Will you pass the word for the sailmaker, Mr. Freeman? And I shall want his mates, and every hand who can use a needle and palm.
Aye aye, sir.
Orders were orders, even when they dealt with such extraneous matters as making sails while negotiating with a mutinous crew. Hornblower stared over at the Flame, still lying hove-to out of gunshot. The mutineers held a strong, an unassailable position, one which no frontal attack could break, and whose flanks were impregnable. It would be a very roundabout route that could turn such a position; maybe he had thought of one. There were some odd circumstances in his favour, fortunate coincidences. It was his business to seize upon those, exploit them to the utmost. He would have to take reckless chances, but he would do everything in his power to reduce the chances against him. The lucky man is he who knows how much to leave to chance.
A stoop-shouldered seaman was awaiting his attention, Freeman at his side.
Swenson, sailmakers mate, sir.
Thank you, Mr. Freeman. You see that patched fore-topsl? Swenson, look at it well through this glass.
The Swedish sailmaker took the telescope in his gnarled hands and levelled it to his eye.
Mr. Freeman, I want Porta Coeli to have a foretopsl just like that, so that no eye can see any difference between the two. Can that be done?
Freeman looked at Swenson.
Aye aye, sir, I can do that, said Swenson, glancing from Freeman to Hornblower and back again. Theres a bolt o white duck canvas, an with the old foretopslI can do it, sir.
I want it finished and ready to bend by four bells in the afternoon watch. Start work on it now.
A little group had formed behind Swenson, those members of the crew whom inquiry had ascertained to have sailmaking experience. There were broad grins on some of their faces; Hornblower seemed to be conscious of a little wave of excitement and anticipation spreading through the crew like a ripple over a pond set up by the stone dropped into it in the form of Hornblowers unusual request. No one could see clearly as yet what was in Hornblowers mind, but they knew that he intended some devilment. The knowledge was a better tonic to discipline and the happiness of the ship than any ordinary ships routine.
Now see here, Mr. Freeman, said Hornblower, moving towards the rail. What I propose is thisFlame and Porta Coeli are as like as two peas and theyll be liker yet as soon as we have that foretopsl set. The mutineers have been in communication with the shore; they told me so, and, whats more, Mr. Freeman, the place theyve had dealings with is Le HavreHarbour-Grace, Mr. Freeman. Boney and the governor have promised them money and immunity to bring the Flame in. Well go in instead. Theres that West Indiaman we saw come in this morning.
Well bring her out, sir!
Maybe we will. God knows what well find inside, but well go in ready for anything. Pick twenty men and an officer, men you can rely on. Give each one his orders about what he is to do if we have a chance to take a prizeheadsls, topsls, wheel, cutting the cable. You know about all that as well as I do. Itll be just at dusk that we stand in, if the wind doesnt change, and I dont think it will. Itll be strange if in the dark we dont contrive something to annoy the Frogs.
By God, sir, an theyll think its the mutineers! Theyll think the mutiny was just a sham! Theyll
I hope they will, Mr. Freeman.
Chapter VI
Porta Coeli, Flame FlameThats the Indiaman, sir. At anchor. And theres a lighter beside her. O course, they wouldnt unload her at the quay. Not here, sir. Theyd put her cargo into lighters an barges, and send em up the river, to Rouen and Paris. O course they would. I ought to ha thought o that before. Hornblower had already thought of it. His glass was sweeping the defences of the town; the forts of Ste. Adresse and Tourneville on the steep cliff above the town; the twin lighthouses on Cape de la Hèvewhich for a dozen years had not shown a lightthe batteries on the low ground beside the old jetty. These last would be the great danger to the enterprise; he hoped that the big forts above would not know of what was going on down below in time to open fire.
Theres a lot of shipping farther in, sir, went on Freeman. Might even be ships of the line. They havent their yards crossed. Ive never been in as close as this before.
Hornblower turned to look at the western sky. Night was fast falling, and the thick weather on the horizon showed no signs of clearing. He wanted light enough to find his way, and darkness enough to cover him on his way out.
Heres the pilot lugger standing out, sir, said Freeman. Theyll think were Flame all right.
Very good, Mr. Freeman. Set the men to cheering at the ships side. Secure the pilot when he comes on board. Ill con her in.
Aye aye, sir.
It was just the sort of order to suit the temperament of British seamen. They entered whole-heartedly into the spirit of the thing, yelling like lunatics along the bulwarks, waving their hats, dancing exuberantly, just as one would expect of a horde of mutineers. The Porta Coeli backed her main-topsail, the lugger surged alongside, and the pilot swung himself into the mainchains.