Why are your men turning out, Captain Whiting?
Captains orders.
Then you can form them up. But I do not believe there is any emergency.
Only then did Hornblowers glance comprehend Bush.
Oh, Mr. Bush. Will you take charge, sir, now that youre here? Ive sent for the first lieutenant. The captains hurtbadly hurt, Im afraid, sir.
But whats happened? asked Bush.
The captains fallen down the hatchway, sir, said Hornblower.
In the dim light Hornblowers eyes stared straight into Bushs, but Bush could read no message in them. This after part of the lower gundeck was crowded now, and Hornblowers definite statement, the first that had been made, raised a buzz of excitement. It was the sort of undisciplined noise that most easily roused Bushs wrath, and, perhaps fortunately, it brought a natural reaction from him.
Silence, there! he roared. Get about your business.
When Bush glowered round at the excited crowd it fell silent.
With your permission Ill go below again, sir, said Hornblower. I must see after the captain.
Very well, Mr. Hornblower, said Bush; the stereotyped phrase had been uttered so often before that it escaped sounding stilted.
Come with me, Mr. Wellard, said Hornblower, and turned away.
Several new arrivals made their appearance as he did soBuckland, his face white and strained, Roberts at his shoulder, Clive in his shirt and trousers walking sleepily from ho cabin. All of them started a little at the sight of the marines forming line on the cumbered deck, their musket barrels glinting in the feeble light of the lanterns.
Would you come at once, sir? asked Hornblower, turning back at sight of Buckland.
Ill come, said Buckland.
What in the name of God is going on? asked Clive.
The captains hurt, said Hornblower curtly. Come at once. Youll need a light.
The captain? Clive blinked himself wider awake. Where is he? Give me that lantern, you. Where are my mates? You there, run and rouse my mates. They sling their hammocks in the sick bay.
So it was a procession of half a dozen that carried their lanterns down the ladderthe four lieutenants, Clive and Wellard. While waiting at the head of the ladder
Bush stole a side glance at Buckland; his face was working with anxiety. He would infinitely rather have been walking a shottorn deck with grape flying round him. He rolled an inquiring eye at Bush, but with Clive within earshot Bush dared say no wordhe knew no more than Buckland did, for that matter. There was no knowing what was awaiting them at the foot of the ladderarrest, ruin, disgrace, perhaps death.
The faint light of a lantern revealed the scarlet tunic and white crossbelts of a marine, standing by the hatchway. He wore the chevrons of a corporal.
Anything to report? demanded Hornblower.
No, sir. Nothink, sir.
Captains down there unconscious. There are two marines guarding him, said Hornblower to Clive, pointing down the hatchway, and Clive swung his bulk painfully on to the ladder and descended.
Now, corporal, said Hornblower, tell the first lieutenant all you know about this.
The corporal stood stiffly to attention. With no fewer than four lieutenants eyeing him he was nervous, and he probably had a gloomy feeling based on his experience of the service that when there was trouble among the higher ranks it was likely to go ill with a mere corporal who was unfortunate enough to be involved, however innocently. He stood rigid, trying not to meet anybodys eye.
Speak up, man, said Buckland, testily. He was nervous as well, but that was understandable in a first lieutenant whose captain had just met with a serious accident.
I was corporal of the guard, sir. At two bells I relieved the sentry at the captains door.
Yes?
Ananthen I went to sleep again.
Damn it, said Roberts. Make your report.
I was woke up, sir, went on the corporal, by one of the gentlemen. Gunner, I think e is.
Mr. Hobbs?
That may be is name, sir. E said, Capns orders, and guard turn out. So I turns out the guard, sir, an theres the capn with Wade, the sentry Id posted. E ad pistols in is ands, sir.
WhoWade?
No, sir, the capn, sir.
What was his manner like? demanded Hornblower.
Well, sir The corporal did not want to offer any criticism of a captain, not even to a lieutenant.
Belay that, then. Carry on.
Capn says, sir, e says e says, sir, Follow me; an then e says to the gennelman, e says, Do your duty, Mr. Hobbs. So Mr. Hobbs, e goes one way, sir, and we comes with the captain down ere, sir. Theres mutiny brewing, says the capn, black bloody mutiny. Weve got to catch the mutineers. Catch em redanded, says the capn.
The surgeons head appeared in the hatchway.
Give me another of those lanterns, he said.
Hows the captain? demanded Buckland.
Concussion and some fractures, I would say.
Badly hurt?
No knowing yet. Where are my mates? Ah, there you are, Coleman. Splints and bandages, man, as quick as you can get em. And a carryingplank and a canvas and lines. Run, man! You, Pierce, come on down and help me.
So the two surgeons mates had hardly made their appearance than they were hurried away.