astonishment as he glanced at his cousins, whose expressive countenances
were somewhat similarly affected.

"I have had some long talks," continued the Captain, "with that big
Eskimo Chingatok, through our interpreter, and from what he says I
believe my chances of success are considerable. I am all the more
confirmed in this resolution because of the readiness and ability of my
first mate to guide you out of the Arctic regions, and your willingness
to trust him. Anders has agreed to go with me as interpreter, and now,
all I want is one other man, because--"

"Put me down, father," cried Benjy, in a burst of excitement--"_I'm_
your man."

"Hush, lad," said the Captain with a little smile, "of course I shall
take you with me and also your two cousins, but I want one other man to
complete the party--but he must be a heartily willing man. Who will
volunteer?"

There was silence for a few moments. It was broken by the doctor.

"I for one won't volunteer," he said, "for I'm too much shaken by this
troublesome illness to think of such an expedition. If I were well it
might be otherwise, but perhaps some of the others will offer."

"You can't expect me to do so," said the mate, "for I've got to guide
our party home, as agreed on; besides, under any circumstances, I would
not join you, for it is simple madness. You'll forgive me, Captain. I
mean no disrespect, but I have sailed many years to these seas, and I
know from experience that what you propose is beyond the power of man to
accomplish."

"Experience!" repeated the Captain, quickly. "Has your experience
extended further north than this point?"

"No, sir, I have not been further north than this--nobody has. It is
beyond the utmost limit yet reached, so far as I know."

"Well, then, you cannot speak from _experience_ about what I propose,"
said the Captain, turning away. "Come, lads, I have no wish to
constrain you, I merely give one of you the chance."

Still no one came forward. Every man of the crew of the _Whitebear_ had
had more or less personal acquaintance with arctic travel and danger.
They would have followed Captain Vane anywhere in the yacht, but
evidently they had no taste for what he was about to undertake.

At last one stepped to the front. It was Butterface, the steward. This
intensely black negro was a bulky, powerful man, with a modest spirit
and a strange disbelief in his own capacities, though, in truth, these
were very considera