Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (116 page)

             
"
Well
done
Joshua,
"
Captain
Blackwood
approved.
"
That
is
worth
more
than
all
the
rest.
"
He
studied
the
chart
the
Master
laid
before
them.
"
The
approach
looks
tricky,
confined
and
from
the
north
directly
into
the
wind.
And
here
is
a
battery
I
see,
placed
to
sweep
the
entrance.
"

             
"
Indeed,
sir,
though
it
is
rarely
manned.
Or
at
least
so
I
am
told
and
seldom
are
the
guns
exercised.
"

             
"
It
would
not
require
any
great
effort
to
man
them
quickly
though,
"
the
third
lieutenant
commented.
"
And
even
a
blind
man
should
be
able
to
hit
any
ship
attempting
to
force
the
entrance.
"

             
"
Then
we
shall
have
to
exercise
great
care
in
our
approach,
gentlemen.
"
The
Captain
looked
thoughtful.
"
Perhaps
our
best
tactic
here
will
be
to
see
what
may
be
attempted
to
seize
these
dhows
at
sea
and
then
use
them
to
parley.
"

             
The
discussion
swiftly
turned
to
how
this
might
be
achieved
and
a
number
of
suggestions
were
examined
and
discarded
before
the
First
suggested
that
a
reconnaissance
by
boat
might
provide
useful
information.
"
It
will
give
the
opportunity
to
spy
out
the
lie
of
the
land
and
gain
knowledge
of
the
trade
on
this
coast,
sir,
"
he
said.

             
"
The
winds
do
not
generally
favour
a
ship
such
as
ours
except
at
certain
times
of
the
year,
sir,
"
the
Master
told
them.
"
This
is
the
beginning
of
the
monsoon
season,
traffic
is
presently
from
east
to
west
at
this
time,
in
another
month
or
so
it
will
reverse
and
then
the
trade
will
be
east
bound.
If
we
enter
the
bay
of
Muscat,
the
harbour
lies
north
to
south
and
the
wind
will
be
difficult
for
in
any
event
unless
we
make
use
of
the
land
breezes
at
nightfall.
"

             
"
Then
we
must
pray
that
it
favours
us
when
we
must
enter
and
depart,
"
the
Captain
concluded.

***

             
Fate,
in
the
form
of
a
sharp-eared
lookout,
intervened
near
the
entrance
to
the
gulf
just
at
sunset.
 

             
"
Gunfire
to
Larboard,
"
the
hail
floated
down
from
the
Main
Topmast
crosstrees,
"
Four
sail
–
look
like
Arabies!
"

             
"
Alter
course
toward
them,
"
the
lieutenant
ordered.
"
Hands
to
braces
there,
"
he
added
as
the
alteration
made
necessary
the
adjustment
of
the
sails.
He
turned
as
the
Captain
emerged
from
beneath
the
poop
and
saluted,
"
Lookout
reports
an
engagement
between
several
ships,
sir.
"

             
"
Very
good,
Mister
Rogers.
"
He
glanced
around
the
quarterdeck
and
spotted
Kit
Tanner.
"
Get
aloft
Mister
Tanner.
Take
a
glass
and
see
what
you
can
spy
out.
"

             
"
Aye,
aye,
sir,
"
Kit
responded
hurrying
toward
the
gangway
and
the
main
shrouds,
the
big
telescope
slung
on
his
back.

             
A
few
minutes
later
the
flat
rumble
of
a
ragged
broadside
reached
them,
the
sound
interspersed
with
sharper
bangs
of
smaller
guns.
The
question
on
all
the
officers
'
minds
was
whose
ships
and
who
was
under
attack.
Kit
Tanner
'
s
voice
reached
them
from
aloft.

             
"
Company
brig,
sir.
She
is
being
harried
by
three
big
dhows.
"

             
"
One
of
John
Company
'
s,
eh.
I
she
the
one
we
seek
to
support?
"
The
Captain
called,
"
Very
good,
Mister
Tanner,
remain
where
you
are
and
keep
them
under
your
eye.
"
To
the
First
Lieutenant
he
said,
"
Clear
for
action,
Mister
Bell.
We
may
yet
deal
these
fellows
a
crippling
blow
if
we
are
fortunate.
With
luck
they
may
not
have
seen
our
approach.
"
As
he
spoke
rain
began
to
fall
heavily
over
them
and
he
added,
"
Providence
seems
to
have
decided
to
play
our
part
as
well.
This
rain
will
mask
our
approach
even
better
than
the
gathering
dusk.
"