pleasant. He realised the full significance of that
couplet in Coleridge's _Ancient Mariner_--

"Water, water, everywhere,
But not a drop to drink."

and, drawing Ailie to his breast, he laid his cheek upon hers and
groaned aloud.

"We shall soon be taken away, dear papa!" she said--and she tried to
weep, but the tears that came unbidden and so easily at other times to
her bright blue eyes refused to flow now.

The men had one by one ceased to ply their useless oars, and the captain
did not take notice of it, for he felt that unless God sent relief in
some almost miraculous way, their continuing to row would be of no
avail. It would only increase their agony without advancing them more
than a few miles on the long, long voyage that he knew still lay before
them.

"O God, grant us a breeze!" cried Mr Millons, in a deep, tremulous tone
breaking a silence that had continued for some hours.

"Messmates," said Tim Rokens, who for some time had leaned with both
elbows on his oar and his face buried in his hands, "wot d'ye say to a
bath? I do believe it 'ud do us good."

"P'haps it would," replied King Bumble; but he did not move, and the
other men made no reply, while Rokens again sank forward.

Gurney and Tarquin had tried to relieve their thirst the day before by
drinking sea-water, but their inflamed and swollen throats and lips now
showed that the relief sought had not been obtained.

"It's time for supper," said the captain, raising his head suddenly, and
laying Ailie down, for she had fallen into a lethargic slumber; "fetch
me the bread and meat can."

Dick Barnes obeyed reluctantly, and the usual small allowance of salt
junk was weighed out, but there were no eager glances now. Most of the
crew refused to touch food--one or two tried to eat a morsel of biscuit
without success.

"I'll try a swim," cried Glynn, suddenly starting up with the intention
of leaping overboard. But his strength was more exhausted than he had
fancied, for he only fell against the side of the boat. It was as well
that he failed. Had he succeeded in getting into the water he could not
have clambered in again, and it is doubtful whether his comrades had
sufficient strength left to have dragged him in.

"Try it this way, lad," said Tim Rokens, taking up a bucket, and dipping
it over the side. "P'raps it'll do as well."

He raised the bucket with some difficulty and poured its contents over
Glynn's head.

"Thank God!"