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d not been wiped out。 Hornblower told himself that was his fault； he should not have entrusted any vital part of the operation to a nervous old woman like Cole。 He ought instead to have stayed on board Raven himself。 Yet it was hard to be sure of that； the other end of the line； which he had entrusted to Vickery in Lotus； was just as important； and it was desirable that he should be in the centre in Nonsuch to coordinate the activities of his two wings。 If Vickery and Cole had had their positions interchanged … as would have to be done … although Vickery could have been relied upon not to spring the trap too soon； could Cole have been relied upon to keep it closed？ There might be five thousand Prussians on the farther bank of the Dwina at this moment if it had been up to Cole to head them off。 Hornblower found himself wishing that he had known exactly which night Macdonald would make the attempt； he might as well have wished for the moon。
〃Mr Cole；〃 said Hornblower； 〃make a signal to Nonsuch； 'modore to Captain。 Am proceeding to Riga with prisoners'。 Then the guard…boats can return to their respective ships； and if you'll kindly up anchor we'll start。〃
CHAPTER TWENTY
Hornblower was once more up in the gallery that encircled the dome of the church of Daugavgriva。
〃You see what I was telling you about； sir；〃 said Clausewitz； pointing。
Out beyond the Russian works stretched a long line； brown against the green； the parapet of the trench the French had thrown up during the night。 Macdonald must be a general with energy； for he had had this work done at the same time as he had sent the Prussians on their risky endeavour to cross the river； so that while one attempt had failed he had made a solid gain； profiting by the dark and rainy night to throw up this entrenchment far forward unobserved。
〃That is his first parallel； sir； and in the centre of it is the battery he is constructing。 And see there； sir？ That is where he is sapping forward。〃
Hornblower stared through his telescope。 At a point towards the end of the face of the first parallel he could see something that looked like a wall constructed of bundles of timber。 The guns in the Russian works far below him were firing at it； he could see earth flying as the shots struck round it。 At the end of the wall of timber was something that looked strange … a sort of shield on wheels。 He was studying it when he saw it moved out suddenly； leaving a narrow gap between it and the end of the timber wall； in which for a fleeting moment he saw a couple of men in blue uniforms。 It was only a fleeting moment； for immediately the gap was filled with a new bundle of timber。 Above the new bundle he could see the blades of spades rising and then disappearing； apparently the bundle of timber was hollow； barrel…shaped； and as soon as it was in position the men sheltering behind it set to work to fill it up with earth dug from behind it。 Homblower realized that he was witnessing the classic method of sapping towards an enemy's position with 'gabion' and 'fascine'。 That big timber basket was a gabion； now being filled with earth。 Farther back； under cover of the line of filled gabions； the besiegers were revetting their breastwork with fascines； six…foot bundles of wood； and farther back still they were building the whole thing solid with earth dug from a trench behind the breastwork。 As he watched； the shield was suddenly pushed forward another yard； and another gabion was put in position； the French were three feet nearer the earthworks which guarded Daugavgriva。 No； not a yard； a little less； because the sap was not pointing straight at its objective； but out at its flank so that it could not be enfiladed。 Soon it would change its direction； and point towards the other flank； approaching the fortress in zigzag fashion； ruthlessly and remorsely。 Of all operations of war a scientific siege was the most certain if relief did not arrive from the outside。
〃See there； sir！〃 said Clausewitz suddenly。
From behind a high embankment had suddenly emerged a long string of horses； looking like ants at that distance； but the white breeches of the men who led them showed up clearly in the sunshine。 The horses were dragging a cannon； a big piece of artillery when its apparent size was pared with that of the horses。 It crawled towards the battery in the centre of the first parallel； a myriad white…breeched specks attending it。 The high breastwork of the first parallel screened the operation from the sight of the Russian gunners and shielded it from their fire。 When the guns had all been brought into the battery； Hornblower knew； openings … 'embrasures' … would be made in the breastwork through which the guns would open fire on the village； silencing the return fire of the defence； and then hammering a breach； meanwhile the sap would be expanded into a wide trench； the 'second parallel'； from which； or if necessary from a 'third parallel'； the stormers would rush out to carry the breach。
〃They will have that battery armed by to…morrow；〃 said Clausewitz。 〃And look！ There is another gabion put in place。〃
Siege operations had the remorseless cold inevitability of the advance of a snake on a paralysed bird。
〃Why do your guns not stop the work on the sap？〃 asked Hornblower。
〃They are trying； as you see。 But a single gabion is not an easy target to hit at this range； and it is only the end one which is vulnerable。 And by the time the sap approaches within easy range their battery…fire will be silencing our guns。〃
Another siege…gun had made its appearance from behind the high embankment； and was crawling towards the battery； its predecessor was at that moment being thrust finally into its position at the breastwork。
〃Can you not bring your ships up； sir？〃 asked Clausewitz。 〃See how the water es close to their works there。 You could shoot them to pieces with your big guns。〃
Hornblower shook his head； the same idea had already occurred to him； for the long glittering arm of the Gulf of Riga which reached into the land there was very tempting。 But there was less than a fathom of water in it； and even his shallow bomb…ketches drew nine feet … seven at least if he emptied them of all their stores save those necessary for the action。
〃I would do so if I could；〃 said Hornblower； 〃but at the present moment I can see no means of getting my guns into range。〃
Clausewitz looked at him coldly； and Hornblower was conscious that goodwill between allies was a frail thing。 Earlier that morning British and Russians had been the best of friends； Essen and Clausewitz had been thoroughly elated at the turning back of Macdonald's attempt to cross the river； and … like the unthinking junior officers in the squadron … had thought that the annihilation of a half…battalion of Prussians a notable success； not knowing of the far more far…reaching plan which Hornblower had made and which Cole's nervousness had brought to almost naught。 When affairs went well； allies were the best of friends； but in adversity each naturally tended to blame the other。 Now that the French approaches were moving towards Daugavgriva he was asking why the Russian artillery did not stop them； and the Russians were ask