csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第54章
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er junior lieutenants in a single room in the fortress of Ferrol。 And today the wind roared by him； shouting in its outrageous freedom。 He was facing into the wind； before him lay Corunna； its white houses resembling pieces of sugar scattered over the slopes。 Between him and Corunna was all the open space of Corunna Bay； flogged white by the wind； and on his left hand was the narrow entrance to Ferrol Bay。 On his right was the open Atlantic； from the foot of the low cliffs there the long wicked reef of the Dientes del Diablo…the Devil's Teeth…ran out to the northward； square across the path of the racing rollers driven by the wind。 At half…minute intervals the rollers would crash against the reef with an impact that shook even the solid headland on which Hornblower stood； and each roller dissolved into spray which was instantly whirled away by the wind to reveal again the long black tusks of the rocks。
Hornblower was not alone on the headland； a few yards away from him a Spanish militia artilleryman on lookout duty gazed with watery eyes through a telescope with which he continually swept the seaward horizon。 When at war with England it was necessary to be vigilant； a fleet might suddenly appear over the horizon； to land a little army to capture Ferrol； and burn the dockyard installations and the ships。 No hope of that to…day； thought Hornblower…there could be no landing of troops on that raging lee shore。
But all the same the sentry was undoubtedly staring very fixedly through his telescope right to windward； the sentry wiped his streaming eyes with his coat sleeve and stared again。 Hornblower peered in the same direction； unable to see what it was that had attracted the sentry's attention。 The sentry muttered something to himself； and then turned and ran clumsily down to the little stone guardhouse where sheltered the rest of the militia detachment stationed there to man the guns of the battery on the headland。 He returned with the sergeant of the guard； who took the telescope and peered out to windward in the direction pointed out by the sentry。 The two of them jabbered in their barbarous Gallego dialect； in two years of steady application Hornblower had mastered Galician as well as Castilian； but in that howling gale he could not intercept a word。 Then finally； just as the sergeant nodded in agreement； Hornblower saw with his naked eyes what they were discussing。 A pale grey square on the horizon above the grey sea…a ship's topsail。 She must be running before the gale making for the shelter of Corunna or Ferrol。
It was a rash thing for a ship to do； because it would be no easy matter for her to round…to into Corunna Bay and anchor； and it would be even harder for her to hit off the narrow entrance to the Ferrol inlet。 A cautious captain would claw out to sea and heave…to with a generous amount of sea room until the wind moderated。 These Spanish captains； said Hornblower to himself； with a shrug of his shoulders； but naturally they would always wish to make harbour as quickly as possible when the Royal Navy was sweeping the seas。 But the sergeant and the sentry were more excited than the appearance of a single ship would seem to justify。 Hornblower could contain himself no longer； and edged up to the chattering pair； mentally framing his sentences in the unfamiliar tongue。
'Please； gentleman；' he said； and then started again； shouting against the wind。 'Please； gentlemen； what is it that you see？'
The sergeant gave him a glance； and then； reaching some undiscoverable decision； handed over the telescope…Hornblower could hardly restrain himself from snatching it from his hands。 With the telescope to his eye he could see far better； he could see a ship…rigged vessel； under close…reefed topsails （and that was much more sail than it was wise to carry） hurtling wildly towards them。 And then a moment later he saw the other square of grey。 Another topsail。 Another ship。 The foretopmast was noticeably shorter than the maintopmast； and not only that； but the whole effect was familiar…she was a British ship of war； a British frigate； plunging along in hot pursuit of the other； which seemed most likely to be a Spanish privateer。 It was a close chase； it would be a very near thing； whether the Spaniard would reach the protection of the shore batteries before the frigate overhauled her。 He lowered the telescope to rest his eye； and instantly the sergeant snatched it from him。 He had been watching the Englishman's face； and Hornblower's expression had told him what he wanted to know。 Those two ships out there were behaving in such a way as to justify his rousing his officer and giving the alarm。 Sergeant and sentry went running back to the guardhouse； and in a few moments the artillerymen were pouring out to man the batteries on the verge of the cliff。 Soon enough came a mounted officer urging his horse up the path； a single glance through the telescope sufficed for him。 He went clattering down to the battery and the next moment the boom of a gun from there alerted the rest of the defences。 The flag of Spain rose up the flagstaff beside the battery； and Hornblower saw an answering flag rise up the flagstaff on San Anton where another battery guarded Corunna Bay。 All the guns of the harbour defences were now manned； and there would be no mercy shown to any English ship that came in range。
Pursuer and pursued had covered quite half the distance already towards Corunna。 They were hull…up over the horizon now to Hornblower on the headland； who could see them plunging madly over the grey sea…Hornblower momentarily expected to see them carry away their topmasts or their sails blow from the bolt…ropes。 The frigate was half a mile astern still； and she would have to be much closer than that to have any hope of hitting with her guns in that sea。 Here came the mandant and his staff； clattering on horseback up the path to see the climax of the drama； the mandant caught sight of Hornblower and doffed his hat with Spanish courtesy； while Hornblower； hatless； tried to bow with equal courtesy。 Hornblower walked over to him with an urgent request…he had to lay his hand on the Spaniard's saddlebow and shout up into his face to he understood。
'My parole expires in ten minutes； sir；' he yelled。 'May I please extend it？ May I please stay？'
'Yes； stay； se？or；' said the mandant generously。
Hornblower watched the chase； and at the same time observed closely the preparations for defence。 He had given his parole； but no part of the gentlemanly code prevented him from taking note of all he could see。 One day he might be free； and one day it might be useful to know all about the defences of Ferrol。 Everyone else of the large group on the headland was watching； the chase； and excitement rose higher as the ships came racing nearer。 The English captain was keeping a hundred yards or more to seaward of the Spaniard； but he was quite unable to overhaul her…in fact it seemed to Hornblower as if the Spaniard was actually increasing his lead。 But the English frigate being to seaward meant that escape in that direction was cut off。 Any turn away from the land would reduce the Spaniard's lead to a negligible distance。 If he did not get into Corunna Bay or Ferrol Inlet he was doomed。
Now he was level with the Corunna headland； and it was time to put his helm hard over and turn into the bay and hope that his anchors would hold in the lee of the headland。 But with a wind of that violence hurtling against cliffs and headlands strange things can happen。 A flaw of wind ing out of the bay must have caught her aback as she tried to round…to。 Hornblower saw her stagger； saw her heel as the backlash died away and the gale caught her again。 She was laid over almost on her beam…ends and as she righted herself Hornblower saw a momentary gap open up in her maintopsail。 It was momentary because from the time the gap appeared the life of the topsail was momentary； the gap appeared and at once the sail vanished； blown into ribbons as soon as its continuity was impaired。 With the loss of its balancing pressure the ship became unmanageable； the gale pressing against the foretopsail swung her round again before the wind like a weathervane。 If there had been time to spare t
