Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (92 page)

             
"
Very
good,
Mister
Bowles,
Mister
Heron,
"
Lieutenant
Rae
declared.
"
We
have
done
as
much
as
we
can
possibly
achieve
in
the
time
available
to
us.
"
He
looked
at
their
sunburned
faces
and
at
the
seamen
clustered
about
their
breakfast
fire
on
the
shore
and
smiled.
"
I
think
our
lads
have
done
well
and
seem
to
have
enjoyed
the
hunting
and
fishing
at
least.
But
it
is
time
to
return
to
Port
Jackson.
I
propose
to
set
out
as
soon
as
we
have
refilled
our
firkins
from
the
spring.
Make
sure
yours
are
properly
filled
and
the
water
clean
gentlemen;
remember
we
will
be
sailing
with
the
current,
but
against
the
prevailing
winds
this
time,
it
may
take
a
little
longer
to
return.
"

             
"
Aye,
aye,
sir,
"
the
pair
of
Midshipmen
echoed.
Tom
Bowles
suggested,
"
Perhaps
we
could
take
on
some
fruit.
"

             
"
Not
much
fruit
hereabouts,
"
said
Harry,
grinning.
"
I
think
our
men
have
gorged
themselves
on
whatever
they
could
find
–
some
have
certainly
over
indulged,
"
he
added
with
a
chuckle.

             
"
Let
us
hope
they
have
learned
the
lesson,
"
observed
the
Lieutenant
seriously.
"
The
flux
can
be
most
debilitating
and
we
sail
from
Port
Jackson
in
a
matter
of
weeks
to
make
our
way
northward
and
to
the
Indies.
That
will
take
us
through
some
of
the
island
chains
with
fruit
and
women
to
tempt
a
saint.
"
He
laughed.
"
I
for
one
will
not
be
sorry
to
see
some
more
hospitable
places.
This
one
is
well
enough,
but
arid
away
from
the
coast
as
far
as
I
am
able
to
judge.
Come,
gentlemen,
let
us
prepare
to
depart.
"

             
The
sun
was
well
up
by
the
time
the
three
boats
nosed
their
way
out
into
the
open
sea
beyond
the
great
sand
fringed
finger
of
land
that
guards
the
southern
side
of
the
estuary
entrance.
A
light
breeze
from
the
south
and
east
enabled
them
to
settle
on
a
tack
to
take
them
southwards.
Harry,
seated
next
to
the
coxswain,
busy
with
his
rough
chart
and
sketch
pad,
noted
that
there
was
a
high
haze
in
the
sky
and
the
light
had
a
hard
edge
to
it.
The
sun
seemed
to
focus
itself
in
the
boat
and
he
was
grateful
for
the
wide
brimmed
straw
hat
he
had
bought
in
the
market
near
the
quaintly
named
Rocks
in
Port
Jackson.
Around
him
the
men
made
shift
for
themselves
to
find
a
little
shade
and
protect
themselves
from
the
sun
as
the
boats
made
slow
progress
in
the
light
airs
which
seemed
to
be
becoming
even
more
fitful.

             
"
We
'
d
be
quicker
under
oars
than
this,
sor,
"
grumbled
the
Master
'
s
Mate,
Joshua
Smales.

             
"
I
dare
say,
Smales,
"
nodded
Harry
absently
as
he
filled
in
the
details
of
a
headland
on
his
pad,
"
But
I
think
it
would
be
a
long
and
hot
pull.
"

             
"
Still
get
us
back
to
the
ship
a
mite
quicker
I
'
m
thinking.
"
The
big
Master
'
s
Mate
grinned.
"
And
the
doxies
in
Port
Jackson,
eh,
lads?
"

             
"
I
see.
"
Harry
smiled.
"
So
the
grog
and
the
ladies
is
what
you
really
crave
is
it,
Mister
Master
'
s
Mate?
Not
the
great
opportunity
to
discover
new
fishes,
or
see
strange
animals?
"
Some
of
the
nearer
men
grinned
appreciatively
at
this
and
the
Master
'
s
Mate
laughed.

             
"
After
two
weeks
in
this
tub?
Baked
in
the
sun
and
being
eaten
by
them
mosquito
things?
I
thank
'
e
kindly,
Mister
Heron,
but
the
grogshop
and
a
good
doxy
will
do
for
me
for
the
minute,
"
he
responded.

             
"
Both
will
very
likely
do
for
you
completely
in
excess,
"
grinned
Harry.
"
But
I
take
your
meaning.
Even
my
cot
in
the
Gunroom
is
strangely
appealing
now.
"