Lieutenant Walter suffers more than any of us from the scarcity
of water, and I noticed that Miss Herbey reserved almost the
whole of her own share for his use. Kind and compassionate as
ever, the young girl does all that lies in her power to relieve
the poor fellow's sufferings.
"Mr. Kazallon," she said to me this morning, "that young man gets
manifestly weaker every day."
"Yes, Miss Herbey," I replied, "and how sorrowful it is that we
can do nothing for him, absolutely nothing."
"Hush!" she said, with her wonted consideration, "perhaps he
will hear what we are saying."
And then she sat down near the edge of the raft, where, with her
head resting on her hands, she remained lost in thought.
An incident sufficiently unpleasant occurred to-day. For nearly
an hour Owen, Flaypole, Burke, and Jynxtrop had been engaged in
close conversation and, although their voices were low, their
gestures had betrayed that they were animated by some strong
excitement. At the conclusion of the colloquy Owen got up and
walked deliberately to the quarter of the raft that has been
reserved for the use of the passengers.
"Where are you off to now, Owen?" said the boatswain.
"That's my business," said the man insolently, and pursued his
course.
The boatswain was about to stop him, but before he could
interfere Curtis was standing and looking Owen steadily in the
face.
"Ah, captain, I've got a word from my mates to say to you," he
said, with all the effrontery imaginable.
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