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Braun was on deck early； leaning against the rail； craning over in fact； that faint grey smear on the horizon to the northward was his native land； the Finland of lake and forest which the Tsar had just conquered and from which he was a hopeless exile。 Hornblower noted the dejection of the poor devil's pose and was sorry for him； even in the keen excitement of anticipation regarding the reception they might be accorded。 Bush came bustling up； in all the glory of epaulettes and sword； darting eager glances over the deck and aloft to make quite sure that everything in the ship was ready to bear the inspection of an unfriendly power。
〃Captain Bush；〃 said Hornblower； 〃I'd be obliged if you would square away for Kronstadt。〃
〃Aye aye； sir。〃
Hornblower would have liked to have asked if the arrangements for saluting were properly in train； but he forbore。 He could trust Bush with any routine duty； and he had to be very careful not to interfere with the working of the ship。 He was glad that so far he had never forgotten to make use of the polite forms of request when giving orders to Bush； who was his equal in substantive rank。 'I'd be obliged' and 'if you please' still came strangely enough to his lips as a preface to an order。
He turned his back on the dawn and trained his glass aft on the squadron； they were squaring away and taking up their stations astern in succession； the two sloops； and then the two bomb…vessels； and the cutter last。
〃General signal；〃 he snapped； 〃'Keep better station'。〃
He wanted his squadron to e up the difficult channel in exact； regular order； like beads on a string。 Out of the tail of his eye he saw Basse and Wychwood e on deck； and he ignored them。
〃Make that signal again；〃 he rasped； 〃with Harvey's number。〃
Harvey was yawing slightly from her course； young Mound had better keep a sharp eye on his helmsman； or he would be in trouble。 To starboard； where the wide shoals extended from the Oranienbaum shore； there were buoys to mark the limits of the channel； which serpentined back and forth in unpredictable fashion。 If ever he had to penetrate this channel as an enemy he would find it a tricky business。 There were the low grey fortifications of Kronstadt on the port bow； a turn in the channel sent the Nonsuch heading directly for them； so that in the event of fighting the fire of the guns there would enfilade the whole line。 Then the channel swung back again； and then it straightened out so that all ships would be forced to pass close under the guns of Kronstadt。 Through his glass Hornblower made out the blue and white flag of Imperial Russia flying above the grey walls。
〃Make the signal； 'anchor'；〃 said Hornblower to the signal midshipman； and then he darted a meaning glance at Bush； who nodded。 He had everything ready。 The ship crept forward； closer and closer under the guns。
〃Haul down；〃 said Hornblower； and the signal to anchor came down in a flash； putting the order into force at that moment。 Six cables roared through six hawseholes。 In the six ships a thousand men poured aloft； and the canvas vanished as though by magic as the ships swung round to their cables。
〃Pretty fair；〃 said Hornblower to himself； realizing； with an inward smile at his own weakness； that no evolution could ever be carried out to his perfect satisfaction。 Forward the saluting gun began to crash out its marks of respect for the Russian flag； Hornblower saw a puff of smoke from the fortress and then the sound of the first gun of the return salute reached his ears。 Eleven guns； they recognized his broad pendant； then； and knew what pliments were due to a modore。 Here came the doctor's boat to give them pratique； the doctor was a man with a large black beard who spoke limping French。 His visit was a good opportunity to test Braun's ability to speak Russian … Braun translated with facility Hornblower's declaration that there was no infectious disease on board。 Everyone in the ship was a little excited at this visit to Russia； and crowded the side to look down at the Russian boat's crew； seated in their boat with the bowman hooking on to the chains； but they appeared no different from any other boat's crew … much the same kind of coloured shirts and ragged trousers and bare feet； and they handled their craft capably enough。 It was Bush who drove the Nonsuch's crew from the side； he was hotly indignant about their blatant curiosity and the noise they made。
〃Chattering like a herd of monkeys；〃 said Bush indignantly to the first lieutenant。 〃Making more noise than a tree full of jackdaws。 What'll these Russians think of us？ Set the men to work and keep 'em at it。〃
In these conditions of doubtful neutrality it would be best for the first contact with the shore to be made by Basse。 At least ostensibly the squadron had e to Kronstadt merely to bring him with his news to the Swedish Crown Prince。 Hornblower had his barge hoisted out and sent Basse away in it； and the boat returned without him but with no other information。 Basse had landed at the jetty； and the barge； in accordance with Hornblower's orders； had immediately returned。 Apart from the salute and the doctor's visit the Russian Empire chose to ignore the British squadron's existence。
〃What sort of people do they think we are？〃 grumbled Bush； fretting； as usual； at inaction。 Bush knew as well as Hornblower that in all matters of diplomacy it was best to display no eagerness at all； but he could not force himself to appear calm as Hornblower could。 He gave a meaning glance at Hornblower's full uniform and ribbon and star； donned so as to be ready for any official occasion whatever； he wanted Hornblower to proceed on shore to call on the local governor and put the whole situation to the test； but Hornblower was obstinate。 He was waiting for an invitation。 England had survived the storm in Europe so far without a Russian alliance； and future relations would be simplified if Russia were to make the first advances now … provided she did make them。 His squadron was present merely to bring Basse to report to Bernadotte； if the Russian Government chose to take advantage of his presence to approach him； well and good。 Otherwise he would have to devise some other plan。
〃The telegraph hasn't ceased working since Basse reached shore；〃 mented Bush； glass to eye。 The three gaunt black arms of the semaphore on the top of the fortress were whirling busily round transmitting messages to the next station higher up the bay。 Otherwise there was almost nothing to be seen； across the low land of the island were visible a few masts to mark the site of the naval dockyard； two or three merchant ships swung at anchor in that direction； and a few fishing…boats plied their trade。
〃There goes a boat！〃 said Montgomery suddenly。
A smart pinnace was shooting out from the direction of the dockyard heading across the channel almost directly away from Nonsuch。
〃Russian Imperial colours；〃 said Bush。 〃Can anyone see who's onboard？〃
But the pinnace was too far away for any details to be visible by telescope。
〃I think I can see gold lace；〃 said Carlin； doubtfully。
〃Much good that is；〃 said Bush。 〃A blind man would guess there was gold lace in a Russian navy pin