s in trouble ought to be like brothers, and
I keep on having fits of the grumps. Here, I mean to work with you
now."

"I know you do," said Aleck, frankly, "but it's enough to make anyone
feel savage."

"Now, then, where are we going to look for water?"

"Right up at the narrowest end of the cave."

"Why?"

"Because what there is always seems to make for the sea."

"That's right," said the middy; and, taking the lead, he began to pick
his way along by the side of the canal-like pool, whose clear waters
reflected the lights as if it were a river.

"Water's higher now," said Aleck.

"Yes, and it looks good enough to drink; but it's salter than the sea, I
suppose. I say!"

"Well?" said Aleck.

"This place gets narrower. It seems to me that if the roof fell in it
would make another of those caves you have all along this coast. I
shouldn't wonder if in time all the top of this comes in and opens the
mouth so that the waves can rush in and wash it bigger and bigger."

"Very likely," said Aleck. "Look here!"

He held down the candle to show that they had come to the end of the
deep water, which was continued farther in by a series of pools, which
were probably only joined into one lane of water at very high tides.

The middy said something of the kind, and then pointed out, as they
progressed slowly, that the pools grew smaller and smaller till they
came to an end, where the cavern had grown very narrow and seemed to be
closing in, and where a huge mass of stone blocked the way.

"How are we to go now? Climb right over that big lump? I don't believe
there's room to crawl between that and the roof."

"I say," replied Aleck, excitedly, "it's wet right up."

"All the worse for our clothes," was the reply; "but is it any use to go
any farther?"

Aleck's answer took the shape of action, for he sank upon his knees, set
the piece of slate which formed his candlestick upon the rock floor, and
going down upon his chest reached out and scooped up some of the water
of the pool in his palm and raised it to his lips.

"Don't swallow it," said his companion; "it will only make you horribly
thirsty."

"No," cried Aleck, exultantly, "it's all right--fresh and sweet. Look
here; you can see how there's water trickling very slowly down."

"So there is," cried the middy. "You were all right about that."

"Yes," said Aleck, "and I believe we shall find ships' stores enough
amongst those barrels to last us for mo