llow," he said, "come to our wedding, and judge for
yourself."

"Come to your wedding?" As he repeated the words Wardour stole one
glance at Frank which Frank (employed in buckling his knapsack) failed
to see. Crayford noticed it, and Crayford's blood ran cold. Comparing
the words which Wardour had spoken to him while they were alone together
with the words that had just passed in his presence, he could draw but
one conclusion. The woman whom Wardour had loved and lost was--Clara
Burnham. The man who had robbed him of her was Frank Aldersley. And
Wardour had discovered it in the interval since they had last met.
"Thank God!" thought Crayford, "the dice have parted them! Frank goes
with the expedition, and Wardour stays behind with me."

The reflection had barely occurred to him--Frank's thoughtless
invitation to Wardour had just passed his lips--when the canvas screen
over the doorway was drawn aside. Captain Helding and the officers who
were to leave with the exploring party returned to the main room on
their way out. Seeing Crayford, Captain Helding stopped to speak to him.

"I have a casualty to report," said the captain, "which diminishes
our numbers by one. My second lieutenant, who was to have joined
the exploring party, has had a fall on the ice. Judging by what the
quartermaster tells me, I am afraid the poor fellow has broken his leg."

"I will supply his place," cried a voice at the other end of the hut.

Everybody looked round. The man who had spoken was Richard Wardour.

Crayford instantly interfered--so vehemently as to astonish all who knew
him.

"No!" he said. "Not you, Richard! not you!"

"Why not?" Wardour asked, sternly.

"Why not, indeed?" added Captain Helding. "Wardour is the very man to be
useful on a long march. He is in perfect health, and he is the best shot
among us. I was on the point of proposing him myself."

Crayford failed to show his customary respect for his superior officer.
He openly disputed the captain's conclusion.

"Wardour has no right to volunteer," he rejoined. "It has been settled,
Captain Helding, that chance shall decide who is to go and who is to
stay."

"And chance _has_ decided it," cried Wardour. "Do you think we are going
to cast the dice again, and give an officer of the _Sea-mew_ a chance of
replacing an officer of the _Wanderer_? There is a vacancy in our party,
not in yours; and we claim the right of filling it as we please. I
volunteer, and my captain