Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (81 page)

             
Around
him
the
water
boiled
as
the
eels
made
their
escape
and
he
hauled
himself
back
into
the
boat
in
fright
with
a
desperate
heave.
The
stem
slid
into
the
mud
and
the
boat
came
gently
to
a
halt
embedded
in
the
ooze.
The
expressions
on
the
officers
'
faces
aft
showed
amusement
with
Lieutenant
Bell
hardly
able
to
contain
his
laughter.

             
"
Well,
Coxswain,
it
seems
we
have
taken
ground
–
but
we
have
also
found
ourselves
a
rich
supply
of
eels
–
or
young
Fergie
has.
"
He
guffawed.
"
I
suggest
you
and
the
boat
crew
do
your
utmost
to
catch
as
many
as
you
can.
Keep
them
in
water
mind,
or
in
this
heat
they
will
soon
be
poison
to
eat.
"
He
glanced
at
the
distance
between
boat
and
shore
and
again
at
the
mud
streaked
Ferghal
and
said
to
the
others,
"
I
think
we
seek
another
landing
place,
I
don
'
t
fancy
getting
either
my
shoes
or
my
powder
wet
wading
here.
The
place
is
obviously
aptly
named.
"

             
Lieutenant
Beasley
indicated
an
outcrop.
"
There
is
a
deep
channel
there,
perhaps
we
could
take
the
boat
there
and
use
that
as
a
landing
stage?
"

             
"
Good
idea,
"
the
First
Lieutenant
turned
to
the
Coxswain,
"
Make
it
so.
"

***

             
The
boat
had
to
be
rocked
free
of
the
mud,
then
the
oars
backed
and
the
barge
gently
nosed
itself
closer
to
the
outcrop.
Here
Ferghal
stepped
onto
the
bank
and
secured
the
painter
to
a
tree.
He
was
cautious
even
so,
this
land
seemed
to
be
filled
with
strange
animals,
many
poisonous
and
worst
of
all
there
were
snakes
in
plenty
and
his
own
special
nemesis
–
spiders.

             
The
officers
stepped
ashore
and
several
of
the
boat
crew
accompanied
them
as
Gillies.
Once
they
had
gone,
the
Coxswain
set
out
a
small
kedge
anchor
from
the
stern
and
then
set
about
making
an
eel
trap
with
several
others
including
Ferghal.
Soon
a
canvas
'
tank
'
made
from
the
boat
'
s
sail
held
a
writhing
mass
of
eels
and
the
conversation
now
revolved
around
the
best
manner
in
which
to
prepare
them
for
a
feast.

             
The
sun
was
setting
when
the
officers
returned,
satisfied
with
a
good
day
'
s
hunting
with
several
large
birds
that
resembled
swans,
but
with
black
plumage
and
some
of
the
strangest
looking
animals
Ferghal
had
ever
seen.

             
"
We
dine
on
kangaroo
men,
"
the
First
Lieutenant
told
the
crew.
"
A
cross
they
say,
between
rabbit
and
mutton.
"

             
"
Bloody
big
rabbit
that
be,
sor,
"
joked
one
of
the
older
hands.
"
To
big
fer
Tom
the
Poacher
'
s
pot
I
'
m
thinking.
"

-

             
The
confrontation
with
the
Rum
Corps
had
other
repercussions
for
the
ship.
Seamen
sent
ashore
on
ship
'
s
business
met
with
one
of
two
receptions
from
the
members
of
the
Corps,
either
false
camaraderie
and
being
plied
with
drink,
then
robbed
and
thrown
in
the
clink
on
the
grounds
of
unruly
or
disorderly
behaviour,
or
obstruction
and
being
prevented
from
carrying
out
their
tasks.
Sometimes
this
led
to
scuffles
and
Captain
Blackwood
once
more
found
occasion
to
discuss
the
state
of
affairs
with
Governor
King.

             
"
The
Rum
Corps
are
a
damned
mutinous
crew
I
'
ll
tell
you,
"
the
Governor
told
Captain
Blackwood.
"
They
have
nothing
but
their
own
profit
in
sight
and
see
the
wretched
convicts
sent
here
as
no
more
than
slaves
sent
for
their
use.
"

             
"
Did
you
not
have
some
trouble
with
the
Corps
while
Lieutenant
Governor
of
Norfolk
Island?
"
Captain
Blackwood
asked.
"
I
seem
to
recall
some
complaints
were
made
and
you
despatched
some
of
theirs
to
this
place
for
Court
Martial.
"