Take a bearing, Gerard, ordered Hornblower.
Gerard went to the binnacle and read the bearing carefully.
My impression, said Spendlove, gazing over the blue, blue water, is that shes still fore-reaching on us.
If thats the case, said Hornblower, then all we can hope for is that she carries something away.
We can at least hope for it, My Lord, said Spendlove. The glance he directed upwards was indicative of his fear that it would be the Clorinda whose gear would give way. Clorinda now had wind and sea very nearly abeam. She was lying over very steeply under every inch of canvas she could carry, and lifting unwillingly to the seas which came rolling in upon her, swirling in through her open gun-ports. Hornblower realised that he had not a dry stitch of clothing on him, and probably no one else on board had, either.
My Lord, said Gerard, youve had no breakfast as yet.
Hornblower tried to conceal the discomfiture he felt at this reminder. He had forgotten all about breakfast, despite the cheerful anticipation with which he had once been looking forward to it.
Quite right, Mr. Gerard, he said, jocular, but only clumsily so, thanks to being taken by surprise. And what of it?
Its my duty to remind you, My Lord, said Gerard. Her Ladyship
Her Ladyship told you to see that I took my meals regularly, replied Hornblower. I am aware of that. But Her Ladyship, owing to her inexperience, made no allowance for encounters with fast-sailing slavers just at mealtimes.
But cant I persuade you, My Lord?
The thought of breakfast, now that it had been reimplanted in his mind, was more attractive than ever. But it was hard to go below with a pursuit being so hotly conducted.
Take that bearing again before I decide, he temporised.
Gerard walked to the binnacle again.
Bearings opening steadily, My Lord, he reported. She must be drawing ahead fast.
Clearly so, said Spendlove, telescope trained out towards the Estrella. And it looksit looks as if shes hauling in on her sheets. Maybe
Hornblower had whipped his telescope to his eye on the instant.
Shes gibing over! he pronounced. See how she comes round, by George!
Estrella must have a bold captain and a well-trained crew. They had hauled in on her sheets and had stood ready at her topsail braces. Then, with the helm hard over, she had spun round on her heel. Her whole beautiful profile was now presented to Hornblowers telescope. She was headed to cross Clorinda s bows from starboard to port, and not too far ahead, either.
Damned insolence! said Hornblower, but full of admiration for the daring and skill displayed.
Fell was standing close by, staring at the impertinent schooner. He was rigid, even though the wind was flapping his coat-tails round him. For a few seconds it seemed as if the two vessels were heading towards a common point, where they must meet. But the impression soon passed. Even without taking a compass bearing it became apparent that Estrella must pass comfortably ahead of the frigate.
Run the guns in! bellowed Fell. Stand by
to wear ship! Clear away the bow chasers, there!
It might be just possible that the schooner would pass within range of the bow chasers, but to take a shot at her, at long range and on that heaving sea, would be a chancy business. Should they score a hit, it might as likely take effect in the hull, among the wretched slaves, as on the spars or rigging. Hornblower was prepared to restrain Fell from firing.
The guns were run in, and after another minutes examination of the situation Fell ordered the helm to be put a-starboard and the ship laid right before the wind. Hornblower through his telescope could see the schooner lying right over with the wind abeam, so far over that she, as she heaved, presented a streak of copper to his view, pinkish against the blue of the sea. Clearly she was drawing across the frigates bows, as Fell tacitly acknowledged when he ordered a further turn of two points to port. Thanks to her two knots superiority in speed and thanks also to her superior handiness and weatherliness the Estrella was literally making a circle round the Clorinda.
Shes built for speed, My Lord, said Spendlove from behind his telescope.
So was Clorinda, but with a difference. Clorinda was a fighting ship, built to carry seventy tons of artillery, with forty tons of powder and shot in her magazines. It was no shame to her that she should be outsailed and outmanoeuvred by such a vessel as the Estrella.
I fancy shell make for San Juan, Sir Thomas, said Hornblower.
Fells face bore an expression of helpless fury as he turned to his Admiral; it was with an obvious effort that he restrained himself from pouring out his rage, presumably in a torrent of blasphemy.
Itsits he spluttered.
Its enough to madden a saint, said Hornblower.
Clorinda had been ideally stationed, twenty miles to windward of San Juan; Estrella had run practically into her arms, so to speak, and had yet dodged neatly round her and had won for herself a clear run to the port.
Ill see him damned, My Lord! said Fell. Quartermaster!