Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (137 page)

             
"
Our
Parson
has
requested
the
Captain
'
s
permission
to
lead
an
expedition
of
the
midshipmen
to
some
caves
he
has
heard
of
to
the
north,
Kanheri,
he
calls
them.
"
He
paused
to
watch
the
stowing
of
the
halliards
for
the
main
course,
then
continued.
"
Manmade
I
believe
he
said,
and
filled
with
idols
and
fabulous
carvings.
"

             
"
I
'
d
not
object
to
seeing
these
myself,
I
have
heard
tell
that
they
are
a
wonder
indeed.
"
The
Master
said,
"
Though
I
think
I
'
ll
leave
the
journeying
in
this
heat
to
younger
heads.
"

             
The
Third
laughed.
"
Do
the
attractions
of
this
city
not
appeal
then?
"

             
"
Aye,
they
do,
but
only
those
closer
to
hand.
I
'
ve
a
fancy
to
visit
the
cloth
makers
here,
their
wares
are
finer
than
our
own
and
more
to
my
pocket.
"
He
tapped
the
side
of
his
nose
and
added,
"
And
can
bring
a
nice
profit
for
a
small
investment
on
our
return
to
England.
"

***

             
This
was
something
several
of
the
officers
and
senior
Warrant
Officers
were
also
thinking.
The
more
astute
members
of
the
Gunroom,
the
Wardroom
and
the
Warrant
Officer
'
s
Messes
were
also
looking
for
bargains
they
could
purchase
for
resale
at
home
at
a
good
profit.
Some
had
already
managed
to
obtain
small
stocks
of
exotic
carvings,
cloth
and
pieces
of
ivory
which
were
carefully
stowed
under
the
Purser
'
s
or
the
Boatswain
'
s
control
against
the
day
of
their
return.
A
number
of
the
midshipmen,
Harry
included,
wished,
in
addition,
to
find
new
uniforms
and
other
items
to
replace
garments
many
of
them
were
growing
out
of
or
had
simply
worn
to
an
end.

             
"
Ferghal
'
s
sail
maker
friends
have
done
as
much
as
they
can
with
my
waistcoats
and
my
coat,
"
Harry
said,
"
I
have
shirts
now
that
have
been
remade
so
many
times
they
are
more
sailcloth
than
cotton
shirt,
even
those
I
managed
to
obtain
from
the
auction
of
our
fallen
friends
dunnage.
"

             
"
I
am
in
the
same
case,
"
agreed
Kit.
"
Mister
Bell
has
found
a
local
snyder
and
arranged
with
Peterson
for
us
to
share
him.
He
is
coming
to
the
ship
with
his
cloth
and
his
tools
and
will
make
all
we
need
for
a
much
smaller
fee
than
any
English
one,
do
you
intend
to
use
him
too?
"

             
"
When
does
he
come?
"
Harry
asked.
"
For
tomorrow
we
must
depart
with
Mister
Bentley
for
these
caves
he
is
so
interested
in
seeing.
"

             
"
He
comes
in
the
Dog
Watches
today,
so
he
may
measure
us
and
have
the
items
made
for
our
return.
How
long
will
the
expedition
take,
do
you
know?
"

             
"
Four
days,
says
Mister
Bentley,
a
day
to
get
there
by
elephant,
two
days
to
explore
and
a
day
to
return.
We
stay
in
the
residence
of
a
Company
Official
while
in
the
hills,
"
replied
Harry.
"
They
say
there
are
tigers
there
–
I
hope
we
see
one
at
least.
"

             
"
Not
unless
it
is
from
somewhere
secure
from
its
desire
to
consume
us
–
or
across
the
sights
of
a
suitable
gun,
"
exclaimed
Kit.

***

             
The
tailor
'
s
visit
was
a
busy
one
and
he
assured
them
of
his
speedy
services
by
delivering
the
uniform
coats
ordered
bare
days
earlier.
Nor
was
the
quality
poor,
far
from
it,
in
some
respects
it
was
superior
to
anything
some
of
the
officers
had
previously
owned.
Harry
dared
to
stretch
his
slender
purse
and
ordered
two
uniform
coats,
a
set
of
new
waistcoats
several
shirts,
breeches,
stockings
and
a
new
pair
of
shoes.
He
also
ordered
two
shirts
and
a
smart
jacket
especially
for
Ferghal
as
a
small
gift
to
his
friend.
This
raised
Kit
'
s
eyebrows,
but
he
held
his
peace.
However,
the
tailor,
noting
the
unusual
circumstance
of
a
midshipman
making
such
a
purchase
for
a
mere
seaman
made
some
subtle
enquiries
and
adjusted
the
cost
to
Harry
downwards
without
further
comment,
unusual
in
itself.