Just as we were about to drink, however, our
boat shipped a sea, filling the oil jacket with salt water, and there
was no more rain.
Every day we passed great flocks of sea fowl floating on the water,
coming frequently almost within an oar's length, but always just out of
reach. We were in worse condition than the Ancient Mariner, with food as
well as water everywhere about us, and not a morsel or a drop to eat or
drink. Thirst is harder to endure than hunger, and yet hunger finally
wakes up the wolf; and the time comes when even the thought of
cannibalism can be entertained without horror. About this time John
asked me, "Well, what do you think?"
"Oh," I said, "I think that one of us will come out of it all right."
He started, as if he thought that I had premature designs on him.
"You need not be afraid," I said, "I'll not take advantage of you."
He knew that I was the stronger and perhaps thought that if I felt as he
did, his chances were very small.
The sixth day, John seemed like a man overwhelmed with the horror of a
situation that had gotten beyond his control.
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