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r's¡¡frantic¡¡wife¡£¡¡So¡¡the¡¡expeditionary¡¡force¡¡had¡¡secured¡¡some¡¡of¡¡its¡¡necessary¡¡transport¡£¡¡In¡¡another¡¡field¡¡a¡¡soldier¡¡was¡¡prodding¡¡a¡¡cow¡¡along¡¡with¡¡his¡¡bayonet¡Hornblower¡¡could¡¡not¡¡imagine¡¡with¡¡what¡¡motive¡£¡¡Twice¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡distant¡¡musket¡¡shots¡¡to¡¡which¡¡no¡¡one¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡any¡¡attention¡£¡¡Then¡¡ing¡¡down¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡they¡¡encountered¡¡two¡¡soldiers¡¡leading¡¡bony¡¡horses¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡beach£»¡¡the¡¡jests¡¡hurled¡¡at¡¡them¡¡by¡¡the¡¡marching¡¡column¡¡had¡¡set¡¡the¡¡men's¡¡faces¡¡in¡¡broad¡¡grins¡¡But¡¡a¡¡little¡¡way¡¡farther¡¡on¡¡Hornblower¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡plough¡¡standing¡¡lonely¡¡in¡¡a¡¡little¡¡field£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡grey¡¡bundle¡¡lying¡¡near¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡bundle¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡man¡£
¡¡Over¡¡on¡¡their¡¡right¡¡was¡¡the¡¡marshy¡¡river¡¡valley£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡long¡¡before¡¡Hornblower¡¡could¡¡see£»¡¡far¡¡ahead£»¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡and¡¡the¡¡causeway¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡seize¡£¡¡The¡¡lane¡¡they¡¡were¡¡following¡¡came¡¡down¡¡a¡¡slight¡¡incline¡¡into¡¡the¡¡town£»¡¡passing¡¡between¡¡a¡¡few¡¡grey¡¡cottages¡¡before¡¡emerging¡¡into¡¡the¡¡highroad¡¡along¡¡which¡¡there¡¡lay¡¡the¡¡town¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡grey¡¡stone¡¡church£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡building¡¡that¡¡could¡¡easily¡¡be¡¡identified¡¡as¡¡an¡¡inn¡¡and¡¡postinghouse¡¡with¡¡soldiers¡¡swarming¡¡round¡¡it£»¡¡a¡¡slight¡¡broadening¡¡of¡¡the¡¡high¡road£»¡¡with¡¡an¡¡avenue¡¡of¡¡trees£»¡¡which¡¡Hornblower¡¡assumed¡¡must¡¡be¡¡the¡¡central¡¡square¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡£¡¡A¡¡few¡¡faces¡¡peered¡¡from¡¡upper¡¡windows£»¡¡but¡¡otherwise¡¡the¡¡houses¡¡were¡¡shut¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡civilians¡¡to¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡except¡¡two¡¡women¡¡hastily¡¡shuttering¡¡their¡¡shops¡£¡¡Pouzauges¡¡reined¡¡up¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡in¡¡the¡¡square¡¡and¡¡began¡¡issuing¡¡orders¡£¡¡Already¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡were¡¡being¡¡led¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡posthouse£»¡¡and¡¡groups¡¡of¡¡men¡¡were¡¡bustling¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro¡¡on¡¡seemingly¡¡urgent¡¡errands¡£¡¡In¡¡obedience¡¡to¡¡Pouzauges¡¡one¡¡officer¡¡called¡¡his¡¡men¡¡together¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡expostulate¡¡and¡¡gesticulate¡¡before¡¡he¡¡succeeded¡and¡¡started¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡bridge¡£¡¡Another¡¡party¡¡started¡¡along¡¡the¡¡highway¡¡in¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡direction¡¡to¡¡guard¡¡against¡¡the¡¡possible¡¡surprise¡¡attack¡¡from¡¡there¡£¡¡A¡¡crowd¡¡of¡¡men¡¡squatted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡square¡¡devouring¡¡the¡¡bread¡¡that¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡out¡¡from¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shops¡¡after¡¡its¡¡door¡¡had¡¡been¡¡beaten¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡times¡¡civilians¡¡were¡¡dragged¡¡up¡¡to¡¡Pouzauges¡¡and¡¡at¡¡his¡¡orders¡¡were¡¡hurried¡¡away¡¡again¡¡to¡¡the¡¡town¡¡jail¡£¡¡The¡¡seizure¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡of¡¡Muzillac¡¡was¡¡plete¡£
