'And there's the fleet!' said Tapling bitterly. 'This lot'—he nodded at the deserted lighters, one almost full of cattle, the other almost full of grain sacks—'this lot would be a Godsend. The men are on two-thirds rations.'
'Damn it, we can do something about it,' said Hornblower. 'Maxwell, put the gold back in the boat, and get that awning in.'
The officer of the watch in H.M.S. Indefatigable saw the ship's longboat returning from the town. A slight breeze had swung the frigate and the Caroline (the transport brig) to their anchors, and the longboat, instead of running alongside, came up under the Indefatigable 's stern to leeward.
'Mr Christie!' hailed Hornblower, standing up in the bows of the longboat.
The officer of the watch came aft to the taffrail.
'What is it?' he demanded, puzzled.
'I must speak to the Captain.'
'Then come on board and speak to him. What the devil—?'
'Please ask the Captain if I may speak to him.'
Pellew appeared at the after-cabin window; he could hardly have helped hearing the bellowed conversation.