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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 wordsRichard Wardour。
Crayford advanced to welcome Captain Helding。 Frank； remembering
the friendly reproof which he had just received； passed ov er 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
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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 regionswithout 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？〃
The officers （with the exception of Wardour； who stood apart in sullen
silence） all agreed； so far。
The captain went on。
〃It is therefore urgently necessary that we should make another； and
probably a last； effort to extricate ourselves。 The winter is not far off；
game is getting scarcer and scarcer； our stock of provisions is running low；
and the sickespecially； I am sorry to say； the sick in the _Wanderer_'s
hutare increasing in number day by day。 We must look to our own lives；
and to the lives of those who are dependent on us； and we have no time to
lose。〃
The officers echoed the words cheerfully。
〃Right！ right！ No time to lose。〃
Captain Helding resumed：
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〃The plan proposed is； that a detachment of the able…bodied officers
and men among us should set forth this very day； and make another effort
to reach the nearest inhabited settlements； from which help and provisions
may be dispatched to those who remain here。 The new direction to be
taken； and the various precautions to be adopted； are all drawn out ready。
The only question now before us is； Who is to stop here； and who is to
undertake the journey？〃
The officers answered the question with one accord〃Volunteers！〃
The men echoed their officers。 〃Ay； ay； volunteers。〃
Wardour still preserved his sullen silence。 Crayford noticed him。
standing apart from the rest； and appealed to him personally。
〃Do you say nothing？〃 he asked。
〃Nothing；〃 Wardour answered。 〃Go or stay； it's all one to me。〃
〃I hope you don't really mean that？〃 said Crayford。
〃I do。〃
〃I am sorry to hear it； Wardour。〃
Captain Helding answered the general suggestion in favor of
volunteering by a question which instantly checked the rising enthusiasm
of the meeting。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃suppose we say volunteers。 Who volunteers to stop in
the huts？〃
There was a dead silence。 The officers and men looked at each other
confusedly。 The captain continued：
〃You see we can't settle it by volunteering。 You all want to go。 Every
man among us who has the use of his limbs naturally wants to go。 But
what is to become of those who have not got the use of their limbs？ Some
of us must stay here； and take care of the sick。〃
Everybody admitted that this was true。
〃So we get back again；〃 said the captain； 〃to the old questionWho
among the able…bodied is to go？ and who is to stay？ Captain Ebsworth
says； and I say； let chance decide it。 Here are dice。 The numbers run as
high as twelvedouble sixes。 All who throw under six； stay； all who throw
over six； go。 Officers of the _Wanderer_ and the _Sea…mew_； do you agree
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to that way of meeting the difficulty？〃
All the officers agreed； with the one exception of Wardour； who still
kept silence。
〃Men of the _Wanderer_ and _Sea…mew_； your officers agree to cast
lots。 Do you agree too？〃
The men agreed without a dissentient voice。 Crayford handed the box
and the dice to Captain Helding。
〃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