Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies by C. S. Forester

Author:C. S. Forester
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Great Britain - History, Admirals - Fiction, Horatio (Fictitious character) - Fiction, Naval, Action & Adventure, Naval - 19th century - Fiction, Sea stories, Naval - 19th century, Naval - Fiction, West Indies - History, Historical, West Indies, Great Britain, Admirals, Historical fiction, Hornblower, West Indies - History - Fiction, Fiction, Horatio (Fictitious character)
ISBN: 9780316289412
Publisher: BOSTON : LITTLE, BROWN, C1986
Published: 1989-11-02T08:00:00+00:00

"Thank you, Sir Thomas. Stand by, if you please."

There would have been just time even if the strangers had come instantly down and gone into action without parley. By a rapid use of his springs he would rake the first-comer thoroughly enough to have made her captain wish he had never been born. Now he must wait, and the ship's company, standing by their guns, must wait with him, the matches smouldering in their tubs, the fire parties standing by with their buckets, the powder boys, cartridge carriers in hand, waiting to start their race from powder magazine to guns and back again.

"Here they come, My Lord!"

Those topsails were narrowing again; those masts were coming into line. Now the frigates' bows were pointed straight atClorinda as they came towards her. Hornblower held them steady in his telescope; no guns were run out, he could see, but it was impossible to tell if they were cleared for action. Nearer and nearer; now they were almost within extreme random cannon shot. At that moment there was a puff of smoke from the Spaniard's starboard bow, and for the life of him Hornblower could not check a gulp of excitement. The breeze blew the puff away, and then the puff was replaced by another; as the second appeared, the heavy thud of the first discharge came to Hornblower's ears. There was a momentary temptation to plunge into the luxury of mental arithmetic, involving the speed of sound conveyed over water, and the five seconds' interval between saluting guns, and the distance between the ships, but it had to be foregone.

"You may return the salute to the broad pendant, Sir Thomas."

"Aye aye, My Lord."

Thirteen guns for a Rear Admiral's flag; eleven for a Commodore; twenty-four guns, one hundred and twenty seconds, exactly two minutes; those ships, approaching at four miles in the hour would be a cable's length closer at the end of the salutes, within distant gunshot.

"Sir Thomas, I would be glad if you would take several turns upon the starboard spring."

"Aye aye, My Lord."

The violent creaking made itself heard again, andClorinda turned herself to present her broadside towards the newcomers. No harm whatever in letting them know that a hot reception was awaiting them if they intended mischief; it might save much trouble later.

"They're taking in sail, my Lord!"

So he could see for himself, but there was nothing to be gained by saying so. The two ships obviously had heavy crews, judging by the rapidity with which sail was got in. Now round they went, up into the wind. Hornblower believed he could hear the roar of the cables as they anchored. It seemed like a decisive moment, and Hornblower was about to mark it by shutting up his telescope with a snap when he saw a boat lowering from the Spaniard.

"I fancy we'll be having a visitor shortly," said Hornblower.

The boat seemed to fly over the glittering water; the men at the oars were pulling like madmen — presumably the eternal desire of the men of one navy to show another navy what they could do.

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