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| Then his grip tightened on the stonework of the parapet, and he stared and stared again with aching eyes towards what had attracted his notice. It was the tiniest, most subdued little red glow in the distance. | Тут Хорнблауэр с силой сжал каменный парапет и до боли в глазах стал вглядываться в привлекший его внимание отсвет, далекое, еле заметное зарево. |
| The English had brought in fire ships in the wake of their fighting squadron. | В кильватере боевых кораблей британцы привели брандеры. |
| A squadron at anchor like this was the best possible target for a fire ship, and Martin had planned his attack well in sending in his ships of the line first to clear away guard boats and beat down the French fire and occupy the attention of the crews. | Эскадра на якоре - идеальная цель для брандеров, и атаку Мартин продумал хорошо - идущие впереди линейные корабли потопили караульные шлюпки, отвлекли внимание французов, ослабили их огневую мощь. |
| The red glow suddenly increased, grew brighter and brighter still, revealing the hull and masts and rigging of a small brig; still brighter it grew as the few daring spirits who remained on board flung open hatches and gunports to increase the draught. | Отсвет ширился, огонь разгорался, озаряя корпус и мачты небольшого брига, вот вспыхнуло еще ярче - это смельчаки на борту открыли люки и орудийные порты, чтоб увеличить тягу. |
| The tongues of flame which soared up were visible even to Hornblower on the ramparts, and they revealed to him, too, the form of the Turenne alongside her - the one French ship which had emerged from the previous battle with all her masts. | Хорнблауэр с крепостного вала видел даже языки пламени и в их свете - силуэт "Турени", того самого французского корабля, который вышел из боя с неповрежденными мачтами. |
| Whoever the young officer in command of the fire ship might be, he was a man with a cool head and determined will, thus to select the most profitable target of all. | Молодой офицер там на брандере хладнокровен и решителен - он выбрал наилучшую цель. |
| Hornblower saw points of fire begin to ascend the rigging of the Turenne until she was outlined in red like some set-piece in a firework display. | Огонь побежал по такелажу "Турени", очертив ее силуэт, словно праздничная иллюминация. |
| Sudden jets of flame showed where powder charges on her deck were taking fire; and then the whole set-piece suddenly swung round and began to drift before the gentle wind as the burnt cables gave way. |
