Читать книгу Lieutenant Hornblower онлайн

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There was no need for Hornblower to go on with that speech. Everyone who heard it formed a mental picture of corpses swaying at the yard-arms.

"Supposing we do it quick and sharp?" agreed Buckland. "Supposing we get him into irons?"

"Then we go on to Antigua" said Roberts.

"And a court-martial" said Bush, thinking as far ahead as that for the first time in this present crisis.

"Yes" whispered Buckland.

Into that flat monosyllable were packed various moods--inquiry and despair, desperation and doubt.

"That's the point" whispered Hornblower. "He'll give evidence. It'll sound different in court. We've been punished--watch and watch, no liquor. That could happen to anybody. It's no grounds for mutiny."

"But he's spoiling the hands."

"Double rum. Make and mend. It'll sound quite natural in court. It's not for us to criticise the captain's methods--so the court will think."

"But they'll see him."

"He's cunning. And he's no raving lunatic. He can talk--he can find reasons for everything. You've heard him. He'll be plausible."