"Little fear of their parting intentionally with us, since we are the dispensers of the good things of life," observed the doctor. "I am afraid, however, that we shall have to be put on short allowance unless we get along faster than we have lately been doing." The last remark was made in a whisper to Willy. As most of the soldiers could row, the men on board were divided into watches, so that they might relieve each other at the oars, and thus the two boats continued their course during the night. CHAPTER TEN. WATER! WATER! FEARFUL WANT OF WATER--FUEL NEARLY EXHAUSTED--AURORA AUSTRALIS SEEN-- ICEBERG IN SIGHT--APPROACH IT TO OBTAIN WATER--SEALS DISCOVERED ON ICEBERG--SEALS ATTACKED--SEVERAL SEALS KILLED--A PARTY GET ON THE ICEBERG--FRESH WATER OBTAINED--ICEBERG BEGINS TO MOVE--FLIGHT FOR LIFE-- LAUNCH NEARLY OVERWHELMED--THE CUTTER NOT TO BE SEEN--LAUNCH PROCEEDS ON HER COURSE--MORE BIRDS KILLED--DANGER FROM WHALES--PROVISIONS BECOMING SCARCE--LAND SEEN FAR OFF--SUFFERINGS FROM THIRST--A DARK NIGHT--THE LAUNCH APPROACHES A ROCK--PARTY LAND ON THE ROCK--BIRD COLONY ATTACKED-- SEALS DISCOVERED--THE DOCTOR SLIPS DOWN THE ROCK--THE SEALS ESCAPE--NO WATER TO BE FOUND--FUEL OBTAINED FROM A WRECK--LYING IN WAIT FOR THE SEALS--A SAIL SEEN IN THE DISTANCE--THE CUTTER ARRIVES--STARVING STATE OF CUTTER'S CREW--HOW THEY ESCAPED FROM THE BERG--PETER'S GENEROUS CONDUCT--THE PARTY ENCAMP ON THE ROCK--A NIGHT SCENE ON ROCK--HARRY'S MEDITATIONS. Two days had passed away. Every drop of water, with the exception of a small quantity the doctor could produce from his still, was exhausted; a gill alone could be distributed to each person during the four-and-twenty hours and sometimes even that quantity could but with difficulty be procured. The salt provisions also, on which they had to exist, made every one thirsty, and the bright sun shining down on their heads increased their desire for water. Thirst--thirst--many now for the first time learned the real significance of that word. From both boats voices in plaintive accents were crying out for water. Oh! how many would gladly have given everything they possessed for a draught of the pure liquid; yet, although the still was kept going night and day, no more water beyond the small measure could be produced, and the doctor knew that his fuel was getting to an end. A portion of the charcoal in the bag still remained, but that was kept for cooking purposes. There were, likewise, a few fragments of broken-up cases and other pieces of wood, which might for a short time feed the stove; but they would speedily be exhausted. "What will then become of us all?" thought the doctor. "Heaven in mercy protect us!"