Sylvia opened her eyes. "Oh! it's bliss!" she said.
Dr. Atherton then poured some salt water over me, and then over Mr. Wheeler and himself, and told the sailors to drench themselves as well.
It was a little relief—only a very little; and the heat gradually dried us up again.
"Here, give me the baler!" cried Davis in a little while, and he caught it out of Gilliland's hand. "D'ye think I'm going to die o' thirst with all this water about?" And dipping it over the side of the cutter, he lifted it to his mouth.
"Stop him!" shouted the doctor in a frenzy. "The salt water'll make him mad!"
And Gilliland, with a desperate thrust, tipped it over his clothes instead.
Davis howled. He tried to fight; but Gilliland was too strong for him, and soon he was huddled up in the fore part of the boat, cursing and swearing dreadfully.
After a time he quieted down, and then he became so queer.
"Roast beef!" he murmured, smacking his lips. "An' taters! An' cabbage! An' gravy! An' Yorkshire pudden'! My eye! It's prime! And so's the beer, my hearties!"
He smiled. The anguish died out of his face. He thought he was eating it all. And then he began to finish off his dinner with apple pie.