Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (71 page)

             
"
Staan
uwe
een
kant
Mijn
Heer,
"
said
a
deep
voice
at
his
elbow.
"
Uns
zal
diese
werk
ondernemen!
"

             
Harry
found
himself
firmly
moved
aside
and
a
burly
Dutchman
took
his
place,
a
line
around
his
waist
as
he
reached
out
and
down
to
snatch
a
pair
of
children.
Taking
one
in
each
huge
hand,
the
man
swung
the
kicking
pair
almost
effortlessly
upward
to
where
his
companions
waited
to
catch
them.
In
no
time
at
all
the
boat
was
emptied
and
again
on
its
way.

             
"
Mister
Heron,
"
the
First
Lieutenant
called
him.
"
Take
some
men
and
clear
a
space
under
the
fo
'
c
'
s
'
le
for
the
women
and
children
–
see
the
purser
for
some
bedding.
When
you
have
done
that
make
a
space
in
the
forehold
for
the
men.
Make
sure
it
is
secure.
"

***

             
Finding
a
Master
'
s
Mate,
Harry
told
him
what
was
required,
and
then
led
his
party
to
the
sheltered
space
beneath
the
fo
'
c
'
s
'
le.
Quickly
they
cleared
the
area
of
anything
that
could
be
used
as
a
weapon
and
rigged
some
screens
to
enclose
the
area
normally
used
as
a
sick
berth.
He
had
barely
finished
when
the
Royals
began
to
herd
the
bedraggled
women
and
the
children
towards
it.
Harry
felt
sickened
at
the
looks
of
fear
mingled
with
hope
on
their
faces
and
swiftly
led
his
party
below
to
prepare
the
hold
for
when
the
male
convicts
came
aboard.
He
watched
as
the
ship
'
s
armourer
secured
chains
to
the
great
frames
in
readiness
for
the
arrival
of
the
prisoners
and
when
it
was
done,
reported
the
work
to
the
First
Lieutenant.

             
"
Well
done
lad,
"
said
Thomas
Bell.
"
Hopefully
we
will
be
able
to
transfer
them
to
the
other
ships
as
soon
as
this
storm
abates
–
and
the
Master
thinks
the
wind
is
falling
even
now.
"

             
"
Thank
you,
sir.
"
Harry
glanced
forward.
"
Have
you
further
orders
for
me?
"
The
wind
seemed
much
colder
now,
though
perhaps
it
was
the
contrast
between
the
fetid
air
of
the
hold
and
lower
decks
and
the
exposed
quarterdeck.

             
"
Not
at
present.
Remain
on
hand
though,
I
may
need
you
shortly.
"

             
Harry
returned
to
his
post
at
the
binnacle
and
resumed
charge
of
the
slate
from
a
Master
'
s
Mate
just
as
the
Master
grunted,
"
Wind
'
s
abating
–
not
swift
enough
to
help
us
though,
and
there
'
s
a
feel
of
snow
in
it.
This
sea
will
run
for
days.
"
The
Master
peered
at
the
racing
overhead
cloud
and
added,
"
We
'
re
far
enough
south
for
snow,
though
it
is
unusual
at
this
season.

             
In
the
time
he
had
been
below
it
seemed
that
all
the
women
had
been
removed
from
the
distressed
prison
transport
–
though
not
entirely
without
loss
and
injury.
The
Surgeon
and
his
mates
were
even
now
busy
among
them
and
several
canvas
wrapped
bundles,
some
obviously
children,
lay
on
the
deck.
The
First
Lieutenant
remarked
to
the
Master,
"
It
is
a
miracle
that
we
are
witnessing
–
only
five
of
the
children
lost
and
eight
among
the
rest.
Our
own
bill
is
light
as
well
–
one
crushed
foot
and
two
broken
arms.
Mister
Rogers
tells
me
that
in
the
lower
prison
hold
the
water
was
already
at
waist
level
for
the
men
there.
But
her
Master
would
not
countenance
their
removal
from
it,
though
there
were
several
drowned
already.
"
He
glanced
across
at
the
Maid
of
Selsey
and
grimaced.
"
It
must
require
a
special
hardness
to
be
willing
to
allow
even
convicts
to
drown
like
rats
in
such
a
cage.
" 

             
"
Aye,
Mister
Bell.
"
The
Master
scowled.
"
I
do
believe
you
to
be
in
the
right
of
it
there,
sir!
"
He
thrust
his
large
hands
deep
into
his
coat
and
added,
"
And
to
be
so
determined
on
the
profit
that
you
ignore
rotten
timbers.
The
Carpenter
says
it
is
surprising
she
has
held
together
this
far.
"