Buckland was in a state of actual alarm at the thought of reporting two fruitless repulses.
I can see that, said Bush, depressed.
If we agree, said Buckland, warming to his subject, the blacksll take over all this end of the island. This bay cant be used by privateers then. The blacksll have no ships, and couldnt man em if they had. Well have executed our orders. Dont you agree, Mr. Hornblower?
Bush transferred his gaze. Hornblower had looked weary in the morning, and he had had almost no rest during the day. His face was drawn and his eyes were rimmed with red.
We might still be able toto put the thumbscrews on em, sir, he said.
How?
Itd be risky to take Renown into the upper end of the bay. But we might get at em from the peninsula here, all the same, sir, if youd give the orders.
God bless my soul! said Bush, the exclamation jerked out of him.
What orders? asked Buckland.
If we could mount a gun on the upper end of the peninsula wed have the far end of the bay under fire, sir. We wouldnt need hot shotwed have all day to knock em to pieces however much they shifted their anchorage.
So we would, by George, said Buckland. There was animation in his face. Could you get one of these guns along there?
Ive been thinking about it, sir, an Im afraid we couldnt. Not quickly, at least. Twentyfourpounders. Two an a half tons each. Garrison carriages. Weve no horses. We couldnt move em with a hundred men over those gullies, four miles or more.
Then what the hells the use of talking about it? demanded Buckland.
We dont have to drag a gun from here, sir, said Hornblower. We could use one from the ship. One of those long ninepounders weve got mounted as bow chasers. Those long guns have a range pretty nearly as good as these twenty-fours, sir.
But how do we get it there?
Bush had a glimmering of the answer even before Hornblower replied.
Send it round in the launch, sir, with tackle and cables, near to where we landed yesterday. The cliffs steep there. And there are big trees to attach the cables to. We could sway the gun up easy enough. Those ninepounders only weigh a ton.
I know that, said Buckland, sharply.
It was one thing to make unexpected suggestions, but it was quite another to tell a veteran officer facts with which he was well acquainted.
Yes, of course, sir. But with a ninepounder at the top of the cliff it wouldnt be so difficult to move it across the neck of land until we had the upper bay under our fire. We wouldnt have to cross any gullies. Half a mileuphill, but not too steep, sirand it would be done.
And what dyou think would happen then?
Wed have those ships under fire, sir. Only a ninepounder, I know, but theyre not built to take punishment. We could batter em into wrecks in twelve hours steady fire. Less than that, perhaps. An I suppose we could heat the shot if we wanted to, but we wouldnt have to. All wed have to do would be to open fire, I think, sir.
Why?
The Dons wouldnt risk those ships, sir. Ortega spoke very big about making an alliance with the blacks, but that was only talking big, sir. Give the blacks a chance an theyll cut every white throat they can. An I dont blame emexcuse me, sir.
Well?
Those ships are the Dons only way of escape. If they see theyre going to be destroyed theyll be frightened. It would
mean surrendering to the blacksthat or being killed to the last man. And woman, sir. Theyd rather surrender to us.
So they would, by jingo, said Bush.
Theyd climb down, dye think?
YesI mean I think so, sir. You could name your own terms, then. Unconditional surrender for the soldiers.
Its what we said at the start, said Bush. Theyd rather surrender to us than to the blacks, if they have to.
You could allow some conditions to salve their pride, sir, said Hornblower. Agree that the women are to be conveyed to Cuba or Puerto Rico if they wish. But nothing important. Those ships would be our prizes, sir.
Prizes, by George! said Buckland.
Prizes meant prize money, and as commanding officer he would have the lions share of it. Not only thatand perhaps the money was the smallest considerationbut prizes escorted triumphantly into port were much more impressive than ships sunk out of sight of the eyes of authority. And unconditional surrender had a ring of finality about it, proof that the victory gained could not be more complete.
What do you say, Mr. Bush? asked Buckland.
I think it might be worth trying, sir, said Bush.
He was fatalistic now about Hornblower. Exasperation over his activity and ingenuity had died of surfeit. There was something of resignation about Bushs attitude, but there was something of admiration too. Bush was a generous soul, and there was not a mean motive in him. Hornblowers careful handling of his superior had not been lost on him, and Bush was decently envious of the tact that had been necessary. Bush realistically admitted to himself that even though he had fretted at the prospect of agreeing to Ortegas terms he had not been able to think of a way to modify them, while Hornblower had. Hornblower was a very brilliant young officer, Bush decided; he himself made no presence at brilliance, and now he had taken the last step and had overcome his suspicions of brilliance. He made himself abandon his caution and commit himself to a definite opinion.