Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (43 page)

             
"
That
will
be
the
island
of
Ascension,
sir,
"
the
Master
told
the
First
Lieutenant.
"
A
nice
piece
of
navigation
if
I
may
say
so.
"

             
"
I
shall
share
the
compliment,
Mister
Wentworth,
"
the
Captain
said
as
he
emerged
from
his
great
cabin.
"
It
is
thanks
largely
to
your
care
with
the
charts
and
the
handling
of
the
ship.
"
He
turned
to
the
First
Lieutenant.
"
Very
well,
Thomas,
we
will
lie
off
the
island
at
Georgetown.
"
To
the
Master
he
said,
"
You
have
visited
this
place
have
you
not,
Mister
Wentworth,
what
does
it
offer?
" "

             
"
There
is
good
water
here,
so
we
may
replenish
our
casks
and
the
prison
ships
will
have
great
need
of
fresh
water
and
some
other
supplies
I
have
no
doubt,
sir.
"
The
Master
replied,
continuing,
"
This
is
the
last
opportunity
before
we
reach
the
Cape
of
Good
Hope.
We
shall
no
doubt
be
called
upon
to
assist
the
other
ships
since
there
is
no
harbour
here
and
the
boats
must
land
through
surf
and
return
through
it
once
loaded.
If
we
are
fortunate
and
the
winds
remain
as
they
are,
we
may
have
little
difficulty
since
the
landing
beach
in
the
town
is
well
shielded
from
the
oceanic
swell.
"
He
paused,
receiving
a
nod
of
encouragement
fro
the
Captain.
"
The
anchorage
is
difficult,
but
has
good
holding,
sandy
bottom
with
rocky
outcrops.
Very
exposed
and
quite
shallow,
the
ground
drops
away
steeply
though
once
you
clear
the
island.
"

***

             
The
sun
was
dipping
below
the
horizon
as
the
ships
crept
into
the
anchorage
guarded
by
the
low
lying
fort
crouched
on
one
side
of
the
town.
The
bang
of
the
guns
as
the
salute
rolled
back
and
forth
between
the
Spartan
and
the
fort
raised
the
flocks
of
sea
birds
screaming
and
wheeling
from
their
nests.

             
"
By
the
deep
seven.
"
The
leadsman
'
s
voice
carried
from
the
fore
chains.
Rocky
bottom
with
this
line.
"

             
"
That
will
do.
"
The
Captain
nodded.
"
Bring
us
into
the
wind,
Mister
Wentworth.
Let
go
the
anchor,
Mister
Bell!
"

             
The
helm
went
hard
over
and
the
sails
vanished
from
her
yards
as
the
topmen
clawed
the
heavy
canvas
into
a
harbour
stow.
Men
swarmed
in
the
ordered
chaos
as
the
ship
paid
off
with
the
wind
at
her
head
and
came
to
rest
with
her
great
hull
lying
broadside
to
the
land
and
her
head
angled
to
the
wind.
The
response
from
forward
was
followed
by
the
splash
as
the
anchor
plunged
into
the
depths
below
the
ship.

             
"
Have
the
leadsman
sound
all
round
us
if
you
please,
Mister
Beasley,
"
ordered
Captain
Blackwood.
"
According
to
the
charts
this
anchorage
has
a
number
of
shoals
and
I
have
no
desire
to
discover
any
of
them
while
we
are
here.
"

             
With
the
sails
still
being
furled
and
stowed,
an
awning
was
spread
over
the
quarterdeck
and
now
the
smell
of
food
from
the
galley
chimney
made
Harry
'
s
stomach
growl.

             
"
Boat
putting
out
from
the
shore,
sir,
"
Midshipman
Peterson
called.

             
"
Side
party,
stand
too!
"

             
Harry
hurried
to
join
the
group
at
the
entry
port
as
his
duty,
now
the
ship
was
at
anchor,
required.
Around
him,
several
sideboys,
a
Marine
Guard
and
a
Master
'
s
Mate
took
up
positions
ready
to
greet
the
visitor
while
overhead
the
tackles
were
already
hoisting
out
the
ship
'
s
own
boats,
the
largest
launches
and
the
barge
being
required
to
fetch
water
and
livestock,
if
any
were
available,
for
the
ship.

             
By
the
time
the
shore
boat
arrived
alongside
order
was
rapidly
being
restored
and
its
occupant
clambered
aboard
to
be
greeted
by
the
fifes
and
drums
of
the
Marines
with
the
stamping
of
feet
as
the
guard
stamped
to
attention
and
presented
arms.
To
Harry
'
s
amusement
the
side
party
seemed
to
be
enveloped
in
what
seemed
to
be
a
cloud
of
pipe
clay
from
their
belts
and
pouches.