¡¡Pouzauges¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡think¡¡so£»¡¡too£»¡¡after¡¡an¡¡interval£»¡¡for¡¡with¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡at¡¡Hornblower¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡trotted¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡causeway¡£¡¡The¡¡town¡¡ended¡¡before¡¡the¡¡road¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡marshes£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡waste¡¡ground¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡road¡¡the¡¡party¡¡sent¡¡out¡¡in¡¡this¡¡direction¡¡had¡¡already¡¡lighted¡¡a¡¡fire£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡men¡¡were¡¡gathered¡¡round¡¡it£»¡¡toasting¡¡on¡¡their¡¡bayonets¡¡chunks¡¡of¡¡meat¡¡cut¡¡from¡¡a¡¡cow¡¡whose¡¡half¡flayed¡¡corpse¡¡lay¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡fire¡£¡¡Farther¡¡on£»¡¡where¡¡the¡¡causeway¡¡became¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡over¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡a¡¡sentry¡¡sat¡¡sunning¡¡himself£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡musket¡¡leaning¡¡against¡¡the¡¡parapet¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡at¡¡his¡¡back¡£¡¡Everything¡¡was¡¡peaceful¡¡enough¡£¡¡Pouzauges¡¡trotted¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡crown¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bridge£»¡¡with¡¡Hornblower¡¡beside¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡over¡¡the¡¡country¡¡on¡¡the¡¡farther¡¡side¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡any¡¡enemy£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡they¡¡returned¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡mounted¡¡red¡coated¡¡soldier¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡them¡Lord¡¡Edrington¡£
¡¡'I've¡¡e¡¡to¡¡see¡¡for¡¡myself£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡'The¡¡position¡¡looks¡¡strong¡¡enough¡¡in¡¡all¡¡conscience¡¡here¡£¡¡Once¡¡you¡¡have¡¡the¡¡guns¡¡posted¡¡you¡¡should¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡this¡¡bridge¡¡until¡¡you¡¡can¡¡blow¡¡up¡¡the¡¡arch¡£¡¡But¡¡there's¡¡a¡¡ford£»¡¡passable¡¡at¡¡low¡¡water£»¡¡half¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡lower¡¡down¡£¡¡That¡¡is¡¡where¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡station¡¡myself¡if¡¡we¡¡lose¡¡the¡¡ford¡¡they¡¡can¡¡turn¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡position¡¡and¡¡cut¡¡us¡¡off¡¡from¡¡the¡¡shore¡£¡¡Tell¡¡this¡¡gentleman¡what's¡¡his¡¡name£¿¡what¡¡I¡¡said¡£'
¡¡Hornblower¡¡translated¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could£»¡¡and¡¡stood¡¡by¡¡as¡¡interpreter¡¡while¡¡the¡¡two¡¡manders¡¡pointed¡¡here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡and¡¡settled¡¡their¡¡respective¡¡duties¡£
¡¡'That's¡¡settled£»¡¡then£»'¡¡said¡¡Edrington¡¡at¡¡length¡£¡¡'Don't¡¡forget£»¡¡Mr¡¡Hornblower£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡must¡¡be¡¡kept¡¡informed¡¡of¡¡every¡¡development¡£'
¡¡He¡¡nodded¡¡to¡¡them¡¡and¡¡wheeled¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡trotted¡¡off¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡left¡¡a¡¡cart¡¡approached¡¡from¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡Muzillac£»¡¡while¡¡behind¡¡it¡¡a¡¡loud¡¡clanking¡¡heralded¡¡the¡¡arrival¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡six¡pounders£»¡¡each¡¡drawn¡¡painfully¡¡by¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡horses¡¡led¡¡by¡¡seamen¡£¡¡Sitting¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cart¡¡was¡¡Midshipman¡¡Bracegirdle£»¡¡who¡¡saluted¡¡Hornblower¡¡with¡¡a¡¡broad¡¡grin¡£
