Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (68 page)

             
"
Watch
your
helm,
"
snapped
the
Mister
Wentworth,
throwing
his
own
weight
on
the
spokes
as
the
ship
began
to
surge
down
the
face
of
the
swell,
threatening,
briefly,
to
veer
sharply
from
her
course.

             
There
was
a
moment
of
discomfort
as
the
deck
canted
steeply
and
the
ship
hung
between
plunge
and
roll,
fighting
to
swing
to
starboard
against
the
efforts
of
the
helmsmen
to
hold
her
straight
and
on
course.
Cries
of
alarm
came
from
the
companionway
behind
them
as
the
women
and
children
there
found
themselves
being
flung
to
the
deck
by
the
violence
of
the
motion.
Harry
heard
the
Captain
call
to
him
and
hurried
to
where
he
stood.

             
"
Sir?
"

             
"
My
compliments
to
Captain
Te
Water.
I
believe
he
is
aft
with
his
people,
ask
him
to
join
me
here.
"

             
"
Aye,
aye
sir.
"
Harry
touched
his
hat,
feeling
the
wind
tugging
at
it
as
he
did
so.

             
He
was
about
to
obey
when
the
Captain
added,
"
You
may
stow
your
hat
and
mine
sir.
"
He
smiled
as
he
handed
Harry
the
hat
he
had
been
clutching
for
the
last
several
hours.
"
I
fear
they
do
nothing
but
distract
us
in
these
conditions.
"

             
Accepting
the
hat
Harry
returned
the
smile,
"
Aye,
aye,
sir.
I
have
been
afraid
mine
would
join
Mister
Beasley
'
s
and
provide
a
nest
for
some
great
bird
for
a
time
now,
sir.
"

             
"
Quite
so.
"
The
Captain
laughed
at
the
image
of
his
officers
'
hats
providing
nests
for
birds.
"
Well
you
may
rest
easy
on
that
head.
Now
find
Captain
Te
Water.
"

***

             
Harry
hurried
aft,
and,
after
delivering
the
Captain
'
s
hat
to
his
servant,
knocked
at
the
door
of
the
great
cabin.
He
waited
a
decent
moment
while
steadying
himself
with
a
convenient
handhold
and
then
entered
a
scene
of
chaos.
Several
women
huddled
together
against
the
bulkhead
and
attempted
to
sooth
frightened
children.
Two
older
ladies
were
evidently
engaged
in
caring
for
another
who
seemed
to
have
injured
herself
and
the
group
of
boys
had
taken
over
the
seats
beneath
the
great
stern
windows.
From
here
they
were
noisily
watching
the
waves
and
the
slashing
spray
through
the
glass.
Frightened
cries
from
the
smaller
children
and
some
of
the
younger
women
lent
confusion
and
volume
to
the
overall
hubbub
of
their
voices.
All
of
it
in
Dutch
and
therefore
unintelligible
to
him.

             
Harry
paused,
conscious
of
the
fact
that
a
pool
was
forming
at
his
feet,
and
glanced
about
him
seeking
out
the
Dutch
Officers
as
they
attempted
to
maintain
calm
among
their
people.
He
spotted
Captain
Te
Water
even
as
a
boy
'
s
voice
shouted,
"
Harry
is
hier!
"

             
Pieterzoon
de
Ruiter
managed
an
acrobatic
charge
to
Harry
'
s
side
and
asked,
"
Mag
ik
–
Kan
I
go
to
deck
wit
'
uwe
?
"

             
"
I
am
sorry,
Pieterzoon,
but
the
Captain
would
not
allow
you
to
go
on
deck
just
yet.
"
Harry
responded
with
a
smile.
He
was
not
quite
sure
why
this
boy
had
attached
himself
so
firmly
and
the
language
barrier
was
one
reason
he
had
difficulty
with
it.
"
I
must
speak
to
Captain
Te
Water.
"

             
"
Ja
Mijn
Heer?
"
The
Dutch
Master
had
noticed
his
presence
and
came
across,
eying
Harry
'
s
sodden
clothing
and
the
spreading
pool.

             
"
Sir,
Captain
Blackwood
'
s
compliments,
he
asks
that
you
join
him
on
deck
please.
"

             
"
Ik
kom,
"
rumbled
the
Dutchman.
"
Take
me
to
him.
"
He
called
to
one
of
the
women
in
Dutch
and
she
hurried
over
with
a
large
oiled
coat.
Taking
it,
the
Captain
pulled
it
on,
and
followed
Harry
from
the
cabin,
firmly
preventing
Pieterzoon
from
dodging
after
them.