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immediately send out a steam…vessel； to meet the rescued men on the
shores of America； and bring them home。 Wait a little； Mrs。 Crayford！
Nobody knows； as yet； under what rules and regulations the vessel will
sail。 Under somewhat similar circumstances； privileged people have been
received as passengers； or rather as guests； in her majesty's shipsand
what has been conceded on former occasions may； by bare possibility； be
conceded now。 I can say no more。 If you are not afraid of the voyage for
yourself； I am not afraid of it （nay； I am all in favor of it on medical
grounds） for my patient。 What do you say？ Will you write to your father；
and ask him to try what his interest will do with his friends at the
Admiralty？〃
Mrs。 Crayford rose excitedly to her feet。
〃Write！〃 she exclaimed。 〃I will do better than write。 The journey to
London is no great matterand my housekeeper here is to be trusted to
take care of Clara in my absence。 I will see my father to…night！ He shall
make good use of his interest at the Admiraltyyou may rely on that。 Oh；
my dear doctor； what a prospect it is！ My husband！ Clara！ What a
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THE FROZEN DEEP
discovery you have madewhat a treasure you are！ How can I thank you？〃
〃Compose yourself； my dear madam。 Don't make too sure of success。
We may consider Miss Burnham's objections as disposed of beforehand。
But suppose the Lords of the Admiralty say No？〃
〃In that case； I shall be in London； doctor； and I shall go to them
myself。 Lords are only men； and men are not in the habit of saying No to
me。〃
So they parted。
In a week from that day； her majesty's ship _Amazon_ sailed for North
America。 Certain privileged persons； specially interested in the Arctic
voyagers； were permitted to occupy the empty state…rooms on board。 On
the list of these favored guests of the ship were the names of two ladies
Mrs。 Crayford and Miss Burnham。
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THE FROZEN DEEP
Fourth Scene
The Boat…House。
Chapter 16。
Once more the open seathe sea whose waters break on the shores of
Newfoundland！ An English steamship lies at anchor in the offing。 The
vessel is plainly visible through the open doorway of a large boat…house on
the shoreone of the buildings attached to a fishing…station on the coast of
the island。
The only person in the boat…house at this moment is a man in the dress
of a sailor。 He is seated on a chest； with a piece of cord in his hand；
looking out idly at the sea。 On the rough carpenter's table near him lies a
strange object to be left in such a placea woman's veil。
What is the vessel lying at anchor in the offing？
The vessel is the _Amazon_dispatched from England to receive the
surviving officers and men of the Arctic Expedition。 The meeting has been
successfully effected； on the shores of North America； three days since。
But the homeward voyage has been delayed by a storm which has driven
the ship out of her course。 Taking advantage； on the third day； of the first
returning calm； the commander of the _Amazon_ has anchored off the
coast of Newfoundland； and has sent ashore to increase his supplies of
water before he sails for England。 The weary passengers have landed for a
few hours； to refresh themselves after the discomforts of the tempest。
Among them are the two ladies。 The veil left on the table in the boat…house
is Clara's veil。
And who is the man si tting on the chest； with the cord in his hand；
looking out idly at the sea？ The man is the only cheerful person in the
ship's company。 In other wordsJohn Want。
Still reposing on the chest； our friend； who never grumbles； is
surprised by the sudden appearance of a sailor at the boat…house door。
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〃Look sharp with your work there； John Want！〃 says the sailor。
〃Lieutenant Crayford is just coming in to look after you。〃
With this warning the messenger disappears again。 John Want rises
with a groan； turns the chest up on one end； and begins to fasten the cord
round it。 The ship's cook is not a man to look back on his rescue with the
feeling of unmitigated satisfaction which animates his companions in
trouble。 On the contrary； he is ungratefully disposed to regret the North
Pole。
〃If I had only known〃thus runs the train of thought in the mind of
John Want〃if I had only known； before I was rescued； that I was to be
brought to this place； I believe I should have preferred staying at the North
Pole。 I was very happy keeping up everybody's spirits at the North Pole。
Taking one thing with another； I think I must have been very comfortable
at the North Poleif I had only known it。 Another man in my place might
be inclined to say that this Newfoundland boat…house was rather a sloppy；
slimy； draughty； fishy sort of a habitation to take shelter in。 Another man
might object to perpetual Newfoundland fogs； perpetual Newfoundland
cod…fish； and perpetual Newfoundland dogs。 We had some very nice bears
at the North Pole。 Never mind！ it's all one to me_I_ don't grumble。〃
〃Have you done cording that box？〃
This time the voice is a voice of authoritythe man at the doorway is
Lieutenant Crayford himself。 John Want answers his officer in his own
cheerful way。
〃I've done it as well as I can； sirbut the damp of this place is
beginning to tell upon our very ropes。 I say nothing about our lungsI
only say our ropes。〃
Crayford answers sharply。 He seems to have lost his former relish for
the humor of John Want。
〃Pooh！ To look at your wry face； one would think that our rescue from
the Arctic regions was a downright misfortune。 You deserve to be sent
back again。〃
〃I could be just as cheerful as ever； sir； if I _was_ sent back again； I
hope I'm thankful； but I don't like to hear the North Pole run down in such