Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (94 page)

             
How
different,
he
reflected,
from
the
weather
of
the
outward
voyage
and
the
two
weeks
past!
He
focussed
on
the
seas
surging
and
breaking
around
them,
trying
to
find
a
passage
between
the
breaking
crests
and
still
hold
a
course
toward
what
he
hoped
would
be
safety.
Alone
now,
and
the
only
'
officer
'
,
he
had
to
remain
calm
and
at
least
try
to
look
self
assured
and
confident
for
the
sake
of
the
men.
He
was
soaked
through
and
cold
–
and
not
a
little
afraid,
but
managed
to
smile
as
he
helped
one
of
the
men
regain
a
seat
and
start
to
bail.

             
Darkness
came
early
with
the
storm
wrack
overhead
and
Harry
relieved
the
men
at
the
tiller
as
the
darkness
closed
in.

             
"
Stand
by
to
come
about,
"
he
called
as
the
last
light
began
to
fade.
When
everyone
was
ready,
he
put
the
helm
down
and
managed
to
swing
the
bow
through
the
eye
of
the
wind
between
crests.
With
the
boat
settled
on
the
new
tack
he
took
stock
as
they
began
to
rise
to
the
next
broken
wave.
The
Master
'
s
Mate
settled
once
more
beside
him,
a
reassuring
presence
and
he
said,
"
Since
I
cannot
see
the
shore
and
it
is
pretty
inhospitable
in
these
conditions,
we
shall
keep
off
until
dawn
and
hope
the
weather
moderates
by
then.
"

-

             
Harry
intended
to
stay
well
clear
of
the
rocky
islet.
He
knew
it
lurked
off
the
headland
they
had
been
able
to
see
occasionally
as
the
boat
soared
and
plunged
in
the
steep
seas
as
they
closed
the
coast.
Unable
now
to
see
either
headland
or
islet,
he
had
no
wish
to
run
into
them
in
the
dark.

             
"
Good
thinking,
sir.
"
The
Master
'
s
Mate
managed
over
the
howl
of
the
wind.
"
Shall
I
get
the
lad
'
s
to
take
more
sail
from
her?
"

             
"
Please,
Smales.
Take
in
the
foresail.
"
Harry
shouted
back.
The
wind
was
now
cold
and
the
boat
'
s
motion
increasingly
violent,
or
so
it
seemed.
Under
just
the
storm
trysail
they
had
a
better
chance
of
staying
afloat.
And,
Harry
hoped,
would
be
in
a
position
from
where
they
would
be
able
to
regain
the
land
once
the
light
returned.
As
is
ever
the
impression,
the
wind
seemed
to
increase,
and
the
seas
rise
to
greater
heights
in
the
darkness.
Often
only
the
flash
of
foam
or
the
roar
of
a
breaking
crest
would
provide
warning
of
what
was
to
come
before
the
cutter
was
engulfed
in
yet
another
burst
of
spray
or
torrent
over
the
gunwales.
The
men
bailed
continuously.

             
Twice
during
the
night
they
were
nearly
swamped
by
rogue
seas
rushing
at
them
out
of
the
darkness.
Only
the
skill
of
the
Master
'
s
Mate
at
the
tiller
saved
them
on
the
first
and
Harry
'
s
quick
responses
on
the
second.
Harry
was
troubled
by
the
fact
that
the
present
wind
direction
meant
he
would
have
to
turn
the
boat
across
the
seas
to
steer
towards
land
when
dawn
came.
There
was
no
sign
either
of
the
other
boats
and
he
could
only
hope
and
pray
that
they
were
safe.
As
the
night
dragged
on,
Harry
found
himself
reciting
aloud
the
words
of
the
seafarers
psalm;
"
They
that
go
down
to
the
sea
in
ships:
and
occupy
their
business
in
great
waters;
these
men
see
the
works
of
the
Lord:
and
his
wonders
in
the
deep.
For
at
his
word
the
stormy
wind
ariseth:
which
lifteth
up
the
waves
thereof.
They
are
carried
up
to
the
heaven,
and
down
again
to
the
deep:
their
soul
melteth
away
because
of
the
trouble.
They
reel
to
and
fro,
and
stagger
like
a
drunken
man:
and
are
at
their
wit
'
s
end.
So
when
they
cry
unto
the
Lord
in
their
trouble:
he
delivereth
them
out
of
their
distress.
For
he
maketh
the
storm
to
cease:
so
that
the
waves
thereof
are
still.
Then
are
they
glad,
because
they
are
at
rest:
and
so
he
bringeth
them
unto
the
haven
where
they
would
be.
"
He
stopped,
suddenly
aware
that
the
men
nearest
him
were
staring
at
him.
He
grinned,
"
It
may
just
help,
and
it
certainly
describes
our
present
difficulties,
"
he
was
relieved
when
the
men
grinned
in
response
and
passed
it
on.