ung over the rocky wall below the
lower gun, he stopped short panting, with the sinking sun scorching his
brain and everything swimming round. He looked backward, and had some
idea that the boatswain was crawling after him, bringing a vessel that
rattled on the loose stones as he came.

But Syd could think of but one thing as he made his way toward the
rope-ladder, and that one thing was the fluid which should give them all
back their life. He crawled on slowly and painfully, and then a black
cloud came over his brain, and everything was gone for the time.

Then the recollection came back, and he knew why he was there. Water--
he knew where there was water if he could keep on recollecting till he
reached the place. And could he reach it? His hands and arms gave way,
and he lay prone, sobbing hoarsely in his misery and despair. There was
water, plenty of water, if he could reach it--if his mind would only
hold out, and his strength last till he had taken one long deep draught
of the cool, sweet drink. And he could reach it and bury his face in
the gushing flood, he could save everybody who lay dying there. But he
could go no farther, only lie down moaning on that hot rock.

"Master Syd!--the water--where?"

There was a hot breath upon his face, a great hand was grasping his arm,
and he turned to look wildly at the boatswain, and tried to speak, but
there was only a harsh inarticulate sound from his parched throat.

"Master Syd. Where--the water?"

He tried again, but no words would come. The few minutes lying there,
though, had given him strength to crawl on again till he was abreast of
the men, only one of whom close by unclosed his wild eyes to stare at
the couple crawling toward the edge of the rock wall.

Syd stopped again panting, and once more all seemed over, for the black
cloud had settled down over his understanding; and though he could see
the men lying only partly in shadow now, for the sinking sun was
scorching them, he did not know why he had struggled so far till the hot
breath was upon his cheek again, and the harsh high-pitched voice
cried--

"Master Syd!--water--where?--the water?"

"Water!"

It was another voice uttered that word, and without knowing how or why,
Syd was aware that the young sailor who had been so much mixed up with
his adventures--Rogers--was gripping his hand. Syd stared at him wildly
as with a fierce harsh cry the man tore at him as if he were holding the
precio