csf.thecommodore-第55部分

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　〃You　are　the　English　Admiral；　sir？〃
　Hornblower　did　not　see　fit　to　enter　into　explanations　regarding　the　difference　between　an　Admiral　and　a　modore；　He　merely　nodded。
　〃I　have　asked　that　my　men　and　the　Portuguese　be　returned　by　sea　to　Spain；　there　to　fight　against　Bonaparte　on　our　own　soil。　They　tell　me　that　as　this　can　only　be　done　by　sea　your　consent　must　be　secured。　You　will　grant　it；　of　course；　sir？〃
　That　was　asking　a　good　deal。　Five　thousand　men　at　four　tons　a　man　meant　twenty　thousand　tons　of　shipping　…　a　large　convoy；　it　would　be　straining　his　powers　for　him　to　pledge　his　government　to　provide　twenty　thousand　tons　of　shipping　to　carry　the　Spaniards　from　Riga　to　Spain。　There　never　were　enough　ships。　And　there　was　also　the　question　of　the　moral　effect　on　the　garrison　of　Riga　if　they　were　to　see　this　seasonable　reinforcement　which　had　dropped　from　the　clouds；　so　to　speak；　shipped　away　again　as　soon　as　it　arrived。　Yet　on　the　other　hand　there　was　a　chance　that　Russia　might　make　peace　with　Bonaparte；　and　in　that　case　the　sooner　these　Spaniards　were　beyond　the　clutches　of　either　country　the　better。　Five　thousand　men　would　make　a　considerable　army　in　Spain　…　where　the　Spaniards　were　likely　to　do　their　best　…　while　it　was　only　a　trifling　force　in　this　continental　war　of　millions。　But　none　of　this　was　of　nearly　as　much　importance　as　the　moral　side。　What　would　be　the　effect　on　the　other　unwilling　allies　of　Bonaparte；　the　Prussians　and　the　Austrians；　the　Bavarians　and　the　Italians；　when　they　heard　not　merely　that　a　national　contingent　had　fought　its　way　to　join　the　allies；　but　had　been　received　with　open　arms；　fêted　and　made　much　of；　and　finally　shipped　back　to　their　native　land　with　the　least　possible　delay？　Hornblower　expected　a　tremendous　revulsion　of　feeling　among　Bonaparte's　satellites；　especially　if　the　Russians　executed　their　determination　to　keep　on　fighting　through　the　winter。　This　might　be　the　beginning　of　the　crumbling　of　Bonaparte's　Empire。
　〃I　shall　be　very　happy　to　send　you　and　your　men　to　Spain　as　quickly　as　it　can　be　arranged；〃　he　said。　〃I　will　issue　orders　to…day　for　shipping　to　be　collected。〃
　The　Conde　was　profuse　in　his　thanks；　but　Hornblower　had　something　to　add。
　〃There　is　one　thing　I　ask　in　return；〃　he　said；　and　the　Conde's　countenance　fell　a　little。
　〃What　is　it；　sir？〃　he　asked。　The　embittered　suspicion　resulting　from　years　of　being　a　victim　of　international　double…dealing；　of　lies　and　deception　and　threats　…　from　Godoy's　pitiful　subterfuges　to　Bonaparte's　mailed…fisted　bullying　…　showed　instantly　in　his　face。
　〃Your　signature　to　a　proclamation；　that　is　all。　I　shall　endeavour　to　circulate　among　Bonaparte's　other　forced　allies　the　news　of　your　joining　the　cause　of　liberty；　and　I　would　like　you　to　attest　its　truth。〃
　The　Conde　darted　one　more　keen　look　at　Hornblower　before　he　agreed。
　〃I　will　sign　it；〃　he　said。
　That　immediate　consent　was　a　pretty　pliment；　first　to　Hornblower's　obvious　honesty　of　purpose；　and　second　to　the　reputation　the　Navy　had　acquired　of　always　fulfilling　its　engagements。
