gs as was at the bottom of a cask, but that's heavenly to going
without your 'lowance o' water."

"Don't talk about it," said Syd; "it was a horrible experience."

"Well, come, sir, I like that," growled Strake, who soon seemed quite
himself again; "it was you begun it, not me."

"I?" cried Syd, angrily; "why, didn't you come to me, sir, and say that
you always thought as long as a man had a biscuit and plenty of rum he
could do without water?"

"Why, so I did, Master Syd, sir. Of course I'd forgotten it. Got so
wishy-washy with so much water, that I can't think quite clear again
yet."

"Never mind; you know better about the rum now."

"Yes, sir; and if I gets back home again well and hearty, you know,
there's a good cellar under the cottage at home."

"Yes, of course, I know. What of that?"

"Well, sir, I'm going to set Pan-y-mar to work--his fin 'll be strong
long afore then--to wash all the empty wine-bottles I can find up at the
house, and I'm goin' to fill 'em at the pump, cork 'em up, and lay 'em
down in the cellar same as the captain does his port wine."

"And give up rum altogether?"

"Give? Up? Well, no, sir; I dunno as I could quite do that."

"Never mind talking about it, then," said Syd; "but as soon as the men
are well enough, let's have all the water-casks well-filled."

"Beg pardon, sir."

"Well, what?"

"Water's lovely and sweet and cool where it is; wouldn't it be better to
have it fetched twice a day as we want it?"

"Yes, Strake," said Syd, "if you are quite sure that no enemy will come
and try to oust us. Suppose they land, and we are shut up here; are we
to go on suffering for want of water again?"

The boatswain hit himself a tremendous blow on his chest with his
doubled fist.

"Think o' that now, sir. Must be the water. Head's as wishy-washy as
can be. Sort o' water on the brain kind o' feeling, sir."

"We'll have the casks all filled and stored in that cave near the
powder, and be secure from it, but have the water for use fetched twice
a day from the spring."

"O' course, Master Syd, sir. Never struck me till this instant. Well,
I'm proud o' you, sir, I am indeed, and it's a comfort to me now as I
did have something to do with teaching of you."

"What's that mean? What does Rogers want?"

"Dunno, sir. Caught a big 'un, I s'pose, or lost his line. You give
him leave to fish, didn't you?"

"Yes.--Well, Rogers, what is it? Got any fish?"

"Lots, sir. Bu