the frozen deep(冰渊)-第9节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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：
33
… Page 34…
THE FROZEN DEEP
〃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
34
… Page 35…
THE FROZEN DEEP
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！〃 cried Crayford。 〃Give yourself a chance of
luck！〃
Wardour persisted in letting the dice fall out carelessly； just as they lay
in the box。
〃Not I！〃 he muttered to himself。 〃I've done with luck。〃 Saying those
words； he threw down the empty box； and seated himself on the nearest
chest； without looking to see how the dice had fallen。
Crayford examined them。 〃Six！〃 he exclaimed。 〃There！ you have a
second chance； in spite of yourself。 You are neither under nor overyou
throw again。〃
〃Bah！〃 growled the Bear。 〃It's not worth the trouble of getting up for。
Somebody else throw for me。〃 He suddenly looked at Frank。 〃You！ you
have got what the women call a lucky face。〃
Frank appealed to Crayford。 〃Shall I？〃
〃Yes； if he wishes it；〃 said Crayford。
Frank cast the dice。 〃Two！ He stays！ Wardour； I am sorry I have
thrown against you。〃
〃Go or stay；〃 reiterated Wardour； 〃it's all one to me。 You will be luckier；
35
… Page 36…
THE FROZEN DEEP
young one； when you cast for yourself。〃
Frank cast for himself。
〃Eight。 Hurrah！ I go！〃
〃What did I tell you？〃 said Wardour。 〃The chance was yours。 You have
thriven on my ill luck。〃
He rose； as he spoke； to leave the hut。 Crayford stopped him。
〃Have you anything particular to do； Richard？〃
〃What has anybody to do here？〃
〃Wait a little； then。 I want to speak to you when this business is over。〃
〃Are you going to give me any more good advice？〃
〃Don't look at me in that sour way； Richard。 I am going to ask you a
question about something which concerns yourself。〃
Wardour yielded without a word more。 He returned to his chest； and
cynically composed himself to slumber。 The casting of the lots went on
rapidly among the officers and men。 In another half…hour chance had
decided the question of 〃Go〃 or 〃Stay〃 for all alike。 The men left the hut。
The officers entered the inner apartment for a last conference with the bed…
ridden captain of the _Sea…mew_。 Wardour and Crayford were left
together； alone。
Chapter 9。
Crayford touched his friend on the shoulder to rouse him。 Wardour
looked up； impatiently； with a frown。
〃I was just asleep；〃 he said。 〃Why do you wake me？〃
〃Look round you； Richard。 We are alone。〃
〃Welland what of that？〃
〃I wish to speak to you privately； and this is my opportunity。 You have
disappointed and surprised me to…day。 Why did you say it was all one to
you whether you went or stayed？ Why are you the only man among us
who seems to be perfectly indifferent whether we are rescued or not？〃
〃Can a man always give a reason for what is strange in his manner or
36
… Page 37…
THE FROZEN DEEP
his words？〃 Wardour retorted。
〃He can try；〃 said Crayford； quietly〃when his friend asks him。〃
Wardour's manner softened。
〃That's true；〃 he said。 〃I _will_ try。 Do you remember the first night at
sea when we sailed from England in the _Wanderer_？〃
〃As well as if it was yesterday。〃
〃A calm； still night；〃 the other went on； thoughtfully。 〃No clouds； no
stars。 Nothing in the sky but the broad moon； and hardly a ripple to break
the path of light she made in the quiet water。 Mine was the middle watch
that night。 You cam e on deck； and found me alone〃
He stopped。 Crayford took his hand； and finished the sentence for him。
〃Aloneand in tears。〃
〃The last I shall ever shed；〃 Wardour added； bitterly。
〃Don't say that！ There
