I think Mr. Hornblower deserves every credit, he said.
Of course, said Bucklandbut the slight hint of surprise in his voice seemed to indicate that he did not really believe it; and he changed the subject without pursuing it further. Well start tomorrowIll get both launches out as soon as the handsve had breakfast. By noonnow whats the matter with you, Mr. Hornblower?
Well, sir
Come on. Out with it.
Ortega comes back tomorrow morning to hear our terms again, sir. I suppose hell get up at dawn or not long after. Hell have a bite of breakfast. Then hell have a few words with Villanueva. Then hell row across the bay. He might be here at eight bells. Later than that, probably, a little
Who cares when Ortega has his breakfast? Whats all this rigmarole for?
Ortega gets here at two bells in the forenoon. If he finds we havent wasted a minute; if I can tell him that youve rejected his terms absolutely, sir, and not only that, if we can show him the gun mounted, and say well open fire in an hour if they dont surrender without conditions, hell be much more impressed.
Thats true, sir, said Bush.
Otherwise it wont be so easy, sir. Youll either have to temporise again while the guns being got into position, or youll have to use threats. Ill have to say to him if you dont agree, then well start hoisting a gun up. In either case youll be allowing him time, sir. He might think of some other way out of it. The weather might turn dirtythere might even be a hurricane get up. But if hes sure well stand no nonsense, sir
Thats the way to treat em, said Bush.
But even if we start at dawn said Buckland, and having progressed so far in his speech he realised the alternative. You mean we can get to work now?
We have all night before us, sir. You could have the launches hoisted out and the gun swayed down into one of them. Slings and cables and some sort of carrying cradle prepared. Hands told off
And start at dawn!
At dawn the boats can be round the peninsula waiting for daylight, sir. You could send some hands with a hundred fathoms of line up from the ship to here. They can start off along the path before daylight. Thatd save time.
So it would, by George! said Bush; he had no trouble in visualising the problems of seamanship involved in hoisting a gun up the face of a cliff.
Were shorthanded already in the ship, said Buckland. Ill have to turn up both watches.
That wont hurt em, sir, said Bush. He had already been two nights without sleep and was now contemplating a third.
Who shall I send? Ill want a responsible officer in charge. A good seaman
at that.
Ill go if you like, sir, said Hornblower.
No. Youll have to be here to deal with Ortega. If I send Smith Ill have no lieutenant left on board.
Maybe you could send me, sir, said Bush. That is, if you were to leave Mr. Hornblower in command here.
Um said Buckland. Oh well, I dont see anything else to do. Can I trust you, Mr. Hornblower?
Ill do my best, sir.
Let me see said Buckland.
I could go back to the ship with you in your gig, sir, said Bush. Then thered be no time wasted.
This prodding of a senior officer into action was something new to Bush, but he was learning the art fast. The fact that the three of them had not long ago been fellow conspirators made it easier; and once the ice was broken, as soon as Buckland had once admitted his juniors to give him counsel and advice, it became easier with repetition.
Yes, I suppose youd better, said Buckland, and Bush promptly rose to his feet, so that Buckland could hardly help doing the same.
Bush ran his eye over Hornblowers battered form.
Now look you here, Mr. Hornblower, he said. You take some sleep. You need it.
I relieve Whiting as officer on duty at midnight, sir, said Hornblower, and I have to go the rounds.
Maybe thats true. Youll still have two hours before midnight. Turn in until then. And have Whiting relieve you at eight bells again.
Aye aye, sir.
At the very thought of abandoning himself to the sleep for which he yearned Hornblower swayed with fatigue.
You could make that an order, sir, suggested Bush to Buckland.
Whats that? Oh yes, get a rest while you can, Mr. Hornblower.
Aye aye, sir.
Bush picked his way down the steep path to the landing stage at Bucklands heels, and took his seat beside him in the stern sheets of the gig.
I cant make that fellow Hornblower out, said Buckland a little peevishly on one occasion as they rowed back to the anchored Renown .
Hes a good officer, sir, answered Bush, but he spoke a little absently. Already in his mind he was tackling the problem of hoisting a long ninepounder up a cliff, and he was sorting out mentally the necessary equipment, and planning the necessary orders. Two heavy anchorsnot merely boat grapnelsto anchor the buoy solidly. The thwarts of the launch had better be shored up to bear the weight of the gun. Travelling blocks. Slingsfor the final hoist it might be safer to suspend the gun by its cascabel and trunnions.
Bush was not of the mental type that takes pleasure in theoretical exercises. To plan a campaign; to put himself mentally in the position of the enemy and think along alien lines; to devise unexpected expedients; all this was beyond his capacity. But to deal with a definite concrete problem, a simple matter of ropes and tackles and breaking strains, pure seamanshiphe had a lifetime of experience to reinforce his natural bent in that direction.