Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (33 page)

             
"
I
'
ll
keep
it
in
mind,
"
Harry
nodded
as
he
began
his
descent
of
the
mast.
He
was
tempted
to
slide
down
the
stay,
but
with
the
telescope
swinging
against
his
back
decided
to
take
the
safer
option.
He
arrived
on
the
gangway
just
in
time
to
join
the
fifth
lieutenant
as
he
mustered
another
party
of
seamen
and
marines,
relieved
to
see
it
included
his
friend
Ferghal
O
'
Connor,
crouched
in
the
packed
boat.

             
"
Good,
Mister
Heron,
make
ready,
we
are
to
take
this
crew
to
the
Maid
of
Selsey
,
if
our
corsairs
strike
she
will
lie
in
their
path.
You
have
your
dirk?
Good,
it
will
serve.
Into
the
boat
with
you
now.
"

             
Passing
the
heavy
telescope
to
a
Master
'
s
Mate,
Harry
scrambled
down
the
tumblehome
and
launched
himself
into
the
boat
as
it
lifted
to
the
swell
and
rose
to
meet
him.
Landing
somewhat
awkwardly,
he
was
steadied
by
one
of
the
seamen
who
grinned
at
him,
"
Easy
sir,
there
'
ll
be
time
enough
to
go
at
them
when
they
come
alongside
us.
"

             
Harry
laughed
and
several
others
laughed
with
him,
"
Thank
you
Jenkin,
I
shall
curb
my
lust
for
a
fight
and
wait
patiently
with
the
rest
of
you
then.
"
His
eyes
found
Ferghal
and
nodded
an
acknowledgement
of
his
friend
'
s
grin
and
small
signal
of
greeting.

***

             
The
Maid
of
Selsey
was
a
fat,
slow,
and
rather
elderly
ship.
The
first
sound
that
greeted
Harry
'
s
ears
as
he
followed
the
Lieutenant
through
the
entry
port
was
the
clank
of
her
pumps
and
it
was
immediately
obvious
this
ship
needed
almost
constant
pumping.
He
heard
Lieutenant
Rogers
exclaim,
"
Good
God
Captain,
do
not
tell
me
you
are
holed
already!
"

             
"
Lord
no!
She
has
some
bad
seams
which
need
careening
to
caulk.
"
The
Master
was
an
oily
fat
man
with
small
close-set
eyes
putting
Harry
in
mind
of
a
pig.
"
But
we
have
plenty
of
labour
to
keep
the
pumps
going
until
we
may
do
that.
"
He
gave
a
mirthless
laugh
as
he
waved
a
hand
over
the
upturned
faces
of
the
prisoners
confined
in
the
prison
holds.

             
Looking
down,
Harry
felt
a
surge
of
pity
as
he
caught
sight
of
several
children
'
s
faces
peering
up
through
the
gratings.
This
turned
to
an
angry
disgust
as
he
heard
the
Master
continue,
"
Rats
this
lot.
Mostly
Irish
rebels
and
poachers.
They
have
a
choice
with
us
–
pump
or
drown.
"

             
"
There
may
be
another
option
if
we
are
boarded,
Captain.
"
Lieutenant
Rogers
sounded
as
disgusted
as
Harry
felt.
"
These
corsairs
are
slavers
and
you
and
your
crew
are
just
as
like
to
find
yourselves
attached
to
their
oars
as
any
of
those
below
if
they
succeed.
"
He
looked
about
him
frowning.
"
Have
you
no
broadside
guns
with
which
we
may
repel
these
pirates?
"

             
Harry
could
see
several
guns,
but
all
seemed
to
be
trained
inboard
and
pointed
at
companionways
or
the
gratings.
He
heard
the
captain
tell
the
lieutenant,
"
With
so
few
hands
for
my
ship
and
so
many
prisoners.
"
He
shrugged.
"
I
keep
them
ready
to
quell
any
mutiny,
mister.
"

             
"
Well,
my
men
will
take
charge
of
them
and
prepare
them
to
repel
a
more
serious
threat,
"
said
the
lieutenant,
his
tone
indicating
his
anger
at
this
man
'
s
folly.
Turning
to
Harry
he
said,
"
Mister
Heron,
go
with
Mister
Bates
and
see
what
may
be
done
to
get
those
guns
ready
for
our
defence.
I
do
not
think
we
will
have
to
concern
ourselves
with
any
attempt
to
escape
by
the
prisoners
for
the
moment.
"

             
"
Aye,
aye,
sir,
"
said
Harry
and
left
the
lieutenant
as
the
captain
started
to
protest
at
his
taking
charge.
He
followed
the
Master
'
s
Mate
below
the
gangway
and
listened
as
the
man,
one
of
Spartan
'
s
most
experienced,
told
the
seamen
with
him
what
he
wanted.