csf.thecommodore-第36部分
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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
at the quarterdeck rail looked down at the assembly。 British seamen on parade could not possibly rival the Prussian Guard in exactitude and uniformity； and to drill them into any approach to it would be likely to expel from them the very qualities that made them the valuable men they were； but any thinking man； looking down the lines of intelligent； self…reliant faces； could not fail to be impressed。
〃Man the yards！〃 ordered Bush。
Another squeal from the pipes； and the topmen poured the rigging in an orderly upward torrent； without a break in their speed as they hung back…downward from the futtock…shrouds； going hand…over…hand up the topgallant…shrouds like the trained gymnasts they were； running out along the yards like tight…rope walkers； each man taking up his position on the foot…ropes the moment he reached it。
Various emotions warred in Hornblower's breast as he watched。 There was a momentary feeling of resentment that these men of his； the cream of the service； should be put through their paces like performing bears to gratify an Oriental monarch。 Yet as the evolution was pleted； when each man reached his place； as though by some magic a gust of wind had whirled a heap of dead leaves into the air and left them suspended in a pattern of exquisite symmetry； his resentment was swamped by artistic satisfaction。 He hoped that Alexander； looking on； would have the sense to realize that these men could be relied upon to perform the same feat in any conditions； in a black night with a howling gale blowing； on a raging sea with the bowsprit stabbing at the invisible sky and the yard…arms dipping towards the invisible sea。
The boatswain； looking with one eye over the starboard rail； gave an infinitesimal jerk of his head。 A little procession of officers was ing up the acmodation ladder。 The boatswain's mates put their calls to their lips。 The sergeant…drummer of marines contrived to snap his fingers beside the seams of his trousers as he stood at attention； and the six side…drums roared out in a bold ruffle。
〃Present arms！〃 bellowed Captain Norman； and the fifty muskets with fixed bayonets of the marines left the fifty scarlet shoulders and came down vertically in front of fifty rows of gleaming buttons； while the swords of the three marine officers swept in the graceful arc of the military salute。
Alexander； followed by two aides…de…camp； came slowly on board side by side with the Minister of Marine to whom nominally all this ceremony was dedicated。 He put his hand to his hat…brim while the pipes died away in a final squeal； the drums pleted their fourth ruffle； the first gun of the salute banged out forward； and the fifes and drums of the marine band burst into 'Heart of Oak'。 Hornblower walked forward and saluted。
〃Good morning； modore；〃 said the Minister of Marine。 〃Permit me to present you to the te du Nord。〃
Hornblower saluted again； his face as expressionless as he could manage it even while he fought down a smile at Alexander's queer liking to be incognito。
〃Good morning； modore；〃 said Alexander； with a shock Hornblower realized that he was speaking English of a sort。 〃I hope our little visit does not dismode you too much？〃
〃Not in any way to pare with the honour done to the ship； sir；〃 said Hornblower； wondering as he said it whether 'sir' was the right way to address a Tsar incognito。 Apparently it sufficed。
〃You may present your officers；〃 said Alexander。
Hornblower brought them up one by one； and they saluted and bowed with the uneasy stiffness to be expected of junior officers in the presence of a Tsar of all the Russias； and an incognito one at that。
〃I think you can give orders to prepare the ship for watering now； Captain；〃 said Hornblower to Bush； and then he turned back to Alexander。 〃Would you care to see more of the ship； sir？〃
〃I would indeed；〃 said Alexander。
He lingered on the quarter…deck to watch the preparations begin。 The topmen came pouring down from aloft； Alexander blinked in the sunlight with admiration as half a dozen hands came sliding down the mizzen…backstays and the mizzen…topsail halliards to land on their feet on the quarter…deck beside him。 Under the petty officers' urging the men ran hither and thither about their tasks； it was a scene of activity like a disturbed ants' nest； but far more orderly and purposeful。 The hatches were whipped off； the pumps made ready； tack rigged at the yard…arms； fenders dropped over the port side。 Alexander stared at the sight of a half…pany of marines tailing on to a fall and walking away with it in flat…footed rhythm。
〃Soldiers and sailors too； sir；〃 explained Hornblower； deprecatingly； as he led the way below。
Alexander was a very tall man； an inch or two taller than Hornblower； and he bent himself nearly double as he crouched under the low deck beams below decks and peered about with short…sighted eyes。 Hornblower took him forward along the lower gun…deck； where the head clearance was no more than five feet six inches； he showed him the midshipmen's berth； and the warrant officers' mess； all the unlovely details of the life of a sailor。 He called away a group of seamen； had them unstow and sling their hammocks； and get into them； so that Alexander could see more clearly what twenty…two inches per man really meant； and he gave a graphic description of a whole deck full of hammocks swinging together in a storm； with the men packed in a solid mass。 The grins of the men who made the demonstration were proof enough to Alexander not merely of the truth of what Hornblower was saying； but also of the high spirits of the men； far different from the patient uneducated peasants whom he was accustomed to see in the ranks of his army。
They peered down through the hatchway to see the working party down there breaking out the water casks and preparing the tiers for refilling； and a whiff of the stench of the orlop came up to them … bilge…water and cheese and humanity intermingled。
〃You are an officer of long service； I believe； modore？〃 said Alexander。
〃Nineteen years； sir；〃 said Hornblower。
〃And how much of that time have you spent at sea？〃
〃Sixteen years； sir。 For nine months I was a prisoner in Spain； and for six months in France。〃
〃I know of your escape from France。 You went through much peril to return to this life。〃
Alexander's handsome forehead was wrinkled as he puzzled over the fact that a man could spend sixteen years of his life living in these conditions and still be sane and healthy。
〃How long have you held your present rank？〃
〃As modore； sir； only two months。 But I have nine years' seniority as Captain。〃
〃And before that？〃
〃I was six years lieutenant； and four years midshipman。〃
〃Four years？ You lived four years in a place like the midshipmen's berth you showed me？〃
〃Not quite as fortable as that； sir。 I was in a frigate nearly all the time； under Sir Edward Pellew。 A battleship is not quite as crowded as a frigate； sir。〃
Hornblower； watching Alexander closely； could see that he was impressed； and he could guess at the line of thought Alexander was following。 The Tsar was not so much struck by the miserable conditions of life on board ship … if he knew anything about his people at all he must be aware that nearly all of them lived in conditions a good deal worse … as by the fact that those conditions could train an officer of ability。
〃I suppose it is necessary；〃 sighed Alexander； revealing for a moment the humane and emotional side of his nature which rumour had long hinted that he possessed。
By the time they came on deck again the water…boat was already alongside。 Some of the Nonsuch's hands were down on her decks； mingling with the Russians to help with the work。 Working parties were swinging away lustily at the pumps； and the long snake…like canvas hoses pulsated at each stroke。 Forward they were swaying up bundles of firewood； the men chanting as they hauled。
〃Thanks to your generosity； sir；〃 said Hornblower； 〃we will be able to keep the sea for four months if necessary without entering port。〃
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
