Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (84 page)

             
"
If
you
'
ll
pardon
my
saying
so,
sir,
this
has
been
brewing
for
some
little
while.
Mister
Barclay
is
very
free
with
his
accusations
and
you
are
aware
of
his
bullying
of
the
juniors
and
playing
his
favourites.
"
The
First
Lieutenant
considered
a
moment
and
then
continued,
"
Perhaps
if
he
were
given
some
task
that
takes
him
out
of
the
ship
for
a
time?
It
may
also
encourage
him
to
consider
his
future.
"

             
"
I
shall
consider
that,
Thomas,
"
the
Captain
looked
thoughtful.
"
For
the
moment
though,
I
see
no
alternative
to
making
an
example
of
young
Garstead,
but
will
make
the
sentence
as
lenient
as
I
can.
A
half
dozen
I
think
will
satisfy
Mister
Barclay
'
s
honour
and
serve
to
warn
any
others
who
may
be
tempted.
"
He
paused
then
said,
"
And
send
Mister
Barclay
to
me
in
the
Dog
Watch.
It
is
time
I
reminded
him
of
my
strictures
when
he
joined
the
ship.
"

***

             
The
Punishment
was
performed
with
all
the
ceremonial
the
Navy
had
devised
as
a
means
of
imposing
discipline
and
instilling
fear
of
the
lash.
Captain
Blackwood
confirmed
the
sentence
and
read
The
Articles
of
War
to
a
silent
and
sullen
crew
assembled
beneath
the
awnings.
The
seaman
was
lashed
to
a
grating
shirtless
and
spread-eagled
by
the
Master
'
s
Mates.
Then
the
six,
slashing,
lashes
were
administered
by
the
Boatswain
'
s
Mate
accompanied
by
a
rattle
of
sticks
on
the
Marine
drummer
'
s
side
drum.

             
Harry
winced
in
sympathy
as
the
lash
bit
into
the
young
man
'
s
back,
the
first
raising
dark
welts,
the
second
drawing
blood
and
the
remainder
churning
the
flesh
into
a
bloodied
mess.
Throughout
Barclay
glowered,
muttering
that
it
should
have
been
two
dozen
at
least,
drawing
scowls
from
the
nearest
lieutenants
and
a
sarcastic
retort
from
the
Marine
'
s
Captain
who
said,
"
For
a
bit
of
water
on
your
breeches?
Why
not
hang
him
and
be
done?
Take
care
though,
for
someone
may
hang
you
for
your
pains!
"

             
It
hardly
improved
Barclay
'
s
mood,
especially
as
he
was
being
sent
ashore
with
the
Fifth
Lieutenant
and
the
Gunner
with
a
working
party
to
assist
in
the
building
of
defensive
batteries
along
the
seaward
shore.
After
his
interview
with
the
Captain
he
also
fully
understood
that
this
was
to
be
seen
as
a
punishment
and
any
further
trouble
with
the
men
would
result
in
his
being
transferred
to
another
ship
at
the
earliest
opportunity
without
a
commendation
for
promotion.

             
He
was
in
a
foul
temper
as
he
entered
the
Gunroom.
"
O
'
Connor!
"
He
snarled,
"
Get
me
my
dinner
and
be
quick
about
it!
"
Adding,
"
Damned
thief!
"

             
Ferghal
heard
this
and
though
it
angered
him
he
hurried
away
to
fetch
the
meal.
As
he
departed
he
heard
Mister
Bowles
remonstrating
with
Midshipman
Barclay,
but
it
was
cold
comfort.
Already
there
were
those
on
the
Lower
Deck
who
would
not
be
sorry
to
see
some
'
accident
'
befall
the
bully.

***

             
The
Boatswain
and
the
Surgeon
dealt
with
Garstead
'
s
wounds
in
the
rough
and
ready
manner
of
the
navy.
He
was
cut
down
and
walked
below
in
something
of
a
half
swooning
state.

             
"
Steady
lad,
"
one
of
the
Surgeon
'
s
assistants
murmured.
The
Boatswain
had,
through
the
agency
of
one
of
his
cronies,
seen
to
it
that
Garstead
had
been
given
a
good
dose
of
rum
before
his
punishment
and
this
was
now
helping
the
man
deal
with
the
injuries
afflicted
by
the
'
cat
'
.
They
got
him
into
the
Orlop
and
the
Surgeon
swabbed
the
blood
from
his
back
with
salt
water,
causing
him
to
cry
out.

             
"
Easy
lad,
this
'
ll
ensure
there
'
s
no
infection.
"
The
surgeon
inspected
the
crisscrossed
welts
carefully.
"
You
'
ll
have
some
marks,
but
none
too
bad
they
won
'
t
heal
cleanly.
"
The
surgeon
snorted.
"
Boatswain
'
s
Mate
must
have
softened
his
heart
–
I
'
ve
seen
him
deliver
far
worse
in
the
same
number
of
lashes.
"
To
his
mates
he
said,
"
Keep
his
back
clean
–
none
of
your
goose
grease
Hilliard!
He
'
ll
be
fit
for
duty
in
two
or
three
days.
"