He felt a sudden gust of resentment against London for having left him so poorly supported; during the two weeks that Le Havre had been in British hands much might have been done. He had written as strongly as he dared on the inadvisability of an inactive policythose were the very words he had used, he rememberedbut England, with her whole army engaged under Wellington in the south, her life-blood drained by twenty years of warfare, had little enough to spare for him. The rebellion he had instigated had been forced to remain a rebellion on the defensive, and as such only a minor military factor in the tremendous crisis. Politically and morally the effect of his action had been enormous, so they assured him, flatteringly, but the means were utterly wanting to reap any military harvest. Bonaparte, whose Empire was supposed to be tottering, who was fighting for his life on the snow-covered fields of Champagne, could still find two divisions and a siege-train to recapture Le Havre. Was it possible that man could ever be beaten?
Hornblower had forgotten the presence of the marine colonel; he looked past him into vacancy. It was time for the rebellion to cease the defensive, and to take the offensive, however limited its means, however powerful the enemy.
Something must be done, something must be dared. He could not bear the thought of cowering behind the fortifications of Le Havre, like a rabbit in its burrow, waiting for Quiot and his sappers to come and ferret him out.
Let me see that map again, he said to Dobbs. How are the tides now? You dont know? Then find out, man, immediately. And I want a report on the roads between here and Rouen. Brown! Go and get Captain Bush out of the reception.
He was still making plans and giving provisional orders, when Hau came into the room.
The reception is ending, sir, said Hau. His Royal Highness is about to retire.
Hornblower cast one more look at the map of the lower Seine spread before him; his brain was seething, with calculations regarding tides and road distances.
Oh, very well, he, said. Ill come for five minutes.
He was smiling as he walked inmany eyes turned towards him and noticed it. It was a little ironical that the good people at the reception should feel reassured just because Hornblower had received news of the developing threat to their city.
Chapter XII
This was another of the penalties of success; that he should have to stand here and watch others set off on an expedition that he would have loved to head. But the Governor of Le Havre, the Commodore, could not possibly risk his life and liberty with a petty sortie; the force he was sending out, crammed into half a dozen ships longboats, was so small that he was hardly justified in putting a post captain in command.
Bush came stumping up to him, the thump of his wooden leg on the cobble, alternating with the flatter sound of his one shoe.
No further orders, sir? asked Bush.
No, none. I only have to wish you the best of good fortune now, said Hornblower.
He put out his hand, and Bush took itamazing how Bushs hand remained hard and horny as if he still had to haul on braces and halliards. Bushs frank blue eyes looked into his.
Thank you, sir, said Bush, and then, after a moments hesitation. Dont you go worrying about us, sir.
I wont worry with you in command, Bush.
There was some truth in that. In all these years of close association Bush had learned his methods, and could be relied upon to execute a plan intelligently. Bush knew as well as he did now the value of surprise, the importance of striking swiftly and suddenly and unexpectedly, the necessity for close co-operation between all parts of the force.
The Nonsuchs longboat was against the quay, and a detachment of marines was marching down into it. They sat stiff and awkward on the thwarts, their muskets pointing skywards between their knees, while the seamen held the boat off.
All ready, sir? piped up a voice from the sternsheets.
Goodbye, Bush, said Hornblower.
Goodbye, sir.
Bushs powerful arms swung him down into the longboat with no difficulty despite his wooden leg.
Shove off.
The boat pushed out from the quay; two other boats left the quay as well. There was still just enough light to see the rest of the flotilla pull away from the sides of the ships moored in the harbour. The sound of the orders came to Hornblowers ears across the water.
Give way.
Bushs boat swung round and headed the procession out into the river, and the night swallowed it. Yet Hornblower stood looking after them into the blackness for some time before he turned away. There could be no doubt at all, having regard to the state of the roads, and the reports of the spies, that Quiot would bring his siege-train as far as Caudebec by waterbarges would carry his vast twenty-four-pounders fifty miles in a day, while over those muddy surfaces they would hardly move fifty miles in a week. At Caudebec there was an estacade with facilities for dealing with large cargoes. Quiots advanced guards at Lillebonne and Bolbec would cover the unloadingso he would think. There was a good chance that boats, coming up the river in the darkness swiftly with the tide, might arrive unobserved at the estacade. The landing party could burn and destroy to their hearts content in that case. Most likely Bonapartes troops, which