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THE FROZEN DEEP
carrying it for him。 His dark face became suddenly irradiated with a
terrible joy。
〃Come！〃 he cried。 〃Over the snow and over the ice！ Come！ where no
human footsteps have ever trodden； and where no human trace is ever
left。〃
Blindly； instinctively； Crayford made an effort to part them。 His
brother officers； standing near； pulled him back。 They looked at each other
anxiously。 The merciless cold； striking its victims in various ways； had
struck in some instances at their reason first。 Everybody loved Crayford。
Was he； too； going on the dark way that others had taken before him？
They forced him to seat himself on one of the lockers。 〃Steady； old
fellow！〃 they said kindly〃steady！〃 Crayford yielded； writhing inwardly
under the sense of his own helplessness。 What in God's name could he do？
Could he denounce Wardour to Captain Helding on bare suspicion
without so much as the shadow of a proof to justify what he said？ The
captain would decline to insult one of his officers by even mentioning the
monstrous accusation to him。 The captain would conclude； as others had
already concluded； that Crayford's mind was giving way under stress of
cold and privation。 No hopeliterally； no hope now； but in the numbers of
the expedition。 Officers and men； they all liked Frank。 As long as they
could stir hand or foot； they would help him on the waythey would see
that no harm came to him。
The word of command was given； the door was thrown open； the hut
emptied rapidly。 Over the merciless white snowunder the merciless black
skythe exploring party began to move。 The sick and helpless men； whose
last hope of rescue centered in their departing messmates； cheered faintly。
Some few whose days were numbered sobbed and cried like women。
Frank's voice faltered as he turned back at the door to say his last words to
the friend who had been a father to him。
〃God bless you； Crayford！〃
Crayford broke away from the officers near him； and； hurrying
forward； seized Frank by both hands。 Crayford held him as if he would
never let him go。
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THE FROZEN DEEP
〃God preserve you； Frank！ I would give all I have in the world to be
with you。 Good…by！ Good…by！〃
Frank waved his handdas hed away the tears that were gathering in
his eyesand hurried out。 Crayford called after him； the last； the only
warning that he could give：
〃While you can stand； keep with the main body； Frank！〃
Wardour； waiting till the lastWardour； following Frank through the
snow…driftstopped； stepped back； and answered Crayford at the door：
〃While he can stand； he keeps with Me。〃
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THE FROZEN DEEP
Third Scene
The Iceberg。
Chapter 12。
Alone！ alone on the Frozen Deep！
The Arctic sun is rising dimly in the dreary sky。 The beams of the cold
northern moon； mingling strangely with the dawning light； clothe the
snowy plains in hues of livid gray。 An ice…field on the far horizon is
moving slowly southward in the spectral light。 Nearer； a stream of open
water rolls its slow black waves past the edges of the ice。 Nearer still；
following the drift； an iceberg rears its crags and pinnacles to the sky； here；
glittering in the moonbeams； there； looming dim and ghost…like in the ashy
light。
Midway on the long sweep of the lower slope of the iceberg； what
objects rise； and break the desolate monotony of the scene？ In this awful
solitude； can signs appear which tell of human Life？ Yes！ The black
outline of a boat just shows itself； hauled up on the berg。 In an ice…cavern
behind the boat the last red embers of a dying fire flicker from time to
time over the figures of two men。 One is seated； resting his back against
the side of the cavern。 The other lies prostrate； with his head on his
comrade's knee。 The first of these men is awake； and thinking。 The second
reclines； with his still white face turned up to the skysleeping or dead。
Days and days since； these two have fallen behind on the march of the
expedition of relief。 Days and days since； these two have been given up by
their weary and failing companions as doomed and lost。 He who sits
thinking is Richard Wardour。 He who lies sleeping or dead is Frank
Aldersley。
The iceberg drifts slowly； over the black water； through the ashy light。
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THE FROZEN DEEP
Minute by minute the lying fire sinks。 Minute by minute the deathly cold
creeps nearer and nearer to the lost men。
Richard Wardour rouses himself from his thoughtslooks at the still
white face beneath himand places his hand on Frank's heart。 It still beats
feebly。 Give him his share of the food and fuel still stored in the boat； and
Frank may live through it。 Leave him neglected where he lies； and his
death is a question of hoursperhaps minutes； who knows？
Richard Wardour lifts the sleeper's head and rests it against the cavern
side。 He goes to the boat； and returns with a billet of wood。 He stoops to
place the wood on the fireand stops。 Frank is dreaming； and murmuring
in his dream。 A woman's name passes his lips。 Frank is in England again
at the ballwhispering to Clara the confession of his love。
Over Richard Wardour's face there passes the shadow of a deadly
thought。 He rises from the fire； he takes the wood back to the boat。 His
iron strength is shaken； but it still holds out。 They are drifting nearer and
nearer to the open sea。 He can launch the boat without help； he can take
the food and the fuel with him。 The sleeper on the iceberg is the man who
has robbed him of Clarawho has wrecked the hope and the happiness of
his life。 Leave the man in his sleep； and let him die！
So the tempter whispers。 Richard Wardour tries his strength on the
boat。 It moves： he has got it under control。 He stops； and looks round。
Beyond him is the open sea。 Beneath him is the man who has robbed him
of Clara。 The shadow of the deadly thought grows and darkens over his
face。 He waits with his hands on the boatwaits and thinks。
The iceberg drifts slowlyover the black water； through the ashy light。
Minute by minute； the dying fire sinks。 Minute by minute； the deathly cold
creeps nearer to the sleeping man。 And still Richard Wardour waitswaits
and thinks。
Fourth Scene。
The Garden。
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THE FROZEN DEEP
Chapter 13。
The spring has come。 The air of the April night just lifts the leaves of
the sleeping flowers。 The moon is queen in the cloudless and starless sky。
The stillness of the midnight hour is abroad； over land and over sea。
In a villa on the westward shore of the Isle of Wight； the glass doors
which lead from the drawing…room to the garden are yet open。 The shaded
lamp yet burns on the table。 A lady sits by the lamp； reading。 From time to
time she looks out into the garden； and sees the white…robed figure of a
young girl pacing slowly to and fro in the soft brightness of the moonlight
on the lawn。 Sorrow and suspense have set their mark on the lady。 Not
rivals only； but friends who formerly admired her； agree now that she
looks worn and aged。 The more merciful judgment of others remarks； with
equal truth； that her eyes； her hair； her simple grace and grandeur of
movement have lost but little of their olden charms。 The truth lies； as usual；
between the two extremes。 In spite of sorrow and suffering； Mrs。 Crayford
is the beautiful Mrs。 Crayford still。