csf.thecommodore-第33部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

　Luncheon　was　served　in　Hornblower's　cabin　to　a　party　of　eight；　Hornblower；　Bush；　the　two　senior　lieutenants；　and　the　four　Russians。　Bush　was　sweating　with　nervousness　at　the　sight　of　the　inhospitable　table；　at　the　last　moment　he　had　drawn　Hornblower　aside　and　pleaded　unavailingly　for　Hornblower　to　change　his　mind　and　serve　some　of　his　remaining　cabin　delicacies　as　well　as　the　plain　ship's　fare。　Bush　could　not　get　out　of　his　mind　the　obsession　that　it　was　necessary　to　feed　the　Tsar　well；　any　junior　officer　entertaining　an　admiral　would　blast　all　his　hopes　of　future　promotion　if　he　put　the　men's　ration　beef　on　the　table；　and　Bush　could　only　think　in　terms　of　entertaining　admirals。
　The　Tsar　looked　with　interest　at　the　battered　pewter　tureen　which　Brown　set　before　Hornblower。
　〃Pea　soup；　sir；〃　explained　Hornblower。　〃One　of　the　great　delicacies　of　shipboard　life。〃
　Carlin；　of　long　habit；　began　to　rap　his　biscuit　on　the　table；　stopped　when　he　realized　what　he　was　doing；　and　then　started　rapping　again；　guiltily。　He　remembered　the　orders　Hornblower　had　given；　that　everyone　should　behave　as　if　no　distinguished　pany　were　present；　Hornblower　had　backed　up　those　orders　with　the　direct　threat　of　punishment　should　they　be　forgotten；　and　Carlin　knew　that　Hornblower　did　not　threaten　in　that　way　without　every　intention　of　doing　what　he　promised。　Alexander　looked　at　Carlin　and　then　inquiringly　at　Bush　beside　him。
　〃Mr　Carlin　is　knocking　out　the　weevils；　sir；〃　explained　Bush；　almost　overe　with　self…consciousness。　〃If　you　tap　gently　they　e　out　of　their　own　accord；　this　way；　you　see；　sir。〃
　〃Very　interesting；〃　said　Alexander；　but　he　ate　no　bread；　one　of　his　aides…de…camp　repeated　the　experiment；　peered　down　at　the　fat　white　weevils　with　black　heads　that　emerged；　and　exploded　into　what　must　have　been　a　string　of　Russian　oaths　…　almost　the　first　words　he　had　said　since　boarding　the　ship。
　The　visitors；　after　this　inauspicious　beginning；　gingerly　tasted　the　soup。　But　in　the　British　Navy　pea　soup；　as　Hornblower　had　remarked；　was　the　best　dish　served；　the　aide…de…camp　who　had　sworn　at　the　weevils　exclaimed　with　surprised　gratification　when　he　had　tasted　it；　speedily　consumed　his　plateful；　and　accepted　another。　There　were　only　three　dishes　served　as　the　next　course；　boiled　salt　ribs　of　beef；　boiled　salt…beef　tongue；　and　boiled　salt　pork；　with　pickled　cabbage　to　acpany　the　meat。　Alexander　studied　the　three　dishes；　and　wisely　accepted　the　tongue；　the　Minister　of　Marine　and　the　aides…de…camp；　at　Hornblower's　suggestion；　took　a　mixed　plateful；　carved　for　them　by　Hornblower　and　Bush　and　Hurst。　The　once　silent　but　now　talkative　aide…de…camp　set　himself　to　chew　on　the　salt　beef　with　a　truly　Russian　appetite　and　found　it　a　long　hard　struggle。
　Brown　was　now　serving　rum。
　〃The　life…blood　of　the　Navy；　sir；〃　said　Hornblower；　as　Alexander　studied　his　tumbler。　〃May　I　offer　you　gentlemen　a　toast　which　we　can　all　drink　with　the　heartiest　goodwill？　The　Emperor　of　All　the　Russias！　Vive　l'Eempéreur！〃
