The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-06-03
CHAPTER v1II.-(Coxr1SuEp.)


Wardour still preserved his sullen ST.
fence. Crawford noticed him, standing
a9are from the rest, and appealed
20 him personally. do you say moth
tng?" he asked.
Nothing" Wardour answered. Go
or stay. It's all one to me-"
II hope you don't mean that?" said
Crayford.
81 do"
Il 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
ncers and men looked at each other
eonfusedly. The captain continued:
you see we can't settle it by vol
dnteering. You all want to go. Every
man among us who has the use of his
limbs naturally wants to go. But what
& to become of those who have not
got the use Of their limbs? Some of
Ns must stay here and take care of the
sick"
Everybody admitted that this was
true.
$50 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 I
say, let Chance decide it. Here are
dice. The numbers run as high as
twelve-double skies. All who throw
under six stay; all who throw over six
60. 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 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 dissen-
seient voice. Crawford handed the box
and the dice to Captain Helding.
'eYou throw first, sir. Under six,
stay Over six. go"
Captain Helding cast the dice; the
top of the cask serving for table. He
threw seven.
Co." said Crawford. 81 congratu-
ate you, sir. Now for my own chance"
He cast the dice in his turn. Three.
Stay! All, we'll! we'll! if can do my
duty and be of use to others, what does
1t matter whether go or stay? War
hour, you are next, in the absence of
your first lieutenant"
Wardour prepared to cast without
shaking the dice.
shake the box, man" cried Cray
ford. "Give yourself a chance of luck!"
Wardour persisted in letting the dice
GALL out carelessly, just as they lay in
the box.
'tNot IT, he muttered to himself.
Tive done with luck" Saying those
words, he threw down the empty box.
and seated himself on the nearest
ehest. without looking to see how the
dice had fallen.
Crawford examined them. "Six" he
exclaimed. There! you have second
chance, in spite of yourself. You are
neithcd under nor over; you throw
again"
-@Bah!" growled the Bear. cts 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
Lace."
Frank appealed to Crawford. "Sha!l
r."
yes, if he wishes it," said Cray
ford.
Frank cast the dice. Give! He
stays! Wardour, 1 am sorry, have
thrown against YOU"
~tGo or stay" reiterated Wardour,
-<it's all one to me. You will be luck
fer, young man, when you cast for
yourself"
Frank cast for himself.
Eight. Hurrah! go"
s'What did tell you?" said Wardour.
1.-THE chance was yours. You have
4hriven on my i'll luck"
He rose as he spoke to leave the hut.
Crawford stopped him.
"Have you anything particular to
DO. Richards"
what has anybody to do here?"
"Wait little then. want to speak
10 you when this business is over"
care 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 con-
Germs yourself"
Wardour yielded without word
more. He returned to his chest and
eynically composed himself to slumber.
CHAPTER TX.
- RAYFoRD touched
Z .hia friend on the: