again.
Deal better than salt junk and pickled pig and biscuit, I can tell yer.
There, tip it up. It's wonderful filling at the price."

The man laughed, and emptied the baler.

"'Tarn't bad, mate," he said, as he leaned over the side to refill the
tin.

"Bad? I should think not. I feel like a noo man."

"And you looks it, too, matey," said the other grinning. "I shouldn't
ha' knowed you with that boiled duff fizz-mahogany o' yourn. How much
bigger's it going to get?"

"Well, of all the pot calling kettle black as ever I knowed on," said
Tom Fillot, "that's about the rummest. Why, your head's all o' one side
like an ugly turmut, and your eyes is on'y two slits."

"We ain't none on us got much to boast on, 'cept our orficer," said Dick
Bannock. "Pass that there tin."

"To be sure," said Tom Fillot, "and handsome is as handsome does. Might
be a deal worse off, mates. Drink away; the mud won't hurt us. We're
in the shade and got plenty o' water. Different to being right out at
sea in a calm, eh, Mr Vandean, sir?"

"Don't talk about it, my lad," said Mark. "But look, Joe Dance is
getting up. Pray don't let him break loose again."

For the coxswain suddenly sat up and stared about him wildly. Then
calming down, he cried,--

"Got a drink o' water, messmets?"

"Plenty, my lad," said Tom Fillot, passing the tin. "How's your head
this morning?"

"Bit achey," said the coxswain, who took the tin and drained it.

"Hah!" he ejaculated, as he drew a long, deep breath, "that's good, but
you forgot to send it through the skipper's pilfer."

"Warn't time, matey," said Tom watching him curiously. "'Sides,
pilfered water ain't good for you."

"Feel better this morning, Dance?" said Mark.

"Yes, sir, thankye sir. Head aches a deal and feels muzzy like, and I
didn't sleep quite as I should like. Too much bad dream to please me."

"No wonder, mate," struck in Tom Fillot. "Having your head rubbed so
hard with a big bat ain't good for no one."

Mark sat by his brother officer in the comparative coolness trying to
think out some plan to adopt, for though they were resting in the shade,
and the agonies of thirst were assuaged, he knew that it would not be
long before they were all suffering from hunger, and he shuddered as he
thought of the tales he had heard respecting the straits men had been
driven to when perishing for want of food in an open boat.

But though he thought long and patiently, no idea c