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, 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."

"Well--and 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 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 th