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Page 22
"You throw first, sir. Under six, 'Stay.' Over six, 'Go.'"
Captain Helding cast the dice; the top of the cask serving for a
table. He threw seven.
"Go," said Crayford. "I congratulate you, sir. Now for my own
chance." He cast the dice in his turn. Three! "Stay! Ah, well!
well! if I can do my duty, and be of use to others, what does it
matter whether I go or stay? Wardour, you are next, in the
absence of your first lieutenant."
Wardour prepared to cast, without shaking the dice.
"Shake the box, man!" cried Crayford. "Give yourself a chance of
luck!"
Wardour persisted in letting the dice fall out carelessly, just
as they lay in the box.
"Not I!" he muttered to himself. "I've done with luck." Saying
those words, he threw down the empty box, and seated himself on
the nearest chest, without looking to see how the dice had
fallen.
Crayford examined them. "Six!" he exclaimed. "There! you have a
second chance, in spite of yourself. You are neither under nor
over--you throw again."
"Bah!" growled the Bear. "It's not worth the trouble of getting
up for. Somebody else throw for me." He suddenly looked at Frank.
"You! you have got what the women call a lucky face."
Frank appealed to Crayford. "Shall I?"
"Yes, if he wishes it," said Crayford.
Frank cast the dice. "Two! He stays! Wardour, I am sorry I have
thrown against you."
"Go or stay," reiterated Wardour, "it's all one to me. You will
be luckier, young one, when you cast for yourself."
Frank cast for himself.
"Eight. Hurrah! I go!"
"What did I tell you?" said Wardour. "The chance was yours. You
have thriven on my ill luck."
He rose, as he spoke, to leave the hut. Crayford stopped him.
"Have you anything particular to do, Richard?"
"What has anybody to do here?"
"Wait a little, then. I want to speak to you when this business
is over."
"Are you going to give me any more good advice?"
"Don't look at me in that sour way, Richard. I am going to ask
you a question about something which concerns yourself."
Wardour yielded without a word more. He returned to his chest,
and cynically composed himself to slumber. The casting of the
lots went on rapidly among the officers and men. In another
half-hour chance had decided the question of "Go" or "Stay" for
all alike. The men left the hut. The officers entered the inner
apartment for a last conference with the bed-ridden captain of
the _Sea-mew_. Wardour and Crayford were left together, alone.
Chapter 9.
Crayford touched his friend on the shoulder to rouse him. Wardour
looked up, impatiently, with a frown.
"I was just asleep," he said. "Why do you wake me?"
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