Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (89 page)

             
"
Have
we
everything
stowed,
Smales?
"
Harry
asked,
pulling
the
list
of
stores
and
equipment
from
his
pocket.
"
I
'
d
like
to
check
against
the
list
if
you
please.
"

             
Smales
grinned.
He
had
come
to
respect
the
young
Mid
.
He
might
be
less
than
fourteen,
but
he
'
d
certainly
proved
himself
more
than
capable.
"
Aye,
aye,
sir.
Where
do
yer
want
t
'
start?
"

             
"
With
the
food
please.
"
Harry
checked
his
list.
"
We
should
have
salt
beef,
four
firkins
of
water,
two
of
lime
juice.
"
The
list
was
extensive
and
Harry
checked
everything
meticulously.
Satisfied
that
the
stores
they
should
have
were
present
and
securely
lashed
to
the
thwarts
he
went
over
the
boat
'
s
rig
and
sails
with
the
Master
'
s
Mate.
Having
confirmed
that
everything
was
in
order,
Harry
clambered
up
to
the
deck
again
and
reported
to
the
Lieutenant.

             
"
Excellent,
Harry,
"
the
lieutenant
said,
"
Very
well,
gather
your
people
and
get
them
into
the
boat.
As
soon
as
Mister
Bowles
is
ready
we
will
set
off.
"

             
Half
an
hour
later
Harry
took
his
place
in
the
sternsheets
and
said
to
the
Master
'
s
Mate,
"
Get
us
underway
if
you
please,
Smales.
We
'
re
to
follow
Mister
Bowles
and
Mister
Rae.
"

             
"
Aye,
aye,
sir,
"
Joshua
Smales
responded.
"
Jump
to
it
lads,
fend
off
forward
there,
Jakes.
Haul
away
on
them
halliards
–
handsomely
now.
"

             
The
foresail
was
sheeted
home
as
the
boat,
Spartan
'
s
second
cutter,
cleared
the
side.
The
gaff
mainsail
reached
its
peak
as
the
Master
'
s
Mate
swung
the
tiller
over
to
follow
in
the
wake
of
the
first
cutter
and
the
barge.
As
the
mainsail
was
sheeted
home
the
boat
heeled
slightly
and
gathered
way.
All
the
animosity
of
the
Gunroom
dropped
away
as
they
cleared
the
ship
and
Harry
felt
the
thrill
of
command
for
the
first
time.
The
cutter
might
be
only
a
twenty-eight
foot
open
boat
packed
with
nineteen
souls,
but
she
was
his
command
for
this
expedition.
He
grinned
broadly
as
he
said
to
the
Master
'
s
Mate,
"
She
handles
well,
Smales,
and
has
a
good
turn
of
speed
even
with
this
wind.
We
shall
have
to
take
care
not
to
overhaul
Mister
Rae.
"

-

             
The
passage
to
the
great
estuary
north
of
Port
Jackson
was
accomplished
easily
in
the
fresh
breeze
and
slight
swell,
the
boats
arriving
together
in
the
late
afternoon.
Slipping
through
the
entrance
they
found
themselves
in
a
wide
estuary,
with
long
leads
running
to
the
North
and
the
South.
A
small
islet
rose
sheer
sided
a
short
distance
inside
the
entrance,
but
proved
unsuitable
for
a
landing
or
a
base.

             
The
task
of
surveying
the
harbour
was
no
small
undertaking
as
the
lieutenant
and
his
midshipmen
quickly
realised.
There
was
little
shelter
near
the
entrance
for
the
boats
so
they
pressed
deeper
into
what
they
hoped
was
the
river
and
discovered
a
second
lower
island
some
miles
from
the
sea
as
the
sun
began
to
set.

             
"
This
will
be
a
good
base,
"
Lieutenant
Rae
told
the
midshipmen.
"
There
is
no
risk
of
assault
from
the
natives
and
more
than
enough
wood
for
cooking.
We
can
land
the
stores
and
work
the
boats
with
smaller
crews,
changing
the
men
as
there
is
a
need.
"

             
"
Very
well,
sir,
"
Tom
Bowles
replied.
"
Should
we
ensure
that
there
is
always
a
shore
party
guarding
our
camp
and
perhaps
acting
as
cooks?
"

             
"
Indeed,
"
the
Lieutenant
said.
"
That
is
my
intention,
Tom.
See
to
it.
" 

             
It
was
quickly
decided
that
the
first
part
of
the
survey
would
be
taken
from
just
inside
the
entrance
and
travelling
upstream
along
what
appeared
to
be
the
main
channel.
With
that
done
the
bays
opening
off
this
could
undertaken.