Читать книгу Lieutenant Hornblower онлайн

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"Silence, there!" he roared. "Get about your business."

When Bush glowered round at the excited crowd it fell silent.

"With your permission I'll go below again, sir" said Hornblower. "I must see after the captain."

"Very well, Mr. Hornblower" said Bush; the stereotyped phrase had been uttered so often before that it escaped sounding stilted.

"Come with me, Mr. Wellard" said Hornblower, and turned away.

Several new arrivals made their appearance as he did so--Buckland, his face white and strained, Roberts at his shoulder, Clive in his shirt and trousers walking sleepily from his cabin. All of them started a little at the sight of the marines forming line on the cumbered deck, their musket barrels glinting in the feeble light of the lanterns.

"Would you come at once, sir?" asked Hornblower, turning back at sight of Buckland.

"I'll come" said Buckland.

"What in the name of God is going on?" asked Clive.

"The captain's hurt" said Hornblower curtly. "Come at once. You'll need a light."

"The captain?" Clive blinked himself wider awake. "Where is he? Give me that lantern, you. Where are my mates? You, there, run and rouse my mates. They sling their hammocks in the sick bay."