She hailed the returning figure of McTee with relief.
He came bearing a large gourd, and he knelt before Kate so that she might look into it.

She cried out at what she saw, for he had washed the inside of the gourd and filled it with cool water from the spring.
"Look!" said she to Harrigan.

"It's water--and my throat is fairly burning." "Humph," growled Harrigan, and he avoided the eye of McTee.
The gourd was too heavy and clumsy for her to handle.

The captain had to raise and tip it so that she might drink, and as she drank, her eyes went up to his with gratitude.
Harrigan set his teeth and commenced raking the roasted eggs from the hot ashes.

When her thirst was quenched, she looked in amazement at Harrigan; even his back showed anger.