“I’m going below, Sir Thomas. Please keep me informed.”
“Aye aye, My Lord.”
In the day cabin Gerard and Spendlove sprang to their feet as he entered; presumably they had been among those driven below by Fell’s order.
“Mr Spendlove, I am profiting by your admirable example of yesterday. I shall make sure of my breakfast while I may. Would you please order breakfast, Mr Gerard? I presume you gentlemen will favour me with your company.”
He threw himself negligently into a chair and watched the preparations. Half way through them a knock at the door brought in Fell himself.
“Estrella’s clearly in sight now, My Lord. And there’s nothing visible under her stern.”
“Thank you, Sir Thomas.”
A cup of coffee was welcome at this time in the morning. Hornblower did not have to pretend eagerness to drink it. Daylight was creeping in through the cabin windows, making the lamplight garish and unnecessary. Another knock brought in a midshipman.
“Cap’n’s respects, My Lord, and Estrella’s casting off.”
“Very well.”
Soon she would be under way, and their device would be put to the test. Hornblower made himself bite and masticate another mouthful of toast.
“Can’t you young men sit still for even a moment?” he snapped. “Pour me some more coffee, Gerard.”
“Estrella’s warping out into the channel, My Lord,” reported the midshipman again.
“Very well,” said Hornblower, sipping fastidiously at his coffee, and hoping that no one could guess how much his pulse rate had accelerated. The minutes dragged by.
“Estrella’s preparing to make sail, My Lord.”
“Very well.” Hornblower put down his coffee cup, slowly, and as slowly as he could manage it rose from his chair, the eyes of the two young men never leaving him.
“I think,” he said, dragging out his words, “we might now go on deck.”
Pacing as slowly as when he had been a mourner at Nelson’s funeral he walked out past the sentry and up the ladder; behind him the young men had to curb their impatience. It was dazzling bright on deck; the sun was just over the Morro. In the centre of the fairway at less than a cable’s length distance lay the Estrella, gleaming in her white paint. As Hornblower’s eyes rested on her her jib extended itself upwards, to catch the wind and swing her round. Next moment her mainsail took the wind, and she steadied herself, gathering way; in a few seconds she was moving forward past the Clorinda. This was the moment. Fell was standing staring at her and muttering to himself; he was blaspheming in his excitement. Estrella dipped her colours; on her deck Hornblower was able to recognise the figure of Gomez, standing directing the handling of the schooner. Gomez caught sight of him at the same moment, and bowed, holding his hat across his chest, and Hornblower returned the compliment.
“She’s not making two knots through the water,” said Hornblower.
“Thank God for that,” said Fell.
Estrella glided on towards the entrance, preparatory to making the dog-legged turn out to sea; Gomez was handling her beautifully under her very easy sail.
“Shall I follow her now, My Lord?”
“I think it’s time, Sir Thomas.”
“Hands to the capstan, there! Headsail sheets, Mr Field!”
Even at two knots there would be some strain on that length of spun yarn. It must not part – it must not – before Estrella was well out to sea. Lusty arms and sturdy backs were heaving Clorinda’s cable short.
“Clear away the saluting carronade, there!”
Estrella had made the turn; the last of her mainsail was vanishing round the corner. Fell was giving his orders to get Clorinda under way steadily and clearly, despite his excitement. Hornblower was watching him narrowly; this was not a bad test of how he would behave in action, of how he would take his ship down into the smoke and fury of a battle.
“Main tops’l braces!”
Fell was bringing the big frigate round in as neat a fashion as Gomez had handled Estrella. Clorinda steadied herself and gathered way, moving down the channel.
“Man the rail!”
Whatever was going on round the corner, whatever was happening to the Estrella out of sight, the compliments must be paid. Nine-tenths of Clorinda’s crew on deck could be spared for the purpose; with the ship creeping forward before the land breeze the other one-tenth sufficed to keep her under control. Hornblower drew himself up and faced the Spanish flag flying over the Morro, his hand to his hat brim, Fell beside him, the other officers in rank behind, while the salute banged out and was returned, the flags dipping respectfully.