fancied, however, that it was something connected with the water.

I became anxious to know the cause of this strange, sudden commotion. I
looked for Brace, but could not see him. Most probably he was down
below, in the hold where the water-butts were kept--for this seemed to
be the point of interest. I, therefore, left the foredeck, and stepped
forward to the main-hatchway.

I was now close to the mate. He saw me, but took no notice of me. This
of itself was strange enough, and I now felt positively convinced that
some serious event had arisen, or was going to arise.

What could it be that was thus to save me from the expected castigation?
Something of great import--some dread danger!

I looked down the hatchway for Brace. I saw him below, far down in the
bottom of the hold, busy among the great casks, rolling them over one
another. There were others along with him--some standing by, and some
helping him. Like those on deck, all wore gloomy looks, that bespoke
feelings of doubt mingled with apprehension.

I could endure the suspense no longer. Only waiting till the mate
turned away his head, I glided into the open hatchway, and descended
first to the half-deck, and then down a ladder to the hold.

I scrambled over the casks until I was close to my friend. I took hold
of him by the sleeve to draw his attention. He turned round as I did
so.

"What is it, Ben?" I enquired.

"Ugly news, Will! ugly news!"

"What news?"

"The water be out!"

CHAPTER FORTY THREE.

I was not so much affected by this laconic piece of intelligence, as I
might have been had I known more of the sea; and perhaps I should have
regarded it still less, but for the gloomy glances and apprehensive air
of those around me. I was not stunned by it at the first announcement;
but it was not long before I became sufficiently alive to the terrible
meaning of those simple words--"The water be out."

Puzzled by the ungrammatical construction of the phrase, you are
probably inquiring what it meant. I shall tell you.

It meant that all the fresh-water on board the _Pandora_ had been used--
that the water casks were empty, and that we were in the middle of the
Atlantic Ocean, with not the slightest chance of obtaining a fresh
supply--that it would be weeks before we could possibly reach land--that
under the burning tropic sun that was shining constantly down upon us,
one week would be enough for thirst to do its work; but if any