I think he will not be too pleased with you when I tell him about this, went on Hornblower.
Your men tried to release a man condemned to death, said Hernandez, half sullenly, half apologetically. He was clearly
not too sure of his ground, and was nervous about what would be Alvarados attitude towards this incident. Hornblower kept a rasp in his voice as he went on speaking. None of the Englishmen round him, as far as he knew, could speak Spanish, but he was anxious for his crew to believe (now that discipline was restored) that he was wholeheartedly on their side.
That does not permit your men to kill mine, he said.
They are angry and discontented, said Hernandez. The whole country has been swept to find food for you. The man your men tried to save was condemned for driving his pigs into the bush to keep them from being taken and given to you.
Hernandez made this last speech reproachfully and with a hint of anger; Hornblower was anxious to be conciliatory if that were possible without exasperating his own men. Hornblower had in mind the plan of leading Hernandez out of earshot of the Englishmen, and then softening his tone, but before he could act upon it his attention was caught by the sight of a horseman galloping down the beach at full speed, waving his wide straw hat. Every eye turned towards this new arrivala peon of the ordinary Indian type. Breathlessly he announced his news.
A shipa ship coming!
He was so excited that he lapsed into the Indian speech, and Hornblower could not understand his further explanations. Hernandez had to interpret for him.
This man has been keeping watch on the top of the mountain up there, he said. He says that from there he could see the sails of a ship coming towards the bay.
He addressed several more questions rapidly, one after the other, to the lookout, and was answered with nods and gesticulations and a torrent of Indian speech.
He says, went on Hernandez, that he has often seen the Natividad before, and he is sure this is the same ship, and she is undoubtedly coming in here.
How far off is she? asked Hornblower and Hernandez translated the answer.
A long way, seven leagues or more, he said. She is coming from the south eastwardfrom Panama.
Hornblower pulled at his chin, deep in thought.
Shell carry the sea breeze down with her until sunset, he muttered to himself, and glanced up at the sun. That will be another hour. An hour after that shell get the land breeze. Shell be able to hold her course, close hauled. She could be here in the bay by midnight.
A stream of plans and ideas was flooding into his mind. Against the possibility of the ships arrival in the dark must be balanced what he knew of the Spanish habit at sea of snugging down for the night, and of attempting no piece of seamanship at all complicated save under the best possible conditions. He wished he knew more about the Spanish captain.
Has this ship, the Natividad , often come into this bay? he asked.
Yes, Captain, often.
Is her captain a good seaman?
Oh yes, Captain, very good.
Hahm, said Hornblower. A landsmans opinion of the seamanship of a frigate captain might not be worth much, but still it was an indication.
Hornblower tugged at his chin again. He had fought in ten single ship actions. If he took the Lydia to sea and engaged the Natividad on open water the two ships might well batter each other into wrecks. Rigging and spars and hulls and sails would be shot to pieces. The Lydia would have a good many casualties which would be quite irreplaceable here in the Pacific. She would expend her priceless ammunition. On the other hand, if he stayed in the bay and yet the plan he had in mind did not succeedif the Natividad waited off shore until the morninghe would have to beat his way out of the bay against the sea breeze, presenting the Spaniards with every possible advantage as he came out to fight them. The Natividad s superiority of force was already such that it was rash to oppose the Lydia to her. Could he dare to risk increasing the odds? But the possible gains were so enormous that he made up his mind to run the risk.
Chapter VI
Lydiathe force of the puffs of wind on the Lydia s rigging. They reached the new anchorage at last, and the anchor splashed into the water.
Have that cable buoyed and ready to slip, Mr. Bush, said Hornblower.
Aye aye, sir.
Call the boats alongside. I want the men to rest.
Aye aye, sir.
Mr. Gerard, you have charge of the deck See that the lookouts keep awake. I want Mr. Bush and Mr. Galbraith to come below with me.
Aye aye, sir.
The ship was seething quietly with excitement. Everyone on board had guessed the captains plan, even though the details of its execution, which he was now explaining to his lieutenants, were still unknown. In the two hours which had elapsed since the arrival of the news of the Natividad s approach Hornblowers mind had worked busily at the perfection of his plan. Nothing must go wrong. Everything that could possibly contribute to success must be done.