Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (53 page)

             
Ferghal
found
that
several
of
the
older
boys
were
also
in
the
boat
and
it
made
for
a
memorable
run
ashore,
though
the
fruit
with
which
they
were
plied
and
the
heat
worked
on
the
stomachs
of
several
in
an
unpleasant
manner.

             
Mister
Bentley
was
almost
beside
himself
as
he
tramped
collecting
specimens
of
plants,
insects
and
the
occasional
bird,
and
he
soon
made
plans
for
an
expedition
to
the
lower
slopes
of
the
mountain.

             
"
Mister
Heron,
Mister
Tanner.
"
He
addressed
the
pair.
"
I
have
obtained
the
First
Lieutenant
'
s
permission
for
you
to
accompany
me
ashore
on
a
little
expedition.
There
are
a
number
of
fascinating
blooms
to
be
obtained
on
the
mountain
and
I
may
never
have
another
chance.
We
will
be
rowed
ashore
at
eight
bells
in
the
morning
watch
–
it
'
s
best
to
get
to
the
mountain
before
the
heat
is
too
great.
"

             
"
Aye,
aye,
sir,
"
Harry
was
still
carrying
the
bruises
from
his
caning
and
he
found
walking
or
sitting
uncomfortable.
But
at
least
it
would
take
him
away
from
the
constant
provocation
of
Barclay
and
his
crony
Peterson.
"
Shall
I
bring
my
sketch
pad
and
paint,
sir.
"

             
"
Essential,
"
exclaimed
the
Parson.
"
I
am
certain
there
will
be
any
number
of
things
to
be
recorded.
"

             
As
he
departed
Kit
shook
his
head
ruefully.
"
I
think
it
will
be
hot,
dry
and
a
long
walk
to
see
these
flowers.
I
suppose
we
may
hope
that
he
at
least
arranges
some
refreshment
for
us.
"
He
glanced
at
Harry.
"
And
it
will
take
us
out
of
Barclay
'
s
way
for
a
few
hours.
"

             
"
Aye,
and
give
him
something
else
to
resent
and
use
against
us,
"
Harry
said.
"
Senior
he
may
be
and
though
he
beats
me
daily,
I
'
ll
never
learn
to
show
him
respect
–
my
contempt
for
him
grows
with
each
gibe.
"

             
"
Learn
to
bend
a
little
and
it
will
all
soon
pass,
"
Kit
remarked
in
an
attempt
to
lighten
Harry
'
s
mood.
The
glowering
presence
of
Midshipman
Barclay
overshadowed
the
Gunroom
and
divided
it
into
three
camps,
a
small
group
of
sycophants
who
used
his
protection
to
carry
out
their
own
petty
campaigns
of
bullying
against
the
smaller
and
younger
members,
those
who
resisted
and
tended
to
suffer
the
bullying
in
silence
but
without
surrendering
their
allegiance
and
the
third
group
who
tried
to
run
with
both
the
hares
and
the
hounds.
Harry
and
Kit
both
fell
into
the
second
group.
Harry
knew
he
had
no
hope
of
ever
avoiding
Barclay
'
s
attention,
though
he
had
at
least
drawn
a
line
against
some
of
the
sycophants
who
now
knew
they
could
not
expect
him
to
kowtow
to
their
egos.

             
The
expedition
started
badly
with
Midshipman
Peterson
protesting
that
he
was
having
to
undertake
extra
work
because
Harry
was
going
ashore.
Unfortunately
for
him
he
made
this
protest
within
earshot
of
Mister
Beasley.

             
"
Mister
Peterson,
"
the
lieutenant
said.
"
I
suggest
that
the
moment
you
cease
trying
to
evade
work
and
passing
it
to
others,
you
may
find
yourself
being
offered
opportunities
for
advancing
your
knowledge.
Until
then,
it
may
be
best
for
you
not
to
draw
attention
to
yourself
in
the
manner
you
have
just
done.
Be
warned,
I
have
my
eye
on
you
and
your
abuse
of
your
juniors
–
now,
see
to
your
duties.
"

             
The
Parson
'
s
party
reached
the
saddle
between
Table
Mountain
and
the
great
cone
known
as
Devil
'
s
Peak
by
mid-morning
thanks
to
the
use
of
a
small
pony
trap
driven
by
a
"
Malay
"
coachman
who
spoke
almost
no
English
–
at
least
nothing
intelligible
to
the
Parson,
the
midshipmen
or
to
Ferghal,
also
tasked
with
carrying
the
Parson
'
s
equipment.