Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (126 page)

             
The
last
shot
was
still
reverberating
when
the
lookout
aloft
in
the
main
crosstrees
called,
"
Deck
there
–
boat
putting
off
from
the
shore.
"

***

             
The
boat
carried
the
Company
'
s
agent.
Mohammad
Tanha
was
a
swarthy
man
with
an
open
face
and
a
polite
manner.
He
was
dressed
in
loose
cotton
robes
and
loose
fitting
trousers
with
his
feet
clad
in
finely
made
shoes
and
a
turban
on
his
head.
He
greeted
Captain
Blackwood
with
a
slight
bow
and
a
hand
placed
over
his
heart
as
he
said,
"
Welcome
Captain,
to
Muscat.
May
peace
attend
your
stay.
"

             
Robert
Blackwood
had
already
been
primed
for
the
greeting
and
acknowledged
it
by
raising
his
hat
and
returning
the
bow
saying,
"
May
peace
attend
you.
Welcome
aboard
my
ship.
"

             
The
visitor
smiled
and
said,
"
I
have
already
sent
word
to
the
Sultan
of
your
arrival
and
your
desire
to
meet
him.
There
is
much
business
to
discuss,
yes?
"

             
"
Indeed
there
is.
"
Mister
Stewart
stepped
forward.
"
Peace
be
with
you,
Mohammad.
Do
you
have
any
news
for
us?
"
He
glanced
at
the
Captain
and
said,
"
Perhaps
we
could
retire
to
your
cabin
to
hear
it,
Captain?
"

             
"
Certainly.
"
Captain
Blackwood
stepped
forward
and
signalled
his
visitor
to
precede
him,
then
followed
the
agents,
now
speaking
Arabic,
beneath
the
poop
and
into
the
great
cabin.
He
signalled
the
servant
and
asked,
"
Some
refreshment
perhaps?
I
have
tea
recently
acquired
in
Ceylon,
or
wine
–
our
water
is
almost
undrinkable
Mister
Tanha.
"

             
"
Tea
will
be
acceptable
for
us
all
I
think.
"
Mister
Stewart
took
control
and
added,
"
If
we
are
to
call
upon
the
Sultan
we
should
avoid
wine
–
he
is
renowned
for
the
strictness
of
his
observance
of
the
rules
regarding
wine
in
his
faith,
Captain.
"

             
"
Tea
then.
"
Captain
Blackwood
nodded
and
the
servant
withdrew
silently.

             
"
To
business
–
Mohammad
informs
me
that
the
two
surviving
Dhows
that
attacked
the
brig
Mowglhi
are
at
anchor
further
up
the
coast,
in
Mutrah.
The
French
have
recently
established
a
consulate
there
and
officers
have
begun
arriving
from
Ile
de
France,
taking
great
interest
apparently
in
the
trade
that
passes
through
these
waters.
"

             
"
It
is
fortunate
that
you
arrive
at
this
time,
Captain,
"
Mohammad
Tanha
interjected.
"
They
have
the
ear
of
the
Sultan
'
s
uncle.
A
man
the
Sultan
listens
to
in
matters
of
trade.
"
He
glanced
at
his
fellow
Company
agent
and
said,
"
It
is
he
that
owns
the
Dhows
involved
in
seizing
the
brig.
"

             
"
I
see,
"
said
Captain
Blackwood.
"
What
word
is
there
of
the
men
seized
in
the
brig?
"

             
"
The
Lascari
seamen
are
apparently
held
for
sale
as
slaves,
"
Mister
Stewart
said.
"
Our
agent
is
held
in
the
uncle
'
s
palace
according
to
our
information
and
it
is
certain
his
message
or
the
treaty
drafts
have
not
reached
the
Sultan.
"
He
paused.
"
As
I
have
no
doubt
you
are
aware
Captain,
the
Sultan
of
Oman
rules
much
of
the
Arabian
peninsula,
and
the
Eastern
Coast
of
Africa
in
the
vicinity
of
Zanzibar
from
which
they
draw
a
great
deal
of
wealth
in
the
form
of
slaves
and
the
spices
cultivated
there.
He
also
rules
in
parts
of
the
Persian
coast
and
is
a
powerful
figure
in
the
Makran
coast
of
India.
His
good
offices
are
a
major
concern
to
us.
A
most
important
trading
partner
for
both
ourselves
and
the
French.
"

             
"
So
I
understand,
"
Captain
Blackwood
agreed.
"
What
I
am
uncertain
of
is
what
you
expect
me
to
do
to
recover
the
missing
agent
or
his
crew.
"
He
frowned.
"
To
lead
a
cutting
out
expedition
against
the
Dhows
–
assuming
we
can
identify
them
–
seems
likely
to
result
in,
at
the
least,
a
strain
upon
the
relationship
you
seek
to
build.
What
do
you
suggest?
"