I started. I had thought of all things, as I fancied; yet I had overlooked the most essential of our certain needs. "No, I have not provided for that," I exclaimed. "How now to manage?" "I thought of it just now in my cabin. There is a pitcher there and the sight of it put it into my head to ask if you had included water in your stock of provisions. It holds about two gallons. It has a narrow neck and may be easily corked. But how can we convey it ashore. My weight and the bags and it would sink a bigger frame than the one that is to float me." I said: "Is there fresh water in it?" "It is nearly full. Prins keeps it replenished." I said: "Are bottles to be had?" She reflected and answered: "There are jars in which wine is kept, but I do not know where to find them." 'Twas my turn to think. I then cried: "There is a silver flagon in the box under the table; that which Prins took away last week and brought back filled with sherry for Vanderdecken. Can you get it?" "Yes." "We may not need it; if so we will leave it. Vanderdecken shall not say that we have plundered him though we must risk a graver charge even than that if there be occasion. Dearest, convey that flagon to your cabin. Fill it with fresh water in readiness. We shall find fresh water sweeter than the richest wine. Also contrive to have the pitcher filled to the brim. Prins will do that and suspect nothing. You will invent a reason, and when it is filled cork it as securely as possible and bind the head with stout rag that what you use as a cork may not fall out." She said she would go and see about it at once. "A moment," I whispered. "Is the window of your quarter-gallery open?" "No; but I will open it." "Do so; stand at it till you hear me cough. Then grasp a rope that I will let hang against the window and coil it away as you pull it in." She understood me with the readiness of a sailor's child and a sailor's sweetheart, and left me. The mizzen-yard was lowered; the sail had been stowed some time. Rove through a small block at the end of the yard was a length of thin line termed signal halliards used for the showing of colours. I waited till Vanderdecken came to a stand at the head of the ladder that was, of course, at the forward end of the poop, and then with a mariner's swiftness overhauled the halliards through the block, catching the end as it fell that it might not strike the deck, and threw it over the quarter, coughing distinctly as I did so. I felt her pull it; I paid it out cautiously, narrowly watching Vanderdecken till the whole length was gone, then sauntered forward to where the shadow of the mizzen-rigging blackened the air. I had not stood there a minute when Vanderdecken cried out, "Van Vogelaar!" The mate answered from the forecastle. "Let a hand remain on the main-topsail yard to receive a tackle for hoisting out both boats."