Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (61 page)

             
"
She
'
s
taking
water
faster
than
the
pumps
can
remove
it.
They
were
dismasted
in
the
gales
four
days
ago
and
her
Master
fears
she
cannot
be
saved,
"
reported
the
first
lieutenant
on
his
return.
"
She
has
passengers
aboard
as
well,
several
ladies
and
children
who
were
on
passage
to
join
their
families
in
Java.
At
most
I
believe
she
can
be
kept
afloat
for
another
day,
no
longer.
Her
Master
asks
that
we
save
his
people.
"

             
"
Very
well,
"
said
Captain
Blackwood,
"
Mister
Wentworth
says
there
is
another
gale
coming.
See
to
it
Thomas.
"

             
"
Very
good,
sir,
"
responded
the
First.
"
Mister
Rae,
take
the
cutters,
Mister
Barclay
and
the
Mister
Bowles
can
take
the
smaller
boats.
"

***

             
Three
hours
later,
Spartan
reset
her
topsails
and
gathered
way.
With
the
pumps
now
idle
the
Oliphant
gave
up
her
fight
against
the
sea
even
as
they
bore
away
to
regain
the
convoy
and
resume
their
course
to
Botany
Bay.

             
Captain
Blackwood
stood
beside
the
Dutch
Captain
as
he
watched
his
old
ship
settle
slowly,
leaning
further
and
further
over,
until
with
a
great
rush
of
air
and
spray
through
her
hatches,
she
rolled
beneath
the
surface.

             
"
Mijn
oude
schiff
is
no
more,
"
Captain
te
Water
said
sadly.
"
De
Oliphant
was
een
goede
Schiff.
Oud,
maar
gesond.
"

             
"
It
is
a
sad
thing
indeed
to
lose
a
ship,
"
agreed
Captain
Blackwood.
"
Now,
sir,
my
first
lieutenant,
Mister
Bell,
has
made
arrangements
for
you
and
your
passengers.
We
are
bound
for
Botany
Bay
and
I
am
sure
you
will
find
a
ship
to
take
you
to
your
destination
from
there
–
or
perhaps
a
return
to
the
Cape.
"

             
"
T
'
ank
you,
Captain,
"
the
Dutchman
managed
a
smile.
"
You
and
your
men
haf
been
goet.
Ve
vill
assist
you
vere
ve
can
–
mijn
manne
vill
be
villing
to
vork
if
I
tell
zem.
"

             
"
Thank
you,
Captain,
I
am
sure
my
officers
will
find
tasks
for
them,
perhaps
with
the
assistance
of
your
own?
Very
good.
"
He
nodded.
"
Perhaps
you
will
join
me
for
some
refreshment
below,
I
'
m
afraid
my
quarters
have
been
given
over
to
the
ladies
from
your
ship,
but
the
Chartroom
will
serve
us.
"

***

             
In
the
Gunroom
Harry
found
himself
assigned
to
take
care
of
some
seven
boys,
all
younger
than
his
own
thirteen
summers,
Midshipman
Bowles
saying,
"
Harry,
these
fellows
need
showing
how
we
do
things,
take
them
in
hand
and
deal
with
it,
there
'
s
a
good
fellow.
"

             
"
Aye,
aye,
"
Harry
studied
the
exhausted
youngsters,
their
eyes
bright
with
fear
or
excitement
and
wondered
how
he
could
coax
them
into
relaxing
their
obvious
guard.
He
smiled
at
the
eldest
boy
and
said,
"
I
'
m
Harry.
"
He
held
out
his
hand,
"
What
is
your
name?
"

             
For
a
moment
the
boy
stared
at
his
hand,
suspicion
and
incomprehension
chasing
each
other
across
his
face,
then
he
solemnly
took
Harry
'
s
hand
and
said,
"
Ik
is
Pieterzoon
.
"

             
Harry
smiled
and
said,
"
Pleased
to
meet
you.
Now
I
expect
you
are
hungry
and
find
our
arrangements
rather
strange.
"
The
look
of
incomprehension
warned
him
that
the
boy
did
not
understand,
so
he
tried
miming
eating
and
added,
"
Are
you
hungry?
"

             
The
puzzled
look
was
replaced
by
a
brief
smile
at
his
comical
exaggeration,
and
a
nod,
"
Ja,
ja
asteblief.
"

             
Harry
led
his
charges
to
the
table.
To
his
relief
Ferghal
O
'
Connor
hurried
across
and
asked,
"
Would
you
like
me
to
see
if
I
can
get
something
from
the
cook
Master
Harry?
"