Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (7 page)

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After
a
few
more
minutes
of
conversation
with
Kit
Tanner,
the
pair
were
dismissed
to
collect
their
chests
and
possessions.
"
Be
at
the
entry
port
for
the
boat
at
eight
bells
in
the
afternoon,
gentlemen.
"

             
Hurrying
below
to
the
Gunroom,
Kit
Tanner
said,
"
Whew,
for
a
minute
there
I
thought
you
might
refuse
the
offer.
What
is
this
dispute
between
your
family
and
this
Barclay?
"

             
"
It
is
as
I
told
the
Captain,
it
goes
back
to
Cromwell
'
s
Commonwealth
and
the
laws
enacted
to
suppress
rebellion.
The
Barclays
tried
to
have
our
tenants
attainted
and
sold
into
slavery
in
the
Americas,
the
fate
of
many
of
my
countrymen,
but
my
ancestor
succeeded
in
preventing
it,
at
no
small
cost
to
our
family.
The
Barclays
have
resented
that
ever
since.
"

             
"
So
the
feud
is
over
the
treatment
of
some
tenants?
"

             
He
raised
his
chin
and
looked
directly
into
Kit
'
s
eye.
"
We
Herons
look
after
our
own
and
fight
our
own
fights,
unlike
the
Barclays
who
bully
when
they
can
and
draw
in
allies
when
they
cannot.
You
will
do
well
to
guard
your
own
back
with
this
one,
Kit.
If
he
is
true
to
his
nature
he
will
be
quick
to
seize
upon
any
sign
of
weakness
in
us.
"

             
Almost
the
same
words
were
being
said
by
Captain
Blackwood
in
the
great
cabin.
He
added,
"
Were
it
not
I
have
an
obligation
to
take
the
wretched
fellow,
I
would
as
lief
have
chosen
another
for
this
voyage.
I
have
managed
to
obtain
the
posting
of
a
lad
as
the
second
senior
who
will
ensure
Master
Barclay
does
not
become
too
much
the
bully.
You
may
know
him,
Thomas
Bowles,
his
father
commanded
the
frigate
Ariadne
.
"

             
"
Ah,
yes
I
do
know
the
father.
By
the
sound
of
it,
this
Barclay
has
a
somewhat
unfortunate
reputation,
"
observed
Captain
Cooke.

             
"
It
is
a
family
that
breeds
bad
blood
I
'
m
thinking,
"
agreed
Captain
Blackwood.
"
They
have
not
been
good
landlords
and
they
are
not
good
neighbours,
always
seeking
disputes.
The
Heron
'
s
were
unfortunate
in
the
matter
of
the
property
at
Raholp.
It
was
ultimately
down
to
the
Barclays
having
the
ear
of
Cromwell
'
s
Commissioner
at
that
time.
For
the
rest
they
attempted,
so
the
story
goes,
to
have
the
Heron
'
s
former
tenants
sold
to
the
Americas
under
the
law
permitting
the
sale
of
rebel
Irish
prisoners
as
slaves.
It
was
a
bad
time
to
be
Irish
during
the
Commonwealth,
and
has
given
fuel
too
much
of
the
discontent
since.
I
do
not
know
all
the
particulars,
but
it
is
said
the
head
of
the
Heron
clan
at
that
time
raised
a
considerable
sum
and
bought
off
the
charges.
The
O
'
Connors
have
been
their
tenants
and
retainers
since.
"

             
"
Indeed,
I
wondered
at
the
eagerness
of
the
youth
who
came
with
Mister
Heron
to
join
this
ship,
"
Captain
Cooke
replied
slowly.
"
Yet,
the
relationship
is
more
like
that
of
brothers
than
of
servant
and
Master.
O
'
Connor
is
never
far
from
Heron
if
there
is
action
threatened,
he
has
even
moved
Divisions
to
remain
in
Heron
'
s
company.
"
He
smiled.
"
And
I
must
tell
you
that
there
will
be
several
more
will
follow
him
to
your
ship.
The
boy
has
made
an
interesting
impression
upon
some
of
the
men
since
he
joined
this
ship.
It
must
be
said
he
is
conscientious
and
quick
to
learn,
and
he
has
a
talent
with
his
brush
and
pen
should
you
need
an
accurate
sketch.
You
will
find
him
useful
I
assure
you.
" 

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The
transfer
to
the
new
Spartan
was
affected
smoothly
and
Harry
and
Kit
soon
found
themselves
settled
into
their
new
home
in
her
gunroom.
Being
among
the
younger
Midshipmen
meant
they
lived
at
the
after
end
of
the
lower
battery,
adjacent
to
the
Bread
Room
and
other
stores,
while
the
older
Midshipmen
occupied
the
Orlop,
the
two
groups
coming
together
for
meals
and
study
at
all
other
times.