Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (3 page)

***

             
The
following
day,
Sunday,
saw
the
storm
still
blowing
hard
but
once
more
swinging
north
and
westerly
giving
the
ship
an
uncomfortable
motion
at
her
anchor
in
Spithead.
The
ship
'
s
routine
began
in
its
usual
manner
with
the
decks
scrubbed,
the
rigging
checked
and
the
hammocks
stowed
in
the
nettings.
Following
breakfast
the
crew
fell
in
by
Divisions
with
Harry
at
his
station
as
officer
in
charge
of
a
group
of
some
twenty
men
who
formed
part
of
the
Third
Lieutenant
'
s
Division.
To
his
surprise
he
noticed
the
man
he
had
been
instrumental
in
saving
had
been
assigned
to
it,
moving
from
another
Division
to
do
so.
Harry
asked
the
Master
'
s
Mate,
"
I
see
Small
has
been
transferred
to
this
division,
Mister
Llewellyn,
is
there
some
reason?
"

             
"
Aye,
Mister
Heron,
sir,
he
requested
it
and
the
First
agreed
to
it.
Thought
he
might
do
better
in
this
division
with
someone
he
feels
obliged
to.
"

             
"
Obliged,
Mister
Llewellyn?
"
asked
Harry
puzzled.

             
The
Master
'
s
Mate
'
s
reply
was
lost
as
the
arrival
of
the
Captain
on
deck
brought
the
Royal
Marines
to
attention
with
a
rattle
of
drums
and
then
their
Fife
band.
The
salute
died
away
as
the
Captain
took
his
place
at
the
Quarterdeck
rail
and
drew
out
the
Articles
of
War.
These
were
read
with
great
solemnity
before
the
Captain,
accompanied
by
the
First
Lieutenant,
descended
to
the
gangways
and
commenced
an
inspection
of
each
group
of
men.
Reaching
Harry
'
s
group
he
paused
and
addressed
the
seaman
Harry
had
saved.
"
Small,
is
it
not?
"
He
continued
without
waiting
for
confirmation.
"
I
see
you
are
recovered
from
your
swim.
I
know
your
face,
what
ship
were
you
ere
this?
"

             
The
man
flushed
scarlet.
"
Aye,
sir
,
'
t
were
the
Gorgon,
sir,
in
'
92.
"

             
"
I
remember.
You
took
a
cutlass
slash
to
your
shoulder
did
you
not?
"
The
Captain
looked
hard
at
the
man.
"
What
brought
you
to
the
hulks?
"

             
"
Hard
times,
sir.
"
The
man
looked
down
at
his
feet
and
mumbled,
"
No
Captain
wants
a
man
with
one
arm
not
working
proper,
sir.
"

             
"
And
is
it
now
working
fully,
Small?
"
the
Captain
asked
softly.

             
"
Well
enough,
sir,
"
the
man
replied.

             
"
Well
enough
you
lost
your
grip
boarding
the
brig?
"
The
Captain
nodded.
"
Mister
Brydges,
Mister
Heron,
attend
me
after
Divine
Service.
"

***

             
It
did
not
take
long
for
the
Captain
to
hear
the
full
story.
"
Rate
him
an
Assistant
Sailmaker,
Mister
Bell.
Mister
heron
,
I
shall
leave
you
to
inform
Small.
"

             
"
Aye,
aye,
sir.
"

***

             
The
interview
with
Small
had
been
brief,
but
Harry
had
been
touched
and
a
little
embarrassed
by
the
almost
tearful
gratitude
of
the
old
seaman.

***

             
The
February
wind
was
chilly,
but
for
the
moment
light
and
the
sun,
though
weak,
was
at
least
warm
on
his
cheeks
as
Harry
stood
his
watch.
With
the
ship
at
anchor
in
Spithead
his
only
task
was
to
keep
a
sharp
eye
out
for
any
signals
from
the
Port
Admiral
or
a
senior
ship.
It
had
been
a
quiet
watch
thus
far.
The
weeks
since
the
eventful
December
day
the
ship
first
set
her
anchors
down
in
this
anchorage
had
certainly
been
busy
and
he
was
growing
and
learning
fast.

***

             
"
Mister
Heron,
a
word
if
you
please,
"
called
the
Third
Lieutenant,
Mister
Brydges.

             
"
Sir?
"
Harry
Nelson-Heron
hurried
to
where
his
lieutenant
stood
on
the
leeside
of
the
quarterdeck.
After
six
months
as
a
Midshipman
in
His
Most
Britannic
Majesty
'
s
Ship
Bellerophon
,
Harry
was
starting
to
grow
and
was
tall
for
his
age.