Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (26 page)

             
"
Shall
I
signal
our
intention
to
Pelican
'
s
commander,
sir?
"

             
"
In
due
time
Thomas,
I
shall
breakfast
first
I
think.
"
The
Captain
swept
the
convoy
with
his
glass
noting,
with
annoyance,
the
Maid
of
Selsey
was
lagging
badly
and
seemed
to
be
pumping
her
bilges
yet
again.
"
I
begin
to
think
that
transport
'
s
master
is
determined
to
irritate
me.
I
have
not
met
so
truculent
a
man
in
these
many
years
–
nor
one
who
cares
so
little
for
the
fabric
of
his
ship!
"
He
snapped
at
the
signal
party,
"
Signal
her
to
make
more
sail
and
keep
proper
station
on
the
convoy.
"

             
Even
as
the
flags
soared
aloft
a
cry
from
the
masthead
reached
the
deck,
"
Deck
there,
ship
in
sight
–
on
the
Starboard
quarter.
"

             
Before
the
Captain
could
train
his
glass,
the
lookout
called
again,
"
Deck
there
–
a
first
rate
and
four
smaller
ships.
"
A
pause,
"
Looks
like
Dons,
a
whole
squadron
of
'
em.
"

             
"
Mister
Bowles,
"
the
Captain
was
brisk,
"
Take
a
glass
and
get
aloft.
See
if
you
can
identify
them
and
their
intentions.
"

             
"
Aye,
aye,
sir,
"
Tom
Bowles
snatched
a
telescope
from
its
rack
and
swung
into
the
mizzen
shrouds.
Soon
he
was
perched
on
the
mizzen
top
and
sighting
the
telescope
on
the
new
ships.
After
a
moment
he
called
down,
"
A
three
decker
and
four
seventy
fours,
sir.
From
her
size
I
think
it
must
be
the
Santissima
Trinidad.
"

             
"
Thank
you
Mister
Bowles
–
and
her
course?
"

             
"
On
her
present
head,
they
appear
bound
for
Cadiz,
sir.
"

             
By
this
time
the
deck
seemed
to
have
become
filled
with
curious
onlookers,
the
majority
of
whom
were
quick
to
find
things
to
occupy
themselves
as
soon
as
any
of
the
lieutenants,
now
also
peering
aft,
glanced
in
their
direction.

             
Harry
heard
the
Master
speaking
to
the
Third
Lieutenant,
"
A
hundred
and
twenty
guns,
Mister
Beasley.
The
largest
ship
in
any
navy
–
and
a
fine
prize
for
any
bold
enough
to
attack
her.
"

             
Tom
Bowles
landed
near
Harry
and
grinned,
"
A
Spanish
Fleet
no
less,
Harry.
She
wears
an
Admiral
'
s
flag
at
her
fore
and
there
are
frigates
beyond
her
too.
Let
us
hope
they
are
content
to
make
for
their
home
and
leave
us
be.
"
He
hurried
away
to
make
a
further
report
to
the
Captain.

             
With
the
growing
daylight,
the
great
ship
'
s
royals
could
now
be
seen
from
the
deck
by
those
with
sharp
eyes,
the
snowy
canvas
golden
in
the
early
light.
Harry
wished
he
could
see
the
ship
herself;
it
would
make
a
fine
picture
he
was
sure
for
his
parents.
He
watched
with
envy
as
Tom
Bowles
once
more
scrambled
aloft,
this
time
climbing
to
the
crosstrees
from
where
he
could
see
and
report
the
full
strength
of
the
Spanish
squadron.
Instead
he
remained
at
his
post,
tasked
with
recording
the
rough
notes
for
the
Master
'
s
log
on
the
slate
beside
the
great
double
wheel.

             
He
heard
his
name
called
and
responded,
"
Sir?
"

             
"
Fetch
your
drawing
materials
Mister
Heron,
"
Captain
Blackwood
ordered,
"
and
get
aloft.
I
want
you
to
draw
and
record
each
of
those
ships;
the
Admiral
at
Gibraltar
will
wish
to
know
what
he
has
on
his
doorstep.
Quickly
now!
"

             
Harry
raced
below,
grabbed
the
satchel
in
which
he
kept
his
drawing
papers
and
charcoal,
inks
and
brushes,
and
raced
back
on
deck.
As
he
swung
into
the
ratlines
the
Third
Lieutenant
thrust
a
telescope
at
him
and
said,
"
Take
this,
you
'
ll
need
it
to
get
the
detail.
"

             
"
Aye,
aye,
sir,
thank
you,
"
Harry
grasped
the
telescope
and
slipped
the
strap
over
his
head,
then
began
the
long
ascent
to
join
Tom
Bowles
on
the
crosstrees.
This
platform
was
small,
almost
too
small,
but
there
was
sufficient
space
for
him
to
sit
and,
with
his
legs
dangling
over
the
sea
or
the
deck
as
the
ship
rolled,
began
to
study
the
huge
three
decker
.
Carefully
he
noted
the
arrangement
of
her
gunports,
the
cut
of
her
sails
and
the
gilding
and
painting
of
her
massive
hull.
Then
he
began
to
sketch,
pausing
occasionally
to
use
the
glass
to
study
the
details
afresh.
Tom
Bowles
watched
in
envy
as
the
image
in
Harry
'
s
eye
was
transferred
to
the
page,
tiny
details
being
annotated
where
they
could
not
be
drawn
in
detail
in
the
main
picture.
Other
ships
began
to
join
the
flagship
on
the
page
as
Harry
sketched
their
details
as
well.