Carry on, corporal, said Buckland.
I dunno what I said, sir.
The captain brought you down here.
Yessir. E ad is pistols in is ands, sir, like I said, sir. E sent one file forard. Stop every boltole, e says; an e says, You, corporal, take these two men down an search. Ee was yellin, like. E ad is pistols in is ands.
The corporal looked anxiously at Buckland as he spoke.
Thats all right, corporal, said Buckland. Just tell the truth.
The knowledge that the captain was unconscious and perhaps badly hurt had reassured him, just as it had reassured Bush.
So I took the other file down the ladder, sir, said the corporal. I went first with the lantern, seein as ow I didnt ave no musket with me. We got down to the foot of the ladder in among those cases down there, sir. The capn, e was yellin down the hatchway. Urry, he says. Urry. Dont let em escape. Urry. So we started climbin forard over the stores, sir.
The corporal hesitated as he approached the climax of his story. He might possibly have been seeking a crude dramatic effect, but more likely he was still afraid of being entangled in circumstances that might damage him despite his innocence.
What happened then? demanded Buckland.
Well, sir
Coleman reappeared at this moment, encumbered with various gear, including a light sixfoot plank he had been carrying on his shoulder. He looked to Buckland for permission to carry on, received a nod, laid the plank on the deck along with the canvas and lines, and disappeared with the rest down the ladder.
Well? said
Buckland to the corporal.
I dunno what appened, sir.
Tell us what you know.
I eard a yell, sir. An a crash. I adnt ardly gone ten yards, sir. So I came back with the lantern.
What did you find?
It was the capn, sir. Layin there at the foot of the ladder. Like e was dead, sir. Ed fallen down the archway, sir.
What did you do?
I tried to turn im over, sir. Is face was all bloodylike. E was stunned, sir. I thought e might be dead but I could feel is eart.
Yes?
I didnt know what I ought to do, sir. I didnt know nothink about this ere meeting, sir.
But what did you do, in the end?
I left my two men with the capn, sir, an I come up to give the alarm. I didnt know who to trust, sir.
There was irony in this situationthe corporal frightened lest he should be taken to task about a petty question as to whether he should have sent a messenger or come himself, while the four lieutenants eyeing him were in danger of hanging.
Well?
I saw Mr. Hornblower, sir. The relief in the corporals voice echoed the relief he must have felt at finding someone to take over his enormous responsibility. E was with young Mr. Wellard, I think is name is. Mr. Hornblower, e told me to stand guard ere, sir, after I told im about the capn.
It sounds as if you did right, corporal, said Buckland, judicially.
Thank ee, sir. Thank ee, sir.
Coleman came climbing up the ladder, and with another glance at Buckland for permission passed the gear he had left down to someone else under the hatchway. Then he descended again. Bush was looking at the corporal, who, now his tale was told, was selfconsciously awkward again under the concentrated gaze of four lieutenants.
Now, corporal, said Hornblower, speaking unexpectedly and with deliberation. You have no idea how the captain came to fall down the hatchway?
No, sir. Indeed I havent, sir.
Hornblower shot one single glance at his colleagues, one and no more. The corporals words and Hornblowers glance were vastly reassuring.
He was excited, you say? Come on, man, speak up.
Well, yessir. The corporal remembered his earlier unguarded statement, and then in a sudden flood of loquacity he went on: E was yellin after us down the hatchway, sir. I expect e was leanin over. E must ave been leanin when the ship pitched, sir. E could catch is foot on the coamin and fall ead first, sir.
Thats what must have happened, said Hornblower.
Clive came climbing up the ladder and stepped stiffly over the coaming.
Im going to sway him up now, he said. He looked at the four lieutenants and then put his hand in the bosom of his shirt and took out a pistol. This was lying at the captains side.
Ill take charge of that, said Buckland.
There ought to be another one down there, judging by what weve just heard, said Roberts, speaking for the first time. He spoke overloudly, too; excitement had worked on him, and his manner might appear suspicious to anyone with anything to suspect. Bush felt a twinge of annoyance and fear.
Ill have em look for it after weve got the captain up, said Clive. He leaned over the hatchway and called down, Come on up.
Coleman appeared first, climbing the ladder with a pair of lines in his hand, and after him a marine, clinging awkwardly to the ladder with one arm while the other supported a burden below him.
Handsomely, handsomely, now, said Clive.
Coleman and the marine, emerging, drew the end of the plank up after them; swathed mummylike in the canvas and bound to the plank was the body of the captain. That was the best way in which to mount ladders carrying a man with broken bones. Pierce, the other surgeons mate, came climbing up next, holding the foot of the plank steady. The lieutenants clustered round to give a hand as the plank was hoisted over the coaming. In the light of the lanterns Bush could see the captains face above the canvas. It was still and expressionless, what there was to be seen of it, for a white bandage concealed one eye and the nose. One temple was still stained with the traces of blood which the doctor had not entirely wiped away.