Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (77 page)

             
"
Heron.
"
Midshipman
Barclay
'
s
hectoring
tones
interrupted
them.
"
The
Parson
wants
you
–
be
quick
about
it.
"

             
"
Thank
you,
Eamon.
"
Harry
knew
that
his
courtesy
irritated
Barclay
more
than
anything
else,
but
it
was
his
only
way
of
paying
back
some
of
the
abuse
he
suffered
every
time
Barclay
had
an
opportunity.
"
Where
shall
I
find
him?
"

             
"
Where
d
'
you
think
,
"
Barclay
snapped,
his
scowl
and
scarlet
face
betraying
both
his
discomfort
in
the
heat
and
his
irritation
at
Harry
'
s
response.
He
added,
"
In
the
School
Room
of
course.
"

             
"
Of
course,
"
Harry
replied
with
a
smile.
"
How
stupid
of
me
not
to
realise.
Thank
you.
"

             
Barclay
'
s
face
showed
that
Harry
was
skating
on
thin
ice
and
in
danger
of
provoking
him
into
retaliation.
He
made
his
way
below
without
further
comment
or
hesitation,
aware
that
his
enemy
was
following,
though
he
descended
to
the
Gunroom.

***

             
Ferghal
entered
the
Gunroom
to
find
himself
witness
to
a
confrontation.
Pieterzoon
was
in
obstinate
mood
and
clearly
upset.

             
"
Ik
zal
nie!
"
the
boy
declared
emphatically.
"
Ik
zal
nie
hier
ter
lande
kommen!
Ik
blijwen
aanbord
dieze
schip!
"

             
The
officer
to
whom
this
was
addressed
responded
in
Dutch
and
a
rather
heated
discussion
ensued.
Pieterzoon
'
s
protests
were
to
no
avail,
though,
from
what
Ferghal
gathered,
he
had
won
a
brief
reprieve
and
would
not,
after
all,
be
sent
ashore
immediately.

             
Midshipman
Barclay,
his
timing
as
unfortunate
as
ever,
chose
that
moment
to
clatter
down
the
companionway.
Catching
sight
of
the
Dutch
boys
he
said,
"
What
are
these
Dutch
pests
still
doing
here?
Get
their
dunnage
cleared
and
on
deck,
O
'
Connor,
there
'
s
no
need
for
them
to
clutter
the
Gunroom
any
longer.
"

             
Pieterzoon
'
s
face,
still
flushed
and
angry
from
his
confrontation
with
the
officer,
darkened
as
he
said,
"
Uns
blijwen
hier.
You
is
nie
offisier
Mijn
Heer.
Oek
niet
een
vriend!
"

             
Barclay
'
s
face
flushed
and
for
a
moment
it
looked
as
if
he
would
lash
out
at
the
small
Dutch
boy,
but
a
new
voice
broke
the
tension.

             
"
Mister
Barclay,
"
the
quiet
voice
of
the
Fourth
Lieutenant
checked
the
angry
midshipman,
"
You
should
consider
your
next
act
carefully.
"

             
"
Sir!
"
Barclay
protested,
"
The
boy
is
intolerably
rude
and
disrespectful.
And
they
are
to
be
sent
ashore
are
they
not?
"

             
Ferghal
took
advantage
of
the
distraction
to
herd
the
boys
forward
and
away
from
what
he
felt
sure
would
be
a
difficult
scene
and
shushed
Pieterzoon
as
he
pushed
them
up
the
companionway.
To
his
relief
Harry
was
nearby
and
he
was
able
to
hand
the
boys
over
and
give
a
quick
explanation
of
what
had
occurred.

             
Quickly
he
returned
to
the
Gunroom
and
began
to
tidy
the
Dutch
boys
'
few
possessions
in
readiness
for
obeying
Mister
Barclay
'
s
order.
The
lieutenant
saw
this
and
demanded,
"
What
are
you
about,
O
'
Connor?
"

             
"
Sir,
"
Ferghal
responded,
"
I
was
instructed
to
gather
their
dunnage
and
take
it
on
deck,
sir.
"

             
"
Well
don
'
t.
Leave
it
here.
It
seems
they
will
remain
with
us
a
little
longer.
"
He
turned
back
to
Midshipman
Barclay.
"
There
is
no
suitable
accommodation
available
at
present
ashore
so
the
Captain
has
decided
our
guests
will
remain
aboard
until
there
is.
"
He
frowned.
"
And
I
suggest
you
have
a
care
with
the
views
you
express,
Mister
Barclay.
It
does
the
ship
no
credit
–
especially
when
you
are
overheard
by
their
officers.
"