Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (4 page)

             
"
Captain
Cooke
is
expecting
a
visitor
shortly,
Captain
Blackwood
of
the
Spartan,
and
has
given
orders
you
are
to
join
him
when
his
guest
is
aboard.
"
He
smiled,
adding,
"
You
are
to
take
a
luncheon
with
them
and
I
may
tell
you
that
you
are
being
considered
for
transfer.
As
you
know
this
ship
will
be
reduced
to
peacetime
manning
in
the
next
few
weeks
and
will
remain
here
as
a
guardship.
Spartan
is
to
sail
for
Botany
Bay
and
the
Indies
–
if
you
are
transferred
you
will
have
the
opportunity
to
see
the
New
South
Wales
territory
and
the
South
Seas.
You
have
all
the
luck
my
lad,
now
go
and
get
your
best
uniform
–
our
Captain
will
expect
you
to
do
our
ship
credit.
"

***

             
Half
an
hour
later
Harry
was
among
the
side
party
that
welcomed
Captain
Robert
Blackwood
aboard
the
Bellerophon
,
his
best
uniform
coat
freshly
pressed
and
his
shirt
and
trousers
clean
and
neat.
The
man
who
came
through
the
entry
port
to
return
the
salute
of
the
sideboys
and
Marine
band
was
of
moderate
height,
medium
build
and
angular
face.
He
wore
his
hair
in
an
old
fashioned
queue,
neatly
tied
with
a
black
silk
ribbon
and
Harry
was
startled
as
the
newcomer
returned
Captain
Cooke
'
s
greeting
in
a
distinctly
Ulster
accent.

             
"
Welcome
aboard,
Robert,
"
Captain
Cooke
greeted
his
visitor.
"
I
have
arranged
a
luncheon
so
you
may
meet
those
I
suggest
are
transferred
to
your
command.
"

             
"
Thank
you,
James.
I
understand
you
have
among
them
someone
from
County
Down.
I
may
well
know
his
family.
"

             
"
Indeed,
young
Heron.
He
has
been
with
me
these
last
six
months
and
shows
excellent
promise,
"
Harry
overheard
the
Captain
say
as
the
two
Post
Captains
walked
aft
toward
the
break
of
the
poop
and
Captain
Cooke
'
s
great
cabin.

             
"
Mister
Heron,
Mister
Tanner.
"
The
First
Lieutenant
beckoned
them.
"
Attend
me
if
you
please.
"

             
The
two
midshipmen
hurried
over
to
the
First
Lieutenant
and
touched
their
hats
to
him,
"
Sir?
"

             
"
Gentlemen,
you
will
dine
with
our
Captain
and
his
guest
in
a
few
minutes,
Mister
Greenway
and
I
will
be
joining
you.
You
already
know
the
purpose
of
Captain
Blackwood
'
s
visit,
do
either
of
you
have
any
objection
to
the
transfer?
"
Mister
Firebrace
studied
them
both
carefully.

             
Surprised
by
this
question,
since
the
navy
did
not
usually
ask,
Harry
shook
his
head.
"
No,
sir,
if
I
am
ordered
to
transfer
I
shall
do
so,
though
I
would
rather
remain
with
the
Billy
of
course,
"
he
finished
as
Kit
Tanner
added
his
agreement.

             
"
Good,
good.
"
The
First
Lieutenant
considered
them
briefly
and
then
continued,
"
I
have
to
tell
you
the
Peace
may
hold,
though
many
doubt
it.
Had
you
elected
to
remain
it
is
likely
you
would
have
been
sent
ashore
on
half
pay
as
most
of
the
ships
you
see
about
us
are
to
be
paid
off
and
laid
up.
Even
this
ship
will
not
retain
her
full
complement,
as
a
guardship
it
is
not
necessary
to
do
so.
You,
however,
have
been
recommended
by
our
Captain
for
this
opportunity
–
make
sure
you
live
up
to
his
expectation.
"

             
"
We
shall
do
our
best,
sir,
"
replied
Kit
Tanner.
Harry
'
s
senior
by
a
half-year,
but
nearest
in
age
to
Harry,
he
was
his
closest
friend
in
the
Gunroom.

             
Harry
added
his
assurance
and
then
asked,
"
Will
any
of
our
company
be
transferred
as
well?
"

             
Lieutenant
Firebrace
regarded
him
quietly
for
a
moment
then
nodded.
"
Yes,
Mister
Heron,
as
Spartan
is
new,
she
has
a
considerable
number
of
vacancies
to
fill
and
will
be
taking
fifty
of
our
fighting
complement
and
some
of
our
senior
rates
as
well.
"
He
smiled
as
he
looked
at
the
boy
'
s
anxious
features.
"
And
your
man
O
'
Connor
will
have
the
opportunity
to
go
with
you,
fear
not.
"