The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-05-17

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and sledges, waiting the word which
was to start them on their perilous and
doubtful journey.
Captain Helding, of the Wanderer,
accompanied by his officers, entered
the hut-in high spirits at the pros
pect of change Behind them, loung-
ing in slowly by himself, was dark,
sullen, heavy-browed man. He neither
spoke nor offered his hand to any
body; he was the one person present
who seemed to be perfectly Indifferent
to the fate in store for him. This was
the man whom his brother officers had
nicknamed the Bear of the Expedition.
In other words Richard Wardour.
Crawford advanced to welcome Cap
tain Helding. Frank-remember1ng
the friendly reproof which he had just
received passed over the other Off
GERS of the Wanderer, and made spe-
cial effort to be civil to Crayford's
friend
Good morning, Mr.. Wardour," he
said. 'sWe may congratulate each 9TH
er on the chance Of leaving this horri-
bic place"
"You may think it horrible War
dour retorted. 81 like it,
Like it? Good heavens! Why?"
Because there are no women here"
Frank turned to his brother officers
without making any further advances
in the direction of Richard Wardour.
The Bear of the Expedition was more
unapproachable than ever.
In the meantime the hut had become
thronged by the able-bodied officers
and men of the two ships. Captain
Helding, standing in the midst Of
them, with Crawford by his side, pro-
ceeded to explain the purpose of the
contemplated expedition to the au-
dience which surrounded him. He be-
gan in these words:
Brother officers and men of the
Wanderer and Sea-Mew, it is my duty
to tell you, very briefly, the reasons
which have decided CAPTAIN Ellsworth
and myself on dispatching an exploring
party in search of help. Without re-
calling all the hardships we have suf-
fered for the last two years-the de-
struction, 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 ard boundless desolation
of these inhospitable regions-without
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 ex-
petition, and that consequently our
chances 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 81
lence) all agreed, SO far.
The Captain went on: "It is there
fore urgently necessary that we should
make another, and probably last. eff
fort to extricate ourselves. The winter
is not far off, game is getting scarcer
and scarcer, our stock of provisions is
running low, and the ck-especially,
am sorry to say, the sick in the Wan
derer's hut-are 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 cheer
fully.
Right! right! No time to lose.''
Captain Helding resumed: "The
plan proposed is, that detachment of
the able-bodied men and officers among
us should set forth this very day and
make another effort to reach the near
est 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 oficers-"Aye, aye,
volunteers"
ITO BE CoNTINUED)