Little William wondered that an incident of so common character should produce so marked an effect as it had done upon his protector: for the latter on perceiving that the sun had become shadowed instantly started to his feet, and stood gazing up towards the sky. A change had come over his countenance. His eyes, instead of the sombre look of despair observable but the moment before, seemed now to sparkle with hope. In fact, the cloud which had darkened the face of the sun appeared to have produced the very opposite effect upon the face of the sailor!
Chapter Eight.
A Canvas Tank.
“What is it, Ben?” asked William, in a voice husky and hoarse, from the parched throat through which it had to pass. “You look pleased like; do you see anything?”
“I see that, boy,” replied the sailor, pointing up into the sky.
“What? I see nothing there except that great cloud that has just passed over the sun. What is there in that?”
“Ay, what is there in’t? That’s just what I’m tryin’ to make out, Will’m; an’ if I’m not mistaken, boy, there’s it ’t the very thing as we both wants.”
“Water!” gasped William, his eyes lighting up with gleam of hope. “A rain-cloud you think, Ben?”