Six bells, sir, reported the quartermaster to him.
Very good, said Smith, automatically.
I must take the marine corporals deposition, sir, said Hornblower. I come on watch at eight bells.
If Buckland were in command he could put an end to the ridiculous order that Hornblower should stand watch and watch, and that Bush and Roberts should report to him hourly. There was a moments awkward pause. No one knew how long; the captain would remain unconscious nor in what condition he would regain consciousness. Wellard came running up to the quarterdeck.
Heres the other pistol, sir, he said, handing it to Buckland, who took it, at the same time drawing its fellow from his pocket; he stood rather helplessly with them in his hands.
Shall I relieve you of those, sir? asked Hornblower, taking them. And Wellard might be of help to me with the marines deposition. Can I take him with me, sir?
Yes, said Buckland.
Hornblower turned to go below, followed by Wellard.
Oh, Mr. Hornblower said Buckland.
Sir?
Nothing, said Buckland, the inflection in his voice revealing the indecision under which he laboured.
Pardon, sir, but I should take some rest if I were you, said Hornblower, standing at the head of the companionway. Youve had a tiring night.
Bush was in agreement with Hornblower; not that he cared at all whether Buckland had had a tiring night or not, but because if Buckland were to retire to his cabin there would be no chance of his betraying himselfand his associatesby an unguarded speech. Then it dawned upon Bush that this was just what Hornblower had in mind. And at the same time he was aware of regret at Hornblowers leaving them, and knew that Buckland felt the same regret. Hornblower was levelheaded, thinking fast whatever danger menaced him. It was his example which had given a natural appearance to the behaviour of all of them since the alarm down below. Perhaps Hornblower had a secret unshared with them; perhaps he knew more than they did about how the captain came to fall down the holdBush was puzzled and anxious about thatbut if such was the case Hornblower had given no sign of it.
When in Gods name is that damned doctor going to report? said Buckland, to no one in particular.
Why dont you turn in, sir, until he does? said Bush.
I will. Buckland hesitated before he went on speaking. You gentlemen had best continue to report to me every hour as the captain ordered.
Aye aye, sir, said Bush and Roberts.
That meant, as Bush realised, that Buckland would take no chances; the captain must hear, when he should recover consciousness, that his orders had been carried out. Bush was anxiousdesperateas he went below to try to snatch half an hours rest before he would next have to report. He could not hope to sleep. Through the slight partition that divided his cabin from the next he could hear a drone of voices as Hornblower took down the marine corporals statement in writing.
Chapter V
Through the scuttles in the side of the ship came two long shafts of sunlight, illuminating the crowded little place, and swinging back and forward across the wardroom with the easy motion of the ship; the fresh, delightful air of the northeast trades came in through the hookedopen door. The coffee was hot; the biscuit, only three weeks on board, could not have been more than a month or two in store before that, because it had hardly any weevils in it. The wardroom cook had intelligently taken advantage of the good weather to fry the remains of last nights salt pork with some of the ships dwindling store of onions. A breakfast of fried slivers of salt pork with onions, hot coffee and good biscuit, fresh air and sunshine and fair weather; the wardroom should have been a cheerful place. Instead there was brooding anxiety, apprehension, tense uneasiness. Bush looked across the table at Hornblower, drawn and pale and weary; there were many things Bush wanted to say to him but they had to remain unsaid, at least at present, while the shadow of the captains madness darkened the sunlit ship.
Buckland came walking into the wardroom with the surgeon following him, and everyone looked up questioninglypractically everyone stood up to hear the news.
Hes conscious, said Buckland, and looked round at Clive for him to elaborate on that statement.
Weak, said Clive.
Bush looked round at Hornblower,
hoping that he would ask the questions that Bush wanted asked. Hornblowers face was set in a mask without expression. His glance was fixed penetratingly on Clive, but he did not open his mouth. It was Lomax, the purser, who asked the question in the end.
Is he sensible?
Well said Clive, glancing sidelong at Buckland. Clearly the last thing Clive wanted to do was to commit himself definitely regarding the captains sanity. Hes too weak at present to be sensible.
Lomax, fortunately, was inquisitive enough and bullheaded enough not to be deterred by Clives reluctance.
What about this concussion? he asked. Whats it done to him?
The skull is intact, said Clive. There are extensive scalp lacerations. The nose is broken. The claviclethats the collarboneand a couple of ribs. He must have fallen headfirst down the hatchway, as might be expected if he tripped over the roaming.