bed for him, to which each of us contributed such articles of clothing
as could be spared. It was now necessary to watch him every moment and
frequently to use force to keep him from getting overboard. At one
time, having got to the side of the boat, before he could be prevented,
he commenced dipping up the sea-water with his hand, and would have
drunk it had he not been forcibly restrained. After this had lasted
nearly two hours, he suddenly ceased his struggles and violent cries,
and began to beg piteously for "a drink of water." This he continued
for a considerable time, repeatedly asking Arthur to tell him _why_ he
could not have "just a little," since there was "such a plenty of it."

It is impossible to describe the horrible and sickening effect of all
this upon us, in the state of utter physical prostration to which we had
been gradually reduced. Browne and Arthur watched over Johnny with all
the care and patient unwearying kindness that a mother could have shown;
and they would not permit the rest of us to relieve them for a moment,
or to share any part of their charge, painful and distressing as it was.
Twice, when it became necessary to hold the little sufferer fast, to
prevent him from getting over the gunwale, he spat fiercely in Arthur's
face, struggling and crying out with frightful vehemence. But Browne's
voice seemed to soothe and control him, and when Johnny spoke to him, it
was gently, and in the language of entreaty. Towards night he became
more quiet, and at last sunk into a kind of lethargy, breathing deeply
and heavily, but neither speaking nor moving, except to turn from one
side to the other, which he did at nearly regular intervals.

This change relieved us from the necessity of constantly watching and
restraining him, but Arthur viewed it as an unfavourable and alarming
symptom; he seemed now more completely depressed than I had ever before
seen him, and to be overcome at last by grief, anxiety, and the horrors
of our situation.

The heat did not abate in the least with the going down of the sun, but
the night, though very close and sultry, was calm and beautiful, like
the last. Soon after the moon rose, Max and Morton undressed, and
bathed themselves in the sea. The smooth moonlit water looked so cool
and inviting, that the rest of us soon followed their example,
notwithstanding the danger from sharks. We were all good swimmers, but
no one ventured far from the boat except Morton;