the frozen deep-第12章

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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。

〃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　a　fishy　place　as　this。　It　was　very　clean
and　snowy　at　the　North　Poleand　it's　very　damp　and　sandy　here。
Do　you　never　miss　your　bone…soup；　sir？　_I_　do。　It　mightn't　have
been　strong；　but　it　was　very　hot；　and　the　cold　seemed　to　give　it
a　kind　of　a　meaty　flavor　as　it　went　down。　Was　it　you　that　was
a…coughing　so　long　last　night；　sir？　I　don't　presume　to　say
anything　against　the　air　of　these　latitudes；　but　I　should　be　glad
to　know　it　wasn't　you　that　was　a…coughing　so　hollow。　Would　you　be
so　obliging　as　just　to　feel　the　state　of　these　ropes　with　the
ends　of　your　fingers；　sir？　You　can　dry　them　afterward　on　the　back
of　my　jacket。〃

〃You　ought　to　have　a　stick　laid　on　the　back　of　your　jacket。　Take
that　box　down　to　the　boat　directly。　You　croaking　vagabond！　You
would　have　grumbled　in　the　Garden　of　Eden。〃

The　philosopher　of　the　Expedition　was　not　a　man　to　be　silenced　by
referring　him　to　the　Garden　of　Eden。　Paradise　itself　was　not
perfect　to　John　Want。

〃I　hope　I　could　be　cheerful　anywhere；　sir；〃　said　the　ship's　cook。
〃But　you　mark　my　wordsthere　must　have　been　a　deal　of
troublesome　work　with　the　flower…beds　in　the　Garden　of　Eden。〃

Having　entered　that　unanswerable　protest；　John　Want　shouldered
the　box；　and　drifted　drearily　out　of　the　boat…house。

Left　by　himself；　Crayford　looked　at　his　watch；　and　called　to　a
sailor　outside。

〃Where　are　the　ladies？〃　he　asked。

〃Mrs。　Crayford　is　coming　this　way；　sir。　She　was　just　behind　you
when　you　came　in。〃

〃Is　Miss　Burnham　with　her？〃

〃No；　sir；　Miss　Burnham　is　down　on　the　beach　with　the　passengers。
I　heard　the　young　lady　asking　after　you；　sir。〃

〃Asking　after　me？〃　Crayford　considered　with　himself　as　he
repeated　the　words。　He　added；　in　lower　and　graver　tones；　〃You　had
better　tell　Miss　Burnham　you　have　seen　me　here。〃

The　man　made　his　salute　and　went　out。　Crayford　took　a　turn　in　the
boat…house。

Rescued　from　death　in　the　Arctic　wastes；　and　reunited　to　a
beautiful　wife；　the　lieutenant　looked；　nevertheless；
unaccountably　anxious　and　depressed。　What　could　he　be　thinking
of？　He　was　thinking　of　Clara。

On　the　first　day　when　the　rescued　men　were　received　on　board　the
_Amazon_；　Clara　had　embarrassed　and　distressed；　not　Crayford
only；　but　the　other　officers　of　the　Expedition　as　well；　by　the
manner　in　which　she　questioned　them　on　the　subject　of　Francis
Aldersley　and　Richard　Wardour。　She　had　shown　no　signs　of　dismay
or　despair　when　she　heard　that　no　news　had　been　received　of　the
two　missing　men。　She　had　even　smiled　sadly　to　herself；　when
Crayford　（out　of　compassionate　regard　for　her）　declared　that　he
and　his　comrades　had　not　given　up　the　hope　of　seeing　Frank　and
Wardour　yet。　It　was　only　when　the　lieutenant　had　expressed
himself　in　those　terms　and　when　it　was　hoped　that　the　painful
subject　had　been　dismissedthat　Clara　had　startled　every　one
present　by　announcing　that　she　had　something　still　to　say　in
relation　to　Frank　and　Wardour；　which　had　not　been　said　yet。
Though　she　spoke　guardedly；　her　next　words　revealed　suspicions　of
foul　play　lurking　in　her　mindexactly　reflecting　similar
suspicions　lurking　in　Crayford's　mindwhich　so　distressed　the
lieutenant；　and　so　surprised　his　comrades；　as　to　render　them
quite　incapable　of　answering　her。　The　warnings　of　the　storm　which
shortly　afterward　broke　over　the　vessel　were　then　visible　in　sea
and　sky。　Crayford　made　them　his　excuse　for　abruptly　leaving　the
cabin　in　which　the　conversation　had　taken　place。　His　brother
officers；　profiting　by　his　example；　pleaded　their　duties　on　deck；
and　followed　him　out。

