* * * he pushed himself up standing with an effort , when it was time to get the belly-rigging on him ; and now several of the convicts made excuse for not climbing in , and abruptly had small personal errands which required their attention , or needed to refill a can of water ; laurence rounded several up and sent them aboard , and went down to the water-hole after another handful of stragglers - they would not stir save in pairs , anymore - who insisted they were coming , only they were taking turns filling their cans : they had drunk them all dry , and he could not ask them to sit aboard for hours in this heat , without so much as a drop .