¡¡'From¡¡quarterdeck¡¡to¡¡dung¡¡cart¡¡is¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡step£»'¡¡he¡¡announced£»¡¡swinging¡¡himself¡¡down¡£¡¡'From¡¡midshipman¡¡to¡¡captain¡¡of¡¡artillery¡£'
¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡along¡¡the¡¡causeway¡¡and¡¡then¡¡around¡¡him¡£
¡¡'Put¡¡the¡¡guns¡¡over¡¡there¡¡and¡¡they'll¡¡sweep¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡length£»'¡¡suggested¡¡Hornblower¡£
¡¡'Exactly£»'¡¡said¡¡Bracegirdle¡£
¡¡Under¡¡his¡¡orders¡¡the¡¡guns¡¡were¡¡wheeled¡¡off¡¡the¡¡road¡¡and¡¡pointed¡¡along¡¡the¡¡causeway£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡dung¡¡cart¡¡was¡¡unloaded¡¡of¡¡its¡¡contents£»¡¡a¡¡tarpaulin¡¡spread¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡the¡¡gunpowder¡¡cartridges¡¡laid¡¡on¡¡it¡¡and¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡another¡¡tarpaulin¡£¡¡The¡¡shot¡¡and¡¡the¡¡bags¡¡of¡¡grape¡¡were¡¡piled¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡guns£»¡¡the¡¡seamen¡¡working¡¡with¡¡a¡¡will¡¡under¡¡the¡¡stimulus¡¡of¡¡their¡¡novel¡¡surroundings¡£
¡¡'Poverty¡¡brings¡¡strange¡¡bedfellows£»'¡¡said¡¡Bracegirdle¡£¡¡'And¡¡wars¡¡strange¡¡duties¡£¡¡Have¡¡you¡¡ever¡¡blown¡¡up¡¡a¡¡bridge£¿'
¡¡'Never£»'¡¡said¡¡Hornblower¡£
¡¡'Neither¡¡have¡¡I¡£¡¡e£»¡¡and¡¡let¡¡us¡¡do¡¡it¡£¡¡May¡¡I¡¡offer¡¡you¡¡a¡¡place¡¡in¡¡my¡¡carriage£¿'
¡¡Hornblower¡¡climbed¡¡up¡¡into¡¡the¡¡cart¡¡with¡¡Bracegirdle£»¡¡and¡¡two¡¡seamen¡¡led¡¡the¡¡plodding¡¡horse¡¡along¡¡the¡¡causeway¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bridge¡£¡¡There¡¡they¡¡halted¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡down¡¡at¡¡the¡¡muddy¡¡water¡running¡¡swiftly¡¡with¡¡the¡¡ebb¡craning¡¡their¡¡heads¡¡over¡¡the¡¡parapet¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡the¡¡solid¡¡stone¡¡construction¡£
¡¡'It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡keystone¡¡of¡¡the¡¡arch¡¡which¡¡we¡¡should¡¡blow¡¡out£»'¡¡said¡¡Bracegirdle¡£
¡¡That¡¡was¡¡the¡¡proverbial¡¡recipe¡¡for¡¡the¡¡destruction¡¡of¡¡a¡¡bridge£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡Hornblower¡¡looked¡¡from¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡to¡¡Bracegirdle¡¡and¡¡back¡¡again¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡did¡¡not¡¡seem¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡execute¡£¡¡Gunpowder¡¡exploded¡¡upwards¡¡and¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡held¡¡in¡¡on¡¡all¡¡sidles¡how¡¡was¡¡that¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done¡¡under¡¡the¡¡arch¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bridge£¿
¡¡'What¡¡about¡¡the¡¡pier£¿'¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡tentatively¡£
¡¡'We¡¡can¡¡but¡¡look¡¡and¡¡see£»'¡¡said¡¡Bracegirdle£»¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡seaman¡¡by¡¡the¡¡cart¡£¡¡'Hannay£»¡¡bring¡¡a¡¡rope¡£'
¡¡They¡¡fastened¡¡the¡¡rope¡¡to¡¡the¡¡parapet¡¡and¡¡slid¡¡down¡¡it¡¡to¡¡a¡¡precarious¡¡foothold¡¡on¡¡the¡¡slippery¡¡ledge¡¡round¡¡the¡¡base¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pier£»¡¡the¡¡river¡¡gurgling¡¡at¡¡their¡¡feet¡£
¡¡'That¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡solution£»'¡¡said¡¡Bracegirdle£»¡¡crouching¡¡almost¡¡double¡¡under¡¡the¡¡arch¡£
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¡¡'I'll¡¡fire¡¡the¡¡fuses£»'¡¡said¡¡Bracegirdle¡£¡¡'You¡¡go¡¡next£»¡¡sir¡£'
¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡for¡¡much¡¡argument¡£¡¡Bracegirdle¡¡was¡¡under¡¡orders¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡the¡¡bridge£»¡¡and¡¡Hornblower¡¡addressed¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡climbing¡¡up¡¡the¡¡rope¡¡while¡¡Bracegirdle¡¡took¡¡his¡¡tinderbox¡¡from¡¡his¡¡pocket¡£¡¡Once¡¡on¡¡the¡¡roadway¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡Hornblower¡¡sent¡¡away¡¡the¡¡cart¡¡and¡¡waited¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡only¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡minutes¡¡before¡¡Bracegirdle¡¡appeared£»¡¡frantically¡¡climbing¡¡the¡¡rope¡¡and¡¡hurling¡¡himself¡¡over¡¡the¡¡parapet¡£
¡¡'Run£¡'¡¡was¡¡all¡¡that¡¡was¡¡said¡£
¡¡Together¡¡they¡¡scurried¡¡down¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡and¡¡halted¡¡breathless¡¡to¡¡crouch¡¡by¡¡the¡¡abutment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡causeway¡£¡¡Then¡¡came¡¡a¡¡dull¡¡explosion£»¡¡a¡¡tremor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡under¡¡their¡¡feet£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡cloud¡¡of¡¡smoke¡£
¡¡'Let's¡¡e¡¡and¡¡see£»'¡¡said¡¡Bracegirdle¡£
¡¡They¡¡retraced¡¡their¡¡steps¡¡towards¡¡where¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡was¡¡still¡¡shrouded¡¡in¡¡smoke¡¡and¡¡dust¡£
¡¡'Only¡¡partly¡'¡¡began¡¡Bracegirdle¡¡as¡¡they¡¡neared¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡and¡¡the¡¡dust¡¡cleared¡¡away¡£
¡¡And¡¡at¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡second¡¡explosion¡¡which¡¡made¡¡them¡¡stagger¡¡as¡¡they¡¡stood¡£¡¡A¡¡lump¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roadbed¡¡hit¡¡the¡¡parapet¡¡beside¡¡them¡¡and¡¡burst¡¡like¡¡a¡¡shell£»¡¡spattering¡¡them¡¡with¡¡fragments¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡rumble¡¡and¡¡a¡¡clatter¡¡as¡¡the¡¡arch¡¡subsided¡¡into¡¡the¡¡river¡£
¡¡'That¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡the¡¡second¡¡keg¡¡going¡¡off£»'¡¡said¡¡Bracegirdle£»¡¡wiping¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡'We¡¡should¡¡have¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡fuses¡¡were¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡be¡¡of¡¡different¡¡lengths¡£¡¡Two¡¡promising¡¡careers¡¡might¡¡have¡¡ended¡¡suddenly¡¡if¡¡we¡¡had¡¡been¡¡any¡¡nearer¡£'
¡¡'At¡¡any¡¡rate£»¡¡the¡¡bridge¡¡is¡¡gone£»'¡¡said¡¡Hornblower¡£
¡¡'All's¡¡well¡¡that¡¡ends¡¡well£»'¡¡said¡¡Bracegirdle¡£
¡¡Seventy¡¡pounds¡¡of¡¡gunpowder¡¡had¡¡done¡¡their¡¡work¡£¡¡The¡¡bridge¡¡was¡¡cut¡¡clear¡¡across£»¡¡leaving¡¡a¡¡ragged¡¡gap¡¡several¡¡feet¡¡wide£»¡¡beyond¡¡which¡¡the¡¡roadway¡¡reached¡¡out¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡gap¡¡from¡¡the¡¡farther¡¡pier¡¡as¡¡a¡¡witness¡¡to¡¡the¡¡toughness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mortar¡£¡¡Beneath¡¡their¡¡feet¡¡as¡¡they¡¡peered¡¡over¡¡they¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the¡¡river¡¡bed¡¡almost¡¡choked¡¡with¡¡lumps¡¡of¡¡stone¡£
¡¡'We'll¡¡need¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡an¡¡anchor¡¡watch¡¡to¡night£»'¡¡said¡¡Bracegirdle¡£
¡¡Hornblower¡¡looked¡¡round¡¡to¡¡where¡¡the¡¡roan¡¡horse¡¡was¡¡tethered£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡tempted¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡Muzillac¡¡on¡¡foot£»¡¡leading¡¡the¡¡animal£»¡¡but¡¡shame¡¡forbade¡£¡¡He¡¡climbed¡¡with¡¡an¡¡effort¡¡into¡¡the¡¡saddle¡¡and¡¡headed¡¡the¡¡animal¡¡back¡¡up¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡him¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡was¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡red¡¡with¡¡the¡¡approach¡¡of¡¡sunset¡£
¡¡He¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡main¡¡street¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡and¡¡rounded¡¡the¡¡slight¡¡bend¡¡to¡¡the¡¡central¡¡square£»¡¡to¡¡see¡¡something¡¡that¡¡made¡¡him£»¡¡withou