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180 dolefully. "We made a bad miss when we left that island and trusted to such a rotten craft as this."

"I'd like to know how far we are from shore now," said Larry. "All of our provisions have gone to the bottom."

"All but these," answered the tar, holding up half a dozen of the bamboo stems filled with fresh water. "It's not much to save, but a single drink of water may save our lives before we are done with this adventure."

There was but little to add in the way of talk after this. Both were too down-hearted to say much, and clung on in silence as the upturned boat drifted onward, and the rising sun mounted higher and higher in the tropical sky. Larry's head was entirely unprotected, and by noon the sun's rays seemed unbearable.

"I must have a bit of water," he said. "My tongue is like cotton, and my head feels as if it was ready to split open."

"We'll divide the water in one of the sticks between us," answered Striker; and this was done, and once again they relapsed into a moody, distressing silence. The glare of the sun on the water nearly blinded Larry, and often he closed his eyes.