said Dick, when the sun had climbed so high
that he seemed right overhead, sending down his rays vertically and
making it so warm that the boys began to perspire, while they were
tormented with thirst. "I be parched wi' drout and could swaller a
gallon o' spring wutter if I hed the chance!"

"I say, let us have a swim," suggested Bob. "I've heard it will relieve
a person suffering from thirst; and, besides, I believe it will do us
both good and freshen us up."

"All right, Master Bob," said Dick somewhat hesitatingly, in reply to
this proposition. "But, ain't it deep here?"

"Deep! What does that matter?" replied Bob lightly. "Why, Dick, you
silly fellow, you forget we always used to swim out every morning into
deep water. Ah, I forget, I forget! Oh,--mother, my mother!"

The poor boy broke down utterly again at this point, it having suddenly
flashed across his memory that his former swims from the beach were
things of the past; and that he might never see his mother or any of the
home folk again.

No, never, ah, never again!

Dick, however, once more comforted him, ceasing to dwell on his own
pangs of thirst; although the lad's tongue had swollen to such a size
that it seemed too big for his mouth, and his lips were all parched and
cracked.

A little later, when Bob had become more composed again, his idea of a
battle was carried out, the boys making use of their solitary rope, the
end of the broken forestay that was hanging from the bowsprit, to climb
back into the boat after they had had a dip alongside.

They were not able to swim far, being incapable of much exertion; but
the plunge alone and the immersion in the water while holding to the
rope's-end refreshed them greatly, making them feel stronger, in
addition to allaying their burning thirst.

Still, when this great longing was quenched, they were tortured with
hunger, Dick actually tearing off one of the soles of his boots and
setting to work gnawing it.

Bob kept up his spirits so far as to make fun of this, chaffing his
companion and saying that he preferred the way in which the Captain
served up his soles to Dick's!

"Ah," said the other in reply, "I wonder what the good Cap'en 'ud think
if he seed us now?"

"Why, that we were two unfortunate fellows!" replied Bob, becoming grave
again in an instant. "I'm sure he would pity us from the bottom of his
heart!"

Thus the long day wore on; although, it seemed as if it would never end!