　the　deep　nine！〃
　Bush　was　looking　at　him　with　that　expression　of　puzzled　admiration　which　Hornblower　had　seen　on　his　face　before。　Yet　it　had　been　easy　enough。　Anyone　could　have　foreseen　that　it　would　be　best　to　leave　to　the　Nonsuch　the　duty　of　towing　any　cripples　out　of　range；　and；　once　that　was　granted；　anyone　would　have　the　sense　to　have　a　cable　roused　out　and　led　aft　ready　to　undertake　the　duty　instantly；　with　heaving…lines　and　all　the　other　gear　to　hand；　and　anyone　would　have　posted　Nonsuch　last　in　the　line；　both　to　endure　the　worst　of　the　enemy's　fire　and　to　be　in　a　position　to　run　down　to　a　cripple　and　start　towing　without　delay。　Anyone　could　have　made　those　deductions　…　it　was　vaguely　irritating　that　Bush　should　look　like　that。
　〃Make　a　general　signal　to　heave　to；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃Captain　Bush；　stand　by；　if　you　please；　to　cast　off　the　tow。　I'll　have　Harvey　jury　rigged　before　we　round　Falsterbo。　Perhaps　you'll　be　good　enough　to　send　a　party　on　board　to　help　with　the　work。〃
　And　with　that　he　went　off　below。　He　had　seen　all　he　wanted　both　of　Bush　and　of　the　world　for　the　present。　He　was　tired；　drained　of　his　energy。　Later　there　would　be　time　enough　to　sit　at　his　desk　and　begin　the　weary　business　of　…　'Sir；　I　have　the　honour　to　report　…'　There　would　be　dead　and　wounded　to　enumerate；　too。
　
　CHAPTER　SEVEN
　
　His　Britannic　Majesty's　seventy…four…gun　ship　Nonsuch　was　out　of　sight　of　land　in　the　Baltic。　She　was　under　easy　sail；　running　before　that　persistent　westerly　wind；　and　astern　of　her；　like　a　couple　of　ugly　ducklings　following　their　portly　mother；　came　the　two　bomb…ketches。　Far　out　to　starboard；　only　just　in　sight；　was　the　Lotus；　and　far　out　to　port　was　the　Raven。　Beyond　the　Raven；　unseen　from　the　Nonsuch；　was　the　Clam；　the　four　ships　made　a　visual　chain　which　could　sweep　the　narrow　neck　of　the　Baltic；　from　Sweden　to　Rügen；　from　side　to　side。　There　was　still　no　news；　in　spring；　with　the　melting　of　the　ice；　the　whole　traffic　of　the　Baltic　was　outwards；　towards　England　and　Europe；　and　with　this　westerly　wind　so　long　prevailing　little　was　astir。　The　air　was　fresh　and　keen；　despite　the　sunshine；　and　the　sea　was　silver…grey　under　the　dappled　sky。
　Hornblower　gasped　and　shuddered　as　he　took　his　bath　under　the　wash…deck　pump。　For　fifteen　years　he　had　served　in　tropical　and　Mediterranean　waters；　he　had　had　lukewarm　sea…water　pumped　over　him　far　more　often　than　he　could　remember；　and　this　Baltic　water；　chilled　by　the　melting　ice　in　the　gulfs　of　Bothnia　and　Finland；　and　the　snow…water　of　the　Vistula　and　the　Oder；　was　still　a　shock　to　him。　There　was　something　stimulating　about　it；　all　the　same；　and　he　pranced　grotesquely　under　the　heavy　jet；　forgetful　…　as　he　always　was　while　having　his　bath　…　of　the　proper　dignity　of　a　modore。　Half　a　dozen　seamen；　working　in　leisurely　fashion　under　the　direction　of　the　ship's　carpenter　at　replacing　a　shattered　gun…port；　stole　wondering　glances　at　him。　The　two　seamen　at　the　pump；　and　Brown　standing　by　with　towel　and　dressing…gown；　preserved　a　proper　solemnity　of　aspect；　close　under　his　eye　as　they　were。
　Suddenly　the　jet　ceased；　a　skinny　little　midshipman　was　standing　saluting　his　naked　modore。　Despite　the　gravity　of　addressing　so　great　a　man　the　child　was　round…eyed　with　wonder　at　this　fantastic　behaviour　on　the　part　of　an　officer　whose　doings　were　a　household　word。
　〃What　is　it？〃　said　Hornblower；　water　streaming　off　him。　He　could　not　return　the　salute。
　〃Mr　Montgomery　sent　me；　sir。　Lotus　signals　'Sail　to　leeward'；　sir。〃
　〃Very　good。〃
　Hornblower　snatched　the　towel　from　Brown；　but　the　message　was　too　important　for　time　to　be　wasted　drying　himself；　and　he　ran　up　the　panion　still　wet　and　naked；　with　Brown　following　with　his　dressing…gown。　The　officer　of　the　watch　touched　his　hat　as　Hornblower　appeared　on　the　quarter…deck　…　it　was　like　some　old　fairy　story；　the　way　everybody　rigidly　ignored　the　modore's　lack　of　clothes。
　〃New　signal　from　Lotus；　sir。　'Chase　has　tacked。　Chase　is　on　the　port　tack；　bearing　east…by…north；　half　east'。〃
　Hornblower　leaped　to　the　pass；　only　the　topsails　of　the　Lotus　were　in　sight　from　the　deck　as　he　took　the　bearing　by　eye。　Whatever　that　sail　was；　he　must　intercept　it　and　gather　news。　He　looked　up　to　see　Bush　hastening　on　deck；　buttoning　his　coat。
　〃Captain　Bush；　I'll　trouble　you　to　alter　course　two　points　to　starboard。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　〃Lotus　signalling　again；　sir。　'Chase　is　a　ship。　Probably　British　merchantman'。〃
　〃Very　good。　Set　all　sail；　Captain　Bush；　if　you　please。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　The　pipes　shrilled　through　the　ship；　and　400　men　went　pouring　up　the　ratlines　to　loose　the　royals　and　set　studding…sails。　Hornblower　raised　a　professional　eye　to　watch　the　operation；　carried　out　under　a　storm　of　objurgation　from　the　officer　of　the　watch。　The　still　clumsy　crew　was　driven　at　top　speed　by　the　warrant　officers　through　the　evolution；　and　it　was　hardly　pleted　before　there　was　a　yell　from　the　mast…head。
　〃Sail　on　the　starboard　bow！〃
　〃Must　be　the　ship　Lotus　can　see；　sir；〃　said　Bush。　〃Mast…head　there！　What　can　you　see　of　the　sail？〃
　〃She's　a　ship