“Oh, for a good, long drink!” whispered Tom.
And then he started. Surely that was the tinkle and drip of water that he heard! Where did it come from?
[CHAPTER XXI]
“SAIL HO!”
Cautiously Tom peered about him. He listened as only one can listen who is suffering from thirst, and who hears the welcome sound of water. True, there was still water in the keg, but that belonged to all, and Tom had had his share. Was there more on board?
“It seems to come from up forward,” murmured Tom, “up forward where Mr. Skeel is.” At once his old suspicions came back to him. He peered toward the bow, but the sail was in his way and he could not see well.
“I’m going to take a look,” he decided. There was scarcely any wind then, and the sea was calm. It would do no harm to leave the helm.
Carefully Tom made his way forward, walking softly past the slumbering sailors. And then the sight he saw filled him with rage.
For there, eating and drinking from a private store of food and water he had stolen, and hidden away, was the renegade professor. It was the trickle of water, as he poured it out from a can into a cup, that Tom had heard.