the frozen deep-第7章

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wretchedness　that　women　cause。〃

〃And　the　only　unalloyed　happiness；〃　said　Crayford；　〃the　happiness
that　women　bring。〃

〃That　may　be　your　experience　of　them；〃　Wardour　answered；　〃mine　is
different。　All　the　devotion；　the　patience；　the　humility；　the
worship　that　there　is　in　man；　I　laid　at　the　feet　of　a　woman。　She
accepted　the　offering　as　women　doaccepted　it；　easily；
gracefully；　unfeelinglyaccepted　it　as　a　matter　of　course。　I
left　England　to　win　a　high　place　in　my　profession；　before　I　dared
to　win　_her_。　I　braved　danger；　and　faced　death。　I　staked　my　life
in　the　fever　swamps　of　Africa；　to　gain　the　promotion　that　I　only
desired　for　her　sakeand　gained　it。　I　came　back　to　give　her　all；
and　to　ask　nothing　in　return；　but　to　rest　my　weary　heart　in　the
sunshine　of　her　smile。　And　her　own　lipsthe　lips　I　had　kissed　at
partingtold　me　that　another　man　had　robbed　me　of　her。　I　spoke
but　few　words　when　I　heard　that　confession；　and　left　her　forever。
'The　time　may　come；'　I　told　her；　'when　I　shall　forgive　_you_。　But
the　man　who　has　robbed　me　of　you　shall　rue　the　day　when　you　and
he　first　met。'　Don't　ask　me　who　he　was！　I　have　yet　to　discover
him。　The　treachery　had　been　kept　secret；　nobody　could　tell　me
where　to　find　him；　nobody　could　tell　me　who　he　was。　What　did　it
matter？　When　I　had　lived　out　the　first　agony；　I　could　rely　on
myselfI　could　be　patient；　and　bide　my　time。〃

〃Your　time？　What　time？〃

〃The　time　when　I　and　that　man　shall　meet　face　to　face。　I　knew　it
then；　I　know　it　nowit　was　written　on　my　heart　then；　it　is
written　on　my　heart　nowwe　two　shall　meet　and　know　each　other！
With　that　conviction　strong　within　me；　I　volunteered　for　this
service；　as　I　would　have　volunteered　for　anything　that　set　work
and　hardship　and　danger；　like　ramparts；　between　my　misery　and　me。
With　that　conviction　strong　within　me　still；　I　tell　you　it　is　no
matter　whether　I　stay　here　with　the　sick；　or　go　hence　with　the
strong。　I　shall　live　till　I　have　met　that　man！　There　is　a　day　of
reckoning　appointed　between　us。　Here　in　the　freezing　cold；　or
away　in　the　deadly　heat；　in　battle　or　in　shipwreck；　in　the　face
of　starvation；　under　the　shadow　of　pestilenceI；　though　hundreds
are　falling　round　me；　I　shall　live！　live　for　the　coming　of　one
day！　live　for　the　meeting　with　one　man！〃

He　stopped；　trembling；　body　and　soul；　under　the　hold　that　his　own
terrible　superstition　had　fastened　on　him。　Crayford　drew　back　in
silent　horror。　Wardour　noticed　the　actionhe　resented　ithe
appealed；　in　defense　of　his　one　cherished　conviction；　to
Crayford's　own　experience　of　him。

〃Look　at　me！〃　he　cried。　〃Look　how　I　have　lived　and　thriven；　with
the　heart…ache　gnawing　at　me　at　home；　and　the　winds　of　the　icy
north　whistling　round　me　here！　I　am　the　strongest　man　among　you。
Why？　I　have　fought　through　hardships　that　have　laid　the
best…seasoned　men　of　all　our　party　on　their　backs。　Why？　What　have
_I_　done；　that　my　life　should　throb　as　bravely　through　every　vein
in　my　body　at　this　minute；　and　in　this　deadly　place；　as　ever　it
did　in　the　wholesome　breezes　of　home？　What　am　I　preserved　for？　I
tell　you　again；　for　the　coming　of　one　dayfor　the　meeting　with
one　man。〃

He　paused　once　more。　This　time　Crayford　spoke。

〃Richard！〃　he　said；　〃since　we　first　met；　I　have　believed　in　your
better　nature；　against　all　outward　appearance。　I　have　believed　in
you；　firmly；　truly；　as　your　brother　might。　You　are　putting　that
belief　to　a　hard　test。　If　your　enemy　had　told　me　that　you　had
ever　talked　as　you　talk　now；　that　you　had　ever　looked　as　you　look
now；　I　would　have　turned　my　back　on　him　as　the　utterer　of　a　vile
calumny　against　a　just；　a　brave；　an　upright　man。　Oh！　my　friend；
my　friend；　if　ever　I　have　deserved　well　of　you；　put　away　these
thoughts　from　your　heart！　Face　me　again；　with　the　stainless　look
of　a　man　who　has　trampled　under　his　feet　the　bloody　superstitions
of　revenge；　and　knows　them　no　more！　Never；　never；　let　the　time
come　when　I　cannot　offer　you　my　hand　as　I　offer　it　now；　to　the
man　I　can　still　admireto　the　brother　I　can　still　love！〃

