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tchen； and drained his cup…a trifle too hot for fort； but he felt it was a good gesture。 There was bread to eat； and he made himself bite and chew and swallow； although he had no appetite； if he was to be in the field all day； he could not tell when he would get his next meal； and so he crammed a half loaf into his pocket。
The horses were being brought into the yard and saddled； the excitement had infected them； and they plunged and sidled about amid the curses of the officers。 Pouzauges leapt up into his saddle and clattered away with the rest of the staff behind him； leaving behind only a single soldier holding Hornblower's roan。 That was as it had better be…Hornblower knew that he would not keep his seat for half a minute if the horse took it into his head to plunge or rear。 He walked slowly out to the animal； which was calmer now when the groom petted him； and climbed with infinite slowness and precaution into the saddle。 With a pull at the bit he checked the brute's exuberance and walked it sedately into the street and towards the bridge in the wake of the galloping staff。 It was better to make sure of arriving by keeping his horse down to a walk than to gallop and be thrown。 The guns were still booming and he could see the puffs of smoke from Bracegirdle's six…pounders。 On his left； the sun was rising in a clear sky。
At the bridge the situation seemed obvious enough。 Where the arch had been blown up a few skirmishers on either side were firing at each other across the gap； and at the far end of the causeway； across the Marais； a cloud of smoke revealed the presence of a hostile battery firing slowly and at extreme range。 Beside the causeway on this side were Bracegirdle's two six…pounders； almost perfectly covered by a dip in the ground。 Bracegirdle； with his cutlass belted round him； was standing between the guns which his party of seamen were working； and he waved his hand lightheartedly at Hornblower when he caught sight of him。 A dark column of infantry appeared on the distant causeway。 Bang…bang went Bracegirdle's guns。 Hornblower's horse plunged at the noise； distracting him； but when he had time to look again； the column had disappeared。 Then suddenly the causeway parapet near him flew into splinters； something hit the roadbed beside his horse's feet a tremendous blow and passed on with a roar…that was the closest so far in his life that a cannon shot had missed him。 He lost a stirrup during the resultant struggle with his horse； and deemed it wiser； as soon as he regained moderate control； to dismount and lead the animal off the causeway towards the guns。 Bracegirdle met him with a grin。
'No chance of their crossing here；' he said。 'At least； not if the Frogs stick to their work； and it looks as if they're willing to。 The gap's within grapeshot range； they'll never bridge it。 Can't think what they're burning powder for。'
'Testing our strength； I suppose；' said Hornblower； with an air of infinite military wisdom。
He would have been shaking with excitement if he had allowed his body to take charge。 He did not know if he were being stiltedly unnatural； but even if he were that was better than to display excitement。 There was something strangely pleasant； in a nightmare fashion； in standing here posing as a hardened veteran with cannon balls howling overhead； Bracegirdle seemed happy and smiling and quite master of himself； and Hornblower looked sharply at him； wondering if this were as much a pose as his own。 He could not tell。
'Here they e again；' said Bracegirdle。 'Oh； only skirmishers。'
A few scattered men were running out along the causeway to the bridge。 At long musket range they fell to the ground and began spasmodic firing； already there were some dead men lying over there and the skirmishers took cover behind the corpses。 On this side of the gap the skirmishers； better sheltered； fired back at them。
'They haven't a chance； here at any rate；' said Bracegirdle 'And look there。'
The main body of the Royalist force； summoned from the town； was marching up along the road。 While they watched it； a cannon shot from the other side struck the head of the column and ploughed into it…Hornblower saw dead men flung this way and that； and the column wavered。 Pouzauges came riding up and yelled orders； and the column； leaving its dead and wounded on the road； changed direction and took shelter in the marshy fields beside the causeway。
With nearly all the Royalist force assembled； it seemed indeed as if it would be utterly impossible for the Revolutionaries to force a crossing here。
'I'd better report on this to the Lobsters；' said Hornblower。
'There was firing down that way at dawn；' agreed Bracegirdle。
Skirting the wide marsh here ran a narrow path through the lush grass； leading to the ford which the 43rd were guarding。 Hornblower led his horse onto the path before he mounted； he felt he would be more sure in that way of persuading the horse to take that direction。 It was not long before he saw a dab of scarlet on the river bank…pickets thrown out from the main body to watch against any unlikely attempt to cross the marshes and stream round the British flank。 Then he saw the cottage that indicated the site of the ford； in the field beside it was a wide patch of scarlet indicating where the main body was waiting for developments。 At this point the marsh narrowed where a ridge of slightly higher ground approached the water； a pany of redcoats was drawn up here with Lord Edrington on horseback beside them。 Hornblower rode up and made his report； somewhat jerkily as his horse moved restlessly under him。
'No serious attack； you say？' asked Edrington。
'No sign of one when I left； sir。'
'Indeed？' Edrington stared across the river。 'And here it's the same story。 No attempt to cross the ford in force。 Why should they show their hand and then not attack？'
'I thought they were burning powder unnecessarily； sir；' said Hornblower。
'They're not fools；' snapped Edrington； with another penetrating look across the river。 'At any rate； there's no harm in assuming they are not。'
He turned his horse and cantered back to the main body and gave an order to a captain； who scrambled to his feet to receive it。 The captain bellowed an order； and his pany stood up and fell into line； rigid and motionless。 Two further orders turned them to the right and marched them off in file； every man in step； every musket sloped at the same angle。 Edrington watched them go。
'No harm in having a flank guard；' he said。
The sound of a cannon across the water recalled them to the river； on the other side of the marsh a column of troops could be seen marching rapidly along the bank。
'That's the same column ing back； sir；' said the pany mander。 'That or another just like it。'
'Marching about and firing random shots；' said Edrington。 'Mr Hornblower； have the émigré troops any flank guard out towards Quiberon？'
'Towards Quiberon； sir？' said Hornblower； taken aback。
'Damn it； can't you hear a plain question？ Is there； or is there not？'
'I don't know； sir；' confessed Hornblower miserably。
There were five thousand émigré troops at Quiberon； and it seemed quite unnecessary to keep a guard out