Much more of his life and of his father he told her under her wondering questioning--a tale most incredible to her ears, but, as he said, the truth. Finally he finished. "Now, lady, what of you?" he asked. "How came you here, and from where?" "My name is Rose--" "Ah, that is the name of a flower," said Polaris. "You were well named." He did not look at her as he spoke. His eyes were turned to the snow slopes and were very wistful. "I have never seen a flower," he continued slowly, "but my father said that of all created things they were the fairest." "I have another name," said the girl. "It is Rose--Rose Emer." "And why did you come here, Rose Emer?" asked Polaris. "Like your father, I--we were seekers after new things, my brother and I. Both our father and mother died, and left my brother John and myself ridiculously rich. We had to use our money, so we traveled. We have been over most of the world. Then a man--an American gentleman--a very brave man, organized an expedition to come to the south to discover the south pole. My brother and I knew him. We were very much interested in his adventure. We helped him with it. Then John insisted that he would come with the expedition, and--oh, they didn't wish me to come, but I never had been left behind--I came, too." "And that brave man who came to seek the pole, where is he now?" "Perhaps he is dead--out there," said the girl, with a catch in her voice. She pointed to the south. "He left the ship and went on, days ago. He was to establish two camps with supplies. He carried an air-ship with him. He was to make his last dash for the pole through the air from the farther camp. His men were to wait for him until--until they were sure that he would not come back." "An air-ship!" Polaris bent forward with sparkling eyes. "So there _are_ airships, then! Ah, this man must be brave! How is he called?" "James Scoland is his name--Captain Scoland." "He went on whence I came? Did he go by that way?" Polaris pointed where the white tops of the mountain range which he skirted pierced the sky. "No. He took a course to the east of the mountains, where other explorers of years before had been before him." "Yes, I have seen maps. Can you tell me where, or nearly where, we are now?" he asked the girl. "This is Victoria Land," she answered. "We left the ship in a long bay, extending in from Ross Sea, near where the 160th meridian joins the 80th parallel. We are somewhere within three days' journey from the ship." "And so near to open water?" She nodded. * * * * *