Mr Harford learns a lesson

(from Sophie's Salvation)

Later that day, as the French shore became just visible to the port side of the boat, the ship’s master drew his passengers’ attention to a small boat in the distance that was coming closer.

“Mr. Harford, Mr. Douglas – please be alert. There can be problems along this coast with local men trying to take advantage of foreign vessels. I have told the crew to be ready to repel boarders if necessary.”

“Oh!” cried Aunt Lucy in alarm, quickly retreating to the cabin and taking Martha with her.

Sophie stayed where she was, sitting in the lee of the mainsail just behind where her other companions were standing.

“Could it be,” said Mr. Douglas, “that they may just be trying to sell us fresh supplies?”

“Yes, that is possible,” said Mr. Bugler, “and there will be no harm in that. But if there is any sign of them having firearms, or trying to get aboard, I have my pistol at the ready. Meanwhile, please do not stand in a position where you could be shot at.”

Mr. Harford glanced down at Sophie, but she shook her head at him before he could suggest that she should join her aunt in the cabin. The crew was busy moving around the deck, and it was several minutes before Mr. Harford noticed that Sophie was no longer sitting where he had last seen her.

He knew that she had not retreated to the cabin, since the door was easily visible from where he was standing, so he made his way along the length of the deck, and still could not find her.

Eventually he made his way past the galley and round to the far side of the boat.

There he found Sophie assisting Tim, the cabin boy, in lowering empty leather buckets on a rope into the sea, and hauling them up again, full of water, onto the deck. Tim was a slightly built boy, perhaps about twelve years of age, and it was all that he and Sophie together could manage to haul a full bucket of water onto the deck.

“What in heaven’s name are you doing?” demanded Mr. Harford in a far from pleasant manner.

“I find that remark totally unhelpful when we are both trying to be of use in a possibly dangerous situation!” said Sophie, not at all impressed by his peremptory way of expressing himself.

Mr. Harford was unaccustomed to being checked by a lady in that way and very taken aback at her reaction. She could see from his expression that he was tempted to reply in kind, but he could see that she was very irritated, and judged it unwise to do so.

So instead, taking a deep breath and after a moment’s thought, he apologised and, adopting a much more conciliatory tone of voice, this time he rephrased his question and repeated his enquiry.

Sophie looked at him with a glint in her eye. “Is that really the best you can do in a difficult situation?”

Her companion decided to capitulate, since in turning her attention away from Tim, she had left the boy to haul up the next bucket on his own, which was clearly much too heavy for him.

“Ma’am, please forgive my uncouth reaction. My only justification must be that I had feared that you might have come to some harm when I could not find you.”

Sophie bridled at that. “I suppose that you think that all young ladies are totally incompetent in an emergency?”

“No, at least not you, Mrs. Douglas. Please accept my apology in the spirit that it is meant.”

At last she calmed down and decided to be magnanimous.

“Mr. Bugler has asked Tim to fill all these buckets with water as quickly as he is able. Then, if needs be, they will be emptied over anyone who tries to climb aboard without permission. A full bucket is heavy, and so I offered to help him.”

“In that case, may I be of use, Mrs. Douglas? If you tie a rope onto the handle of each bucket in turn, and Tim lowers it into the water, then I can haul it up again onto the deck.”

Sophie, whose arms were already getting sore from the effort of lifting the heavy weight, gratefully accepted this practical suggestion, and soon all the buckets of water were lined up in a row along the side of the deck.

“Well done, Tim,” said Mr. Harford to the cabin boy. “Now, let’s look carefully and see what is happening now on the other side of the vessel.”

The French boat continued to advance towards them for several more minutes until it was close enough to see that it contained only two elderly fishermen, and two baskets of what appeared to be fresh fish. On Mr. Bugler’s orders, one of the crew of ‘The Lyme Flyer’ indicated that the fishing boat could come alongside. He then lowered a rope, and the baskets were hauled aboard in exchange for the value requested. Then the fishing boat turned and made its way back in the direction of the shore.

“I do believe that you look disappointed at such a peaceful outcome!” said Sophie to Mr. Harford, and he smiled.

“No, not really, for I daresay that the captain’s pistol and those buckets of water might not have seen off determined privateers. But that was a very useful reminder that there are hazards that we should be aware of.”

He hesitated, then continued, “Ma’am, if I should ever address you again in the tone of voice that I used when you were helping Tim, please will you tell me straightaway? I am very well aware that I have disliked anyone speaking to me like that in the past when I have been on the receiving end!”

Sophie looked at him for a moment, and her remaining resentment ebbed away as she replied with the hint of a smile, “Of course I will, if you promise to offer me the same service in return!”