Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (145 page)

             
"
I
shall
do
so
directly,
but
perhaps
a
change
of
duties
or
station
for
Mister
Barclay
might
be
productive.
I
shall
discuss
it
with
the
other
officers,
sir.
Perhaps
if
I
move
him
to
a
new
station
where
I
will
have
him
under
my
eye?
It
may
encourage
him
to
renewed
diligence.
"

***

             
Harry
stood
with
the
large
signal
telescope
resting
in
the
crook
of
his
elbow
as
his
signal
party
folded
and
stowed
the
flags
from
the
signal
just
hauled
down.
His
life
aboard
this
ship
had
been
varied
and
interesting,
he
thought.
This
voyage
had
proved
far
more
interesting
and
adventurous
than
he
had
ever
thought
possible.
The
expedition
to
the
hills
and
the
fabulously
carved
caves
had
certainly
been
a
highlight
and
so
had
their
brief
glimpse
of
a
tiger,
that
most
magnificent
of
beasts.
But
there
were
the
memories
too,
of
the
Sultan
of
Oman
and
his
retinue
and
their
visit
to
this
very
ship
and
of
their
exploration
of
Botany
Bay,
of
Pieterzoon
and
the
storms
of
the
Great
Southern
Ocean.
These
more
than
compensated
for
the
punishments
meted
out
by
Eamon
Barclay,
the
constant
attempts
to
bully
and
the
animosity
that
sometimes
almost
provoked
him
into
losing
his
temper
and
engaging
in
a
brawl.

             
On
reflection
he
realised
that
Barclay
'
s
provocations
had
lately
subsided
somewhat.
He
still
lost
no
opportunity
to
attempt
to
browbeat
Harry
and
the
other
juniors,
but
this
seemed
to
have
lost
its
venom.
Even
some
of
his
former
cronies
had
become
less
supportive
and
their
eagerness
to
join
him
in
his
bullying
tactics
had
waned.
Harry
wondered
if
it
had,
perhaps,
stemmed
from
the
incident
in
Colombo.
Certainly
his
adversary
'
s
demeanour
had
changed
dramatically
following
the
visit
to
the
Vihara
and
the
subsequent
storm.
He
put
all
this
from
his
mind
as
he
was
joined
by
Kit.

             
Ahead
lay
more
adventures
he
was
sure.
They
had
yet
to
traverse
the
Indian
Ocean,
round
the
Cape
–
in
Dutch
hands
and
by
their
alliance
closed
to
Spartan
and
her
squadron
–
and
the
Atlantic
Oceans
on
their
way
home
to
a
nation
once
more
at
war.
The
French
were
again
engaged
in
their
attempts
to
destroy
British
trade
and
Ile
d
'
France
lay
on
their
route
home.
Perhaps
an
opportunity
to
gain
some
Prize
money
lay
in
wait
for
them
as
well?
Though
a
Midshipman
'
s
share
was
paltry,
it
would
certainly
make
a
promising
start
to
his
independence.
To
Kit
he
said,
"
They
make
a
fine
sight
do
they
not?
And
what
adventures
we
have
had
since
leaving
the
Billy
Ruffian
.
"

             
"
Aye,
"
Kit
was
silent
a
moment
more
staring
ahead.
"
What
think
you;
will
we
encounter
any
of
the
French?
We
pass
Ile
d
'
France
on
our
route
–
think
of
the
glory
we
could
win
if
we
fell
in
with
a
Frenchman
and
captured
him.
"

             
"
There
is
most
certainly
a
chance,
"
Harry
replied.
"
They
keep
some
frigates
and
sloops
there
do
they
not?
It
would
be
strange
indeed
if
they
did
not
make
some
appearance.
"

             
Lost
in
their
own
thoughts
the
pair
fell
silent.
Harry
watched
as
the
sloop
Swallow
,
crowded
on
sail
in
order
to
beat
her
way
to
the
station
assigned
to
her
as
the
eyes
of
the
squadron
in
the
van,
ahead
of
the
ponderous
seventy-four.
He
acknowledged
the
report
from
the
Master
'
s
Mate
that
all
was
now
stowed
and
ready,
sinking
again
into
his
own
thoughts
with
one
eye
and
an
ear
on
the
Captain
as
he
stood
talking
to
the
First.
Astern,
the
sleek
country
built
frigate
Rajahstan
settled
into
the
larger
ship
'
s
wake.
Harry
had
been
twelve
when
he
joined
this
ship
after
six
months
in
HMS
Bellerophon
.
Now,
his
fifteenth
birthday
recently
behind
him,
he
was
already
a
seasoned
sailor
and
trusted
by
his
officers
as
a
promising
leader.
He
had
enjoyed
this
voyage
and
felt
very
privileged
to
have
been
able
to
see
and
do
so
much.
Now
he
was
looking
forward
to
seeing
his
home
again,
in
the
soft
and
cooler
climate
of
County
Down.