Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (96 page)

             
Harry
saw,
as
the
other
cutter
rolled
over
the
crest
of
a
wave,
that
a
large
part
of
her
upper
strake
was
indeed
missing.
He
nodded,
"
She
looks
in
bad
case.
But
is
it
Mister
Rae
'
s
boat
or
Mister
Bowles?
"

             
"
Mister
Bowles,
sir,
"
replied
Smales.
"
That
be
the
number
one
cutter.
"

             
Harry
studied
the
boat,
"
So
it
is,
but
I
must
always
look
very
close
before
I
can
tell
them
apart.
"

             
"
Lord
bless
you
sir,
"
grinned
Smales,
"
But
there
'
s
a
world
o
'
difference.
"
He
studied
Harry
carefully.
"
Now
then,
sir,
what
would
you
we
do
once
we
get
close
to
them?
"

             
"
Well,
we
'
ll
have
to
see
what
can
be
done.
Can
we
tow
them
do
you
think?
"

             
"
Tow
them?
Aye,
we
could
do
that,
sir.
It
will
be
slow
work,
but
it
can
be
done,
"
said
the
Master
'
s
Mate.

***

             
Half
an
hour
later
the
two
boats
were
close
enough
for
Harry
to
call
across
to
Midshipman
Bowles,
"
What
do
you
need?
"

             
"
Some
decent
weather,
"
came
the
cheerful
response.
"
And
a
tow
when
we
can
do
so
safely.
"

             
"
We
will
make
ready,
"
called
Harry.
"
The
wind
seems
to
be
abating,
but
I
suspect
the
sea
will
remain
in
this
state
for
some
hours
yet.
"

             
"
Aye,
that
it
will.
But
we
will
have
to
deal
with
it,
Harry,
old
man,
"
called
Tom
Bowles
with
a
laugh.
"
You
fellows
really
were
a
sight
for
our
sore
eyes
when
you
hove
into
view.
Let
me
know
when
you
are
ready.
"

             
Twenty
minutes
later
the
two
boats
had
succeeded
in
passing
a
line
and
Harry
'
s
cutter
slowly
took
the
strain.
At
least
now
they
were
heading
towards
the
coast
and
Harry
had
every
confidence
that
he
could
find
the
entrance
to
either
Port
Jackson
or
Botany
Bay
–
if
he
could
once
find
the
coast.

             
They
found
the
entrance
to
Port
Jackson,
sighting
the
shore
a
little
north
of
it,
and
glimpsing
Lieutenant
Rae
'
s
barge
far
to
the
North
as
they
did
so.
The
two
boats
entered
the
great
harbour
slowly
as
the
light
began
to
fade
and
this
time
it
was
Harry
who
suggested
that
a
little
assistance
from
the
oars
would
speed
their
arrival.
As
they
made
their
way
towards
the
anchored
ship,
their
floating
home,
he
felt
a
glow
of
pride.
They
had
survived
a
violent
storm
in
a
small
and
open
boat.
They
had
returned
with
one
of
their
number
in
tow
and
would
soon
be
absorbed
into
the
greater
company
of
their
ship
once
more.
But
somehow,
for
him,
nothing
would
ever
be
quite
the
same
again.
He
had
held
his
first
command
and
kept
his
people
alive.

             
They
had
survived.
He
gave
silent
thanks
in
the
words
of
the
remembered
prayer.

             
O
most
almighty
and
gracious
God,
thy
mercy
is
over
all
thy
works,
but
in
a
special
manner
hath
been
extended
toward
us,
whom
thou
hast
so
powerfully
and
wonderfully
defended
…..

***

             
Harry
would
have
been
embarrassed
to
hear
the
boat
crews
recounting
the
story
in
their
mess.
But
his
friend
Ferghal
felt
a
glow
of
pride
as
he
heard
the
Master
'
s
Mate
tell
his
fellows,
"
Cool
one
that
Mid.
He
'
ll
do
fer
me!
"

-

             
The
dramatic
return
of
the
survey
party
to
the
ship
was
overshadowed
by
two
events
that
cost
the
ship
another
midshipman
in
the
first
and
a
seaman
in
the
second.
The
first
was
the
death
of
Mister
Midshipman
Pelham,
who
had
the
misfortune
to
be
bitten
by
a
snake
while
walking
near
the
town.
Harry
was
one
of
many
who
were
deeply
saddened
by
the
news
of
Joseph
Pelham
'
s
demise
although
he
was
one
of
the
more
senior
members
of
the
Gunroom
and
a
quiet
one
at
that.