can never be too dark for that;" and he went on to
find Rogers bending over Strake.

"That's the last drop, sir," said the young sailor. "I've give all of
it to 'em."

"And will they all live?" faltered Syd.

"Dunno yet, sir. It was a near toucher. Now you stop with him, and
I'll get some more.--No," he added; "I can't go without a light."

"How did you find it? I could not tell you where to look."

"Don't quite know, sir. I was off my head. But I recollect you pynted,
and I climbed up and up to where I found you t'other day, and then I
tumbled, 'most cut to pieces with they rocks. And when I tried to get
up I could hear the water gurgling, and went mad to get to it and drink
it. Look here, sir--no: feel, sir; wet through with slipping in. But,
oh!"

He drew a long deep breath, and then caught up the bucket.

"Let's go and drink as long as we can, sir; but we shall want the
lanthorn now."

It was quite true, for the darkness which falls so rapidly in the
tropics was quickly coming in.

"Didn't think I was going to do this no more, sir," said Rogers, as the
pair struggled up to the quarters, and with trembling hands managed to
strike a light and set the lanthorn candle burning.

"Quick!" whispered Syd, as there came a low moaning from the hospital.
"If I go in they'll be expecting water."

"Which they shall have, sir, before long," replied the sailor, and going
back down the gap, they picked up the buckets, Syd stopping to speak to
Strake.

"Yes, sir; coming round, sir, I think," he said, hoarsely. "Is there a
drop more water?"

"There'll be plenty soon. Only wait."

"Now, sir, you take the lanthorn; I'll take the buckets. Lor', how
swimmy I do feel. Not from having so much water, is it?"

The man's words jarred on Syd. They sounded so careless from one who
but a short time back was dying. But with a sailor, as soon as the
danger is past, he is careless again, and the man was all eagerness now
to help his messmates.

Syd did not find it easy to descend the rope-ladder, but he got down in
safety, and then the difficult ascent of the rocks began.

It was now dark, and he trembled lest they should miss their way and be
wandering about for hours, while the poor creatures they had left were
still in agony.

But after one or two false slips they hit upon the right gap, as they
thought, and were about to descend when Syd stopped short.

"This can't be the place," he said; "I don't hear th