Theres the point of interception, said Hornblower. Now we can check against the dead reckoning.
Even Bush could follow the simple steps necessary to plot the ships course by dead reckoning since noon yesterday. The pencil in the steady fingers made a tiny x on the chart.
Were still being set to the suthard, you see, said Hornblower. Were not far enough east yet for the Gulf Stream to set us to the norard.
Didnt you say youd never navigated these waters before? asked Bush.
Yes.
Then how? Oh, I suppose youve been studying.
To Bush it was as strange that a man should read up beforehand and be prepared for conditions hitherto unknown as it was strange to Hornblower that a man should find trouble in mathematics.
At any rate, there we are, said Hornblower, tapping the chart with the pencil.
Yes, said Bush.
They both looked at the chart with the same thought in mind.
What dye think Number Onell do? asked Bush.
Buckland might be legally in command of the ship, but it was too early yet to speak of him as the captainthe capain was still that weeping figure swathed in canvas on the cot in the cabin.
Cant tell, answered Hornblower, but he makes up his mind now or never. We lose ground to looard every day from now, you see.
Whatd you do? Bush was curious about this junior lieutenant who had shown himself ready of resources and so guarded in speech.
Id read those orders, said Hornblower instantly. Id rather be in trouble for having done something than for not having done anything.
I wonder, said Bush. On the other hand a definite action could be made the subject of a courtmartial charge far more easily than the omission to do something; Bush felt this, but he had not the facility with words to express it easily.
Those orders may detach us on independent service,
went on Hornblower. God, what a chance for Buckland!
Yes, said Bush.
The eagerness in Hornblowers expression was obvious. If ever a man yearned for an independent command and the consequent opportunity to distinguish himself it was Hornblower. Bush wondered faintly if he himself was as anxious to have the responsibility of the command of a ship of the line in troubled waters. He looked at Hornblower with an interest which he knew to be constantly increasing. Hornblower was a man always ready to adopt the bold course, a man who infinitely preferred action to inaction; widely read in his profession and yet a practical seaman, as Bush had already had plenty of opportunity to observe. A student, yet a man of action; a fiery spirit and yet discreetBush remembered how tactfully he had acted during the crisis following the captains injury and how dexterously he had handled Buckland.
Andandwhat was the truth about that injury to the captain? Bush darted a more searching glance than ever at Hornblower as he followed up that train of thought. Bushs mind did not consciously frame the words motive and opportunity to itselfit was not that type of mindbut it felt its way along an obscure path of reasoning which might well have been signposted with those words. He wanted to ask again the question he had asked once before, but to do so would not merely invite but would merit a rebuff. Hornblower was established in a strong position and Bush could be sure that he would never abandon it through indiscretion or impatience. Bush looked at the lean eager face, at the long fingers drumming on the chart. It was not right or fit or proper that he should feel any admiration or even respect for Hornblower, who was not merely his junior in age by a couple of yearsthat did not matterbut was his junior as a lieutenant. The dates on their respective commissions really did matter; a junior was someone for whom it should be impossible to feel respect by the traditions of the service. Anything else would be unnatural, might even savour of the equalitarian French ideas which they were engaged in fighting. The thought of himself as infected with Red Revolutionary notions made Bush actually uneasy, and yet as he stirred uncomfortably in his chair he could not wholly discard those notions.
Ill put these things away, said Hornblower, rising from his chair. Im exercising my lowerdeck guns crews after the hands have had their dinner. And I have the first dogwatch after that.
Chapter VI
RenownThe guns crews wiped their steaming foreheads and flung jestsjagged and unpolished like the flints in the soil from which they had sprungback at their tormentors. It was exhilarating to an officer to see the high spirits of the men and to be aware of the good temper that prevailed; in the three days that had elapsed since the change in command the whole atmosphere of the ship had improved. Suspicion and fear had vanished; after a brief sulkiness the hands had found that exercise and regular work were stimulating and satisfactory.
Hornblower came aft, the sweat running down him, and touched his hat to Roberts, who was officer of the watch, where he stood chatting with Bush at the break of the poop. It was an unusual request that Hornblower made, and Roberts and Bush stared at him with surprise.