The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-05-24
CHAPTER VIII.-(CoNT1NUEp,

apart from the rest, ana appeared
to him personally. do you say moth
ing?" he asked.
Nothing" Wardour answered. go
or stay, it's all one to me-.
Il hope you don't mean that?" said
Crawford
ST do
81 am sorry to hear it, Wardour."
Captain Helding answered the gen
eral suggestion in favor of volunteer
ing 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 dead silence The Of
fcers and men looked at each other
confusedly. TIE captain continued:
'You see We can't settle it by vol
unteering. You all want to go. Every
man among us who has the use of his
limbs naturally wants to go. But what
il 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 cap
tain, "to the old question-Who among
the able-bodied is to go, and who is to
stay? Captain Ellsworth says, and
say, let Chance decide it. Here are
TIL 10Th
twelve-double skies. All who throw
under six stay; all who throw over six
go. officers of the Wanderer and Sea-
New. do you agree to that way of meet
ing the difficulty?'
All the officers agreed-with the one
exception of Wardou1, 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 dissen-
tient voice. Crawford handed the box
and the d &C to Captain Helding.
.You throw first sir. Under six
stay Over six, 60
Captain Helding cast the dice; the
top OF the cask serving for a table. He
threw seven.
60 said Crawford. Il congratu-
late you, sir. Now for my own chance
He cast the dee in his turn. Three
Stay! All, we'll! we'll! if / can do my
duty and be of use to others, what does
it matter whether / go or stay? War
Oh nf
your first lieutenant
Wardour prepared to cast without
shaking the dice
"Shake the box, MANI cried Cray
ford. "Give yourself a chance of luck!'
Wardour persisted in letting the dice
fall out carelessly, just as they lay in
the box.
mot IT. he muttered to himself.
GIVE 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
dee had fallen
Crawford examined them. "Sixr" he
exclaimed. There! you have a second
chance, in spite of yourself. You are
neithed under nor over; you throw
again
"Bah!" growled the Bear. Its not
worth the trouble of getting up for.
Somebody else throw for me-" He sud-
denly looked at Frank. You! you
have got what the women call lucky
face.
Frank appealed to Crawford. "Shall
~,
yes, if he wishes it" said Cray
ford.
Frank cast the dice. Give. He
stays! Wardour, am sorry. have
thrown against YOU
60 or stay, reiterated Wardour,
cts all one to me. You will be luck
Ter, young man, when you cast for
yourself
Frank cast for himself
Eight. Hurrah! | gop'
"What did | tell your said Wardour
'The chance was yours. You have
thriyen on my i'll luck"
He rose as he spoke to leave the hut
Crawford stopped him.
have you ANY, HlHS particular u
do, Richards"
'What has anybody to do here?"
'fWait little then. / 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 | am going to ask you