No one could find it more
useful than I, My Lord, said Fell.
Maybe, said Hornblower.
Hornblower knew vaguely that Fell was in difficulties about money. He had had many years of half pay since Waterloo, and even now as captain of a fifth-rate his pay and allowances were less than twenty pounds a monthlucky though he was, in peacetime, to have command even of a fifth-rate. He had had experience himself of being a poor captain, of wearing cotton stockings instead of silk, and brass epaulettes instead of gold. But he had no desire whatever to discuss the Tables of Personal Pay before breakfast.
Lady Fell, My Lord, went on Fell, persistently, has a position to maintain in the world.
She was an extravagant woman, so Hornblower had heard.
Lets hope we have some luck today, then, said Hornblower, still thinking about breakfast.
It was a melodramatic coincidence that at that very moment a hail came down from the masthead.
Sail ho! Sail right to windard!
Perhaps thats what were waiting for, Sir Thomas, said Hornblower.
As likely as not, My Lord. Masthead, there! Hows the sail heading? Mr. Sefton, bring the ship to the wind.
Hornblower backed away to the weather-rail. He felt he could never grow used to his situation as Admiral, and having to stand by and be no more than an interested spectator while the ship he was in was being handled at decisive moments. It was quite painful to be a spectator, but it would be more painful still to go below and remain in ignorance of what was going onand much more painful than to postpone breakfast again.
Deck, there! Shes a two-master. Heading straight down for us. All sail to the royals. Captain, sir, shes a schooner! A big schooner, sir. Still running down for us.
Young Gerard, the flag-lieutenant, had come running on deck at the first hail from the masthead, to his place beside his Admiral.
A topsl schooner, he said. A big one. She could be what were looking for, My Lord.
Plenty of other things she could be, said Hornblower, doing his best to conceal his absurd excitement.
Gerard had his telescope pointing to windward.
There she is! Coming down fast, right enough. Look at the rake of those masts! Look at the cut of those topsls! My Lord, shes no Island schooner.
It would not be a very remarkable coincidence if she should be a slaver; he had brought Clorinda here to the windward of San Juan in the full expectation that slave cargoes would be hurrying here. Spain was meditating joining in the suppression of the slave trade, and every slaver would be tempted to run cargoes and take advantage of enhanced prices before the prohibition should take effect. The main slave market for the Spanish colonies was at Havana, a thousand miles to leeward, but it could be looked upon as certain that Spanish slavers, making their passage from the Slave Coast, would touch first at Puerto Rico to refill with water if not to dispose of part of their cargo. It had only been logical to station Clorinda to intercept them.
Hornblower took the telescope and trained it on the fast-nearing schooner. He saw what Gerard had spoken about. Hull up now, he could see how heavily sparred she was, and how built for speed. With those fine lines it would only pay for her to carry highly perishable cargohuman cargo. As he looked he saw the rectangles of her square sails narrow vertically; the small distance between her masts widened greatly. She was wheeling away from the waiting Clorinda a final proof, if any was needed, that she was what she appeared to be. Laying herself on the starboard tack, she proceeded to keep at a safe distance, and to increase that distance as fast as possible.
Mr. Sefton! shouted Fell. Fill the main topsl! After her, on the starboard tack! Set the royals!
In an orderly and disciplined rush some of the hands hurried to the braces while others scurried aloft to set more sail. It was only a matter of moments before Clorinda, as close-hauled as she would lie, was thrashing to windward in pursuit. With everything braced up sharp, and carrying every inch of sail that the brisk trade wind would allow, she lay steeply over, plunging through the sea, each wave in turn bursting on her weather bow with the spray flying aft in sheets, and the taut weather-rigging shrieking in the wind. It was a remarkable transition from the quiet that had reigned not so long ago.
Hoist the colours, ordered Fell. Lets see what she says she is.
Through the telescope Hornblower watched the schooner hoist her colours in replythe red and yellow of Spain.
You see, My Lord? asked Fell.
Pardon, Capn, interposed Sefton, the officer
of the watch, I know who she is. I saw her twice last commission. Shes the Estrella .
The Australia? exclaimed Fell, mishearing Seftons Spanish pronunciation.
The Estrella, sir. The Estrella del Sur the Star of the South, sir.
I know about her, then, said Hornblower. Her captains Gomezruns four hundred slaves every passage, if he doesnt lose too many.
Four hundred! repeated Fell.
Hornblower saw a momentary calculating look pass over Fells face. Five pounds a head meant two thousand pounds; a quarter of that was five hundred pounds. Two years pay at one swoop. Fell darted glances aloft and overside.