Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (69 page)

             
After
the
warmth
of
the
cabin
the
cold
struck
hard
at
Harry
through
his
wet
clothing
and
he
wondered
if
it
had
really
become
colder
or
was
merely
the
result
of
the
contrast.
Leading
the
Dutch
Captain
to
the
weather
side
of
the
deck
he
informed
his
Captain,
"
Captain
Te
Water
sir.
"

             
"
Thank
you,
Mister
Heron,
"
Captain
Blackwood
acknowledged
his
presence
and
turned
to
speak
to
the
Dutchman.

             
Harry
returned
to
his
post
by
the
binnacle
and
had
barely
resumed
his
task
of
noting
activities
on
the
slate
for
later
entry
into
the
ship
'
s
log
when
there
was
a
hail
from
the
maintop.

             
"
Deck
there!
Maid
of
Selsey
'
s
in
distress,
she
'
s
carried
away
her
foretopmast.
"
There
was
a
pause
then,
"
She
'
s
signallin
'
!
"

             
Another
Midshipman
staggered
to
the
nettings
and
sought
desperately
with
his
telescope
for
the
distressed
ship,
"
Signal
sir,
"
he
called.
"
Am
in
need
of
assistance.
"

             
"
Damn.
"
Captain
Blackwood
swept
water
from
his
face
as
a
fresh
burst
of
spray
caught
him
unawares,
his
attention
on
the
other
ship.
"
We
shall
have
to
attempt
to
help
–
she
has
above
two
hundred
souls
aboard.
"
He
turned
to
the
First
Lieutenant,
"
Shorten
sail,
Thomas,
we
will
have
to
run
down
to
her
and
attempt
to
heave
too
so
we
may
determine
what
can
be
done.
"

             
"
Captain,
"
the
Dutch
Captain
interjected,
"
You
risk
your
own
ship
in
this.
I
will
order
mijn
manne
to
assist
vere
zey
can.
"

***

             
Harry
watched
with
bated
breath
as
the
quarterboat
was
lowered
under
the
lee
of
the
Spartan,
hove
to
at
great
risk
as
she
attempted
to
stay
close
to
the
stricken
casualty.
There
were
several
moments
when
it
appeared
that
it
must
be
torn
from
the
falls
and
its
occupants
drowned
as
the
Third
Lieutenant
and
his
handpicked
crew
fought
her
clear
and
then
battled
the
howling
wind
and
spume
wracked
seas
to
reach
the
damaged
transport.

             
"
Damned
ship
seems
full
of
landsmen,
"
exclaimed
Lieutenant
Rae.
"
They
have
made
little
effort
to
clear
that
ravel.
Do
they
expect
us
to
do
all
for
them
yet
again?
"

             
"
So
it
would
appear.
"
Captain
Blackwood
sounded
angry.
"
Her
Master
seems
to
have
been
less
than
honest
about
her
condition
and
his
men
were
insolent
and
idle
when
I
visited
them
in
Simon
'
s
Bay.
"
The
Captain
turned.
"
O
'
Connor,
"
he
called,
"
Fetch
the
Carpenter
to
me
–
quickly
now.
"

             
Ferghal
knuckled
his
forehead
and
ran
to
the
companionway
to
seek
out
the
senior
Warrant
Officer.
He
found
him
supervising
his
mates
inspecting
a
leaking
gunport.

             
"
Hallo
young
Fergie,
"
the
Carpenter
acknowledged
his
arrival,
"
What
brings
yer
below?
"

             
"
Captain
'
s
compliments,
Mister
Trotter,
"
he
said.
"
Sure
an
'
he
wants
you
on
the
quarterdeck.
"

             
"
I
suppose
I
'
d
best
be
j
'
ining
'
im
then.
"
The
Carpenter
grinned.
"
Lead
the
way
me
lad.
Matt,
see
you
make
all
tight
here
and
keep
lookin
'
.
This
sea
is
working
her
seams
bad
an
'
she
'
s
tekin
'
watter
in
some
awkward
places.
"

             
"
Now
then
young
Ferghal,
what
does
our
Lord
and
Master
want
of
a
lowly
carpenter?
"
he
asked
following
the
youth.
"
What
has
caused
our
heaving
too?
"

             
" '
T
'
Maid
o
'
Selsey
,
"
Ferghal
replied,
answering
the
second
question
first,
"
She
'
s
lost
her
foretopmast
and
seemingly
done
some
damage
other
where.
Sure
Mister
Beasley
and
the
quarterboat
are
attending
her
now
–
perhaps
there
is
a
need
for
your
services.
"