The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-05-27
q NOVEL BY
Will, XII COLLINS.

Bateson has, chopped my bed into fire.
wood?"
Cant you guess?"
II suppose the cold has stupefied me.
The riddle is beyond my reading. Sup
pose you give me hint"
Certainly. There will be beds to
spare soon-there is to be change at
last in our wretched lives here. Do you
see it now?"
Franks eyes sparkled. He sprang
out of his berth and waved his fur cap
in triumph.
"See it," he exclaimed; "of course 1
do! The exploring party is to start
at last. Do l go with the expedi-
tion?"
ut is not. very long since you were
III the doctors hands, Frank" said
Crawford, kindly II doubt if you are.
strong enough yet to make one of the
exploring party"
Strong enough or not" returned
Frank, "any risk is better than pining
and perishing here. Put me down,
Crawford, among those who volunteer
to CO."
volunteers will not be accepted in
this case" said Crawford. "Captain
Helding and Captain Ellsworth see Sc
rious objections, as we are situated. to
that method of proceeding"
do they mean to keep the appoint
nents in their own hands?" asked
Frank. Il, for one, object to that"
"Wait little" said Crawford. "You
were playing backgammon the other
day with one of the officers. Does the
board belong to him or to you?"
ut belongs to me. I have got it in
my locker here. What do you want
with it,
Il want the dice and the box for
casting lots. The captains have ar
ranged-most wisely, as l think-that
Chance shall decide among us who goes
with the expedition. and who stays be-
hind in the huts. The officers and crew
OF the Wanderer will be here in a few
minutes to cast the lots. Neither YOU
nor any one can object to that way of
settling the question. Officers and men
alike take their chances together. No.
body can grumble."
Il am quite satisfied" said Frank,
But know of one man among the Of
ficers who is sure to make objections.
"Who is the man,"
"You know him we'll enough. too.
The Bear of the Expedition'-Richard
Wardour."
Frank! Frank! you have bad habit
OF letting your tongue run away with
you. Don't repeat that stupid nick
name when you talk of my good friend
Richard Wardour."
"Your good friend? Crawford! your
liking for that man amazes me-"
Crawford laid his hand kindly on
Franks shoulder. Of all the officers of
the Sea-Mew, Crayfords favorite was
Frank.
why should it amaze you?" he
asked. What opportunities have xou
had of judging? You and Wardour
have always belonged to different
ships. l have never seen you in War
dours society for five minutes togeth-
er. How can you form fair estimate
Of his character?"
II take the general estimate of his
character Frank answered. "He has
got his nickname because he is the
most unpopular man in his ship. No
body likes him-there must be some
reason for that"
There is only one reason for it,"
Crawford rejoined. Nobody under
stands Richard Wardour. 1 am not
talking at random. Remember. I sailed
from England with him in the Wan
derer, and was only transferred to
the Sew-Mew long after we were
locked up in the ice. 1 was Richard
Wardour's companion on board shin
for months, and learned there to do
him justice. Under all his outward
defects, tell you there beats a great
and generous heart. Suspend your
opinion, my lad, until you know my
friend as we'll as do. No more of this
now. Give me the dice and the box"
Frank opened his locker. At the
same time the silence of the snowy
waste outside was broken by a shout
ing voice hailing the hut-"Sea-Mew
a-hoy"