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e dared； until in fact the batteries fired warning shots to make him keep his distance； and he stared long and keenly through his glass at the corvette。 Then he shut his telescope and fumed on his hem to give the order that worked the Indefatigable away from the dangerous lee shore…out of sight of land； in fact。 His departure might lull the French into a sense of security which； he hoped； would prove unjustified。 For he had no intention of leaving them undisturbed。 If the corvette could be captured or sunk not only would she be unavailable for raids on British merce； but also the French would be forced to increase their coastal defences at this point and lessen the effort that could be put out elsewhere。 War is a matter of savage blow and counter blow； and even a forty…gun frigate could strike shrewd blows if shrewdly handled。
Midshipman Hornblower was walking the lee side of the quarterdeck； as became his lowly station as the junior officer of the watch； in the afternoon； when Midshipman Kennedy approached him。 Kennedy took off his hat with a flourish and bowed low as his dancing master had once taught him； left foot advanced； hat down by the right knee。 Hornblower entered into the spirit of the game； laid his hat against his stomach； and bent himself in the middle three times in quick succession。 Thanks to his physical awkwardness he could parody ceremonial solemnity almost without trying。
'Most grave and reverend Signor；' said Kennedy； 'I bear the pliments of Captain Sir Ed'ard Pellew； who humbly solicits Your Gravity's attendance at dinner at eight bells in the afternoon watch。'
'My respects to Sir Edward；' replied Hornblower； bowing to his knees at the mention of the name；' and I shall condescend to make a brief appearance。'
'I am sure the captain will be both relieved and delighted；' said Kennedy。 'I will convey him my felicitations along with your most flattering acceptance。'
Both hats flourished with even greater elaboration than before； but at that moment both young men noticed Mr Bolton； the officer of the watch； looking at them from the windward side； and they hurriedly put their hats on and assumed attitudes more consonant with the dignity of officers holding their warrants from King George。
'What's in the captains mind？' asked Hornblower。
Kennedy laid one finger alongside his nose。
'If I knew that I should rate a couple of epaulettes；' he said。 'Something's brewing； and I suppose one of these days we shall know what it is。 Until then all that we little victims can do is to play unconscious of our doom。 Meanwhile； be careful not to let the ship fall overboard。'
There was no sign of anything brewing while dinner was being eaten in the great cabin of the Indefatigable。 Pellew was a courtly host at the head of the table。 Conversation flowed freely and along indifferent channels among the senior officers present…the two lieutenants； Eccles and Chadd； and the sailing master； Soames。 Hornblower and the other junior officer…Mallory； a midshipman of over two years' seniority…kept silent； as midshipmen should； thereby being able to devote their undivided attention to the food； so vastly superior to what was served in the midshipmen's berth。
'A glass of wine with you； Mr Hornblower；' said Pellew； raising his glass。
Hornblower tried to bow gracefully in his seat while raising his glass。 He sipped cautiously； for he had early found that he had a weak head； and he disliked feeling drunk。
The table was cleared and there was a brief moment of expectancy as the pany awaited Pellew's next move。
'Now； Mr Soames；' said Pellew； 'let us have that chart。'
It was a map of the mouth of the Gironde with the soundings； somebody had pencilled in the positions of the shore batteries。
'The Papillon；' said Sir Edward （he did not condescend to pronounce it French…fashion）； 'lies just here。 Mr Soames took the bearings。'
He indicated a pencilled cross on the chart； far up the channel。
'You gentlemen；' went on Pellew； 'are going in with the boats to fetch her out。'
So that was it。 A cutting…out expedition。
'Mr Eccles will be in general mand。 I will ask him to tell you his plan。'
The gray…haired first lieutenant with the surprisingly young blue eyes looked round at the others。
'I shall have the launch；' he said； 'and Mr Soames the cutter。 Mr Chadd and Mr Mallory will mand the first and second gigs。 And Mr Hornblower will mand the jolly boat。 Each of the boats except Mr Hornblower's will have a junior officer second in mand。'
That would not be necessary for the jolly boat with its crew of seven。 The launch and cutter would carry from thirty to forty men each； and the gigs twenty each； it was a large force that was being despatched…nearly half the ship's pany。
'She's a ship of war；' explained Eccles； reading their thoughts。 'No merchantman。 Ten guns a side； and full of men。'
Nearer two hundred men than a hundred； certainly…plentiful opposition for a hundred and twenty British seamen。
'But we will be attacking her by night and taking her by surprise；' said Eccles； reading their thoughts again。
'Surprise；' put in Pellew； 'is more than half the battle； as you know； gentlemen…please pardon The interruption； Mr Eccles。'
'At the moment；' went on Eccles； 'we are out of sight of land。 We are about to stand in again。 We have never hung about this part of the coast； and the Frogs'll think we've gone for good。 We'll make the land after nightfall； stand in as far as possible； and then the boats will go in。 High water to…morrow morning is at four…fifty； dawn is at five…thirty。 The attack will be delivered at four…thirty so that the watch below will have had time to get to sleep。 The launch will attack on the starboard quarter； and the cutter on the larboard quarter。 Mr Mallory's gig will attack on the larboard bow； and Mr Chadd's on the starboard bow。 Mr Chadd will be responsible for cutting the corvette's cable as soon as he has mastered the forecastle； and the other boats' crews have at least reached the quarterdeck。'
Eccles looked round at the other three manders of the large boats； and they nodded understanding。 Then he went on。
'Mr Hornblower with the jolly boat will wait until the attack has gained a foothold on the deck。 He will then board at the main chains； either to starboard or larboard as he sees fit； and he will at once ascend the main rigging； paying no attention to whatever fighting is going on on deck。 He will see to it that the maintopsail is loosed and he will sheet it home on receipt of further orders。 I myself； or Mr Soames in the event of my being killed or wounded； will send two hands to the wheel and will attend to steering the corvette as soon as she is under way。 The tide will take us out and the Indefatigable will be awaiting us just out of gunshot from the shore batteries。'
'Any ments； gentlemen？' asked Pellew。
That was the moment when Hornblower should have spoken up…the only moment when he could。 Eccles' orders had set in motion sick feelings of apprehension in his stomach。 Hornblower was no maintopman； and Hornblower knew it。 He hated heights； and he hated going aloft。 He knew he had none of the monkey…like agility and self…confidence of the good