The　heart　that　no　other　voice　could　touch　felt　that　appeal。　The
fierce　eyes；　the　hard　voice；　softened　under　Crayford's　influence。
Richard　Wardour's　head　sank　on　his　breast。

〃You　are　kinder　to　me　than　I　deserve；〃　he　said。　〃Be　kinder　still；
and　forget　what　I　have　been　talking　about。　No！　no　more　about　me；
I　am　not　worth　it。　We'll　change　the　subject；　and　never　go　back　to
it　again。　Let's　do　something。　Work；　Crayfordthat's　the　true
elixir　of　our　life！　Work；　that　stretches　the　muscles　and　sets　the
blood　a…glowing。　Work；　that　tires　the　body　and　rests　the　mind。　Is
there　nothing　in　hand　that　I　can　do？　Nothing　to　cut？　nothing　to
carry？〃

The　door　opened　as　he　put　the　question。　Batesonappointed　to
chop　Frank's　bed…place　into　firingappeared　punctually　with　his
ax。　Wardour；　without　a　word　of　warning；　snatched　the　ax　out　of
the　man's　hand。

〃What　was　this　wanted　for？〃　he　asked。

〃To　cut　up　Mr。　Aldersley's　berth　there　into　firing；　sir。〃

〃I'll　do　it　for　you！　I'll　have　it　down　in　no　time！〃　He　turned　to
Crayford。　〃You　needn't　be　afraid　about　me；　old　friend。　I　am　going
to　do　the　right　thing。　I　am　going　to　tire　my　body　and　rest　my
mind。〃

The　evil　spirit　in　him　was　plainly　subduedfor　the　time；　at
least。　Crayford　took　his　hand　in　silence；　and　then　（followed　by
Bateson）　left　him　to　his　work。



Chapter　10。


Ax　in　hand；　Wardour　approached　Frank's　bed…place。

〃If　I　could　only　cut　the　thoughts　out　of　me；〃　he　said　to　himself；
〃as　I　am　going　to　cut　the　billets　out　of　this　wood！〃　He　attacked
the　bed…place　with　the　ax；　like　a　man　who　well　knew　the　use　of
his　instrument。　〃Oh　me！〃　he　thought；　sadly；　〃if　I　had　only　been
born　a　carpenter　instead　of　a　gentleman！　A　good　ax；　Master
BatesonI　wonder　where　you　got　it？　Something　like　a　grip；　my
man；　on　this　handle。　Poor　Crayford！　his　words　stick　in　my　throat。
A　fine　fellow！　a　noble　fellow！　No　use　thinking；　no　use
regretting；　what　is　said；　is　said。　Work！　work！　work！〃

Plank　after　plank　fell　out　on　the　floor。　He　laughed　over　the　easy
task　of　destruction。　〃Aha！　young　Aldersley！　It　doesn't　take　much
to　demolish　your　bed…place。　I'll　have　it　down！　I　would　have　the
whole　hut　down；　if　they　would　only　give　me　the　chance　of　chopping
at　it！〃

A　long　strip　of　wood　fell　to　his　axlong　enough　to　require
cutting　in　two。　He　turned　it；　and　stooped　over　it。　Something
caught　his　eyeletters　carved　in　the　wood。　He　looked　closer。　The
letters　were　very　faintly　and　badly　cut。　He　could　only　make　out
the　first　three　of　them；　and　even　of　those　he　was　not　quite
certain。　They　looked　like　C　L　Aif　they　looked　like　anything。　He
threw　down　the　strip　of　wood　irritably。

〃Dn　the　fellow　（whoever　he　is）　who　cut　this！　Why　should　he
carve　_that_　name；　of　all　the　names　in　the　world？〃

He　paused；　consideringthen　determined　to　go　on　again　with　his
self…imposed　labor。　He　was　ashamed　of　his　own　outburst。　He　looked
eagerly　for　the　ax。　〃Work；　work！　Nothing　for　it　but　work。〃　He
found　the　ax；　and　went　on　again。

He　cut　out　another　plank。

He　stopped；　and　looked　at　it　suspiciously。

There　was　carving　again；　on　this　plank。　The　letters　F。　and　A。
appeared　on　it。

He　put　down　the　ax。　There　were　vague　misgivings　in　him　which　he
was　not　able　to　realize。　The　state　of　his　own　mind　was　fast
becoming　a　puzzle　to　him。

〃More　carving；〃　he　said　to　himself。　〃That's　the　way　these　young
idlers　employ　their　long　hours。　F。　A。？　Those　must　be　_his_
initialsFrank　Aldersley。　Who　c　arved　the　letters　on　the　other
plank？　Frank　Aldersley；　too？〃