　All　rose　except　Alexander　to　drink　the　toast；　and　they　were　hardly　seated　before　Alexander　was　on　his　feet　in　turn。
　〃The　King　of　Great　Britain。〃
　The　aide…de…camp's　French　broke　down　again　when　he　tried　to　explain　how　deep　an　impression　Navy　rum　made　on　him　at　this；　his　first　encounter　with　it。　Eventually　he　gave　the　clearest　proof　of　his　appreciation　by　draining　his　tumbler　and　holding　it　out　for　Brown　to　refill。　As　the　table　was　cleared　Alexander　was　ready　with　another　toast。
　〃modore　Sir　Horatio　Hornblower；　and　the　British　Royal　Navy。〃
　As　the　glasses　were　drained　Hornblower；　looking　round　him；　saw　that　he　was　expected　to　reply　in　form。
　〃The　Navy；〃　he　said。　〃The　guardian　of　the　liberties　of　the　world。　The　unswerving　friend；　the　unremitting　enemy。　When　the　tyrant　of　Europe　looks　about　him；　seeking　by　fair　means　or　foul　to　extend　his　dominion；　it　is　the　Navy　that　he　finds　in　his　path。　It　is　the　Navy　which　is　slowly　strangling　that　tyrant。　It　is　the　Navy　which　has　baulked　him　at　every　turn；　which　is　draining　the　life…blood　from　his　boasted　Empire　and　which　will　bring　him　down　in　ruin　at　the　end。　The　tyrant　may　boast　of　unbroken　victory　on　land；　but　he　can　only　deplore　unbroken　defeat　at　sea。　It　is　because　of　the　Navy　that　every　victory　only　leaves　him　weaker　than　before；　forced；　like　Sisyphus；　to　roll　his　rock　once　more　up　towards　an　unattainable　summit。　And　one　day　that　rock　will　crush　him。　May　it　be　sooner　rather　than　later！〃
　Hornblower　ended　his　speech　amid　a　little　fierce　murmur　from　the　others　at　the　table。　He　was　in　an　exalted　mood　again；　this　present　occasion　for　making　a　speech　had　taken　him　a　little　by　surprise；　but　he　had　hoped　when　he　had　first　heard　of　the　intended　visit　of　the　Tsar　to　have　an　opportunity　sometime　during　the　day　of　calling　his　attention　once　more　to　the　aid　which　the　British　alliance　could　afford　him。　Alexander　was　young　and　impressionable。　It　was　necessary　to　appeal　to　his　emotions　as　well　as　to　his　intellect。　Hornblower　stole　a　glance　at　the　Tsar　to　see　if　he　had　attained　his　end；　Alexander　was　sitting　rapt　in　thought；　his　eyes　looking　down　at　the　table。　He　raised　them　to　meet　Hornblower's　with　a　smile；　and　Hornblower　felt　a　wave　of　exultation；　of　sublime　confidence　that　his　plan　had　succeeded。　He　had　had　plain　fare　served　at　luncheon　of　set　purpose；　he　had　shown　Alexander　exactly　how　the　Navy　lived　and　slept　and　worked。　The　Tsar　could　not　be　ignorant　of　the　British　Navy's　glory；　and　Hornblower's　intuitive　mind　told　him　that　proof　of　the　hardship　of　naval　life　would　be　a　subtle　appeal　to　the　Tsar's　emotions；　it　would　be　hard　to　explain　exactly　how　it　would　appeal；　but　Hornblower　was　sure　of　it。　Alexander　would　be　moved　both　to　help　men　who　won　glory　at　such　a　cost　and　also　would　desire　to　have　such　tough　fighters　on　his　side。
