“Mr Vincent,” said Hornblower, without shifting his gaze from the battery. “Hoist MV.”
The words sent a stir through the group of officers. They could be certain now of what plan Hornblower had in mind. The trick increased the risk of detection at the same time as, if it were successful, it gave them more opportunity of approaching the battery. If MV were the French recognition signal, and was being correctly employed, well and good. If not — the battery would soon tell them so. Hornblower, his heart thumping in his breast, judged that at any rate it might confuse the issue for the officer in the battery and induce him to delay a little longer. The signal rose up the halliards, and the battery still stayed silent. Now a signal hoist soared up the battery’s flagstaff.
“I can’t read that, sir,” said Vincent. “One of ’em’s a swallowtail we don’t use.”
But the mere fact of the battery’s signalling in reply meant that they were at least doubtful of the Sutherland’s identity — unless it were part of the plan to lure her closer in. Yet if the battery delayed much longer it would be too late.
“Mr Bush, do you see the battery?”
“Yes, sir.”
“You will take the long boat. Mr Rayner will take the launch, and you will land and storm the battery.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
“I will give you the word when to hoist out.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
“Quarter less eight,” droned the leadsman — Hornblower had listened to each cast subconsciously; now that the water was shoaling he was compelled to give half his attention up to the leadsman’s cries while still scrutinising the battery. A bare quarter of a mile from it now; it was time to strike.
“Very good, Mr Bush. You can go now.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
“Back the main tops’l, Mr Gerard.”
At Bush’s orders the dormant ship sprang to life. The shrilling of the pipes brought the boats’ crews to the falls at the run. This was the time when the painful drill would reveal its worth; the more quickly those boats were swung out, manned, and away, the less would be the danger and the greater the chance of success. Long boat and launch dropped to the water, the hands swarming down the falls.
“Throw the guns down the cliff, Mr Bush. Wreck the battery if you can. But don’t stay a moment longer than necessary.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
They were off, the men tugging like maniacs at the oars.
“Helm a-lee! Mr Gerard, put the ship about. And down with that flag, and send up our own. Ah!”
The air was torn with the passage of cannon shot overhead. The whole ship shook as something struck her a tremendous blow forward. Hornblower saw the smoke billow up round the battery — it had opened fire at last. And thank God it was firing at the ship; if one of those shots hit a boat he would be in a pretty scrape. So pleased was he at the thought that it never occurred to him to wonder about his own personal safety.
“Mr Gerard, see if the guns can reach the battery. See that every shot is properly aimed. It is no use unless the embrasures can be swept.”
Another salvo from the battery, and too high again, the shot howling overhead. Little Longley, strutting the quarterdeck with his dirk at his hip, checked in his stride to duck, instinctively, and then, with a side glance at his captain, walked on with his neck as stiff as a ramrod. Hornblower grinned.
“Mr Longley, have that main top gallant halliard spliced at once.”
It was a kindness to keep the boy busy so that he would have no time to be afraid. Now the Sutherland’s starboard broadside began to open fire, irregularly, as the gun captains fancied their weapons bore. Flying jets of dust from the face of the cliff showed that most of the shot were hitting thirty feet too low. But if even one or two shots got in through the embrasures and killed someone working the guns it would be a valuable help in unsettling the artillery men. Another salvo. This time they had fired at the boats. The launch almost vanished under the jets of water flung up by the plunging fire, and Hornblower gulped with anxiety. But the next moment the launch reappeared, limping along crabwise — a shot must have smashed some of the oars on one side. But the boats were safe now; close up to the cliffs as they were the guns up above could surely not be depressed sufficiently to hit them. The long boat was in the very surf now, with the launch at her heels. Now the men were tumbling out and splashing up to the beach.