Jack went up to one of these.
"Mate," he said, "could you let us have a few buckets of water down here?
In the first place we are parched with thirst, and in the second we may as well try to get off some of the blood which, from a good many of us, has been let out pretty freely." "Well, you seem a reasonable sort of chap," the sailor said, "and to take things coolly.

That's the way, my lad; when the king, or the queen now--it's all the same thing--has once got his hand on you it's of no use kicking against it.

I have been pressed twice myself, so I know how you feel.

Here, mates," he said to two of the other sailors, "lend a hand and get a bucket of fresh water and a pannikin, and half a dozen buckets of salt water, and let these lads have a drink and a wash." It was soon done.

The prisoners were all glad of the drink, but few cared to trouble about washing.