noon
Next day , although they had lain down in the bottom of the boat supperless , the rest had refreshed most of them , and they pulled on with some degree of vigour . But noon came , and with it culminated the heat of a burning sun . Still no water was served out , no food distributed . Mr Hazlit and his party had biscuit and water given them in the morning and at noon . During the latter meal Aileen observed the native policeman regarding her food with such eager wolfish eyes that under an impulse of uncontrollable feeling she held out her can of water to him . He seized and drank the half of it before one of the pirates had time to dash it from his lips . Presently a youth , who seemed less robust than his comrades , uttered a wild shriek , threw up his hands , and fell backwards .