"We're going back, mate. There's nothing but death in this—death of thirst."
Smith rolled over and rested on his elbows, and whistled low.
"I don't know but what you are right, Hicks," he said. "But to me it's a question if it's not better to go on. That water-hole will be dry when you reach it. If it is, can you put it through to the next?"
"If we don't, we don't," said Hicks. "And it's best to travel now while it's cool. I guess we can strike it by the morning. Are you coming?"
Smith rolled over and touched Mandeville, who was a nervous sleeper, and jumped upright in a scare.
"Hicks is going, Baker," said Smith.
"And you?" asked the Cockney.
"I'm going on."
"Then what the blazes did you wake a chap for?" asked the Baker, and he lay down again.
"You mean it, Smith?" asked Tom.