Fell was quite right; there was need to hasten, lest the ship be delayed in the belt of doldrums between the land breeze and the trade wind. The enormous sail area of the main course carried Clorinda forward boldly, and once more the sound of the ships way through the water became audible. Estrella was clear of the channel now; Hornblower, watching anxiously, saw her set foresail and staysails and jibs, all her fore and aft canvas in fact. She was holding her course northward, close-hauled, directly away from the land; she must have caught the trade wind and was making northing, very sensibly, because she would have to weather Haiti before next morning on her course to the Old Bahama Channel and Havana. They were far enough from the Morro now, and from Estrella, to incur no suspicion by staring through telescopes at her. Hornblower looked long and carefully. He could detect nothing unusual about her appearance. It suddenly occurred to him that perhaps Gomez had detected the drogue under his stern and had removed it. He might even now be exploding with laughter, along with his officers, looking back at the British frigate hopefully following them.
Port! came Fells order again, and Clorinda took the final turn.
Leading marks in line, sir! reported the master, looking aft at the land with his telescope to his eye.
Very well. Steady as you go.
Now the waves they were encountering were true Atlantic rollers, heaving up Clorinda s starboard bow, and passing aft as the bows dipped to heave up the port quarter. Estrella right ahead was still close-hauled on a northerly course under fore and aft canvas.
Shell be making six knots, estimated Gerard, standing with Spendlove a yard from Hornblower.
That spun yarn should hold at six knots, said Spendlove, meditatively.
No bottom with this line! reported the leadsman in the chains.
All hands make sail!
The order was being piped through the ship. Topgallants and royals were being spread; it was not long before Clorinda had every stitch of canvas set.
Yet the land breeze was dying fast. Clorinda was hardly making steerage way. Once, twice, the sails flapped like thunder, but she still held her course, creeping forward over the blue and white sea, with the sun blazing down upon her from a blue sky with hardly a fleck of cloud.
Cant keep her on her course, sir, reported the quartermaster.
Clorinda was yawing sluggishly as the rollers came at her. Far ahead the Estrella was almost hull down. Now came a breath of a different air, the tiniest breath; Hornblower felt it, nearly imperceptible, on his sweating face long before Clorinda made response. It was a different air indeed, not the heated air of the land breeze, but the fresher air of the trade wind, clean with its passage over three thousand miles of ocean. The sails flapped and shivered; Clorinda swung more meaningly.
Here it comes! exclaimed Fell. Full and by!
A stronger puff came, so that the rudder could bite. A lull, another puff, another lull, another puff, yet each puff was stronger yet. The next puff did not die away.
It endured, heeling Clorinda over. A roller burst against her starboard bow in a dazzling rainbow. Now they had caught the trade wind; now they could thrust their way northwards close-hauled in the trail of the Estrella. With the clean, fresh wind blowing, and the sensation of successful striving with it, a new animation came over the ship. There were smiles to be seen.
She hasnt set her topsls yet, My Lord, said Gerard, his telescope still to his eye.
I doubt if she will while she makes her northing, replied Hornblower.
On a wind she can weather and headreach on us, said Spendlove. Just as she did yesterday.
Yesterday? Was it only yesterday? It could have been a month ago, so much had happened since yesterdays chase.
Do you think that drogue ought to have any effect? asked Fell, approaching them.
None, sir, practically speaking, answered Spendlove. Not while that spun yarn keeps it tail forward.
Fell had one huge hand clasped in the other, grinding his knuckles into his palm.
For me, said Hornblower, and every eye turned to him, I am going to say farewell to gold lace. A cooler coat and a looser neckcloth.
Let Fell display worry and nervousness; he himself was going below as if he had no interest whatever in the outcome of the affair. Down in the hot cabin it was a relief to throw off his full-dress uniformten pounds of broadcloth and goldand to have Giles get out a clean shirt and white duck trousers.
Ill take my bath, said Hornblower, meditatively.
He knew perfectly well that Fell thought it undignified and dangerous to discipline that an Admiral should disport himself under the washdeck pump, hosed down by grinning seamen, and he neither agreed nor cared. No miserable sponging down could take the place of his bath. The seamen pumped vigorously, and Hornblower pranced with middle-aged abandon under the stinging impact of the water. Now the clean shirt and trousers were doubly delightful; he felt a new man as he came on deck again, and his unconcern was not all pretence when Fell nervously approached him.