Shall I warp her down the bay, sir?
Buckland had been standing by the binnacle staring vacantly at the fort. It was not a question of physical cowardicethat was obviousbut the shock of defeat and the contemplation of the future had made the man temporarily incapable of logical thought. But Bushs question prodded him back into dealing with the current situation.
Yes, said Buckland, and Bush turned away, happy to have something useful to do which he well knew how to do.
Another anchor had to be cockbilled at the port bow, another cable roused out. A hail to James, in command of the boats since Roberts death, told him of the new evolution and called him under the bows for the anchor to be lowered down to the launchthe trickiest part of the whole business. Then the launchs crew bent to their oars and towed ahead, their boat crank with the ponderous weight that it bore dangling aft and with the cable paying out astern of it. Yard by yard, to the monotonous turning of the capstan, the Renown crept up to her first anchor, and when that cable was straight up and down the flutter of a signal warned James, now far ahead in the launch, to drop the anchor his boat carried and return for the stream anchor which was about to be hauled up. The stern cable, now of no more use, had to be unhitched and got in, the effort of the capstan transferred from one cable to the other, while the two cutters were given lines by which they could contribute their tiny effort to the general result, towing the ponderous ship and giving her the smallest conceivable amount of motion which yet was valuable when it was a matter of such urgency to withdraw the ship out of range.
Down below Hornblower was at work dragging forward the guns he had previously dragged aft; the rumble and squeal of the trucks over the planking was audible through the ship over the monotonous clanking of the capstan. Overhead blazed the pitiless sun, softening the pitch in the seams, while yard after painful yard, cables length after cables length, the ship crept on down the bay out of range of the redhot shot, over the glittering still water; down the bay of Samaná until at last they were out of range and could pause while the men drank a niggardly halfpint of warm odorous water before turning back to their labours. To bury the dead, to repair the damages, and to digest the realization of defeat. Maybe to wonder if the captains malign influence still persisted, mad and helpless though he was.
Chapter VIII
Renownoff his heavy uniform coat and unhook his stock, but it never crossed his mind that he should do so. Bodily discomfort was something that one bore without complaint in a hard world; habit and pride both helped.
Then you think we should bear up for Jamaica? asked Buckland.
I wouldnt go as far as to advise it, sir, replied Bush, cautiously.
The responsibility was Bucklands, entirely Bucklands, by the law of the navy, and Bush was a little irked at Bucklands trying to share it.
But what else can we do? asked Buckland. What do you suggest?
Bush remembered the plan of campaign Hornblower had sketched out to him, but he did not put it instantly forward; he had not weighed it sufficiently in his mindhe did not even know if he thought it practicable. Instead he temporised.
If we head for Jamaica itll be with our tail between our legs, sir, he said.
That s perfectly true, agreed Buckland, with a helpless gesture. Theres the captain.
Yes, said Bush. Theres the captain.
If the Renown were to report to the admiral at Kingston with a resounding success to her record there might not be too diligent an inquiry into past events; but if she came limping in, defeated, battered, it would be far more likely that inquiry might be made into the reasons why her captain had been put under restraint, why Buckland had read the secret orders, why he had taken upon himself the responsibility of making the attack upon Samaná.
It was young Hornblower who said the same thing to me, complained Buckland pettishly. I wish Id never listened to him.
What did you ask him, sir? asked Bush.
Oh, I cant say that I asked him anything, replied Buckland, pettishly again. We were yarning together on the quarterdeck one evening. It was his watch.
I remember, sir, prompted Bush.
We talked. The infernal little whippersnapper said just what you were sayingI dont remember how it started. But then it was a question of going to Antigua. Hornblower said that it would be better if we had the chance to achieve something before we faced an inquiry about the captain. He said it was my opportunity. So it was, I suppose. My great chance. But with Hornblower talking youd think I was going to be posted captain tomorrow. And now
Bucklands gesture indicated how much chance he thought he had of ever being posted captain now.
Bush thought about the report Buckland would have to make: nine killed and twenty wounded; the Renown s attack ignominiously beaten off; Samaná Bay as safe a refuge for privateers as ever. He was glad he was not Buckland, but at the same time he realised that there was grave danger of his being tarred with the same brush. He was first lieutenant now, he was one of the officers who had acquiesced, if nothing more, in the displacement of Sawyer from command, and it would take a victory to invest him with any virtue at all in the eyes of his superiors.