Water! WATER!

           Twohourslater,thatis,aboutfouro’clock,Iwokeup,forsosoonasthefirstheavydemandofbodilyfatiguehadbeensatisfied,thetorturingthirstfromwhichIwassufferingasserteditself. Icouldsleepnomore. IhadbeendreamingthatIwasbathinginarunningstream,withgreenbanksandtreesuponthem,andIawoketofindmyselfinthisaridwilderness, andtoremember,asUmbopahadsaid,thatifwedidnotfindwaterthisdaywemustperishmiserably. Nohumancreaturecouldlivelongwithoutwaterinthatheat. Isatupandrubbedmygrimyfacewithmydryandhornyhands, asmylipsandeyelidswerestucktogether,anditwasonlyaftersomefrictionandwithaneffortthatIwasabletoopenthem. Itwasnotfarfromdawn,buttherewasnoneofthebrightfeelofdawnintheair, whichwasthickwithahotmurkinessthatIcannotdescribe. Theotherswerestillsleeping. 

           Presentlyitbegantogrowlightenoughtoread, soIdrewoutalittlepocketcopyofthe"IngoldsbyLegends"whichIhadbroughtwithme,andread"TheJackdawofRheims." WhenIgottowhere 

           "Anicelittleboyheldagoldenewer, 

           Embossed,andfilledwithwateraspure 

           AsanythatflowsbetweenRheimsandNamur," 

           literallyIsmackedmycrackinglips,orrathertriedtosmackthem. Themerethoughtofthatpurewatermadememad.