　〃There　is　nothing　more　to　be　done；　then；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃save　to　draw　up　the　proclamation　and　to　find　ships　for　your　forces。〃
　Essen　was　fidgeting　in　his　saddle　beside　them　while　this　conversation　was　going　on　in　Spanish；　he　clearly　knew　no　word　of　that　language　and　was　restless　in　consequence　…　Hornblower　found　it　gratifying；　for　during　the　past　few　months　he　had　had　to　be　an　unprehending　listener　to　so　many　conversations　in　Russian　and　German。　This　was　some　slight　revenge。
　〃Has　he　told　you　about　conditions　in　Bonaparte's　army？〃　asked　Essen。　〃Have　you　heard　about　the　hunger　and　the　disease？〃
　〃Not　yet；〃　said　Hornblower。
　The　story　came　out　rapidly；　staccato；　drawn　from　the　Conde's　lips　by　explosive　promptings　from　Essen。　Bonaparte's　army　had　been　dying　on　its　feet　long　before　it　reached　Moscow；　hunger　and　disease　had　thinned　its　ranks　as　Bonaparte　hurried　it　by　forced　marches　across　the　desolated　plains。
　〃The　horses　are　nearly　all　dead　already。　There　was　only　green　rye　to　give　them；〃　said　the　Conde。
　If　the　horses　were　dead　it　would　be　impossible　to　drag　supplies　in　to　the　main　body　of　the　army；　it　would　have　to　scatter　or　starve；　and　as　long　as　the　Russians　had　any　sort　of　army　in　existence　it　would　be　impossible　for　the　main　body　to　scatter。　As　long　as　Alexander's　nerve　held；　as　long　as　he　maintained　the　struggle；　there　was　still　hope。　It　began　to　seem　certain　that　Bonaparte's　army　in　Moscow　had　spent　its　strength；　and　the　only　way　in　which　the　French　could　bring　fresh　pressure　upon　Alexander　would　be　by　advancing　upon　St　Petersburg　with　the　army　here　before　Riga。　That　made　it　more　imperative　still　to　hold　on　here。　Hornblower　felt　considerable　doubt　as　to　Alexander's　constancy　if　he　were　to　lose　both　his　capitals。
　The　wretched　Spanish　infantry　had　been　standing　presenting　arms　during　all　this　long　conversation；　and　Hornblower　felt　unfortable　about　them。　He　let　his　attention　wander　to　them　obviously；　recalling　the　Conde　to　a　sense　of　his　duty。　The　Conde　gave　an　order　to　his　staff；　and　the　colonels　repeated　it；　the　regiments　ordered　arms　awkwardly　and　then　stood　easy；　the　latter　to　the　manner　born。
　〃His　Excellency　tells　me；〃　said　the　Conde；　〃that　you　have　recently　served　in　Spain；　sir。　What　is　the　news　of　my　country？〃
　It　was　not　easy　to　give　a　thumbnail　sketch　of　the　plicated　history　of　the　Peninsula　for　the　last　four　years；　to　a　Spaniard　who　had　been　cut　off　from　all　news　during　that　time。　Hornblower　did　his　best；　glossing　over　the　innumerable　Spanish　defeats；　laying　stress　on　the　devotion　and　efficiency　of　the　guerrilleros；　and　ending　on　a　hopeful　note　as　he　told　of　Wellington's　recent　capture　of　Madrid。　The　Spanish　staff　pressed　more　and　more　closely　round　him　as　he　spoke。　For　four　long　years；　ever　since　the　Spanish　people　had　declared　their　will；　ceasing　to　be　subservient　allies　and　being　the　most　bitter　enemies　of　the　Empire；　Bonaparte　had　seen　to　it　that　these　Spanish　troops　of　his；　three　thousand　miles　from　home；　had　received　not　a　single　word　which　might　tell　them　of　the　real　situation　in　Spain。　