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《Aubrey Maturin Series-02 Post Captain 》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在行业资料-天天文库。
1、PostCaptainbyPatrickO'BrianCHAPTERONEAtfirstdawntheswathesofraindriftingeastwardsacrosstheChannelpartedlongenoughtoshowthatthechasehadalteredcourse.TheCharwellhadbeeninherwakemostofthenight,runningsevenknotsinspiteofherfoulbottom,andnowtheywerenotmuchabovea
2、mileandahalfapart.Theshipaheadwasturning,turning,comingupintothewind;andthesilencealongthefrigate'sdeckstookonanewqualityaseverymanaboardsawhertworowsofgun-portscomeintoview.Thiswasthefirstclearsighttheyhadhadofhersincethelook-outhailedthedeckinthegrowingda
3、rknesstoreportashiphull-downonthehorizon,onepointonthelarboardbow.Shewasthensteeringnorth-north-east,anditwasthegeneralopinionaboardtheCharwellthatshewaseitheroneofascatteredFrenchconvoyoranAmericanblockade-runnerhopingtoreachBrestundercoverofthemoonlessnig
4、ht.TwominutesafterthatfirsthailtheCharwellsetherforeandmaintopgallants-nogreatspreadofcanvas,butthenthefrigatehadhadalong,wearingvoyagefromtheWestIndies:nineweeksoutofsightofland,theequinoctialgalestostrainhertiredriggingtothebreaking-point,threedaysoflying
5、-tointheBayofBiscayatitsworst,anditwasunderstandablethatCaptainGriffithsshouldwishtohusbandheralittle.Nocloudofsail,butevensoshefetchedthestranger'swakewithinacoupleofhours,andatfourbellsinthemorningwatchtheCharwellclearedforaction.Thedrumbeattoquarters,the
6、hammockscameracingup,pilingintothenettingstoformbulwarks,thegunswererunout;andthewarm,pink,sleepywatchbelowhadbeenstandingtotheminthecoldraineversince-anhourandmoretochillthemtothebone.Nowinthesilenceofthisdiscoveryoneofthecrewofaguninthewaistcouldbeheardex
7、plainingtoaweak-eyedstaringlittlemanbesidehim,'She'saFrenchtwo-decker,mate.Aseventy-fouroraneighty:we'vecaughtatartar,mate.''Silencethere,Goddamnyou,'criedCaptainGriffiths.'MrQuarles,takethatman'sname.'Thenthegreyrainclosedin.Butatpresenteveryoneonthecrowde
8、dquarterdeckknewwhatlaybehindthatdrifting,formlessveil:aFrenchshipoftheline,withbothherrowsofgun-portsopen.Andtherewasnotonewhohadmissedtheslightmovementoftheyardthatmeantshewasabouttolayherforesailtot
