Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (70 page)

             
"
So
I
should
think.
"
The
Carpenter
frowned.
"
But
in
this
sea
there
be
little
I
can
do
if
she
is
holed
below
water.
"

             
Arriving
on
the
quarterdeck
the
Carpenter
made
his
way
to
the
Captain
and
knuckled
his
forehead
in
salute.
"
Yer
sent
fer
me,
sir?
"

             
"
Take
a
look
at
the
Maid
of
Selsey,
Mister
Trotter.
She
'
s
taken
some
damage
below
water
I
believe.
What
think
you
–
can
your
Mates
make
her
sound
enough
to
ride
this
out?
"
The
Captain
handed
the
carpenter
his
telescope,
adding,
"
See
below
her
beakhead
as
she
rises.
She
seems
to
have
overrun
her
spars
and
the
fools
have
still
not
cleared
away
the
wreckage!
"

             
"
Signal
from
Mister
Beasley,
sir,
"
exclaimed
Midshipman
Peterson
at
the
signal
halyards.
He
called
out
the
flags
to
the
rest
of
his
party,
and
announced,
"
Assistance
required.
Ship
holed
and
making
water
fast.
"
He
paused
as
a
fresh
string
of
flags
soared
aloft,
reading
the
flags
and
hurriedly
searching
the
signal
book.
Finally
he
called,
"
Mister
Rogers
asks
permission
to
take
off
the
convicts,
sir!
"
He
looked
shocked,
and
desperately
checked
his
book,
spelling
out
the
words
and
letters
carefully.
"
It
seems
correct,
sir,
"
he
added
doubtfully.

             
"
Acknowledge
Mister
Peterson.
"
The
Captain
'
s
face
was
grim.
To
the
First
Lieutenant
he
said,
"
Damme,
Thomas,
she
has
upwards
of
two
hundred
of
the
wretches
under
hatches,
over
half
of
them
women
and
children.
In
this
sea
it
will
be
dangerous
and
damnably
difficult.
"
He
turned
to
the
Carpenter.
"
I
will
require
you
to
accompany
the
boats
and
see
what
may
be
done
to
keep
her
afloat
until
we
can
affect
the
transfer.
A
miracle
is
needed
here,
Trotter.
Nothing
less
will
do!
"

***

             
The
second
quarterboat
joined
the
first,
struggling
through
the
seas,
the
red
coats
of
a
party
of
Marines
clustered
bright
in
her
belly.
With
huge
difficulty
one
of
the
launches
was
also
hoisted
out,
dropping
alarmingly
into
the
water
in
the
ship
'
s
lee
as
she
staggered
against
the
power
of
wind
and
sea.
Her
crew
spilled
into
place
and,
under
shouted
orders,
slashed
the
lashings
holding
her
oars
even
as
the
boat
surged
out
on
the
length
of
her
painter
away
from
the
ship.

             
An
exclamation
of
appreciation
drew
the
Captain
'
s
attention
to
the
cluster
of
Dutch
officers
watching
the
exercise.
"
I
beg
pardon
Captain,
"
he
said,
addressing
Captain
Te
Water.
"
I
fear
I
am
a
poor
host
at
present.
"

             
"
Alles
in
order
,
"
exclaimed
the
other.
"
Uwe
manne.
"
He
paused,
then
said
slowly,
"
Your
men
are
ver
'
brave
–
and
ver
'
goet.
"
His
officers
nodded
their
agreement,
"
Ve
vould
not
haf
attempted
such
a
t
'
ing
as
this!
" 

             
Harry
watched
the
boats
soaring
and
plunging
alongside
the
stricken
ship,
seeing
the
men
scrambling
into
her
chains
as
they
struggled
to
board
her.
Forward
he
could
see
the
flash
of
an
axe
as
someone
cleared
the
wreckage
visible
under
the
other
ship
'
s
bows.
Then
the
process
was
reversed,
with
small
figures
being
passed
into
the
boats,
struggling
and
kicking
in
fright
and
fear.
These
were
followed
by
several
women
and
the
first
boat
caste
off
to
begin
the
struggle
back
to
the
Spartan
.

             
Harry
held
his
breath
each
time
the
boat
plunged
over
a
steep
crest
and
he
could
see
that
everyone
not
engaged
in
rowing
was
bailing
furiously
as
the
water
seemed
to
pour
over
her
gunwales
and
prow
with
each
stroke.
A
cheer
went
up
from
the
Spartan
as
the
overloaded
boat
struggled
into
her
lee.
Harry
joined
Lieutenant
Rogers
and
the
hands
as
they
hauled,
dragged
and
snatched
the
pathetic
human
cargo
from
it.
A
quick
change
of
crew
and
the
boat
was
away
again
on
its
mission
of
mercy
just
as
the
second
quarterboat
struggled
alongside.