Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (6 page)

             
The
Heron
'
s
having
been
dispossessed,
their
tenants
were
subjected
to
a
campaign
of
vilification
and
harassment.
That
culminated
in
the
seizure
of
several
who,
having
then
been
accused
of
rebellion,
where
offered
for
sale
and
transport
to
the
new
world
as
slaves.
Harry
'
s
family
somehow
raised
sufficient
money
to
pay
the
bond
price
and
then
worked
to
frustrate
all
further
attempts
in
this
regard
by
the
Barclays.
It
reached
its
conclusion
in
the
High
Court
some
considerable
time
later
–
with
the
court
rejecting
the
Barclay
claim
to
the
bounty
for
rebels
and
the
slave
price
for
the
members
of
the
families
they
had
attempted
to
sell.
That
they
retained
the
Raholp
lands
rankled
with
the
Heron
'
s,
themselves
plantationers
granted
this
land
under
Queen
Elizabeth,
with
other
smaller
grants
elsewhere
in
the
County,
Scrabo
being
one
of
these.

             
"
Hmmm,
"
began
Captain
Blackwood.
"
Very
well,
Mister
Heron.
I
am,
as
Captain
Cooke
has
no
doubt
informed
you,
to
offer
you
an
opportunity
to
transfer
to
my
ship.
I
have
vacancies
for
two
midshipmen.
Knowing
your
family,
I
feel
you
could
be
one
of
them,
but
I
must
warn
you
Midshipman
Barclay
will
be
the
Gunroom
Senior.
I
should
understand
perfectly
if
you
were
to
decline
this
opportunity.
"

             
Harry
replied,
"
Sir,
I
feel
I
should
accept
this
post,
but
I
am
torn
by
the
fact
Captain
Cooke
accepted
me
as
one
of
his
Midshipmen
and
I
owe
him
a
debt
of
loyalty
for
it.
"

             
"
Nonsense,
my
boy,
"
Captain
Cooke
responded.
"
I
took
you
on
as
a
Midshipman
for
the
very
good
reason
I
saw
in
you
a
likely
lad.
You
have
more
than
lived
up
to
my
expectations,
as
have
you,
Mister
Tanner.
That
is
why
I
have
commended
you
both
to
Captain
Blackwood.
"
The
Captain
paused.
"
Make
no
doubt,
this
ship
will
be
tied
to
her
moorings
for
some
time,
reduced
to
men
enough
to
work
the
ship
if
the
need
arises
and
no
more.
Captain
Blackwood
is
to
undertake
a
voyage
which
will
provide
you
both
with
an
opportunity
to
learn
your
craft
as
few
others
will
do.
"

             
"
Thank
you,
sir.
"

             
"
This
ill
feeling
between
your
family
and
the
Barclays,
do
you
think
it
will
make
it
impossible
for
you
to
do
your
duty
aboard
the
Spartan
?
If
so,
tell
us
now
and
I
will
see
what
else
I
can
do
for
you.
"

             
"
I
do
not
see
an
old
dispute
need
stand
between
me
and
my
duty,
sir.
If
Mister
Barclay
is
prepared
to
leave
the
past
aside,
then
I
have
no
misgivings
on
that
head,
"
replied
Harry.

             
"
Well
said,
"
replied
Captain
Blackwood.
"
Then
I
think
we
can
make
the
necessary
transfer
through
the
Port
Admiral.
"
He
paused
frowning,
then
asked,
"
You
brought
a
man
with
you
to
this
ship
did
you
not?
Will
he
wish
to
transfer
with
you?
"

             
"
Ferghal?
"
I
cannot
speak
for
him
entirely,
but
he
has
said
on
many
occasions
he
would
wish
to
stay
on
the
same
ship
as
myself,
sir.
"

             
"
And
does
he
have
a
name
other
than
just
Ferghal?
"

             
"
Aye,
sir,
it
is
O
'
Connor.
"

             
Captain
Blackwood
sat
back
and
gave
Harry
a
long
considering
look.
Then
he
said,
"
I
guessed
as
much.
Your
father
'
s
groom
'
s
son
by
any
chance?
"

             
"
Aye,
sir,
we
have
grown
up
together
and
Ferghal
was
my
companion
in
the
school
room
at
Scrabo.
"

             
"
Very
well,
but
you
'
d
best
tell
him
of
Mister
Barclay
'
s
position
yourself.
Warn
him
I
will
not
tolerate
insubordination
no
matter
the
provocation,
is
that
clear?
"

             
"
Aye,
aye,
sir.
"