Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (44 page)

             
A
portly
gentleman
in
the
uniform
of
an
artillery
colonel
clambered
through
the
entry
port
first,
followed
by
several
other
soldiers
and
an
elderly
lieutenant
in
naval
rig.
Greeting
the
visitors,
Captain
Blackwood
escorted
them
aft
to
his
great
cabin,
saying
as
he
passed
Harry,
"
An
unusual
post
for
a
Colonel
of
the
Artillery
is
it
not,
to
be
governor
in
such
an
outpost?
"

             
From
the
response
Harry
gathered
that
the
Colonel
in
question
held
the
position
temporarily
as
the
civil
incumbent
had
been
recalled
to
London.
Then
his
lieutenant
dismissed
him
to
his
supper
and
some
rest
before
he
was
required
to
stand
watch
later.
Already
the
lieutenants
and
the
senior
midshipmen
were
drifting
aft
to
join
the
Captain
and
his
guests
and
they
would
soon
be
joined
by
the
Captains
of
the
two
frigates
and
the
brig
that
made
up
the
escort.
 

***

             
The
sun
had
not
long
cleared
the
horizon
when
the
first
boats
were
dispatched
toward
the
shore.
The
visitors
of
the
previous
night
had
lingered
late
and
departed
for
the
shore
in
darkness,
the
lieutenant
assuring
Thomas
Bell
that
the
boat
crew
knew
their
way
by
the
feel
of
the
currents,
and
this
much
appeared
to
be
true
for
a
check
at
dawn
with
the
large
signal
telescope
had
shown
the
boat
drawn
up
on
the
sand
in
the
small
inlet
that
formed
the
harbour.

             
The
barge
had
been
loaded
with
the
empty
casks
and
now
the
First
Lieutenant
instructed
the
Second,
about
to
embark
in
the
number
one
launch,
"
Take
care
that
the
men
scrub
the
casks
properly,
David,
we
can
'
t
afford
to
have
salt
remaining
in
them
when
they
are
refilled.
We
do
not
know
what
the
reception
we
may
have
at
the
Cape
and
will
be
in
need
of
all
the
water
we
may
get
here.
"

             
"
As
you
say,
Mister
Bell,
"
Lieutenant
Rae
answered.
"
I
have
the
Cooper
and
his
mates
with
me
to
ensure
they
are
properly
found
when
we
are
ready
to
fill
them.
"
He
glanced
across
at
the
nearest
of
the
Prison
Ships
and
asked,
"
Do
you
wish
me
to
check
that
our
consorts
take
adequate
supplies
as
well.
"

             
"
That
may
be
wise.
"
The
First
followed
his
companion
'
s
gaze
and
drew
his
breath
sharply
at
the
sight
of
ragged
figures
being
herded
together
in
the
ship
'
s
waist
while
others
manned
the
deck
pump.
"
It
looks
as
if
they
are
at
least
attempting
to
cleanse
the
people
in
their
charge.
"
He
shook
his
head
sadly.
"
They
may
be
gaol
bait
and
the
sweepings
of
the
gutters,
but
I
question
the
need
to
use
such
force
on
fettered
and
restrained
men.
"

             
Lieutenant
Rae,
who
knew
the
First
Lieutenant
'
s
view
that
firm
handling
and
respect
to
the
men
bore
better
fruit
than
brutality
and
fear,
held
his
peace.
He
didn
'
t
entirely
agree
with
his
senior,
but
didn
'
t
approve
of
senseless
bullying
or
abuse
of
authority
either.
Instead
he
said,
"
I
have
arranged
for
some
of
the
ship
'
s
boys
to
accompany
me,
sir.
They
may
do
some
of
the
simpler
tasks
and
I
can
use
them
to
run
errands
and
seek
out
the
suppliers
of
the
provender
we
require.
"

             
"
Aye,
that
will
keep
them
well
occupied.
"
Thomas
Bell
was,
at
heart,
a
kindly
man
and
regarded
the
welfare
of
the
ship
'
s
contingent
of
boys
in
a
rather
fatherly
manner.
He
added,
as
the
thought
came
to
him,
"
Try
to
secure
us
several
pigs
and
some
hens,
or
at
least
obtain
a
price
for
them.
"
He
passed
a
small
purse.
"
Perhaps
you
and
the
Wardroom
will
join
me
in
purchasing
some
for
our
own
use?
"

             
Mister
Rae
nodded.
"
I
shall
do
so.
Mister
Beasley
and
the
others
have
already
given
me
some
coin
and
a
list
of
things
they
would
like
to
enjoy,
if
you
'
ll
pardon
me,
I
shall
put
your
proposal
to
them.
"