im--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
co