Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (136 page)

             
He
would
have
said
more,
but
at
that
moment
the
Sultan
indicated
his
desire
to
depart
and
the
officers
and
warrant
Officers
hurried
to
their
posts
to
see
due
honours
performed
as
their
Royal
guest
departed.

             
As
the
barge
pulled
away
from
the
ship,
Captain
Blackwood
turned
to
the
Lieutenant
'
s
and
said,
"
Thank
you
gentlemen.
That
visit
has
been
a
great
success
thanks
to
the
efforts
of
everyone
aboard.
We
shall
have
a
stand
easy
tomorrow
in
the
Afternoon
Watch
and,
Mister
Bell,
you
may
'
Splice
the
Main
Brace
'
.
"

***

             
Two
days
later
the
Spartan
set
sail
and
worked
her
way
out
of
the
bay,
the
smoke
from
her
gun
salute
drifting
astern
in
the
gentle
breeze
as
she
left
the
anchorage
with
the
thunder
of
the
reply
from
the
battery
on
Al
Minari
sending
the
sea
birds
scattering.

             
"
A
great
success,
Captain,
"
Mister
Stewart
said
as
they
went
below.
"
A
hugely
important
ally
in
these
parts,
the
Sultan,
and
your
ship
and
your
men
have
left
him
with
a
good
impression.
Our
French
friends
have
been
sent
packing,
their
tails
between
their
legs
and
their
ally
is
banished
from
the
court.
"

             
"
Ah,
I
had
wondered
what
became
of
him.
"
Captain
Blackwood
shed
his
heavy
coat
and
eased
into
his
chair
at
his
desk.
"
His
banishment
did
not
happen
to
coincide
with
a
certain
entertainment
aboard
this
ship?
"

             
"
It
did,
"
Mister
Stewart
said.
"
The
Sultan
accepted
the
invitation
because
he
did
not
wish
to
be
available
for
an
appeal.
"
He
smiled.
"
Their
ways
may
not
be
ours,
but
they
are
effective.
Mister
Al
Qatari
will
not,
I
think,
be
able
to
assist
his
French
allies
for
some
time.
"

             
"
And
we
have
recovered
the
Lascari
crew
and
the
Master
of
the
Mowghli
.
I
trust
that
Mister
Downing
has
suffered
no
ill
effects
either.
It
was
generous
of
the
Sultan
to
offer
compensation
for
his
injured
prestige.
"
Captain
Blackwood
allowed
himself
a
smile.
"
Though
I
have
no
doubt
the
French
will
find
themselves
paying
it.
"

             
"
Certainly
conceivable,
"
the
Company
man
said.
"
Now
that
it
is
confirmed
that
we
are
once
again
at
war
we
will
have
to
set
the
Bombay
Marine
to
regular
patrols
in
this
area
–
more
expense
since
we
will
have
to
purchase
in
ships
to
increase
their
capability
in
that
regard.
At
least
the
French
will
not
have
a
friendly
port
under
the
Sultan
'
s
jurisdiction
from
which
to
strike.
But
Ile
d
'
France
is
a
thorn
in
our
sides
and
will
have
to
be
dealt
with
sooner
rather
than
later.
"

-

             
Bombay,
now
the
monsoon
was
fully
developed,
was
wet
and
steaming.
From
their
anchorage
just
below
the
Fort
on
Cross
Island
they
had
a
good
view
into
the
city
and
it
'
s
ever
changing
and
colourfully
dressed
population.
To
seaward
lay
the
Middle
Ground
battery,
the
first
line
of
defence
of
the
anchorage
and
the
their
east,
the
islands
on
the
eastern
side
of
the
bay,
the
low
lying
Jawahar
Dweep
–
to
the
English
Butcher
Island
–
and
the
larger
and
more
hilly
Elephant
Island
almost
vanished
into
the
background.
Within
days
of
their
arrival
despatches
and
orders
had
arrived
for
Spartan,
the
frigate
Rajahstan
and
the
sloop
Swallow
,
both
currently
at
sea
to
return
to
Portsmouth
and
now
the
opportunity
was
being
taken,
while
they
waited
for
their
consorts,
to
complete
the
ship
'
s
repairs
and
stores
for
the
long
voyage
home.

             
"
At
least,
"
said
Third
Lieutenant
David
Rogers
to
the
Master,
"
The
monsoon
brings
cooler
temperatures
to
this
place.
"

             
"
Aye,
Mister
Rogers,
that
it
does,
"
agreed
Mister
Wentworth.
"
Though
it
also
prevents
our
sailing
–
we
'
ve
another
month
at
least
before
the
wind
changes
direction
and
blows
favourably
for
us.
"