He　turned　the　piece　of　wood　in　his　hand　nearer　to　the　light；　and
looked　lower　down　it。　More　carving　again；　lower　down！　Under　the
initials　F。　A。　were　two　more　lettersC。　B。

〃C。　B。？〃　he　repeated　to　himself。　〃His　sweet　heart's　initials；　I
suppose？　Of　courseat　his　agehis　sweetheart's　initials。〃

He　paused　once　more。　A　spasm　of　inner　pain　showed　the　shadow　of
its　mysterious　passage；　outwardly　on　his　face。

〃_Her_　cipher　is　C。　B。；〃　he　said；　in　low；　broken　tones。　〃C。
B。Clara　Burnham。〃

He　waited；　with　the　plank　in　his　hand；　repeating　the　name　over
and　over　again；　as　if　it　was　a　question　he　was　putting　to
himself。

〃Clara　Burnham？　Clara　Burnham？〃

He　dropped　the　plank；　and　turned　deadly　pale　in　a　moment。　His
eyes　wandered　furtively　backward　and　forward　between　the　strip　of
wood　on　the　floor　and　the　half…demolished　berth。　〃Oh；　God！　what
has　come　to　me　now？〃　he　said　to　himself；　in　a　whisper。　He
snatched　up　the　ax；　with　a　strange　crysomething　between　rage
and　terror。　He　triedfiercely；　desperately　triedto　go　on　with
his　work。　No！　strong　as　he　was；　he　could　not　use　the　ax。　His
hands　were　helpless；　they　trembled　incessantly。　He　went　to　the
fire；　he　held　his　hands　over　it。　They　still　trembled　incessantly；
they　infected　the　rest　of　him。　He　shuddered　all　over。　He　knew
fear。　His　own　thoughts　terrified　him。

〃Crayford！〃　he　cried　out。　〃Crayford！　come　here；　and　let's　go
hunting。〃

No　friendly　voice　answered　him。　No　friendly　face　showed　itself　at
the　door。

An　interval　passed；　and　there　came　over　him　another　change。　He
recovered　his　self…possession　almost　as　suddenly　as　he　had　lost
it。　A　smilea　horrid；　deforming；　unnatural　smilespread　slowly；
stealthily；　devilishly　over　his　face。　He　left　the　fire；　he　put
the　ax　away　softly　in　a　corner；　he　sat　down　in　his　old　place；
deliberately　self…abandoned　to　a　frenzy　of　vindictive　joy。　He　had
found　the　man！　There；　at　the　end　of　the　worldthere；　at　the　last
fight　of　the　Arctic　voyagers　against　starvation　and　death；　he　had
found　the　man！

The　minutes　passed。

He　became　conscious；　on　a　sudden；　of　a　freezing　stream　of　air
pouring　into　the　room。

He　turned；　and　saw　Crayford　opening　the　door　of　the　hut。　A　man
was　behind　him。　Wardour　rose　eagerly；　and　looked　over　Crayford's
shoulder。

Was　itcould　it　bethe　man　who　had　carved　the　letters　on　the
plank？　Yes！　Frank　Aldersley！



Chapter　11。


〃Still　at　work！〃　Crayford　exclaimed；　looking　at　the
half…demolished　bed…place。　〃Give　yourself　a　little　rest；　Richard。
The　exploring　party　is　ready　to　start。　If　you　wish　to　take　leave
of　your　brother　officers　before　they　go；　you　have　no　time　to
lose。〃

He　checked　himself　there；　looking　Wardour　full　in　the　face。

〃Good　Heavens！〃　he　cried；　〃how　pale　you　are！　Has　anything
happened？〃

Franksearching　in　his　locker　for　articles　of　clothing　which　he
might　require　on　the　journeylooked　round。　He　was　startled；　as
Crayford　had　been　startled；　by　the　sudden　change　in　Wardour　since
they　had　last　seen　him。

〃Are　you　ill？〃　he　asked。　〃I　hear　you　have　been　doing　Bateson's
work　for　him。　Have　you　hurt　yourself？〃

Wardour　suddenly　moved　his　head；　so　as　to　hide　his　face　from　both
Crayford　and　Frank。　He　took　out　his　handkerchief；　and　wound　it
clumsily　round　his　left　hand。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　hurt　myself　with　the　ax。　It's　nothing。　Never
mind。　Pain　always　has　a　curious　effect　on　me。　I　tell　you　it's
nothing！　Don't　notice　it！〃

He　turned　his　face　toward　them　again　as　suddenly　as　he　had　turned
it　away。　He　advanced　a　few　steps；　and　addressed　himself　with　an
uneasy　familiarity　to　Frank。

〃I　didn't　answer　you　civilly　when　you　spoke　to　me　some　little
time　since。　I　mean　when　I　first　came　in　here　along　with　the　rest
of　them。　I　apologiz