the frozen deep-第4章

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it。　WaitI　won't　be　long　awaywait　till　I　come　back。〃

〃I　must　and　will　go　with　you！　Crowd？　_He_　will　be　among　the
crowd！　Confusion？　In　that　confusion　_he_　will　find　his　way　to
Frank！　Don't　ask　me　to　wait。　I　shall　go　mad　if　I　wait。　I　shall
not　know　a　moment's　ease　until　I　have　seen　Frank；　with　my　own
eyes；　safe　in　the　boat　which　takes　him　to　his　ship！　You　have　got
your　bonnet　on；　what　are　we　stopping　here　for？　Come！　or　I　shall
go　without　you。　Look　at　the　clock；　we　have　not　a　moment　to　lose！〃

It　was　useless　to　contend　with　her。　Mrs。　Crayford　yielded。　The
two　women　left　the　house　together。

The　landing…stage；　as　Mrs。　Crayford　had　predicted；　was　thronged
with　spectators。　Not　only　the　relatives　and　friends　of　the　Arctic
voyagers；　but　strangers　as　well；　had　assembled　in　large　numbers
to　see　the　ships　sail。　Clara's　eyes　wandered　affrightedly　hither
and　thither　among　the　strange　faces　in　the　crowd；　searching　for
the　one　face　that　she　dreaded　to　see；　and　not　finding　it。　So
completely　were　her　nerves　unstrung；　that　she　started　with　a　cry
of　alarm　on　suddenly　hearing　Frank's　voice　behind　her。

〃The　_Sea…mew_'s　boats　are　waiting；〃　he　said。　〃I　must　go；
darling。　How　pale　you　are　looking；　Clara！　Are　you　ill？〃

She　never　answered。　She　questioned　him　with　wild　eyes　and
trembling　lips。

〃Has　anything　happened　to　you；　Frank？　anything　out　of　the
common？〃

Frank　laughed　at　the　strange　question。

〃Anything　out　of　the　common？〃　he　repeated。　〃Nothing　that　I　know
of；　except　sailing　for　the　Arctic　seas。　That's　out　of　the　common；
I　supposeisn't　it？〃

〃Has　anybody　spoken　to　you　since　last　night？　Has　any　stranger
followed　you　in　the　street？〃

Frank　turned　in　blank　amazement　to　Mrs。　Crayford。

〃What　on　earth　does　she　mean？〃

Mrs。　Crayford's　lively　invention　supplied　her　with　an　answer　on
the　spur　of　the　moment。

〃Do　you　believe　in　dreams；　Frank？　Of　course　you　don't！　Clara　has
been　dreaming　about　you；　and　Clara　is　foolish　enough　to　believe
in　dreams。　That's　allit's　not　worth　talking　about。　Hark！　they
are　calling　you。　Say　good…by；　or　you　will　be　too　late　for　the
boat。〃

Frank　took　Clara's　hand。　Long　afterwardin　the　dark　Arctic　days；
in　the　dreary　Arctic　nightshe　remembered　how　coldly　and　how
passively　that　hand　lay　in　his。

〃Courage；　Clara！〃　he　said；　gayly。　〃A　sailor's　sweetheart　must
accustom　herself　to　partings。　The　time　will　soon　pass。　Good…by；
my　darling！　Good…by；　my　wife！〃

He　kissed　the　cold　hand；　he　looked　his　lastfor　many　a　long
year；　perhaps！at　the　pale　and　beautiful　face。　〃How　she　loves
me！〃　he　thought。　〃How　the　parting　distresses　her！〃　He　still　held
her　hand；　he　would　have　lingered　longer；　if　Mrs。　Crayford　had　not
wisely　waived　all　ceremony　and　pushed　him　away。

The　two　ladies　followed　him　at　a　safe　distance　through　the　crowd；
and　saw　him　step　into　the　boat。　The　oars　struck　the　water；　Frank
waved　his　cap　to　Clara。　In　a　moment　more　a　vessel　at　anchor　hid
the　boat　from　view。　They　had　seen　the　last　of　him　on　his　way　to
the　Frozen　Deep！

〃No　Richard　Wardour　in　the　boat；〃　said　Mrs。　Crayford。　〃No　Richard
Wardour　on　the　shore。　Let　this　be　a　lesson　to　you；　my　dear。　Never
be　foolish　enough　to　believe　in　presentiments　again。〃

Clara's　eyes　still　wandered　suspiciously　to　and　fro　among　the
crowd。

〃Are　you　not　satisfied　yet？〃　asked　Mrs。　Crayford。

〃No；〃　Clara　answered；　〃I　am　not　satisfied　yet。〃

〃What！　still　looking　for　him？　This　is　really　too　absurd。　Here　is
my　husband　coming。　I　shall　tell　him　to　call　a　cab；　and　send　you
home。〃

Clara　drew　back　a　few　steps。

〃I　won't　be　in　the　way；　Lucy；　while　you　are　taking　leave　of　your
good　husband；〃　she　said。　〃I　will　wait　here。〃

