"Well, of all the pot calling kettle black as ever I knowed on," said Tom Fillot, "that's about the rummest. Why, your head's all o' one side like an ugly turmut, and your eyes is on'y two slits." "We ain't none on us got much to boast on, 'cept our orficer," said Dick Bannock. "Pass that there tin." "To be sure," said Tom Fillot, "and handsome is as handsome does. Might be a deal worse off, mates. Drink away; the mud won't hurt us. We're in the shade and got plenty o' water. Different to being right out at sea in a calm, eh, Mr Vandean, sir?" "Don't talk about it, my lad," said Mark. "But look, Joe Dance is getting up. Pray don't let him break loose again." For the coxswain suddenly sat up and stared about him wildly. Then calming down, he cried,-- "Got a drink o' water, messmets?" "Plenty, my lad," said Tom Fillot, passing the tin. "How's your head this morning?" "Bit achey," said the coxswain, who took the tin and drained it. "Hah!" he ejaculated, as he drew a long, deep breath, "that's good, but you forgot to send it through the skipper's pilfer." "Warn't time, matey," said Tom watching him curiously. "'Sides, pilfered water ain't good for you." "Feel better this morning, Dance?" said Mark. "Yes, sir, thankye sir. Head aches a deal and feels muzzy like, and I didn't sleep quite as I should like. Too much bad dream to please me." "No wonder, mate," struck in Tom Fillot. "Having your head rubbed so hard with a big bat ain't good for no one." Mark sat by his brother officer in the comparative coolness trying to think out some plan to adopt, for though they were resting in the shade, and the agonies of thirst were assuaged, he knew that it would not be long before they were all suffering from hunger, and he shuddered as he thought of the tales he had heard respecting the straits men had been driven to when perishing for want of food in an open boat. But though he thought long and patiently, no idea came to him better than for them to coast along till they came abreast of some village, though he felt very little hope of meeting with such good fortune upon that sparsely inhabited shore. Further north there were towns and villages, but these were hundreds of miles away. There was a possibility of their finding a native village, the home of some black chief, if they proceeded up the river; but it was chance work, and, unless compelled, Mark shrank from leaving the coast and cutting himself off from the chance of being seen by the _Nautilus_ if she came back in search of them. So he decided to keep along the shore.