178 TWO DIANAS IN ALASKA 



creature of the boundless wild, I would But Tom 



began, with the fell ghoulishness of the lower orders, 

 to describe the manner of the end. This was too 

 much. If he liked to harrow his own feelings why 

 try to harrow mine? When we jump a stiff fence 

 we sometimes land on a harrow, but there's no earthly 

 need to put one there. 



On deck the crew were wrangling as to which of 

 their number killed the little bear with o'er much 

 kindness. The cook accused a shrinking youth, a 

 French Canadian, who seemed so likely to be blamed 

 for the disaster, as he had not sufficient go about 

 him to repudiate all connection with it, that Cecily 

 and I felt we must to his rescue, albeit we were 

 biassed. Women are very seldom impartial; their 

 sympathies go out, rightly or wrongly, to the weaker 

 and losing side; their desire is always to "assist 

 the dog that is under," and have nothing to do with 

 the cynical advice of the philosopher who advocated 

 the system of taking the part of " the man with the 

 largest club." 



Cecily suggested that very likely the chef himself 

 had overdone his attentions a little, a flank move- 

 ment which diverted things, and left the cook 

 stranded in a backwater of unspoken annoyance. I 

 was glad that Cecily got in so telling a shot, for the 

 cook paid no attention to any one save himself and 

 his own creature comforts. In some men, as they 

 grow older, the milk of human kindness dries up. 

 They have no sympathy. 



Ralph came upon the scene, and smoothed and 



