The door was opened from the outer side as he laid his hand on the lock.
One of the quartermasters of the Wanderer entered the hut.
“Is Captain Helding here, sir?” he asked, addressing himself to Wardour.
Wardour pointed to Crayford.
“The lieutenant will tell you,” he said.
Crayford advanced and questioned the quartermaster. “What do you want with Captain Helding?” he asked.
“I have a report to make, sir. There has been an accident on the ice.”
“To one of your men?”
“No, sir. To one of our officers.”
Wardour, on the point of going out, paused when the quartermaster made that reply. For a moment he considered with himself. Then he walked slowly back to the part of the room in which Frank was standing. Crayford, directing the quartermaster, pointed to the arched door way in the side of the hut.