csf.thecommodore-第43部分

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　〃Square　away；　Mr　Mound。　We'll　close　the　shore　in　the　direction　of　that　church。　Set　a　good　hand　at　work　with　the　lead。〃
　The　bomb…ketch；　with　anchor　catted　and　ready　to　go；　stole　forward　over　the　still　water。　There　was　still　plenty　of　light　from　the　sky；　for　here　in　57°　North；　within　a　few　days　of　the　solstice；　the　sun　was　not　very　far　below　the　horizon。
　〃Moon　rises　in　an　hour's　time；　sir；〃　said　Mound；　〃three…quarters　full。〃
　It　was　a　marvellous　evening；　cool　and　invigorating。　There　was　only　the　tiniest　whisper　of　water　round　the　bows　of　the　ketch　as　she　glided　over　the　silvery　surface；　Hornblower　felt　that　they　only　needed　a　few　pretty　women　on　board　and　someone　strumming　a　guitar　to　make　a　yachting　expedition　of　it。　Something　on　shore　attracted　his　attention；　and　he　whipped　his　glass　to　his　eye　at　the　very　moment　when　Mound　beside　him　did　the　same。
　〃Lights　on　shore；〃　said　Mound。
　〃Those　are　bivouac　fires；〃　said　Hornblower。
　He　had　seen　bivouac　fires　before　…　the　fires　of　el　Supremo's　army　in　Central　America；　the　fires　of　the　landing　force　at　Rosas。　They　sparkled　ruddily　in　the　twilight；　in　roughly　regular　lines。　Traversing　his　glass　round；　Hornblower　picked　up　further　groups　of　lights；　there　was　a　dark　space　between　one　mass　and　the　other；　which　Hornblower　pointed　out　to　Mound。
　〃That's　no…man's…land　between　the　two　forces；　I　fancy；〃　he　said。　〃The　Russians　must　be　holding　the　village　as　an　outwork　on　the　left　bank　of　the　river。〃
　〃Couldn't　all　those　fires　be　French　fires；　sir？〃　asked　Mound。　〃Or　Russian　fires？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃Soldiers　don't　bivouac　if　they　can　billet　in　villages　with　roofs　over　their　heads。　If　two　armies　weren't　in　presence　they'd　all　be　fortably　asleep　in　the　cottagers'　beds　and　barns。〃
　There　was　a　long　pause　while　Mound　digested　this。
　〃Two　fathoms；　sir；〃　he　said；　at　length。　〃I'd　like　to　bear　up；　if　I　may。〃
　〃Very　good。　Carry　on。　Keep　as　close　inshore　as　you　think　proper。〃
　The　Harvey　came　round　with　the　wind　abeam；　half　a　dozen　hands　hauling　lustily　on　the　mainsheet。　There　was　the　moon；　rising　round　and　red　over　the　land；　the　dome　of　the　church　was　silhouetted　against　it。　A　sharp　cry　came　from　the　forward　lookout。
　〃Boat　ahead！　Fine　on　the　port　bow；　sir。　Pulling　oars。〃
　〃Catch　that　boat　if　you　can；　Mr　Mound；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。　Starboard　two　points！　Clear　away　the　gig。　Boat's　crew　stand　by！〃
　They　could　see　the　dim　shape　of　the　boat　not　far　ahead；　they　could　even　see　the　splashes　of　the　oars。　It　occurred　to　Hornblower　that　the　rowers　could　not　be　men　of　much　skill；　and　whoever　was　in　charge　was　not　very　quick　in　the　uptake　if　he　wanted　to　avoid　capture；　he　should　have　headed　instantly　for　shoal　water　if　he　wanted　to　avoid　capture；　while　as　it　was　he　tried　to　pit　oars　against　sails　…　a　hopeless　endeavour　even　with　that　light　breeze　blowing。　It　was　several　minutes　before　they　turned　for　the　shore；　and　during　that　time　their　lead　was　greatly　reduced。
　〃Hard…a…lee；〃　roared　Mound。　〃Away；　gig！〃
