Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (52 page)

             
The
excursion
to
the
castle
provided
Midshipman
Barclay
with
the
excuse
to
attack
Harry.
"
Don
'
t
think
your
being
in
the
Captain
'
s
favour
will
get
you
any
favours
here,
"
he
sneered
when
Harry
returned
to
the
Gunroom.
"
Currying
favour
with
the
Captain
will
get
you
no
credit
from
me.
"

             
"
I
beg
pardon?
"
Harry
was
caught
off
guard
by
this
assault.
"
I
asked
for
no
favours
or
for
this
assignment
to
accompany
him.
It
could
as
easily
have
been
anyone
else.
"

             
"
Don
'
t
think
I
don
'
t
know
that
your
family
is
thick
as
the
thieves
they
are
with
the
Captain
'
s
family,
"
Barclay
snapped.
"
Be
warned,
I
'
ll
not
suffer
your
running
to
the
officers
any
longer
with
tales.
I
'
ll
not
have
my
position
undermined
by
a
whelp
like
you.
"

             
Harry
'
s
temper
was
rising
and
he
would
have
made
a
retort
had
Tom
Bowles
not
arrived
at
this
moment.
"
Eamon,
the
First
is
demanding
your
attendance.
You
'
re
to
accompany
the
Purser
to
arrange
fresh
supplies.
"
He
took
in
the
fury
in
Harry
'
s
face
and
the
sneer
on
Barclay
'
s
and
said
gently,
"
I
'
d
not
keep
Mister
Bell
waiting
if
I
were
in
your
shoes.
Nor
should
you
be
so
quick
to
seek
to
provoke
an
argument.
"

             
"
Damn
you,
"
Barclay
spat.
Over
Tom
'
s
shoulder
he
addressed
Harry
saying,
"
I
'
ve
not
forgotten
your
standing
up
for
that
traitor
O
'
Connor,
Heron,
nor
that
you
brought
me
into
disrepute
with
the
Captain
over
it.
I
'
ll
repay
that
when
I
find
an
opportunity.
"

             
"
As
I
recall,
"
Harry
shot
back.
"
It
was
not
I
that
concocted
a
false
story
in
order
to
have
a
man
flogged
for
my
own
vanity.
"

             
For
a
moment
it
looked
as
if
Barclay
would
attack
him,
but
then
Tom
Bowles
stepped
between
them
again.
"
The
First
awaits
you
Eamon.
"
He
said
levelly.
Over
his
shoulder
he
said
to
Harry,
"
I
cannot
permit
you
to
escape
punishment
for
your
disrespect
for
your
seniors
either.
You
can
accept
a
caning
from
me
–
or
spend
your
off
watch
time
for
the
next
week
in
the
mizzen
rigging.
"

             
For
a
moment
Harry
considered
rebelling
further
and
refusing
to
accept
any
punishment,
then
he
drew
himself
up
to
his
full
height,
the
contempt
in
his
eyes
as
he
said,
"
Then
apply
the
cane,
if
I
must
be
punished
for
no
better
reason
than
to
uphold
someone
'
s
authority
let
us
finish
it.
"

             
"
You
'
ll
get
a
thrashing
from
me
alright,
"
Barclay
snarled
moving
to
seize
Harry.

             
"
Leave
him
be,
"
Tom
Bowles
snapped,
restraining
the
bigger
man.
"
You
'
ve
done
more
than
enough
already,
don
'
t
make
it
any
worse!
The
First
is
waiting
for
you
–
go
now
before
he
comes
looking
for
you
and
makes
further
enquiry
as
to
what
delayed
you.
"

             
Rage
and
disappointment
chased
each
other
across
the
bully
'
s
face,
finally
he
moved
toward
the
companion
ladder
and
threw
over
his
shoulder,
"
I
'
ll
have
your
hide
yet,
Heron,
don
'
t
think
you
'
ll
get
away
easily.
"

***

             
As
a
result
of
the
Captain
'
s
visit
and
with
the
Governor
'
s
approval
boats
were
soon
ferrying
working
parties
ashore
to
collect
the
supplies
and
water.
For
many
of
the
trusted
men
there
was
also
the
opportunity
to
go
ashore
and
enjoy
a
brief
freedom
from
the
confines
of
the
ship.

             
"
Fergie,
lad,
"
the
Boatswain
called
Ferghal
too
him.
"
Get
yersel
'
in
the
boat
wi
'
t
'
Purser.
Ye
an
'
me
are
goin
'
ter
see
what
may
be
got
fer
me
stores.
"
He
winked.
"
An
'
mebbe
a
mug
o
'
something
ter
keep
us
refreshed.
"