They　had　had　only　the　lying　Imperial　bulletins　on　which　to　base　their　vague　theories。　It　was　a　strange　experience　to　talk　to　these　exiles；　Hornblower　felt　a　curious　sensation；　as　if　there　were　an　actual　movement　inside　his　brain；　as　he　remembered　the　conditions　in　which　he　himself　had　learned　of　the　Spanish　change　of　front。　That　had　been　on　the　deck　of　the　Lydia；　in　the　uncharted　tropical　Pacific。　For　a　few　seconds　his　brain　was　a　battleground　of　memories。　The　blue　and　gold　of　the　Pacific；　the　heat　and　the　storms　and　the　fighting　there；　el　Supremo　and　the　Governor　of　Panama　…　he　had　to　tear　himself　away　from　them　to　bring　himself　back　to　this　parade　ground　on　the　shores　of　the　Baltic。
　An　orderly　officer　was　galloping　madly　towards　them；　the　dust　flying　from　beneath　the　ringing　hoofs　of　his　charger。　He　reined　up　before　Essen　with　a　perfunctory　salute；　the　words　of　his　message　pouring　from　his　lips　before　his　hand　had　left　his　forehead。　A　word　from　the　Governor　sent　him　flying　back　whence　he　came；　and　Essen　turned　to　Hornblower。
　〃The　enemy　is　massing　in　his　trenches；〃　he　said。　〃They　are　about　to　assault　Daugavgriva。〃
　Essen　began　blaring　orders　to　his　staff；　horses　wheeled　and　pranced　as　spurs　were　struck　into　their　sides　and　the　cruel　bits　dragged　their　heads　round。　In　a　moment　half　a　dozen　officers　were　galloping　in　different　directions　with　the　messages　flung　at　them。
　〃I'm　going　there；〃　said　Essen。
　〃I　shall　e　too；〃　said　Hornblower。
　Hornblower　found　it　hard　to　stay　in　the　saddle　as　his　excited　horse　swung　round　beside　the　Governor's；　he　had　to　resettle　himself；　his　hand　on　the　pommel；　and　regain　his　lost　stirrup　as　they　clattered　along。　Essen　turned　his　head　with　another　order　shouted　to　one　of　the　few　remaining　orderlies　acpanying　them；　and　then　spurred　his　horse　yet　again；　as　the　brute　sprang　forward　with　increased　speed　the　low　muttering　of　the　bombardment　increased　in　intensity。　They　clattered　through　the　streets　of　Riga；　and　the　timber　road…bed　of　the　boat　bridge　roared　under　their　horses'　hoofs。　The　sweat　was　running　from　Hornblower's　face　in　the　clear　autumn　sunshine；　his　sword　leaped　against　his　thigh；　and　time　and　again　his　cocked　hat　rode　precariously　up　his　forehead　and　was　only　saved　by　a　hurried　grab　at　the　last　moment。　Hornblower　was　conscious　of　the　swirling　water　of　the　Dwina　as　they　crossed　the　bridge；　and　then　on　his　right　land　as　they　galloped　along　the　quays。　The　roar　of　the　bombardment　grew　louder　and　louder；　and　then　suddenly　died　away。
　〃It　is　the　moment　of　the　assault！〃　bellowed　Essen；　bending　his　clumsy　body　forward　in　an　effort　to　get　more　speed　out　of　his　labouring　horse。
　Now　they　were　in　the　village　itself；　among　the　ruins　of　the　cottages；　and　here　they　met　broken　troops；　stumbling　back　pell…mell；　blue　uniforms　grey　with　dust；　with　cursing　officers　trying　to　rally　them；　and　beating　the　stupefied　men　with　the　flats　of　their　swords。　Essen's　voice　blared　out　again；　like　a　tuneless　trumpet；　he　was　waving　his　sword　over　his　head　and　spurring　forward　into　the　press。　At　the　sight　of　him　the　men　began　to　rally；　turning　back　to　face　the　en