〃Wait　here！　What　for？〃

〃For　something　which　I　may　yet　see；　or　for　something　which　I　may
still　hear。〃

〃Richard　Wardour？〃

〃Richard　Wardour。〃

Mrs。　Crayford　turned　to　her　husband　without　another　word。　Clara's
infatuation　was　beyond　the　reach　of　remonstrance。

The　boats　of　the　_Wanderer_　took　the　place　at　the　landing…stage
vacated　by　the　boats　of　the　_Sea…mew_。　A　burst　of　cheering　among
the　outer　ranks　of　the　crowd　announced　the　arrival　of　the
commander　of　the　expedition　on　the　scene。　Captain　Helding
appeared；　looking　right　and　left　for　his　first　lieutenant。
Finding　Crayford　with　his　wife；　the　captain　made　his　apologies
for　interfering；　with　his　best　grace。

〃Give　him　up　to　his　professional　duties　for　one　minute；　Mrs。
Crayford；　and　you　shall　have　him　back　again　for　half　an　hour。　The
Arctic　expedition　is　to　blame；　my　dear　ladynot　the　captainfor
parting　man　and　wife。　In　Crayford's　place；　I　should　have　left　it
to　the　bachelors　to　find　the　Northwest　Passage；　and　have　stopped
at　home　with　you！〃

Excusing　himself　in　those　bluntly　complimentary　terms；　Captain
Helding　drew　the　lieutenant　aside　a　few　steps；　accidentally
taking　a　direction　that　led　the　two　officers　close　to　the　place
at　which　Clara　was　standing。　Both　the　captain　and　the　lieutenant
were　too　completely　absorbed　in　their　professional　business　to
notice　her。　Neither　the　one　nor　the　other　had　the　faintest
suspicion　that　she　could　and　did　hear　every　word　of　the　talk　that
passed　between　them。

〃You　received　my　note　this　morning？〃　the　captain　began。

〃Certainly；　Captain　Helding；　or　I　should　have　been　on　board　the
ship　before　this。〃

〃I　am　going　on　board　myself　at　once；〃　the　captain　proceeded；　〃but
I　must　ask　you　to　keep　your　boat　waiting　for　half　an　hour　more。
You　will　be　all　the　longer　with　your　wife；　you　know。　I　thought　of
that；　Crayford。〃

〃I　am　much　obliged　to　you；　Captain　Helding。　I　suppose　there　is
some　other　reason　for　inverting　the　customary　order　of　things；
and　keeping　the　lieutenant　on　shore　after　the　captain　is　on
board？〃

〃Quite　true！　there　_is_　another　reason。　I　want　you　to　wait　for　a
volunteer　who　has　just　joined　us。〃

〃A　volunteer！〃

〃Yes。　He　has　his　outfit　to　get　in　a　hurry；　and　he　may　be　half　an
hour　late。〃

〃It's　rather　a　sudden　appointment；　isn't　it？〃

〃No　doubt。　Very　sudden。〃

〃Andpardon　meit's　rather　a　long　time　（as　we　are　situated）　to
keep　the　ships　waiting　for　one　man？〃

〃Quite　true；　again。　But　a　man　who　is　worth　having　is　worth
waiting　for。　This　man　is　worth　having；　this　man　is　worth　his
weight　in　gold　to　such　an　expedition　as　ours。　Seasoned　to　all
climates　and　all　fatiguesa　strong　fellow；　a　brave　fellow；　a
clever　fellowin　short；　an　excellent　officer。　I　know　him　well；
or　I　should　never　have　taken　him。　The　country　gets　plenty　of　work
out　of　my　new　volunteer；　Crayford。　He　only　returned　yesterday
from　foreign　service。〃

〃He　only　returned　yesterday　from　foreign　service！　And　he
volunteers　this　morning　to　join　the　Arctic　expedition？　You
astonish　me。〃

〃I　dare　say　I　do！　You　can't　be　more　astonished　than　I　was；　when
he　presented　himself　at　my　hotel　and　told　me　what　he　wanted。
'Why；　my　good　fellow；　you　have　just　got　home；'　I　said。　'Are　you
weary　of　your　freedom；　after　only　a　few　hours'　experience　of　it？'
His　answer　rather　startled　me。　He　said；　'I　am　weary　of　my　life；
sir。　I　have　come　home　and　found　a　trouble　to　welcome　me；　which
goes　near　to　break　my　heart。　If　I　don't　take　refuge　in　absence
and　hard　work；　I　am　a　lost　man。　Will　you　give　me　a　refuge？'
That's　what　he　said；　Crayford；　word　for　word。〃

〃Did　you　ask　him　to　explain　himself　further？〃

〃Not　I！　I　knew　his　value；　and　I　took　the　poor　devil　on　the　spot；
without　pestering　him　with　any　more　questions。　No　need　to　ask　him
to　explain　himself。　The　facts　speak　for　themselves　in　these
cases。　The　old　story；　my　good　friend！　There's　a　woman　at　the
bottom　of　it；　of　course。〃