On　the　next　day；　and　the　next；　the　tempest　still　ragedand　the
passengers　were　not　able　to　leave　their　state…rooms。　But　now；
when　the　weather　had　moderated　and　the　ship　had　anchorednow；
when　officers　and　passengers　alike　were　on　shore；　with　leisure
time　at　their　disposalClara　had　opportunities　of　returning　to
the　subject　of　the　lost　men；　and　of　asking　questions　in　relation
to　them　which　would　make　it　impossible　for　Crayford　to　plead　an
excuse　for　not　answering　her。　How　was　he　to　meet　those　questions？
How　could　he　still　keep　her　in　ignorance　of　the　truth？

These　were　the　reflections　which　now　troubled　Crayford；　and　which
presented　him；　after　his　rescue；　in　the　strangely　inappropriate
character　of　a　depressed　and　anxious　man。　His　brother　officers；
as　he　well　knew；　looked　to　him　to　take　the　chief　responsibility。
If　he　declined　to　accept　it；　he　would　instantly　confirm　the
horrible　suspicion　in　Clara's　mind。　The　emergency　must　be　met；
but　how　to　meet　itat　once　honorably　and　mercifullywas　more
than　Crayford　could　tell。　He　was　still　lost　in　his　own　gloomy
thoughts　when　his　wife　entered　the　boat…house。　Turning　to　look　at
her；　he　saw　his　own　perturbations　and　anxieties　plainly　reflected
in　Mrs。　Crayford's　face。

〃Have　you　seen　anything　of　Clara？〃　he　asked。　〃Is　she　still　on　the
beach？〃

〃She　is　following　me　to　this　place；〃　Mrs。　Crayford　replied。　〃I
have　been　speaking　to　her　this　morning。　She　is　just　as　resolute
as　ever　to　insist　on　your　telling　her　of　the　circumstances　under
which　Frank　is　missing。　As　things　are；　you　have　no　alternative
but　to　answer　her。〃

〃Help　me　to　answer　her；　Lucy。　Tell　me；　before　she　comes　in；　how
this　dreadful　suspicion　first　took　possession　of　her。　All　she
could　possibly　have　known　when　we　left　England　was　that　the　two
men　were　appointed　to　separate　ships。　What　could　have　led　her　to
suspect　that　they　had　come　together？〃

〃She　was　firmly　persuaded；　William；　that　they　_would_　come
together　when　the　Expedition　left　England。　And　she　had　read　in
books　of　Arctic　travel；　of　men　left　behind　by　their　comrades　on
the　march；　and　of　men　adrift　on　ice…bergs。　With　her　mind　full　of
these　images　and　forebodings；　she　saw　Frank　and　Wardour　（or
dreamed　of　them）　in　one　of　her　attacks　of　trance。　I　was　by　her
side；　I　heard　what　she　said　at　the　time。　She　warned　Frank　that
Wardour　had　discovered　the　truth。　She　called　out　to　him；　'While
you　can　stand；　keep　with　the　other　men；　Frank！〃

〃Good　God！〃　cried　Crayford；　〃I　warned　him　myself；　almost　in　those
very　words；　the　last　time　I　saw　him！〃

〃Don't　acknowledge　it；　William！　Keep　her　in　ignorance　of　what　you
have　just　told　me。　She　will　not　take　it　for　what　it　isa
startling　coincidence；　and　nothing　more。　She　will　accept　it　as
positive　confirmation　of　the　faith；　the　miserable　superstitious
faith；　that　is　in　her。　So　long　as　you　don't　actually　know　that
Frank　is　dead；　and　that　he　has　died　by　Wardour's　hand；　deny　what
she　saysmislead　her　for　her　own　sakedispute　all　her
conclusions　as　I　dispute　them。　Help　me　to　raise　her　to　the　better
and　nobler　belief　in　the　mercy　of　God！〃　She　stopped；　and　looked
round　nervously　at　the　doorway。　〃Hush！〃　she　whispered。　〃Do　as　I
have　told　you。　Clara　is　here。〃



Chapter　17。


Clara　stopped　at　the　doorway；　looking　backward　and　forward
distrustfully　between　the　husband　and　wife。　Entering　the
boat…house；　and　approaching　Crayford；　she　took　his　arm；　and　led
him　away　a　few　steps　from　the　place　in　which　Mrs。　Crayford　was
standing。

〃There　is　no　storm　now；　and　there　are　no　duties　to　be　done　on
board　the　ship；〃　she　said；　with　the　faint；　sad　smile　which　it
wrung　Crayford's　heart　to　see。　〃You　are　Lucy's　husband；　and　you
have　an　interest　in　me　for　Lucy's　sake。　Don't　shrink　on　that
account　from　giving　me　pain：　I　can　bear　pain。　Friend　and　brother！
will　you　believe　that　I　have　courage　enough　to　hear　the　worst？
Will　you　promise　not　to　deceive　me　about　Frank？〃

The　gentle　resignation　in　her　voice；　the　sad　pleading　in　her
look；　shook　Crayford's　self…possession　at　the　outset。　He　answered
her　in　the　worst　possible　manner；　h