They fell silent again, save for the water lapping gently against their poor place of refuge. Unbearable pains were beginning to torment ’Possum; her feet, from standing on the narrow mast, were swollen and agonizingly painful, and pains like red-hot wires shot up her legs. Sometimes she let herself go into the water altogether, holding to the boat; but she was too weak to cling for long, and soon she was forced to climb back to her place of torture.  Her father no longer spoke. She could see him dimly, leaning forward astride of the boat, and breathing heavily.