Mrs。　Crayford；　waiting　for　the　return　of　her　husband　as　patiently
as　she　could；　was　startled　by　feeling　a　hand　suddenly　laid　on　her
shoulder。　She　looked　round；　and　confronted　Clara。　Her　first
feeling　of　surprise　changed　instantly　to　alarm。　Clara　was
trembling　from　head　to　foot。

〃What　is　the　matter？　What　has　frightened　you；　my　dear？〃

〃Lucy！　I　_have_　heard　of　him！〃

〃Richard　Wardour　again？〃

〃Remember　what　I　told　you。　I　have　heard　every　word　of　the
conversation　between　Captain　Helding　and　your　husband。　A　man　came
to　the　captain　this　morning　and　volunteered　to　join　the
_Wanderer_。　The　captain　has　taken　him。　The　man　is　Richard
Wardour。〃

〃You　don't　mean　it！　Are　you　sure？　Did　you　hear　Captain　Helding
mention　his　name？〃

〃No。〃

〃Then　how　do　you　know　it's　Richard　Wardour？〃

〃Don't　ask　me！　I　am　as　certain　of　it；　as　that　I　am　standing　here！
They　are　going　away　together；　Lucyaway　to　the　eternal　ice　and
snow。　My　foreboding　has　come　true！　The　two　will　meetthe　man　who
is　to　marry　me　and　the　man　whose　heart　I　have　broken！〃

〃Your　foreboding　has　_not_　come　true；　Clara！　The　men　have　not　met
herethe　men　are　not　likely　to　meet　elsewhere。　They　are
appointed　to　separate　ships。　Frank　belongs　to　the　_Sea…mew_；　and
Wardour　to　the　_Wanderer_。　See！　Captain　Helding　has　done。　My
husband　is　coming　this　way。　Let　me　make　sure。　Let　me　speak　to
him。〃

Lieutenant　Crayford　returned　to　his　wife。　She　spoke　to　him
instantly。

〃William！　you　have　got　a　new　volunteer　who　joins　the　_Wanderer_？〃

〃What！　you　have　been　listening　to　the　captain　and　me？〃

〃I　want　to　know　his　name？〃

〃How　in　the　world　did　you　manage　to　hear　what　we　said　to　each
other？〃

〃His　name？　has　the　captain　given　you　his　name？〃

〃Don't　excite　yourself；　my　dear。　Look！　you　are　positively
alarming　Miss　Burnham。　The　new　volunteer　is　a　perfect　stranger　to
us。　There　is　his　namelast　on　the　ship's　list。〃

Mrs。　Crayford　snatched　the　list　out　of　her　husband's　hand；　and
read　the　name：

〃RICHARD　WARDOUR。〃



Second　Scene。

The　Hut　of　the　_Sea…mew_。

Chapter　6。


Good…by　to　England！　Good…by　to　inhabited　and　civilized　regions　of
the　earth！

Two　years　have　passed　since　the　voyagers　sailed　from　their　native
shores。　The　enterprise　has　failedthe　Arctic　expedition　is　lost
and　ice…locked　in　the　Polar　wastes。　The　good　ships　_Wanderer_　and
_Sea…mew_；　entombed　in　ice；　will　never　ride　the　buoyant　waters
more。　Stripped　of　their　lighter　timbers；　both　vessels　have　been
used　for　the　construction　of　huts；　erected　on　the　nearest　land。

The　largest　of　the　two　buildings　which　now　shelter　the　lost　men
is　occupied　by　the　surviving　officers　and　crew　of　the　_Sea…mew_。
On　one　side　of　the　principal　room　are　the　sleeping　berths　and　the
fire…place。　The　other　side　discloses　a　broad　doorway　（closed　by　a
canvas　screen）；　which　serves　as　a　means　of　communication　with　an
inner　apartment；　devoted　to　the　superior　officers。　A　hammock　is
slung　to　the　rough　raftered　roof　of　the　main　room；　as　an　extra
bed。　A　man；　completely　hidden　by　his　bedclothes；　is　sleeping　in
the　hammock。　By　the　fireside　there　is　a　second　mansupposed　to
be　on　the　watchfast　asleep；　poor　wretch！　at　the　present　moment。
Behind　the　sleeper　stands　an　old　cask；　which　serves　for　a　table。
The　objects　at　present　on　the　table　are；　a　pestle　and　mortar；　and
a　saucepanful　of　the　dry　bones　of　animalsin　plain　words；　the
dinner　for　the　day。　By　way　of　ornament　to　the　dull　brown　walls；
icicles　appear　in　the　crevices　of　the　timber；　gleaming　at
intervals　in　the　red　fire…light。　No　wind　whistles　outside　the
lonely　dwellingno　cry　of　bird　or　beast　is　heard。　Indoors；　and
out…of…doors；　the　awful　silence　of　the　Polar　desert　reigns；　for