And this they did, putting pieces of food in the man's mouth, and holding up a tin cup for him to drink from.
They divided the night into watches, each taking turns. While one slept the other would sit by the fire to see that the desperate man did not loosen his bonds.
It was Andy's trick, and he was very tired. In spite of himself his head would nod at times. He even walked up and down to get rid of the sleepy feeling but it came back. As he sat by the fire his head swayed to and fro.
"I'll just close my eyes for a half minute," he told himself. "Just for a few seconds. I—I'll—"
Andy was asleep and in the shelter where the prisoner lay bound there was a movement. Eager and cruel eyes watched the lad on guard. Both Andy and Frank were slumbering now.
"It's my only chance," murmured the man as he heard their heavy breathing. "My only chance." Then he began rolling over and over on the sand, out of his shelter.
CHAPTER XXIX
"SAIL HO!"
Frank, in the heavy slumber that had come to him as soon as his watch was over, seemed to smell something burning. It was like the mingled odor of charred rope and scorched leather and came pungently to his nose.
At first he paid no heed to it, but turned restlessly in his slumber to compose himself more comfortably on the bunch of seaweed that served as his bed. Then the odor became stronger.