　Harvey　came　into　the　wind；　and　as　she　lost　her　way　the　gig　dropped　into　the　water　with　the　boat's　crew　falling　into　it。
　〃I　want　prisoners！〃　roared　Hornblower　at　the　departing　boat。
　〃Aye　aye；　sir；〃　came　the　reply　as　the　oars　tore　the　water。
　Under　the　impulse　of　the　skilled　oarsmen　the　gig　rapidly　was　overtaking　the　strange　boat；　they　could　see　the　distance　narrowing　as　the　two　boats　disappeared　in　the　faint　light。　Then　they　saw　the　orange…red　flashes　of　half　a　dozen　pistol…shots；　and　the　faint　reports　reached　them　over　the　water　directly　after。
　〃Let's　hope　they're　not　Russans；　sir；〃　said　Mound。
　The　possibility　had　occurred　to　Hornblower　as　well；　and　he　was　nervous　and　unfortable；　but　he　spoke　bluffly　…
　〃Russians　wouldn't　run　away。　They　wouldn't　expect　to　find　Frenchmen　at　sea。〃
　Soon　the　two　boats；　rowing　slowly；　emerged　from　the　gloom。
　〃We've　got　'em　all；　sir；〃　said　a　voice　in　reply　to　Mound's　hail。
　Five　prisoners　were　thrust　up　onto　the　deck　of　the　Harvey；　one　of　them　groaning　with　a　pistol　bullet　through　his　arm。　Someone　produced　a　lantern　and　shone　it　on　them；　and　Hornblower　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief　when　he　saw　that　the　star　which　glittered　on　the　breast　of　the　leader　was　the　Legion　of　Honour。
　〃I　would　like　to　know　monsieur's　name　and　rank；〃　he　said；　politely；　in　French。
　〃Jussey；　chef　de　bataillon　du　corps　de　Génie　des　armées　de　l'Empéreur。〃
　A　major　of　engineers；　quite　an　important　capture。　Hornblower　bowed　and　presented　himself；　his　mind　working　rapidly　on　the　problem　of　how　to　induce　the　major　to　say　all　he　knew。
　〃I　regret　very　much　the　necessity　of　taking　M。　le　chef　de　bataillon　prisoner；〃　he　said。　〃Especially　at　the　beginning　of　such　a　promising　campaign。　But　good　fortune　may　allow　me　the　opportunity　of　arranging　a　cartel　of　exchange　at　an　early　date。　I　presume　M。　le　chef　de　bataillon　has　friends　in　the　French　Army　whom　he　would　like　informed　of　what　has　happened　to　him？　I　will　take　the　opportunity　of　the　first　flag　of　truce　to　do　so。〃
　〃The　Marshal　Duke　of　Tarentum　would　be　glad　to　hear；〃　said　Jussey；　brightening　a　little。　〃I　am　on　his　staff。〃
　The　Marshal　Duke　of　Tarentum　was　Macdonald；　the　local　French　mander…in…chief　…　son　of　a　Scottish　exile　who　had　fled　after　the　Young　Pretender's　rebellion　…　so　that　it　seemed　likely　that　Jussey　was　the　chief　engineer；　a　bigger　catch　than　Hornblower　had　hoped　for。
　〃It　was　extremely　bad　fortune　for　you　to　fall　into　our　hands；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃You　had　no　reason　to　suspect　the　presence　of　a　British　squadron　operating　in　the　bay。〃
　〃Indeed　I　had　none。　Our　information　was　to　the　contrary。　These　Livonians　…〃
　So　the　French　staff　was　obtaining　information　from　Livonian　traitors；　Hornblower　might　have　guessed　it；　but　it　was　as　well　to　be　sure。
　〃Of　course　they　are　useless；　like　all　Russians；〃　said　Hornblower；　soothingly；　〃I　suppose　your　Emperor　has　met　with　little　opposition？〃
　〃Smolensk　is　ours；　and　the　Emperor　marches　on　Moscow。　It　is　our　mission　to　occupy　St　Petersburg。〃
　〃But　perhaps　passing　the　Dwina　will　be　difficult？〃
　Jussey　shrugged　in　the　lamplight。
