Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (67 page)

             
The
First
Lieutenant
approached
and
touched
his
hat.
"
The
wind
is
steady
sir.
No
change
in
either
the
direction
or
the
strength
in
the
last
hour.
The
Master
thinks
it
has
peaked.
"

             
"
Very
good,
Thomas.
These
seas
are
monstrous
–
but
the
distance
between
them
makes
it
easier
to
rise
to
them.
How
is
the
helm
–
there
is
a
danger
of
broaching
as
they
pass.
"

             
"
Indeed,
sir.
With
only
our
fore
and
main
topsails
drawing
with
the
headsails
it
seems
to
have
eased
the
strain
on
the
helm,
"
the
first
lieutenant
smiled
as
a
burst
of
spray
rose
above
the
nettings
and
slashed
across
the
gangway,
penetrating
the
gratings
on
the
upper
gundeck.
Both
he
and
the
Captain
were
soaked
despite
their
oiled
coats.
" '
Tis
lively
work
sir,
but
we
have
logged
above
ten
knots
on
the
last
three
casts
of
the
logline.
The
ship
is
flying
even
under
such
reduced
canvas.
"

             
"
As
you
say,
Thomas,
but
I
fear
for
some
of
our
charges.
The
Maid
of
Selsey
had
unsound
timbers
when
we
inspected
her
in
Simon
'
s
Bay
and
though
they
made
some
repairs,
I
do
not
believe
she
will
bear
too
much
of
this.
"
He
changed
the
subject,
"
How
do
our
people
fare?
And
our
Dutch
passengers?
"
Captain
Blackwood
made
reference
to
the
group
of
survivors
plucked
from
a
sinking
Dutch
East
Indiaman
bare
weeks
before.
"
I
do
not
see
Mister
Heron
'
s
youthful
shadow
about
today.
"

             
"
The
galley
fire
being
dowsed
we
have
had
no
hot
meal
since
yesterday,
but
the
men
are
in
good
spirits,
sir.
Captain
Te
Water
and
his
officers
have
been
a
great
help
and
taken
care
of
their
passengers.
I
believe
the
Gunroom
'
s
guests
have
been
placed
with
the
ladies
in
your
quarters
for
the
moment
sir.
"

             
"
Good.
"
The
Captain
watched
as
another
huge
sea
lifted
the
ship
from
astern,
feeling
the
acceleration
as
the
ship
was
thrust
forward
by
the
combination
of
the
force
of
the
water
and
the
increasing
thrust
in
the
sails
as
the
ship
rose
on
the
wave.
He
caught
sight
of
Midshipman
Barclay
and
called,
"
Mister
Barclay!
Attend
me
sir.
"

             
"
Sir.
"
Eamon
Barclay
hurried
to
the
quarterdeck
and
touched
his
hat
just
as
a
burst
of
spray
sailed
over
the
nettings,
driving
a
stinging
burst
into
his
face.

             
"
Take
a
glass
to
the
maintop
and
see
if
you
can
spy
our
convoy.
I
wish
to
know
their
positions
relative
to
our
own
if
you
please.
"

             
Barclay
'
s
face
paled
slightly
under
his
tan.
He
touched
his
hat
again
and
said,
"
Aye,
aye
sir.
"
He
hated
clambering
about
in
the
rigging,
especially
in
these
conditions.

             
The
First
Lieutenant
watched
the
Midshipman
depart.
Barclay
'
s
bullying
and
inclination
to
shirk
responsibility
made
him
unpopular
among
both
officers
and
men.
But
Thomas
Bell
could
find
pity
for
the
burly
young
man
who
did
not
have
a
good
head
for
heights
or
the
agility
to
be
comfortable
in
the
rigging.
"
If
you
'
ll
pardon
me
sir,
"
he
said.
"
I
must
see
the
Carpenter
and
the
Boatswain.
We
have
been
taking
a
little
water
and
I
have
several
matters
I
want
checked.
"
He
indicated
the
Gunner
and
his
mates
presently
going
from
gun
to
gun,
checking,
and
sometimes
re-securing,
the
guns.
"
So
far
we
have
been
lucky.
"

             
"
Lucky
Thomas?
"
the
Captain
smiled
despite
his
fatigue,
"
Do
you
not
think
it
owes
something
to
the
efforts
you
and
the
others
have
put
into
ensuring
everything
is
secure?
Do
not
think
I
am
unappreciative.
"

-

             
At
his
post
by
the
great
double
wheel,
Harry
shivered
in
his
sodden
coat
as
yet
another
burst
of
spray
drove
across
the
deck.
These
southern
seas
were
hardly
the
balmy
sun
drenched
paradise
he
had
expected.
Even
here,
partly
sheltered
under
the
break
of
the
Poop,
the
wind
found
ways
to
drive
the
stinging
spray
onto
a
body.
He
glanced
at
his
friend
Ferghal
in
little
more
than
a
sodden
shirt
and
canvas
trousers
as
he
diligently
watched
the
half
hour
glass.
The
ship
'
s
stern
lifted
yet
again
as
another
huge
sea
surged
beneath
their
keel.