Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (133 page)

             
"
What
does
he
say?
"
demanded
Ferghal.

             
"
He
says
you
will
make
a
fine
replacement
for
the
slaves
the
Sultan
has
forced
them
to
surrender.
"

             
"
Be
damned
to
that,
"
said
Ferghal,
getting
ready
to
go
down
fighting.

             
A
shouted
order
from
behind
their
attackers
froze
the
tableaux.

             
"
Marines,
ready!
"

             
Around
them
the
Arabs
seemed
to
melt
away,
the
numbers
thinning
swiftly
until
only
the
Spartan
'
s
stood
huddled
about
the
small
cart
they
had
with
them.
Away
to
their
left,
in
the
direction
of
the
interior,
came
the
sounds
of
a
swift
scuffle
and
several
shots.
Captain
Kriesler
of
the
Spartan
'
s
Marines
stepped
forward,
"
Mister
Barclay,
Purser.
I
rather
fancy
that
lot
will
give
us
no
further
trouble.
"
Over
his
shoulder
he
called,
"
Sergeant,
form
up
and
let
us
get
back
to
the
ship.
His
Majesty
will
expect
us
to
be
presentable
when
he
pays
us
a
visit
later.
"

             
"
We
have
not
completed
the
purchases
of
our
stores,
sir,
"
Midshipman
Barclay
protested
as
they
marched
away
between
the
two
lines
of
red
coats.

             
"
No,
I
should
be
surprised
if
you
had.
"
The
Captain
was
as
irritatingly
laconic
as
always.
"
However,
our
agent
has
obtained
the
supplies
the
ship
required
and
the
Sultan
has
sent
gifts
to
both
the
Wardroom
and
the
Gunroom
which
will
more
than
make
up
for
any
shortfall
I
do
assure
you.
"

             
"
How
the
did
you
know
where
we
were?
"
Barclay
couldn
'
t
resist
asking
the
question
all
of
the
party
wanted
too.
"
Are
we
not
forbidden
to
land
in
force
like
this
in
a
sovereign
state?
"

             
"
As
you
say,
"
the
Captain
said
in
an
off-handed
tone.
"
We
are
indeed
forbidden
to
do
so
–
unless
invited
by
the
ruler
of
course.
The
Sultan
invited
our
Captain
to
send
us
ashore
to
assist
him
in
acting
on
intelligence
that
an
attempt
was
to
be
made
to
cause
an
incident.
His
spies
have
had
you
in
their
eyes
since
you
set
out.
They
sent
word
and
the
commander
of
the
Sultan
'
s
guard
led
us
straight
to
you
while
his
men
blocked
the
other
fellows
'
escape
route.
"
He
eyed
Midshipman
Barclay
casually
and
said,
"
You
were,
it
seems,
intended
to
be
a
fuse
in
a
diplomatic
powder
keg
our
French
friends
have
set
up
here.
The
Sultan
was
not
keen
to
have
it
blown
by
anyone
but
himself.
"

             
The
waterfront
was
now
open
before
them
and
the
group
marched
smartly
down
to
the
waiting
boats.
The
Marines
boarded
in
their
usual
impeccable
order
while
the
seamen
loaded
the
stores
they
had
obtained
and
then
themselves.
It
was
a
very
thoughtful
party
that
returned
to
the
Spartan
.
   

***

             
The
Sultan
timed
his
visit
to
the
ship
impeccably,
arriving
in
some
state
with
his
entourage
aboard
an
ornately
decorated
Dhow.
In
the
usual
courtesies,
a
gun
salute
was
fired
as
he
ducked
through
the
entry
port
and
the
Royal
Marine
detachment
stamped
to
the
present
arms
in
a
storm
of
pipeclay
and
the
twittering
of
the
side
party
'
s
pipes.
Then,
with
a
great
crashing
of
drums,
the
Marine
Band
launched
into
their
salute
as
the
Sultan
'
s
personal
flag
broke
at
the
forepeak.
As
the
noise
abated
again,
Captain
Blackwood
stepped
forward
and
welcomed
the
Royal
visitor.

             
"
Your
Majesty,
welcome
aboard
His
Most
Britannic
Majesty
'
s
Ship
Spartan.
May
I
present
to
you
my
officers?
"

             
Passing
along
the
line
of
lieutenants,
the
Sultan
acknowledged
each
in
turn
and
then
reached
the
midshipmen.
He
paused
when
he
reached
Harry
and
said,
"
I
thought
you
should
see
my
clasp
in
its
proper
setting.
"
He
indicated
the
exquisite
silver
object
in
his
turban.
"
I
think
you
see
now
why
it
is
regarded
as
so
precious
to
the
Sultanate?
"