　〃I　do　not　expect　so。　A　bold　push　across　the　mouth　of　the　river　and　the　Russians　will　retreat　the　moment　their　flank　is　turned。〃
　So　that　was　what　Jussey　was　doing；　reconnoitring　for　a　suitable　place　to　land　a　French　force　on　the　Russian　side　of　the　river　mouth。
　〃A　daring　move；　sir；　worthy　of　all　the　great　traditions　of　the　French　Army。　But　no　doubt　you　have　ample　craft　to　transport　your　force？〃
　〃Some　dozens　of　barges。　We　seized　them　at　Mitau　before　the　Russians　could　destroy　them。〃
　Jussey　checked　himself　abruptly；　clearly　disturbed　at　realizing　how　much　he　had　said。
　〃Russians　are　always　inpetent；〃　said　Hornblower；　in　a　tone　of　plete　agreement。　〃A　prompt　attack　on　your　part；　giving　them　no　chance　of　steadying　themselves；　is　of　course　your　best　plan　of　operations。　But　will　you　pardon　me；　sir；　while　I　attend　to　my　duties？〃
　There　was　no　chance　of　wheedling　anything　more　out　of　Jussey　at　the　moment。　But　he　had　at　least　yielded　up　the　vital　information　that　the　French　had　laid　hands　on　a　fleet　of　barges　which　the　Russians　had　neglected；　or　been　unable；　to　destroy；　and　that　they　planned　a　direct　attack　across　the　river　mouth。　By　feigning　entire　indifference　Hornblower　felt　that　Jussey　might　be　inveigled　later　into　talking　freely　again。　Jussey　bowed；　and　Hornblower　turned　to　Mound。
　〃We'll　return　to　the　squadron；〃　he　said。
　Mound　gave　the　orders　which　laid　the　Harvey　close…hauled　on　the　starboard　tack　…　the　French　prisoners　ducked　hastily　as　the　big　mainsail　boom　swung　over　their　heads；　and　the　seamen　bumped　into　them　as　they　ran　to　the　sheet。　While　Jussey　and　Hornblower　had　been　talking　two　of　the　prisoners　had　cut　off　the　sleeve　of　the　wounded　man　and　bandaged　his　arm；　now　they　all　squatted　in　the　scuppers　out　of　the　way；　while　the　Harvey　crept　back　to　where　the　Nonsuch　lay　at　anchor。
　
　CHAPTER　EIGHTEEN
　
　〃Oars；〃　said　Brown；　and　the　barge's　crew　ceased　to　pull。　〃In　bows。〃
　The　bow　oarsman　brought　his　oar　into　the　boat　and　grabbed　for　the　boathook；　and　Brown　laid　the　barge　neatly　alongside　the　quay　while　the　rushing　Dwina　river　eddied　about　it。　An　interested　crowd　of　the　people　of　Riga　watched　the　operation；　and　stared　stolidly　at　Hornblower　as　he　ran　up　the　stone　steps　to　road　level；　epaulettes；　star；　and　sword　all　aglitter　in　the　scorching　sunshine。　Beyond　the　line　of　warehouses　along　the　quay　he　was　vaguely　aware　of　a　wide　square　surrounded　by　medieval　stone　buildings　with　high…pitched　roofs；　but　he　had　no　attention　to　spare　for　this　his　first　close　sight　of　Riga。　There　was　the　usual　guard　of　honour　to　salute；　the　usual　officer　at　its　head；　and　beside　it　the　burly　figure　of　the　Governor；　General　Essen。
　〃Wele　to　the　city；　sir；〃　said　Essen。　He　was　a　Baltic　German；　a　descendant　of　those　Knights　of　the　Sword　who　had　conquered　Livonia　from　the　heathen　centuries　before；　and　the　French　which　he　spoke　had　some　of　the　explosive　quality　of　the　French　spoken　by　an　Alsatian。
　An　open　carriage；　to　which　were　harnessed　two　spirited　horses　who　pawed　restlessly　at　the　ground；　awaited　them；　and　the　Governor　handed　Hornblower　in　and　followed　him。
　〃It　is　only　the　shortest　distance　to　go；〃　he　s