at
diet; while there was supreme satisfaction in Sydney's heart, for he had
solved one of the difficulties he had to face--the sea would supply them
with ample food.

"If we could only find water, and get some drift-wood, we could hold on
till my father comes back."

As he said these last words, he saw a peculiar look of doubt in his
companion's eyes--a look which sent a chill of dread through him for a
few minutes.

"No," he said, "I will not think that; he'll come yet, and all will be
right."

Just then Pan came down from the hospital, where he had been placed to
keep watch by Mr Dallas's rough bed and call if there seemed any need.

"Mr Dallas says, sir, will you come to him directly."

"Mr Dallas--he said that?" cried Syd, joyfully.

"Whispered it, sir, so's you could hardly hear him, and then he said,
`Water!'"

"Water!" thought Syd, with the feeling of despair coming back, "and we
have hardly a drop left."

As he thought this, he hurried up to the little canvas-covered place.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

As Syd entered the place he was startled by the change visible in the
young lieutenant, and his heart smote him as, forgetting the long nights
of watching and his constant attention to the injured man, he felt that
he had forgotten him and his urgent duties and responsibilities to go
amusing himself by fishing off the rocks.

"Ah, Belton!" greeted him; "I am glad you have come."

"Why?" thought Syd, with a feeling of horror chilling him--"why is he
glad I've come?" and something seemed to whisper--"is it the end?"

"I'm afraid I am impatient; my leg hurts, and I've been asleep and
dreaming since you dressed it so cleverly yesterday."

"Dressed it yesterday!" faltered Syd, as he recalled the days and nights
of anxiety passed since the injury.

"Yes; you thought I was insensible, but I heard everything," said the
lieutenant, slowly. "I saw everything; felt everything."

"You knew when I dressed it yesterday, with the boy standing here?"

"No, no; out yonder below the place where that wretched gun was to be
mounted, and the sun came down so hot."

Syd laid his hand upon the young officer's brow, but it was quite cool.

"I am terribly weak, but I don't feel feverish, as so many men are when
they are wounded. I suppose I bled a great deal."

"Terribly; but don't--don't talk about it now."

"But I want to talk about it a bit; and then I am hungry, but I don't
feel as if I could eat salt meat