The leadsmans cry in the chains indicated that the water was shoaling again; they had left the middle ground far behind them and had now crossed the southerly channel of the estuary. There was still plenty of water for the Porta Coeli ; she had been expressly designed for this very purpose of penetrating into inlets and estuaries, carrying the war as close to Bonapartes shores as might be. Bonapartes dominion stopped short at the line which the shot from his shore batteries could reach, and beyond that line England ruled supreme and unchallenged.
Sail on the lee bow! yelled the lookout.
Freeman swung himself up to the lee main-shrouds with the agility of an ape; braced against the ratlines, he trained his glass forward.
A brig, sir, he hailed down to Hornblower, and a few seconds later Thats Flame all right, sir.
Put the helm up and well bear down on her, Mr. Freeman, if you please.
Flame was exactly where one would expect to find her, close up under the lee of the land, sheltered from any gale from northwest round to east; and free to consult her own safety whether attacked by British or French. Soon Hornblowers own glass picked her out from the grey murk. A trim, beautiful little vessel, lying hove-to on the edge of the shoals. She showed no signs, at that distance at least, of any disorder on board. Hornblower wondered how many telescopes there were being trained upon the Porta Coeli, what anxious debate was being held on board by men recognising the new arrival as the first move on the part of their Lordships of the Admiralty in reply to their suicidal ultimatum. Those men had ropes round their necks.
Shes waiting for us to come down to her, said Freeman.
I wonder for how long, answered Hornblower.
What are you men standing chattering there for? suddenly blared out Freeman, addressing a group of excited seamen lining the bulwark forward. Master-at-arms! Master-at-arms! Take those mens names and bring them to me at the end of the watch! You bosuns mate, there! Collier! Keep those men of yours at work! This is a Kings ship, not a blasted school for young ladies!
A thin beam of watery sunshine broke through the greyness and lit up the Flame as she lay in the circle of Hornblowers glass. He suddenly saw her yards swing round; she put herself before the wind and began to move in the direction of Honfleur. Her foretopsail was conspicuously patcheda light cross against the darker material, as if she were some Crusading ship.
They wont stand and wait for us, said Freeman.
Sail ho! yelled the lookout again. Sail on the lee quarter!
Telescopes swung round as if all were actuated by a single machine. A big ship with all plain sail set to the royals had appeared out of the mist beyond the middle ground, on a course rapidly diverging from that of the Porta Coeli. Hornblower recognised her instantly for what she was, and did not need Freemans identification.
French West Indiaman, said Freeman. With a clear run to Harbour-Grace.
One of the rare ships to run the continental blockade, bearing an invaluable cargo of grain and sugar to ease Bonapartes distress; she had taken advantage of the recent gale, which had blown the blockading squadrons from their stations, to dash up the Channel. A cargo delivered into the Seine, where centred
the Imperial power, and whence diverged the whole road and canal systems, was worth two brought into some isolated inlet on the Biscay coast. The small British vessels of war, like the Porta Coeli and the Flame, had been constructed and stationed to prevent this very thing.
Therell be no catching her before she reaches Harbour-Grace, muttered Freeman.
Let her go, Mr. Freeman, said Hornblower, loudly. Our dutys with Flame at present. There goes ten pounds a man prize-money.
There were enough hands within earshot to hear that speech; they would repeat it to the rest of the crew. No one who thought of the lost prize-money would feel any better disposed towards the mutineers.
Hornblower turned his attention back to the Flame; she was standing steadily and without hesitation on a course which would take her into Honfleur. It would not be long before she was in French power, and it would be foolish to press matters to such an extreme, even though it was a bitter pill to swallow, to admit a check.
Oh, heave-to, Mr. Freeman, please. Lets see what she does then.
The Porta Coeli came up into the wind in response to sail and helm, Hornblower training round his glass to keep Flame under observation. The moment the Porta Coeli s manoeuvre became apparent, the Flame imitated it, coming up into the wind and lying motionless, the white cross conspicuous on her foretopsail.
Try bearing down on them again, Mr. Freeman.
Flame turned away instantly towards France.
A winks as good as a nod, Mr. Freeman. Heave-to again.
Clearly the mutineers had no intention of allowing the Porta Coeli to come any nearer than she was at present, well beyond cannonshot. She would hand herself over to the French sooner than permit any closer approach.