“And give up rum altogether?”
“Give? Up? Well, no, sir; I dunno as I could quite do that.”
“Never mind talking about it, then,” said Syd; “but as soon as the men are well enough, let’s have all the water-casks well-filled.”
“Beg pardon, sir.”
“Well, what?”
“Water’s lovely and sweet and cool where it is; wouldn’t it be better to have it fetched twice a day as we want it?”
“Yes, Strake,” said Syd, “if you are quite sure that no enemy will come and try to oust us. Suppose they land, and we are shut up here; are we to go on suffering for want of water again?”
The boatswain hit himself a tremendous blow on his chest with his doubled fist.
“Think o’ that now, sir. Must be the water. Head’s as wishy-washy as can be. Sort o’ water on the brain kind o’ feeling, sir.”
“We’ll have the casks all filled and stored in that cave near the powder, and be secure from it, but have the water for use fetched twice a day from the spring.”