"He must be suffering with thirst," said Howard. "How shall we manage to give him water?"
"God save the poor fellow! I will soon fix that!" exclaimed the kind-hearted Tim, rising to his feet and hurrying to the river's edge. Here he speedily constructed quite a capacious cup of leaves, and carefully filling it with cool water he as carefully carried it back to where he lay.
"Now, me good felly, just tip up his noddle and we'll make him faal aisy."
Elwood carefully raised his head, and the trembling sufferer eagerly reached forward for the cooling fluid. It was placed to his parched lips and swallowed hastily, when he immediately motioned for more.
"Will it do to give it?" asked Howard. "Will it not injure him?"
"Niver a bit," replied Tim, hurrying away for another supply.
In a moment it was brought and swallowed with the same avidity. He then lay his head back upon the blanket of the boys, which had been folded into a pillow by Howard. His great black eyes looked the thanks which his tongue was unable to express.
"Now he will slaap," said Tim. "Lave him alone."
He was relinquished to slumber while our friends retired a short distance to consult.
"How providential that we landed here," said Howard. "He was too feeble to help himself, and might have died in great distress."