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1、TheReverseoftheMedalbyPatrickO'BrianCHAPTERONETheWestIndiessquadronlayoffBridgetown,shelteredfromthenorth-casttradewindandbaskinginthebrilliantsun.Itwasadiminishedsquadron,consistingoflittlemorethantheancientIrresistible,wearingtheflagofSirWilliamPellew,redatthefore,andtwoorthr
2、eebattered,worn-out,undermannedstoops,togetherwithastoreshipandatransport;foralltheseaworthyvesselswerefarawayintheAtlanticorCaribbean,lookingforthepossibleFrenchorAmericanmen-of-warandthecertainprivateers,numerous,well-armed,well-handled,fullofmen,swift-sailingandeagerfortheir
3、prey,theEnglishandalliedmerchantships.Yetalthoughtheywereold,weather-wornandofteniron-sicktheywereapleasantsightlyingthereonthepurebluesea,asoutwardlytrimasWestIndiesspitandpolishcouldmakethem,withpaintandputtydisguisingthewoundsofageandtheirbright-workallablaze;andalthoughsome
4、ofthemhadsufferedsofromfeverinJamaicaandontheSpanishMainthattheycouldscarcelymusterhandsenoughtowintheiranchors,therewerestillplentyofmen,bothofficersandforemast-jacks,whowereintimatelyacquaintedwiththeshipthatwasbeatingupagainstthesteadybreezeandwithmanyofthepeopleinher.Shewas
5、theSurprise,atwenty-eight-gunfrigatethathadbeensenttoprotecttheBritishwhalersintheSouthSeasfromtheNorfolk,anAmericanman-of-warofroughlyequalforce.TheSurprisewasevenolderthantheIrresistible-indeedshehadbeenonherwaytothebreaker'syardwhenshewassuddenlygiventhemission-butunlikehers
6、hewasasweetsailer,particularlyonabowline;andifshehadnotbeentowingadismastedshipshewouldcertainlyhavejoinedthesquadronalittleafterdinner.Asthingswere,however,itwasdoubtfulwhethershewouldbeabletodosobeforetheeveninggun.TheAdmiralwasinclinedtothinkthatshemightmanageit;butthentheAd
7、miralwassomewhatbiasedbyhisstrongdesiretoknowwhethertheSurprisehadsucceededinhertask,andwhetherthevesselshehadintowwasaprizecapturedinhisextensivewatersormerelyadistressedneutraloraBritishwhaler.InthefirstcaseSirWilliamwouldbeentitledtoatwelfthofhervalueandinthesecondtonothingw
8、hatsoever,noteventothepressingofafewseamen,fortheSouth
