Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (106 page)

             
Intent
on
his
own
telescope
Thomas
Bell
replied,
"
Aye,
sir.
I
mark
a
battery
at
the
end
of
that
point
and
there
is
a
large
frigate
anchored
to
the
western
side
of
the
anchorage.
"

             
"
Yes,
I
have
him,
"
the
Captain
acknowledged.
"
A
thirty
six
gun
ship
I
make
her.
"
He
lowered
the
glass
as
Captain
Te
Water
joined
them,
"
An
interesting
place,
Captain.
We
shall
make
our
salute
as
we
anchor.
I
trust
your
people
will
be
able
to
read
our
intent.
"

             
The
Dutch
Captain
smiled,
"
Ik
is
zeker
..,
"
He
switched
to
English,
"
I
am
certain
zey
vill.
"

             
"
Boat
putting
out
from
the
shore,
sir,
"
called
a
lookout.
Moments
later
a
second
call
from
the
fo
'
c
'
s
'
le,
"
Boat
putting
off
from
the
frigate.
"

             
"
It
seems
we
will
shortly
have
two
visitors,
Mister
Bell,
man
the
side
if
you
please.
"

             
Through
the
Signal
Telescope
Harry
had
studied
the
ships
gathered
in
the
anchorage.
His
eye
lingered
for
some
time
on
several
queer
looking
ships
with
bluff
bows
and
high
raked
sterns
carrying
strange
fore
and
aft
rigs
of
slatted
sails.

             
"
Chineemen
they
be,
"
the
Master
said.
"
Handy,
so
I
'
m
told,
and
weatherly.
Secretive
lot
they
are.
Keep
themselves
to
themselves
and
call
us
'
For
'
n
Devils
'
.
Heathen
they
are.
"
The
Master
stumped
away
to
the
helm
and
Harry
gave
his
attention
back
to
the
halyards
for
the
great
ensign
as
the
ship
prepared
to
render
honours
to
the
Dutch.

***

             
The
frigate
'
s
boat
reached
the
side
first,
its
occupant
the
frigate
'
s
Captain,
resplendent
in
his
dress
coat.
He
swung
himself
easily
through
the
entry
port
and
raised
his
hat
in
salute
as
the
Marine
Band
played
their
way
through
the
Dutch
Anthem.

             
As
it
finished
Captain
Blackwood
stepped
forward
and
extended
his
hand.
"
Welcome
aboard
Captain.
"

             
"
Thank
you.
"
The
visitor
responded
in
flawless,
if
slightly
accented
English.
"
I
welcome
you
to
Batavia.
I
believe
you
were
instrumental
in
a
rescue
in
the
Southern
Ocean
on
passage
to
Van
Diemen
'
s
Land?
"
Accepting
Captain
Blackwood
'
s
proffered
hand
he
introduced
himself,
"
Frigate
Captain
Hendrik
De
Ruiter,
at
your
service.
"

             
"
Indeed
we
were.
"
Captain
Blackwood
introduced
himself.
"
We
had
the
good
fortune
to
see
the
distress
signal
and
rendered
assistance.
Captain
Te
Water
and
the
remainder
of
his
people
are
waiting
to
greet
you
on
the
quarterdeck.
If
you
will
forgive
me,
I
see
the
shore
boat
is
about
to
arrive
and
I
must
greet
the
officer
I
see
it
carries.
"
He
beckoned
to
Harry.
"
Mister
Heron
will
show
you
to
Captain
Te
Water.
"

             
Captain
de
Ruiter
nodded
his
agreement.
"
Of
course.
I
have
inconvenienced
you
by
my
impatience.
My
son
was
aboard
the
Oliphant
and
I
am
eager
for
news
of
him.
"

             
Harry
stepped
forward
and
touched
his
hat.
"
If
you
will
accompany
me,
sir,
"
he
said
as
the
side
party
prepared
to
greet
the
new
visitor.
He
led
the
visiting
Captain
to
the
companionway
and
across
the
wide
quarterdeck
toward
the
knot
of
passengers
watching
the
shore.

             
Captain
Te
Water
saw
them
and
walked
to
meet
the
visitor,
"
Groete
Kaptein,
ik
is
blijwe
om
uwe
te
groet
.
"

             
The
two
men
shook
hands
and
Harry
was
about
to
leave
when
Pieterzoon
intercepted
him
and
said
in
a
loud
whisper,
"
Harry,
dat
is
mijn
Papa!
"

             
"
Een
nuwe
vriend,
Pieterzoon
?
"
The
Captain
'
s
smile
was
a
mix
of
pride
and
sadness
as
he
surveyed
his
son.
Harry
found
himself
being
studied
by
the
Dutch
Captain
while
Pieterzoon
explained
and
introduced
him
in
an
excited
torrent
of
Dutch.
When
he
finally
stopped
his
father
enfolded
him
in
a
hug
that
made
Harry
recall
his
parents
and
long
for
a
similar
greeting.
Over
the
boy
'
s
head
the
Dutch
Captain
looked
at
Harry,
"
Thank
you,
Mister
–
Her
'
n?
–
for
befriending
my
son.
"
He
smiled
and
ruffled
Pieterzoon
'
s
hair
adding,
"
You
have
made
quite
an
impression
on
him
for
he
speaks
very
highly
of
you.
"