Take him to his cabin, said Buckland.
That was the definitive order. This was an important moment. The captain being incapacitated, it was the first lieutenants duty to take command, and those five words indicated that he had done so. In command, he could even give orders for dealing with the captain. But although this was a momentous step, it was one of routine; Buckland had assumed temporary command of the ship, during the captains absences, a score of times before. Routine had carried him through this
present crisis; the habits of thirty years of service in the navy, as midshipman and lieutenant, had enabled him to carry himself with his usual bearing towards his juniors, to act normally even though he did not know what dreadful fate awaited him at any moment in the immediate future.
And yet Bush, turning his eyes on him now that he had assumed command, was not too sure about the permanence of the effect of habit. Buckland was clearly a little shaken. That might be attributed to the natural reaction of an officer with responsibility thrust upon him in such startling circumstances. So an unsuspicious personsomeone without knowledge of the hidden factsmight conclude. But Bush, with fear in his heart, wondering and despairing about what the captain would do when he recovered consciousness, could see that Buckland shared his fear. Chainsa courtmartialthe hangmans rope; thoughts of these were unmanning Buckland. And the lives, certainly the whole futures, of the officers in the ship might depend on Bucklands actions.
Pardon, sir, said Hornblower.
Yes? said Buckland; and then with an effort, Yes, Mr. Hornblower?
Might I take the corporals statement in writing now, while the facts are clear in his memory?
Very good. Mr. Hornblower.
Thank you, sir, said Hornblower. There was nothing to be read in his expression at all, nothing except a respectful attention to duty. He turned to the corporal. Report to me in my berth after you have reposted the sentry.
The doctor and his party had already carried the captain away. Buckland was making no effort to move from the spot. It was as if he was paralysed.
Theres the matter of the captains other pistol, sir, said Hornblower, respectfully as ever.
Oh yes. Buckland looked round him.
Heres Wellard, sir.
Oh yes. Hell do.
Mr. Wellard, said Hornblower, go down with a lantern and see if you can find the other pistol. Bring it to the first lieutenant on the quarterdeck.
Aye aye, sir.
Wellard had recovered from most of his agitation; he had not taken his eyes from Hornblower for some time. Now he picked up the lantern and went down the ladder with it. What Hornblower had said about the quarterdeck penetrated into Bucklands mind, and he began to move off with the others following him. On the lower gundeck Captain Whiting saluted him.
Any orders, sir?
No doubt the word that the captain was incapacitated and that Buckland was in command had sped through the ship like wildfire. It took Bucklands numbed brain a second or two to function.
No, captain, he said at length; and then, Dismiss your men.
When they reached the quarterdeck the trade wind was still blowing briskly from over the starboard quarter, and the Renown was soaring along over the magic sea. Over their heads the great pyramids of sails were reaching upupup towards the uncounted stars; with the easy motion of the ship the mastheads were sweeping out great circles against the sky. On the port quarter a halfmoon had just lifted itself out of the sea and hung, miraculously, above the horizon, sending a long glittering trail of silver towards the ship. The dark figures of the men on deck stood out plainly against the whitened planks.
Smith was officer of the watch. He came eagerly up to them as they came up the companionway. For the last hour and more he had been pacing about in a fever, hearing the noise and bustle down below, hearing the rumours which had coursed through the ship, and yet unable to leave his post to find out what was really going on.
Whats happened, sir? he asked.
Smith had not been in the secret of the meeting of the other lieutenants. He had been less victimised by the captain, too. But he could not help being aware of the prevailing discontent; he must know that the captain was insane. Yet Buckland was not prepared for this question. He had not thought about it and had no particular reply. In the end it was Hornblower who answered.
The captain fell down the hold, he said; his tone was even and with no particular stress. Theyve just carried him to his cabin unconscious.
But how in Gods name did he come to fall down the hold? asked the bewildered Smith.
He was looking for mutineers, said Hornblower, in that same even tone.
I see, said Smith. But
There he checked himself. That even tone of Hornblowers had warned him that this was a delicate subject; if he pursued it the question of the captains sanity would arise, and he would be committed to an opinion on it. He did not want to ask any more questions in that case.