"You've been up north, Arthur," said Fitzgerald. "What's your advice?"

"Don't do it. You've often wondered how and where I lost these two
digits. Up there." The _Times_ rattled, and Cathewe became absorbed
in the budget.

Arthur Cathewe was a tall, loose-limbed man, forty-two or three, rather
handsome, and a bit shy with most folk. Rarely any one saw him outside
the club. He had few intimates, but to these he was all that
friendship means, kindly, tender, loyal, generous, self-effacing. And
Fitzgerald loved him best of all men. It did not matter that there
were periods when they became separated for months at a time. They
would some day turn up together in the same place. "Why, hello,
Arthur!" "Glad to see you, Jack!" and that was all that was necessary.
All the enthusiasm was down deep below. Cathewe was always in funds;
Fitzgerald sometimes; but there was never any lending or borrowing
between them. This will do much toward keeping friendship green. The
elder man was a great hunter; he had been everywhere, north and south,
east and west. He never fooled away his time at pigeons and traps; big
game, where the betting was even, where the animal had almost the same
chance as the man. He could be tolerably humorous upon occasions. The
solemn cast to his comely face predestined him for this talent.

"Well, Fitz, what are you going to do?"

"Hewitt, give me a chance. I've been home but a week. I'm not going
to dash to the Pole without having a ripping good time here first.
Will a month do?"

"Oh, the expedition doesn't leave for two months yet. But we must sign