ed to have been talking to
them, rose.

"Sad work, sir," he said, touching his hat; and several of the men rose
and saluted, others lying staring and helpless, their lips black, and a
horrible delirious look in their eyes.

"No ship, Barney," whispered Syd, huskily.

"No, sir. We must give it up, sir, like men; but it do seem hard work.
Seen my boy Pan-y-mar?"

"On board, on board," said Syd quickly.

"What, sir?"

"I did not speak," cried the boy, shaking his head, and Roylance and the
boatswain exchanged glances.

"Yes, yes, I spoke--you spoke," said Syd, strangely. "I know now, but
my brain feels hot and dry, and I can't breathe. Yes. Pan. He's with
Mr Dallas in the hut."

The boy sank down on a stone, and placed his elbows upon his knees to
make a resting-place for his head.

"Poor lad! Oh, Mr Roylance, sir, I'd give my last drop o' blood if I
could save him."

Syd started up and then looked round wildly, as he made a desperate
effort to ward off the delirium that was attacking him.

"Keep in the shade, my lads," he said. "Please God we shall get rain
to-night, or help will come."

The men stared at him in stupid silence, all but Rogers, who feebly
hacked off a bit of a cake of tobacco, and struggled up to offer it.

"Take a bit, sir. Keeps you from feeling quite so bad."

"No, my man," said Syd, smiling feebly, "keep it for yourself."

Then turning to Roylance, he looked at him wonderingly.

"Did I dream you said something about writing?"

"No. You told me you had written a despatch."

"No. No: I wrote nothing," said the boy, vacantly. "It ought to be
done, to say that we held out to the last."

"My father will see that," said Syd, gravely. "Amen!" cried the
boatswain, in his deep hoarse voice, and he drew back, and then
staggered forward to drop down for a few moments. He rose again.

"Worst o' being an orficer, Mr Roylance, sir," he said. "Don't matter
what happens we mustn't give way."

How that day glided on none could tell. It was like some horrible
dream, during which the sun had never been hotter to them, and the rock
seemed to glow. Three times now in a half delirious way Syd had been
into the hut, to find Mr Dallas sleeping, for though he suffered
terribly, his pangs did not seem so bad as those of his stronger
companions in adversity.

But at last Syd passed Terry lying with his eyes closed; and with
Roylance staggering after him almost as wild and delirious as