Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (16 page)

             
Harry
raced
down
the
rigging
and
reached
his
position
at
Mister
Beasley
'
s
side
just
as
the
helm
went
over
and
the
ship
began
to
swing
ponderously
through
the
eye
of
the
wind,
the
sails
slating
and
banging
as
she
did
so.
Around
him
men
swirled
in
the
chaotic
seeming
dance
as
they
hauled
on
the
braces
and
sheets
to
trim
the
yards
and
sails
once
more
to
the
best
setting
to
take
the
wind.
The
tack
now
placed
Spartan
to
windward
and
astern
of
her
brood
of
reluctant
charges,
but
at
least,
Harry
noted
as
they
settled
on
the
new
course
and
he
supervised
the
men
stowing
the
many
lines
neatly,
all
of
their
rag-tag
'
fleet
'
were
once
more
in
a
group
with
the
brigs
harrying
the
laggards
into
closing
up
on
the
others.

             
"
Mister
Bell,
"
Captain
Blackwood
called,
"
We
will
exercise
the
upper
battery
after
breakfast.
The
Frogs
may
be
talking
of
peace,
but
I
do
not
intend
to
allow
our
people
to
forget
their
drills.
I
do
not
expect
this
peace
too
last
much
longer
than
it
takes
Bonaparte
to
replace
his
losses
and
recruit
new
blood
to
his
service.
He
is
an
ambitious
man.
"

             
"
Aye,
aye,
sir,
"
Thomas
Bell
touched
his
hat,
"
Our
landsmen
will
need
to
learn
their
new
trade
I
expect.
I
shall
speak
to
the
gunner
and
ensure
they
have
the
opportunity.
"

-

             
Major
James
Heron
strode
into
the
house
on
the
shoulder
of
Scrabo,
a
bundle
of
letter
packets
in
his
hand
and
sought
his
wife.
"
My
dear,
we
have
letters
from
Harry.
"
He
handed
over
the
largest
package,
adding,
"
By
the
size
of
the
packet
more
than
one
and
perhaps
even
some
of
his
sketches
of
shipboard
life.
"

             
Mary,
the
Housemaid,
sister
to
Ferghal,
slipped
into
the
sitting
room
and
set
down
a
tray,
"
Your
tea,
Ma
'
am,
and
a
coffee
for
the
Major.
"

             
Mrs
Heron
smiled
and
said,
"
Thank
you,
Mary.
I
have
letters
from
Harry
so
there
will
be
news
from
Ferghal
too.
I
shall
share
it
with
your
mother
later.
"
She
opened
the
package
and
carefully
extracted
the
contents.
Her
husband
was
right.
There
were
three
letters
and
several
sketches
and
she
knew
it
would
have
cost
Harry
no
small
part
of
his
meagre
pay
to
send
these.
The
letters
were,
as
always,
numbered,
so
she
found
the
first
and
began
to
read
eagerly.
When
she
had
done,
she
passed
it
to
her
husband,
saying,
"
Now
that
the
Peace
is
signed,
it
seems
his
ship
is
to
be
placed
in
reserve.
Perhaps
we
will
see
him
home
again
soon.
"
She
opened
the
next
and
began
to
read,
then
stopped,
and
checked
the
date.
"
Of
all
the
infamous
things,
"
she
exclaimed.
"
He
has
been
transferred
to
another
ship
–
the
Spartan
–
and
speaks
of
sailing
for
the
Prison
Colony
at
Botany
Bay.
"

             
"
That
will
be
an
adventure
for
him,
"
remarked
her
husband,
still
immersed
in
Harry
'
s
first.
Then
the
import
struck
him.
"
Botany
Bay
do
you
say?
"

             
"
The
same,
"
his
wife
replied.
Reading
further,
she
exclaimed,
"
And
Ferghal
goes
with
him.
At
least
we
may
be
easy
on
that
score,
but
I
am
told
that
it
is
a
dreadful
place,
barren
and
populated
with
savages
and
creatures
unlike
any
we
know.
"

             
"
Well
he
is
not
going
to
stay
there,
my
dear.
"
The
Major
smiled
absently,
"
Unlike
those
they
are
no
doubt
escorting
to
that
place.
"
He
frowned,
"
Six
months
ago
there
were
several
from
this
County
condemned
as
poachers
and
rebels
to
be
transported.
I
wonder
if
there
are
any
of
them
among
those
on
this
voyage.
"

             
"
If
there
are
it
is
unlikely
Harry
will
encounter
them
I
should
think.
"
His
wife
looked
distressed.
"
Was
not
the
Murphy
boy
among
those
condemned?
"