Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (99 page)

***

             
In
dramatic
contrast
to
the
stormy
conditions
that
had
almost
destroyed
the
survey
party
at
sea,
the
weather,
as
Spartan
made
her
way
northward,
was
balmy.
So
much
so
that
the
ship
was
only
just
making
ground
over
the
current
until
she
reached
the
thirtieth
parallel,
then
the
winds
freshened
a
little
and
the
Spartan
made
good
progress
until
they
encountered
the
great
coral
reef
described
by
the
Captain
Cook
in
his
Bark,
Endeavour
.

             
"
We
should
stand
well
out
to
sea
according
to
the
chart
I
have
of
this
coast,
Captain,
"
the
Master
said.
"
It
is
a
copy
of
one
made
by
the
late
Captain
Cook
and
much
added
to,
but
it
is
woefully
incomplete,
sir.
The
Endeavour
herself
grounded
on
the
reef
in
seeking
a
passage
to
the
west.
"

             
"
Sound
advice,
Mister
Wentworth.
Very
well,
we
will
stand
away
to
the
east
and
then
to
the
north.
"
The
Captain
studied
the
chart
carefully.
"
The
inshore
lead
appears
tempting,
but
not
for
a
ship
of
our
size
and
draft.
"
He
thought
a
moment
longer
and
said,
half
to
himself,
"
It
would
be
interesting
and
beneficial
to
pass
between
the
reef
and
this
scatter
of
islands
though.
According
to
Cook
'
s
Journal
the
water
was
deep
along
the
seaward
side
of
the
reef
–
at
least
standing
three
miles
off.
"
He
traced
a
line
with
his
finger,
"
Let
us
see
if
we
can
pass
to
seaward
of
the
reef
and
these
islands,
then
close
the
shore
again
near
the
this
island
–
New
Guinea
is
it
not?
"

             
The
Master
frowned
at
the
chart,
"
Aye,
sir,
that
it
is.
Though
the
sea
is
shallow
in
that
strait
with
many
reefs
according
to
my
notes.
It
will
be
risky
–
and
I
suggest
we
make
the
passage
in
daylight
with
the
launches
scouting
ahead
if
we
can.
"

             
"
A
good
thought,
we
will
do
so.
"
The
Captain
straightened
himself.
"
Once
through
that
channel,
we
can
make
for
Batavia
and
set
our
passengers
ashore
there.
Captain
Te
Water
and
his
young
charge
will
no
doubt
be
glad
to
be
among
their
own
again.
"

***

             
In
this
surmise
the
Captain
was
right.
Captain
Te
Water
and
his
party
had
high
hopes
that
they
would
encounter
a
Dutch
trader
who
could
take
them
to
their
destination.
Thus
far,
however,
there
had
been
no
such
contact
and
the
Dutchman
was
anxious
to
deliver
his
charges
to
Batavia,
a
point
he
had
discussed
at
some
length
with
Captain
Blackwood.

             
Pieterzoon
had
attached
himself
to
Harry
almost
as
soon
as
he
came
aboard,
much
to
the
amusement
of
other
members
of
the
Gunroom
and
to
Harry
'
s
embarrassment.
No
longer
was
his
perch
in
the
foretop
a
private
retreat,
for
the
Dutch
boy
had
discovered
it
and
now
joined
him
whenever
he
could.
They
were
enjoying
the
coolness
as
the
sun
set
away
over
the
vast
landmass
to
the
west
as
the
ship
stood
steadily
north
by
north-north-east
in
an
effort
to
skirt
the
outlying
reefs
marked
rather
vaguely
on
their
chart.

             
Pieterzoon
was
just
remarking
rather
excitedly
on
a
pod
of
dolphins
which
had
minutes
before
begun
to
desport
themselves
under
the
ship
'
s
bow
when
there
was
a
cry
from
the
lookout
in
the
crosstrees
above
them.

             
"
Deck
there
–
breakers
ahead!
"

             
Leaping
to
his
feet
Harry
peered
through
the
rigging
and,
as
the
ship
lifted
slightly
to
the
swell,
saw
the
line
of
foam
and
spray
as
the
surf
around
it
revealed
a
long
reef.
Already
the
deck
below
them
was
a
flurry
of
activity
as
Harry
heard
the
First
Lieutenant
demand,
"
What
bearing
and
to
what
extent?
"

             
"
Dead
ahead
and
to
Starboard,
sor!
There
be
open
water
to
Larboard
as
I
can
see,
sor!
"