ds.

It was but a half delirious fancy, for he had prayed long and earnestly.
But the idea grew strong now, and he tried to repeat the Lord's prayer
aloud.

No word came but to himself, and he went on sinking fast into
unconsciousness till he came to "Give us this day--"

He started up, for something seemed to strike him, and he gazed wildly
at the boy Pan, who had fallen from where he sat upon the box, and now
struggled to his knees.

"Water!" he gasped--"so thirsty. Master Syd--water--water--I know where
there's lots o' water--lots!"

He literally shrieked the words, and some one who had been leaning
against the entrance stumbled in, electrified with strength as it were,
as he shouted hoarsely--

"Water, my boy, water; where?"

Pan gazed about him wildly in the delirium that had attacked him in
turn, and did not seem to understand.

The straw of hope that had been held out faded away again, and a mist
came back over Syd's eyes till he heard Strake's voice, as he shook his
son, shouting--

"Water, d'yer hear, Pan? to save us all."

"Water," said the boy, hoarsely; "water. Yes, I know," he yelled. "I
used to get lots--down there."

"Where--where, boy?" cried the boatswain, wildly.

"Down--where--I hid--father," he whispered. "Big hole--cave in the
rocks. Plenty--water--give--water."

He lurched over to the left, and lay insensible upon the floor.

If it was true! The last hope gone unless the boy could be revived
sufficiently to guide them to the spot.

"He was mad," said the boatswain, slowly; and he looked wildly round
with his bloodshot eyes.

But the boy's words had brought hope and a temporary strength to Syd,
who pressed his head with his hands and tried to think.

"Would a bucket of sea-water revive him to make him tell us, Strake?" he
croaked, more than spoke.

"No, no, no; good-bye. It's all a dream."

"It is not," cried Syd, wildly. "I know--the place. Heaven, give us
strength. I know it now."

"You're mad, sir, mad," groaned the boatswain.

"No, Barney, do. Help, come. Water--I know--I can find it now."

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

It seemed too late as Syd rose to his feet, tottered to the looped-back
opening of the hut, and crawled out with his eyes starting, his dry
mouth open, and every breath drawn with a wheezing, harsh sound that was
horrible to hear.

Before he had gone far down the slope toward where the men were lying
beneath the rock, and the rope-ladder h