“Well —” That might imply flinching away from duty. “It’s a matter for Buckland to deal with, if anyone.”
“Yes, sir. I could suggest something, sir.”
“And what’s that?” Bush did not know whether to be irritated or pleased that Hornblower had one more suggestion to make. But he doubted his own ability to bargain or negotiate; he knew himself to be lacking in chicane and dissimulation.
“If you made an agreement about the prisoners, sir, it would take some time to carry out. There’d be the question of the parole. I could argue about the wording of it. Then it would take some time to ferry the prisoners over. You could insist that only one boat was at the landing stage at a time — that’s an obvious precaution to take. It would give time for Renown to work up into the bay. She can anchor down there just out of range of the other battery, sir. Then the hole’ll be stopped, and at the same time we’ll still be in touch with the Dons so that Mr Buckland can take charge of the negotiations if he wishes to.”
“There’s something in that notion,” said Bush. Certainly it would relieve him of responsibility, and it was pleasant to think of spinning out time until the Renown was back, ready to add her ponderous weight in the struggle.
“So you authorise me to negotiate for the return of the prisoners on parole, sir?” asked Hornblower.
“Yes,” said Bush, coming to a sudden decision. “But nothing else, mark you, Mr Hornblower. Not if you value your commission.”
“Aye aye, sir. And a temporary suspension of hostilities while they are being handed over, sir?”
“Yes,” said Bush, reluctantly. It was a matter necessarily arising out of the previous one, but it had a suspicious sound to it, now that Hornblower had suggested the possibility of further negotiations.
So the day proceeded to wear into afternoon. A full hour was consumed in haggling over the wording of the parole under which the captured soldiers were to be released. It was two o’clock before agreement was reached, and later than that before Bush, standing by the main gate, watched the women troop out through it, carrying their bundles of belongings. The boat could not possibly carry them all; two trips had to be made with them before the male prisoners, starting with the wounded, could begin. To rejoice Bush’s heart the Renown appeared at last round the point; with the sea breeze beginning to blow she came nobly up the bay.
And here came Hornblower again, clearly so weary that he could hardly drag one foot after another, to touch his hat to Bush.
“Renown knows nothing about the suspension of hostilities, sir,” he said. “She’ll see the boat crossing full of Spanish soldiers, an’ she’ll open fire as sure as a gun.”
“How are we to let her know?”
“I’ve been discussing it with Ortega, sir. He’ll lend us a boat and we can send a message down to her.”
“I suppose we can.”
Sleeplessness and exhaustion had given an edge to Bush’s temper. This final suggestion, when Bush came to consider it, with his mind slowed by fatigue, was the last straw.
“You’re taking altogether too much on yourself, Mr Hornblower,” he said. “Damn it, I’m in command here.”
“Yes, sir,” said Hornblower, standing at attention, while Bush gazed at him and tried to reassemble his thoughts after this spate of ill temper. There was no denying that Renown had to be informed; if she were to open fire it would be in direct violation of an agreement solemnly entered into, and to which he himself was a party.
“Oh, hell and damnation!” said Bush. “Have it your own way, then. Who are you going to send?”
“I could go myself, sir. Then I could tell Mr Buckland everything necessary.”
“You mean about — about —” Bush actually did not like to mention the dangerous subject.
“About the chance of further negotiations, sir,” said Hornblower stolidly. “He has to know sooner or later. And while Ortega’s still here —”
The implications were obvious enough, and the suggestion was sensible.
“All right. You’d better go, I suppose. And mark my words, Mr Hornblower, you’re to make it quite clear that I’ve authorised no negotiations of the sort you have in mind. Not a word. I’ve no responsibility. You understand?”