　Alexander　was　making　a　move　to　leave；　the　aide…de…camp　hurriedly　drained　his　fifth　tumbler　of　rum；　and　it　and　its　predecessors　so　worked　upon　him　as　to　make　him　put　his　arm　round　Bush's　shoulders　as　they　came　up　on　the　quarter…deck　and　pat　him　on　the　back　with　wholehearted　affection；　while　the　long　row　of　medals　and　orders　on　his　chest　jingled　and　clinked　like　tinkers　working　on　pots　and　kettles。　Bush；　keenly　aware　of　the　eyes　of　the　ship's　pany　upon　him；　tried　to　writhe　away　from　the　embrace；　but　unavailingly。　He　was　red　in　the　face　as　he　bawled　the　order　for　the　manning　of　the　yards；　and　sighed　with　evident　relief　as　Alexander's　departure　down　the　acmodation　ladder　made　it　necessary　for　the　aide…de…camp　to　follow　him。
　
　CHAPTER　FOURTEEN
　
　An　easterly　wind　was　not　to　be　wasted。　Nonsuch　and　the　flotilla　were　heading　back　down　the　Gulf　of　Finland　with　all　sail　set；　and　the　modore　was　walking　the　quarter…deck；　turning　over　in　his　mind　all　the　problems　which　beset　a　mander…in…chief。　The　problem　of　drinking　water　at　least　was　settled；　it　would　be　two　months　easily；　four　months　if　necessary；　before　he　had　to　worry　about　that。　The　mere　fact　that　he　had　refilled　his　water　casks　would　be　some　sort　of　justification　for　his　having　had　dealings　with　the　Court　of　St　Petersburg　should　Downing　Street　or　Whitehall　take　exception　to　his　recent　activities　…　Hornblower　ran　through　in　his　mind　the　wording　of　his　report；　which　had　laid　as　much　stress　on　the　advantage　gained　in　this　fashion　as　on　the　desirability　of　having　made　contact　with　the　Russian　Government。　He　had　a　good　case　to　plead。　But。。。
　Hornblower　turned　and　looked　back　at　the　squadron。
　〃Make　a　signal　to　Lotus；〃　he　ordered。　〃'Why　are　you　out　of　station？'〃
　The　flags　soared　up　the　halliards；　and　Hornblower　saw　the　sloop　hurriedly　correct　her　position。
　〃Lotus　acknowledges　the　signal；　sir；〃　reported　the　midshipman。
　〃Then　make　'Why　do　you　not　reply　to　my　question？'〃　said　Hornblower；　harshly。
　It　was　some　seconds　before　any　reply　was　visible。
　〃Lotus　signals　'Inattention　on　the　part　of　the　officer　of　the　watch'；　sir。〃
　〃Acknowledge；〃　said　Hornblower。
　He　had　stirred　up　trouble　there；　Vickery　would　be　raging　at　this　public　censure；　and　the　officer　of　the　watch　in　question　would　be　regretting　his　inattention　at　this　very　moment。　There　would　be　no　harm　done　and　probably　some　good。　But　Hornblower　was　perfectly　aware　that　he　had　only　launched　the　censure　because　he　wanted　an　excuse　to　postpone　thinking　about　the　next　unpleasant　matter　on　which　he　had　to　decide。　He　wondered　to　himself　how　many　of　the　other　reprimands　he　had　seen　dealt　out　…　which　he　himself　had　received　as　a　junior　officer；　for　that　matter　…　had　been　administered　by　harassed　admirals　as　a　distraction　from　more　unpleasant　thoughts。　He　himself　had　to　think　about　the　case　of　Braun。
　The　low　shore　of　Finland　was　just　visible　to　the　northward；　down　on　the　main…deck　Carlin　had　a　division　of　guns　at　exercise；　the　men　going　through　the　drill　of　loading　and　running　out。　With　the　wind　almost　dead　astern　and　studding…sails　set　Nonsuch　was　making　good　speed　through　the　water　…　if　the　sea　were　to　get　up　any　more　she　would　have　to　shorten　sail　so　as　to　allow　the　bomb…ketches　to　keep　up。　A　boatswain's　mate　forward　was　starting　one　of　the　hands　with　the　foretop…sail　clew…line；　something　altogether　too　thick　to　be　used　for　that　purpose。　Hornblower　was　on　the　point；　reluctantly；　o