We dared not move, but remained there watching; and it now became pretty evident that the men had come down to examine the wreck, for they began to hurry about, chattering away as they searched in all directions amongst the fragments, one or another setting up a shout from time to time, which brought others to him. Then we saw them drag out now a chest from the sand in which it was bedded, now a cask; and soon after there was a burst of excitement over something we could not make out; but it was evidently a satisfactory find, for they bore it up from the sea to the soft, warm, dry sand, and all sat down round about it. "Find something velly good to eat," whispered Ching. "Now allee velly busy; come along, hide." It was very good advice; and we followed him down from the ridge, and in and out at the foot of the cliff, seeking for some place of concealment; for I had not a doubt about our fate if we were seen. In fact, I did not breathe freely until the great ridge and several masses of rock were between us; and only then, a good half-mile away in the direction from which we had come, did we venture to speak above our breath. "Velly big pity," said Ching, whose face was all in wrinkles. "Velly muchee wish back at fancee shop." "Let's find a place before we talk about that," I said. "Yes; soon findee place." "Here, what is it, Jecks?" I cried, catching our companion's arm; for he suddenly gave a lurch as we struggled through the loose sand, and nearly fell. "Bit done up, sir," he said, with a piteous smile. "Wound in my leg makes me feel sick, and the sun's hot. Is there a drop o' water to be got at anywhere?" I looked round at the glowing sand and rocks with a feeling of horrible despair coming over me. Yes, there was water--hundreds and thousands of miles of water, blue, glistening, and beautiful in the calm morning, but none that we could give a parched and fainting man to drink. "Try and creep along a little farther," I said. "Let's get you in hiding, and then Ching and I will search for some and bring it--" As I spoke I remembered that I had nothing that would hold water, and I felt constrained to add-- "Or fetch you to it." "All right, sir," said the man, with a weary smile; "allus obey your officers." Ching went to his other side, and supported him some fifty yards farther, our way now being through quite a chaos of rocks, which had been loosened in bygone times from the cliff above. Then, so suddenly that we were not prepared, the poor fellow dropped with his full weight upon our arms, and we had to lower him down upon a heap of drifted sand. "No go, sir," he said softly; "I'm a done-er." "No, no; rest a bit, and we'll find a cool place somewhere. I daresay we shall see a cave along here." "Can't do it, sir," he said feebly; "I've kep' on as long as I could. It's all up. Never mind me. If those beggars see you, they'll have no mercy on you, so go on and try and get away."