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cable's length to windward the Indefatigable rounded…to； and she was hoisting out her boats before even she was fully round。 Pellew had seen the smoke； and had deduced the reason for the Pique's heaving to； and had made his preparations as he came up。 Longboat and launch had each a pump in their bows where sometimes they carried a carronade； they dropped down to the stern of the Pique to cast their jets of water up into the flaming stern without more ado。 Two gigs full of men ran straight aft to join in the battle with the flames； but Bolton； the third lieutenant； lingered for a moment as he caught Hornblower's eye。
'Good God； it's you！' he exclaimed。 'What are you doing here？'
Yet he did not stay for an answer。 He picked out Neuville as the captain of the Pique； strode aft to receive his surrender； cast his eyes aloft to see that all was well there； and then took up the task of bating the fire。 The flames were overe in time； more because they had consumed everything within reach of them than for any other reason； the Pique was burnt from the taffrail forward for some feet of her length right to the water's edge； so that she presented a strange spectacle when viewed from the deck of the Indefatigable。 Nevertheless； she was in no immediate danger； given even moderate good fortune and a little hard work she could be sailed to England to be repaired and sent to sea again。
But it was not her salvage that was important； but rather the fact that she was no longer in French hands； would no longer be available to prey on English merce。 That was the point that Sir Edward Pellew made in conversation with Hornblower； when the latter came on board to report himself。 Hornblower had begun； at Pellew's order； by recounting what had happened to him from the time he had been sent as prize master on board the Marie Galante。 As Hornblower had expected…perhaps as he had even feared…Pellew had passed lightly over the loss of the brig。 She had been damaged by gunfire before surrendering； and no one now could establish whether the damage was small or great。 Pellew did not give the matter a second thought。 Hornblower had tried to save her and had been unsuccessful with his tiny crew…and at that moment the Indefatigable could not spare him a larger crew。 He did not hold Hornblower culpable。 Once again； it was more important that France should be deprived of the Marie Galante's cargo than that England should benefit by it。 The situation was exactly parallel to that of the salvaging of the Pique。
'It was lucky she caught fire like that；' mented Pellew； looking across to where the Pique lay； still hove…to with the boats clustering about her but with only the thinnest trail of smoke drifting from her stern。 'She was running clean away from us； and would have been out of sight in an hour。 Have you any idea how it happened； Mr Hornblower？'
Hornblower was naturally expecting that question and was ready for it。 Now was the time to answer truthfully and modestly； to receive the praise he deserved； a mention in the Gazette； perhaps even appointment as acting…lieutenant。 But Pellew did not know the full details of the loss of the brig； and might make a false estimate of them even if he did。
'No； sir；' said Hornblower。 'I think it must have been spontaneous bustion in the paint…locker。 I can't account for it otherwise。'
He alone knew of his remissness in plugging that shot…hole； he alone could decide on his punishment； and this was what he had chosen。 This alone could re…establish him in his own eyes； and when the words were spoken he felt enormous relief； and not one single twinge of regret。
'It was fortunate； all the same；' mused Pellew。
CHAPTER FOUR … THE MAN WHO FELT QUEER
This time the wolf was prowling round outside the sheepfold。 H。M。 frigate Indefatigable had chased the French corvette Papillon into the mouth of the Gironde； and was seeking a way of attacking her where she lay at anchor in the stream under the protection of the batteries at the mouth。 Captain Pellew took his ship into shoal water as far as he 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。'
Th