nd bear, had told severely upon
the poor creatures; but an Esquimaux dog lives on little when not
worked; and, with a little oatmeal and grease, they had all outlived
the severe season; and some bear's flesh having been luckily procured,
there was every probability of good service being rendered by them. Our
rate of travelling was over five miles per hour, and though making a
considerable detour to avoid broken ice, I was shaking Penny by the
hand four hours after leaving the "Pioneer:" the distance between the
squadrons being about twenty miles in a straight line.

[Headnote: _ADVANTAGE OF WINTERING IN HARBOUR._]

I was much struck with the great advantage of wintering in harbour, and
near the shore, over a position, such as our squadron's, in the midst
of the floe. There was a cheerfulness in the vicinity of the land,
barren though it was, quite refreshing to one who had always a mile to
walk during the winter to reach Griffith's Island, or remain satisfied
with the monotony of the ice-field around the "Pioneer." Besides being
snug in harbour, Captain Penny, satisfied of the security of his
vessels, intended to leave only one man in each of them,--every other
soul being told off for sledge-parties,--whereas our squadron would
have some sixty men and officers left behind to take care of them,
exposed as they were to be swept into Barrow's Strait, or farther, by
any sudden disruption of the ice. I, therefore, mentally gave my
adhesion to the opinion expressed by authorities at home, to secure
winter quarters in some bay or harbour, and not to winter in the pack,
unless it is unavoidable.

The oldest English officer who had ever wintered within the Arctic
circle on a voyage of discovery, Sir John Ross, was not likely to be
forgotten by me; and I sincerely congratulated the veteran on his
escape from sickness during the past winter: and, though a wonderful
instance of physical endurance, I, with others, could not but feel
regret that a Naval officer so advanced in years, and who had served so
long, should be necessitated to undergo privations, of which those who
did not witness them can form no conception.

Time enabled me to do little more than admire the perseverance
displayed by Capt. Penny, his officers and men, in their preparations
for travelling. Sledges, cooking apparatuses, tents, in short, every
thing was ready, having been made by themselves in the course of the
winter; and, on the 13th April, six sledges,