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s mind； Vickery would find no opposition on the Nehrung。 Even if there were； the Nehrung was fifteen miles long and Vickery with a hundred and fifty determined men could be relied upon to break through any thin cordon of sentries or customs officials。
Yet if all had gone well the bomb…ketches ought to be in sight very soon。 The next few minutes would be decisive。
〃We couldn't have heard gunfire in the bay yesterday； sir；〃 said Bush； 〃the wind being where it was。 They may have met with any sort of armed vessel in the bay。〃
〃So they may；〃 said Hornblower。
〃Sail ho！〃 yelled the masthead lookout。 〃Two sail on the port beam！ It's the bomb…ketches； sir。〃
They might possibly be ing back； having been unable to pick up Vickery； but it was unlikely that in that case they would have returned so promptly。 Bush was grinning broadly； with all his doubts at an end。
〃I think； Captain；〃 said Hornblower； 〃you might put the helm down and go to meet them。〃
It would not be consonant with the dignity of a modore to hang out a signal of inquiry as the vessels closed to visual range； for it to be read the moment a telescope in the Harvey could distinguish the flags。 But Nonsuch was making a good five knots； with the water lapping cheerfully under her bows； and Harvey was doing the same； so that it was only a matter of waiting a few more minutes。
〃Harvey's signalling； sir；〃 reported the midshipman。 He read the flags and hurriedly referred to the code book； 〃'seamen on board'； sir。〃
〃Very good。 Make 'modore to Captain。 e on board with Mr Vickery to make your report'。〃
There was not much longer to wait。 As the two vessels came within hail they rounded…to； and Harvey's gig dropped into the water and came bobbing across to Nonsuch。 It was a weary Vickery who came up the side with Mound beside him； his face was grey； and below his eyes were marks like new scars as proof that he had not slept for three successive nights。 He sat down gratefully when Hornblower gave him permission to do so as soon as they were in his cabin。
〃Well？〃 said Hornblower。 〃I'll hear you first； Vickery。〃
〃It went off very well； sir。〃 Vickery dragged a scrap of paper out of his pocket on which apparently he had kept notes。 〃There was no trouble going past the boom on the night of the 15th。 We saw nothing of the enemy。 At dawn on the 16th we were off the mouth of the K？nigsberg river。 There we took and destroyed the … the Fried Rich； coaster； of Elbing； about two hundred tons； seven of a crew； with a cargo of rye and live pigs。 We burned her； and sent the crew ashore in their own boat。 Then we caught the … the … Blitzer； also of Elbing； about one hundred tons； laden with grain。 We burned her； too。 Then the Charlotte； of Danzig。 She was ship…rigged； four hundred tons； twenty…five crew； laden with general cargo of military stores … tents； stretchers； horseshoes； ten thousand stand of small arms； we burned her。 Then the Ritter Horse； powder barge； about seventy tons。 We blew her up。〃
〃We saw that； I think；〃 said Hornblower。 〃That was Nonsuch's cutter。〃
〃Yes； sir。 That was all at this end of the bay。 Then we bore down to the westward。 We caught the Weece Ross of Kolberg； two hundred tons。 She carried four six…pounders and showed fight； but Montgomery boarded her over the bows and they threw down their arms。 We had two men wounded。 We burned her。 Then there was …〃
〃How many altogether？〃
〃One ship； sir。 Eleven sail of coasting vessels。 Twenty…four barges。 All destroyed。〃
〃Excellent；〃 said Hornblower。 〃And then？〃
〃By then it was nigh on dark； sir。 I anchored on the north side of the bay until midnight。 Then I ran over to the sandspit。 We found two soldiers there； and made 'em prisoners。 'Twas easy enough crossing the spit； sir。 We burned a blue light and made contact with the Harvey。 They started taking us aboard at two a。m。； and I was aboard at three； by the first light。 I went back and burned the boats before I embarked； sir。〃
〃Better still。〃
The enemy； then； had not even the sorry pensation of the capture of four ships' boats in exchange for the frightful destruction Vickery had wrought。 He turned to Mound。
〃I have nothing particular to report； sir。 Those waters are shoal； without a doubt； sir。 But I had no difficulty making my way to the rendezvous。 After taking Mr Vickery's party on board we touched bottom； sir。 We had nearly a hundred extra hands on board an' must have been drawing nigh on a foot more water。 But we got off all right。 I had the men run from side to side to rock the vessel； an' I threw all aback an' she came off。〃
〃I understand。〃
Hornblower looked at Mound's expressionless face and smiled inwardly at his studied languid manner。 Picking the way in the dark through the shoals to the rendezvous must have been something of an epic achievement。 Hornblower could estimate the seamanship it called for； but it was not in the tradition to lay stress on difficulties surmounted。 And a less reliable officer might have tried to suppress the fact that his ship had touched ground once。 It was to Mound's credit that he had not done so。
〃I shall call the attention of the Admiralty；〃 said Hornblower； trying his best to bat the pomposity which persisted in making itself heard in his voice； 〃to the conduct of both of you officers。 I consider it excellent。 I shall； of course； require reports from you immediately in writing。〃
〃Aye aye； sir。〃
Now that he was a modore Hornblower felt more sympathy towards senior officers who had been pompous to him； he was pompous himself … it was one way in which could be concealed the fact that he had been anxious。
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Hornblower was dining by himself。 He had Gibbon securely wedged against the cheese…crock on the table before him； and his legs stretched out at ease under it。 To…day he was indulging himself extraordinarily with a half…bottle of wine； and the sea pie from which he was about to help himself smelt most appetizing。 It was one of those days when there was nothing wrong with the world at all； when he could allow himself to sway with the rhythm of the ship without any further thought； when food tasted good and wine delicious。 He dug a spoon into the sea pie just at the moment when there was a knock on the door and a midshipman entered。
〃Clam in sight to wind'ard； sir；〃 he said。
〃Very good。〃
Hornblower proceeded to transfer the sea pie from the dish to his plate； and as he spread out his helping to allow it to cool his mind began to rouse itself。 Clam would be bringing news； she had been left at St Petersburg for the very purpose of waiting for news。 Maybe Russia was at war with Bonaparte now。 Or maybe Alexander had made the abject surrender which would be the only thing that could save him from war。 Or maybe Alexander was dead； murdered by his officers as his father had been。 It would be by no means the first time that a change in Russian policy had been ushered in by a palace revolution。 Maybe … maybe anything； but the sea pie was growing cold。 He applied himself to it； just as the midshipman knocked at the door again。
〃Clam signals 'Have despatches for modore'； sir。〃
〃How far off is she？〃
〃Hull…up to wind'ard； sir。 We're running down to her。〃
〃Make 'modore to Clam。 Send despatches on board as soon as practicable'。〃
〃Aye aye； sir。〃
There was nothing surprising about Clam's message； the surprise would have been if she carried no despatches。 Hornblower found himself shovelling sea pie into his mouth as if the faster he ate it the faster the despatches would e。 He checked himself and took sips of his wine； but neither wine nor food had any attraction for him。 Brown came in and served him with cheese； and he munched and told himself he had dined well。 Cocking his ear to the noises on the deck overhead he could guess there was a boat ing alongside； and directly afterwards one more knock on the door heralded the arrival of Lord Wychwood。 Hornblower rose for him； offered him a chair； offered him dinner； took over the bulky canvas…wrapped despatch which Wychwood handed him； and signed a receipt for it。 He sat with it on his knee for a moment。
〃Well；〃 said Wychwood； 〃it's war。〃
Hornblower could not allow himself to ask； 〃War with who