Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (15 page)

             
Harry
acknowledged
the
order
and
settled
himself
securely
on
the
narrow
platform.
He
was
feeling
the
chill
even
through
his
coat,
waistcoat
shirt
and
undershirt,
yet
he
was
aware
the
lookout,
one
of
the
older
seamen,
was
clad
only
in
shirt
and
breeches.
"
Dawn
soon,
Kennard.
And
hopefully
a
little
warmth
with
the
sun.
"

             
The
man
chuckled,
"
Aye,
sir.
But
darker
'
afore
t
'
sun
comes
up.
"

             
"
And
colder,
"
Harry
said
absently,
his
eyes
on
the
furthest
ship.
"
I
think
that
must
be
the
Virago
.
Where
are
Swift,
Pelican
and
the
Kestrel
?
"

             
"
That
be
the
Indiaman
Minerva
,
sor.
Virago
be
to
loo
'
ard
o
' '
er.
T
'
brigs
be
t
'
loo
'
ard
o
'
all
t
'
rest
an
'
Swift
be
there.
"
The
seaman
indicated
a
light
in
the
centre
of
the
scattered
lights.
" '
er
light
rides
lower
'
coz
'
er
poop
be
lower
than
t
' '
ell
ship
ahead
o
' '
er
sor.
"

             
Harry
nodded,
noting
the
positions.
Already
the
faintest
change
was
occurring
in
the
sky
to
the
east,
a
greenish
line
seemed
to
be
spreading
along
the
horizon
and
the
darkness
above
it
seemed
paler.
He
glanced
up
and
noted
with
satisfaction
the
cloud
wrack
was
apparently
breaking
up,
bright
stars
blazed
in
the
gaps
appearing
to
the
west
and
south
while
the
east
appeared
to
be
clear
already.
He
scanned
the
scattered
ships
again.
One
seemed
to
have
changed
position
and
he
asked
the
lookout,
"
One
of
our
charges
seems
to
have
tacked.
Can
you
see
which?
"

             
"
Aye,
sir.
"
The
lookout
braced
himself
and
peered
into
the
gloom,
"
It
be
the
Duchess
.
Indiaman,
'
er
Master
be
cautious
I
reckons.
She
be
standing
across
t
'
others
now.
"

             
"
I
thought
so,
"
Harry
cupped
his
hands
to
his
mouth
again
and
sang
out,
"
Deck
there,
Duchess
has
tacked.
She
'
s
standing
across
the
convoy.
"

             
"
Very
good,
"
the
Fourth
Lieutenant
'
s
voice
sounded
faintly
from
below.
Minutes
later
the
pipes
were
once
more
twittering
and
the
rigging
swarmed
with
men
racing
to
obey
the
shouted
orders.
The
lightening
skies
allowed
Harry
to
see
sharper
outlines
and
to
note
two
more
ships
had
tacked.
He
reported
this
even
as
a
string
of
flags
soared
aloft
to
be
followed
seconds
later
by
the
bang
of
a
gun.
This
was
followed
several
minutes
later
by
the
eerie
light
of
a
port
fire,
its
bright,
but
menacing,
light
casting
the
sails
into
coloured
relief.

             
"
T
'
brigs
'
ave
seen
it,
sor.
"
Kennard
reported.
"
An
'
Virago
.
Swift
'
as
tacked
an
'
is
closing
Duchess
,
sor.
"

             
The
sun
turned
the
eastern
horizon
gold
as
it
began
to
rise,
bathing
the
sea
in
its
light
and
illuminating
the
undersides
of
the
scattered
clouds.
As
it
crept
higher
it
caught
the
upper
masts
and
yards
of
the
ships
at
last
responding
to
the
Spartan
'
s
signal.
The
brigs
on
the
far
side
of
the
convoy
acting
like
sheep
dogs,
snapping
at
the
heels
of
the
sluggards
until
finally,
with
the
sun
now
fully
above
the
horizon,
all
were
once
more
standing
on
the
same
course.

             
A
new
lookout
clambered
into
the
crosstrees
and
grinned.
"
Mornin
'
,
sir,
Tom.
Mister
Beasley
'
s
compliments,
sir,
'
e
says
you
can
go
to
breakfast
now.
"

             
"
Thank
you.
"
Harry
grinned.
"
Something
warm
will
be
welcome,
sleep
would
be
better,
but
I
can
forget
that
now.
Are
you
coming,
Kennard?
Thank
you
for
your
assistance.
"
He
swung
himself
onto
the
ratlines
and
began
the
descent.

             
"
I
'
ll
see
'
e
below,
sor.
"
The
seaman
Kennard
replied
as
he
swung
himself
onto
the
long
backstay
and
began
to
slide
hand
over
hand
to
the
deck.