'She looks French all over to me, sir,' said Hunter. 'Privateer, seemly.'
'Stand by to jibe,' said Hornblower.
They brought the boat round before the wind, heading directly away from the ship. But in war as in the jungle, to fly is to invite pursuit and attack. The ship set courses and topgallants and came tearing down upon them, passed them at half a cable's length and then hove-to, having cut off their escape. The ship's rail was lined with a curious crowd — a large crew for a vessel that size. A hail came across the water to the boat, and the words were French. The English seamen subsided into curses, while the French captain cheerfully stood up and replied, and the French crew brought the boat alongside the ship.
A handsome young man in a plum-coloured coat with a lace stock greeted Hornblower when he stepped on the deck.
'Welcome, sir, to the Pique,' he said in French 'I am Captain Neuville, of this privateer. And you are—?'
'Midshipman Hornblower, of His Britannic Majesty's ship Indefatigable,' growled Hornblower.
'You seem to be in evil humour,' said Neuville. 'Please do not be so distressed at the fortunes of war. You will be accommodated in this ship, until we return to port, with every comfort possible at sea. I beg of you to consider yourself quite at home. For instance, those pistols in your belt must discommode you more than a little. Permit me to relieve you of their weight.'
He took the pistols neatly from Hornblower's belt as he spoke, looked Hornblower keenly over, and then went on.
'That dirk that you wear at your side, sir. Would you oblige me by the loan of it? I assure you that I will return it to you when we part company. But while you are on board here I fear that your impetuous youth might lead you into some rash act while you are wearing a weapon which a credulous mind might believe to be lethal. A thousand thanks. And now might I show you the berth that is being prepared for you?'
With a courteous bow he led the way below. Two decks down, presumably at the level of a foot or two below the water line, was a wide bare 'tweendecks, dimly lighted and scantily ventilated by the hatchways.