Read Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure for Free Online

groped for his coat; it would be cold on deck at this hour and he had turned in barely two hours earlier. Rubbing sleep from his eyes and dragging on his coat he ran to the companionway and joined the throng now running to their stations for the task of shortening the great press of canvas overhead.
     
                  " Mister Heron, " the Third Lieutenant called, " To me, sir. "
     
                  " Sir? " Harry responded as he joined his Divisional Officer at the foot of the foremast.
     
                  " Get aloft with the topmen and join the lookout. Report the disposition of the convoy. We are standing toward the Scilly Isles and the very reef upon which Sir Cloudsley Shovell ' s fleet was destroyed. It will be sunrise in a half hour and the Captain means to tack then – sooner if you sight the isles or the reef. "
     
                  " Aye, aye, Sir. " Harry turned and made his way to the shrouds, swung onto the nettings and then outboard to join the men clambering up the great sweep of the ratlines to the foretop. He followed them round the futtocks and then mounted the next set climbing to the topgallant crosstrees.
     
                  A little breathless he joined the lookout and said, " I ' m to report the disposition of the convoy, where away are they Kennard? "
     
                  " On our Starboard bow and beam, sor. " The man had a heavy Devonian accent. His teeth flashed in the gloom as he added, " Some o ' they be poor sailers, sor, they ' m scatterin ' an ' laggin ' . "
     
                  " I see them. " Harry peered into the darkness and could make out the stern lights of several and the side lights of another three evidently having trouble holding the same point to windward as the Spartan . He did a quick count and nodded as he confirmed the number present. " At least we ' ve lost none yet. " He cupped his hand to his mouth and sang out, " Convoy in sight on the lee bow, sir. "
     
                  " Remain there, Mister Heron. " Mister Beasley ' s voice carried aloft over the noise of thundering canvas as the topsails and topgallants where reefed, " And report any change in their disposition. "
     
                  Harry acknowledged the order and settled himself securely on the narrow platform. He was feeling the chill even through his coat, waistcoat shirt and undershirt, yet he was aware the lookout, one of the older seamen, was clad only in shirt and breeches. " Dawn soon, Kennard. And hopefully a little warmth with the sun. "
     
                  The man chuckled, " Aye, sir. But darker ' afore t ' sun comes up. "
     
                  " And colder, " Harry said absently, his eyes on the furthest ship. " I think that must be the Virago . Where are Swift, Pelican and the Kestrel ? "
     
                  " That be the Indiaman Minerva , sor. Virago be to loo ' ard o ' ' er. T ' brigs be t ' loo ' ard o ' all t ' rest an ' Swift be there. " The seaman indicated a light in the centre of the scattered lights. " ' er light rides lower ' coz ' er poop be lower than t ' ' ell ship ahead o ' ' er sor. "
     
                  Harry nodded, noting the positions. Already the faintest change was occurring in the sky to the east, a greenish line seemed to be spreading along the horizon and the darkness above it seemed paler. He glanced up and noted with satisfaction the cloud wrack was apparently breaking up, bright stars blazed in the gaps appearing to the west and south while the east appeared to be clear already. He scanned the scattered ships again. One seemed to have changed position and he asked the lookout, " One of our charges seems to have tacked. Can you see which? "
     
                  " Aye, sir. " The lookout braced himself and peered into the gloom, " It be the Duchess . Indiaman, ' er Master be cautious I reckons. She be standing across t