fever of impatience.
Now blaming myself most bitterly for having attempted to warn Silas of
what we were to do, and again saying that I was showing myself a coward
by thus leaving Archie to his fate, although what I might have done just
then in his behalf I could not have said.

As a matter of course we had brought with us neither food nor water,
thinking the voyage to Cambridge would be accomplished in a few hours at
the most, and therefore it was that Hiram and I faced hunger and thirst,
knowing that both must be endured by us before the sun had set again.

"It's a case of bearing whatever comes, and looking pleasant," my
companion said when the grey light of a new day appeared in the eastern
sky. "I allow that the hours will seem precious long before we dare poke
our noses out of this clump of bushes again, but what can't be cured
must be endured, and seein's how we haven't had any sleep, I'm proposing
to bottle up as much as I may while those blooming lobster backs hold us
here like rats in a trap."

Having said this Hiram looked about for a level place in which to
stretch out at full length; but failing to find it he curled himself up
as if trying to hug the twigs, and almost immediately appeared to fall
into profound slumber.

I was so uncomfortable in mind that it would not be possible for me to
settle down to sleep however much I might need repose. We were not so
well hidden from view but what in the broad glare of day any who chanced
to pass near at hand might see us, and although unarmed and therefore
unable to make any defence, it seemed absolutely necessary one of us
should remain on watch.

When the day had fully dawned it was possible for me to see the
guard-boats which had been on duty all night, pulling here and there
like spiders which have been disappointed in their prey; but until about
an hour after sunrise there were no small boats 'twixt Noddle island and
the town. However, a dozen or more could be seen going from one to
another of the king's ships, for the _Lively_, the _Somerset_ and the
_Falcon_ were anchored off the shore, stretching from the South to the
North battery.

At one time I was on the point of awakening Hiram and proposing that he
and I make the venture of rowing up the coast of the island till
opposite Morton's point, and from there to the Penny ferry; but I stayed
my hand even while it was outstretched to seize his arm, realizing that
I was not warranted in taking the chanc