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Page 20
"Why should it amaze you?" he asked. "What opportunities have you
had of judging? You and Wardour have always belonged to different
ships. I have never seen you in Wardour's society for five
minutes together. How can _you_ form a fair estimate of his
character?"
"I take the general estimate of his character," Frank answered.
"He has got his nickname because he is the most unpopular man in
his ship. Nobody likes him--there must be some reason for that."
"There is only one reason for it," Crayford rejoined. "Nobody
understands Richard Wardour. I am not talking at random.
Remember, I sailed from England with him in the _Wanderer_; and I
was only transferred to the _Sea-mew_ long after we were locked
up in the ice. I was Richard Wardour's companion on board ship
for months, and I learned there to do him justice. Under all his
outward defects, I tell you, there beats a great and generous
heart. Suspend your opinion, my lad, until you know my friend as
well as I do. No more of this now. Give me the dice and the box."
Frank opened his locker. At the same moment the silence of the
snowy waste outside was broken by a shouting of voices hailing
the hut--"_Sea-mew_, ahoy!"
Chapter 8.
The sailor on watch opened the outer door. There, plodding over
the ghastly white snow, were the officers of the _Wanderer_
approaching the hut. There, scattered under the merciless black
sky, were the crew, with the dogs and the sledges, waiting the
word which was to start them on their perilous and doubtful
journey.
Captain Helding of the _Wanderer_, accompanied by his officers,
entered the hut, in high spirits at the prospect of a change.
Behind them, lounging in slowly by himself, was a dark, sullen,
heavy-browed man. He neither spoke, nor offered his hand to
anybody: he was the one person present who seemed to be perfectly
indifferent to the fate in store for him. This was the man whom
his brother officers had nicknamed the Bear of the Expedition. In
other words--Richard Wardour.
Crayford advanced to welcome Captain Helding. Frank, remembering
the friendly reproof which he had just received, passed over the
other officers of the _Wanderer_, and made a special effort to be
civil to Crayford's friend.
"Good-morning, Mr. Wardour," he said. "We may congratulate each
other on the chance of leaving this horrible place."
"_You_ may think it horrible," Wardour retorted; "I like it."
"Like it? Good Heavens! why?"
"Because there are no women here."
Frank turned to his brother officers, without making any further
advances in the direction of Richard Wardour. The Bear of the
Expedition was more unapproachable than ever.
In the meantime, the hut had become thronged by the able-bodied
officers and men of the two ships. Captain Helding, standing in
the midst of them, with Crayford by his side, proceeded to
explain the purpose of the contemplated expedition to the
audience which surrounded him.
He began in these words:
"Brother officers and men of the _Wanderer_ and _Sea-mew_, it is
my duty to tell you, very briefly, the reasons which have decided
Captain Ebsworth and myself on dispatching an exploring party in
search of help. Without recalling all the hardships we have
suffered for the last two years--the destruction, first of one of
our ships, then of the other; the death of some of our bravest
and best companions; the vain battles we have been fighting with
the ice and snow, and boundless desolation of these inhospitable
regions--without dwelling on these things, it is my duty to
remind you that this, the last place in which we have taken
refuge, is far beyond the track of any previous expedition, and
that consequently our chance of being discovered by any rescuing
parties that may be sent to look after us is, to say the least of
it, a chance of the most uncertain kind. You all agree with me,
gentlemen, so far?"
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